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, 62, 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.

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 –  available to book via cruise agent Bolsover Cruise Club – has partnered with stars of the culinary world.

Marco Pierre 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.

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, Marco Pierre 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.

However, to sail with White himself in 2024 you’ll need to pick a select cruise on Britannia.

On these cruises, the chef offers Q&As and book signings so you can get your hands on his latest tome and even have your photo taken with him.

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, Marco Pierre 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.

Marco Pierre White Britannia cruises

If you’re hoping to catch the chef onboard, several Britannia voyages are coming up in 2024 attended by White. Two sail to the Canary Islands (on July 5 and October 4), one heads to the Mediterranean (August 16) and another to the Baltics (May 10).

Marco Pierre White Iona cruises

There are no Iona voyages currently scheduled in 2024 with Marco Pierre White.

Marco Pierre White Arvia cruises

There are no Arvia voyages currently scheduled in 2024 with Marco Pierre White.

Is food included on P&O Cruises?

P&O Cruises offers a wide range of dining options included in the price of a cruise, whether you’re tucking into a burger at the Poolside Grill, sampling Asian fusion cuisine at multi-venue dining piazza The Quays, hitting the self-service buffet or eating pizzas at Taste 360, a street food-style dining experience on deck onboard Iona.

So yes, while food is included on P&O Cruises, a plethora of other dining venues are also available for a small extra cost; for instance, gastropub The Keel & Cow plates up steaks and burgers, The Beach House serves American eats and Sindhu offers Indian cuisine with a British twist – to name just a few of the P&O Cruises restaurants available for a little extra.