How to dine with Michelin star chef Marco Pierre White at sea

Marco Pierre White is the most famous chef of all gracing the decks of P&O Cruises ships.

The culinary genius, 64, became the youngest-ever chef to be awarded three Michelin stars aged 33 and now collaborates with the cruise line as one of its Local Food Heroes, offering cooking classes, hosting dinners and answering guests’ burning questions.

P&O Cruises has now confirmed its 2026 Food Heroes programme, including multiple sailings. Carnival UK & P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the programme marks “a powerful moment for the brand”, celebrating 20 years of Marco Pierre White’s partnership with P&O Cruises and promising an all-star sailing that will be “truly special” for guests.

Here’s everything you need to know about Marco Pierre White and P&O Cruises – his menus, when you can sail with him and what to expect from the line’s restaurants.

Food on P&O Cruises is taken seriously. The line is well aware that top-quality food is key to a fantastic holiday, hence why P&O Cruises has partnered with stars of the culinary world.

White is joined in the line-up by award-winning wine expert Olly Smith as well as three Local Food Heroes – acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro, Norwegian chef and restaurateur Kjartan Skjelde and Caribbean chef Shivi Ramoutar.

These native leading chefs help bring authentic dining experiences onboard the ships so guests can sample the dishes that tell stories of the locals’ history, culture and lives.

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Marco Pierre White’s Celebration Night menus can be found onboard all P&O Cruises ships – Aurora, Arcadia, Azura, Ventura, Britannia, Iona and Arvia.

What is Celebration Night on P&O Cruises? We hear you ask. Celebration Nights on P&O Cruises offer holidaymakers a chance to don their glad rags and get into the party spirit.

As for dining at these glamorous events, White has personally created a five-course P&O Cruises menu! Wondering what type of food is served on a cruise ship? You can tuck into such tasty dishes as New England half-split lobster with a Mornay sauce and Champagne sorbet. Best of all? These evenings are included in the price of your cruise.

On select Celebration Nights onboard Iona, passengers can try a Marco Pierre White P&O Cruises menu at The Chef’s Table, tucking into his creations alongside wines expertly paired by Olly Smith to each course. Again, this is all included in the cost of the sailing.

As for Marco Pierre White P&O Cruises sailings, the chef will appear onboard Britannia in 2026 as part of the cruise line’s Food Heroes programme, celebrating 20 years of his partnership with P&O Cruises.

He is confirmed to host two dedicated sailings in 2026: a seven-night Spain and France cruise departing 17 April 2026 and a 14-night Northern Europe and Scandinavia itinerary departing 8 May 2026 — as well as a special all-star Food Heroes sailing on 28 August 2026 alongside Olly Smith and José Pizarro.

Across these voyages, guests can attend live Q&As, book signings, cooking demonstrations and exclusive Cookery Club masterclasses hosted by the chef himself. You can even have your photo taken with him.

– READ MORE: Complete cabin guide to Ventura cruise ship –

Guests can also attend exclusive live cooking demos with the famous chef as he divulges his techniques and tips for cooking the perfect risotto dish.

On Britannia, as patron of The Cookery Club, White hosts two-hour masterclasses. You’ll learn how to whip up restaurant-quality food under the chef’s tutelage and then sit down to enjoy the meal with him.

As for the P&O Cruises food menu at these masterclasses, the maestro said: “They include classic fish pie, chicken pie with pastry and Italian seafood dishes, which are simple but full of flavour.

“When they travel to the Caribbean, guests can look forward to learning how to prepare jerk chicken and caramelised rum-and-coconut bananas, as well as Mexican and Brazilian street food. There is even a family class where young budding chefs can come to learn tricks of the trade.”

The crème de la crème of these culinary experiences, though, is doubtless attending a hosted dinner with White. On these occasions, he prepares three courses while you watch before everyone sits down to tuck into the repast – paired with wine, of course – as White keeps the table entertained with tales from his career.

– READ MORE: How good is P&O with children? –

P&O Cruises has confirmed that Marco Pierre White will return to sea in 2026 as part of its Food Heroes programme, marking 20 years since the celebrated chef first partnered with the line.

Marco Pierre White Britannia cruises

In 2026, Marco Pierre White will appear on two dedicated sailings onboard Britannia, as well as a special all-star Food Heroes cruise alongside wine expert Olly Smith and Spanish chef José Pizarro. These sailings will feature exclusive Celebration Night menus created by White, plus hosted dinners, live cookery demos, Q&A sessions and special events designed to showcase P&O Cruises’ food and drink offering.

The all-star Food Heroes cruise is set to be the flagship sailing of the 2026 programme, giving guests the chance to experience all three culinary talents together on one itinerary.

Marco Pierre White Iona cruises

There are no Iona voyages scheduled in 2025 or 2026 featuring Marco Pierre White himself. However, Iona will host Food Heroes sailings in 2026 with wine expert Olly Smith as part of P&O Cruises’ wider culinary programme.

Marco Pierre White Arvia cruises

There are no Arvia voyages scheduled in 2025 or 2026 featuring Marco Pierre White onboard. In 2026, Arvia will host several Food Heroes cruises led by Olly Smith and José Pizarro.

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