Speciality Restaurants? I’m a convert

Speciality Dining

Why I’m a Convert

Speciality Dining on P&O Britannia

Here is a shocking admission from a cruise blogger, but in the past I have rarely frequented the speciality restaurants on cruise ships, unless it was for a celebration. We preferred to enjoy the sumptuous menus in the main dining rooms and buffets, believing with such delicious food included in our cruise price, why spend more? Right? Well no, as we found out, totally wrong!

On our recent Britannia cruise we had a change of heart. It had been several years since our last P&O Cruise, and we decided we would treat ourselves.

There were several reasons for this:

1. We were allocated early sitting at 6.30 pm which we struggled with on a port-intensive itinerary.

2. We were sharing a table for 8 with just two older ladies, who were lovely but often ate in their cabin.

3. We were unable to switch to anytime dining (once allocated Club Dining, you cannot change time or designated MDR).

4. We had generous onboard credit to use.

What is a Speciality Restaurant on a Cruise Ship?

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a speciality restaurant onboard a cruise ship is one that is not included in your cruise fare and which carries a supplement. Sometimes referred to as ‘select’ dining, these restaurants either carry a ‘flat fee’ or a supplement per dish (and occasionally both - a restaurant fee with some more luxurious items carrying an additional supplement).

What Are The Speciality Restaurants on Britannia?

Sindhu Restaurant Sign, February 2023 Image: Cruise Lowdown

P&O Cruises don’t tend to use the term ‘speciality’ but use the term ‘for a little extra’ for those venues which carry a supplement.

On Britannia these include:

• The Beach House

• The Glass House

• Sindhu

• Epicurean

• The Limelight Club

Deciding to try each of the speciality restaurants was one thing, but trying to book them quite another.

Booking Speciality Restaurants on Britannia

Screenshot from the P&O Cruises ‘My Cruise’ App. Feb 2023 Image: Cruise Lowdown

Ideally you should book your speciality restaurants on your cruise personaliser as far in advance as possible to ensure you avoid disappointment.

As we had only booked our cruise four days before, we had not managed to reserve anything in advance. Once onboard, the app was showing the additional cost venues as being unavailable. We enquired at reception and were advised to go to individual restaurants as they opened to check for cancellations or no shows.

Our first attempt was at The Beach House, where we were initially told they were full but had availability for black tie night. We were about to accept that, when a party of four walked up and asked someone else if they could be fitted in, and they were immediately seated. I queried whether perhaps they could squeeze two in as they had just found room for four, and they were suddenly able to seat us. This happened on a second occasion too, so don’t be afraid to ask or immediately deterred as I think they have some discretion as to whether to take extras.

The Glass House was much easier as it is a walk-up bar/restaurant, and is open from 11am until 11 pm. So if you are flexible about when you eat and not desperate for a window seat, you should be fine. Evenings tended to be busier than say early/late afternoon, and we never had to wait to be seated.

Sindhu was a must for me as I love Indian food. I kept checking the app daily and eventually there was some availability. Again persistence is key, especially where the app is concerned. You can read my full review here: Sindhu on P&O Cruises

Limelight Club Logo on Placemat Feb 2023 Image: Cruise Lowdown

There were two acts appearing at The Limelight Club during our cruise. We decided we would really like to see Ray Quinn (X Factor & Dancing on Ice) who was performing during our second week. The App was only showing availability for our last night onboard which wasn’t ideal as we had to pack etc., so we went to the Restaurant Manager one evening to ask if there had been any cancellations. We were told to stand to one side and once ticket-holders had been seated, those in the queue might be admitted. This was a bit of a risk as we had to wait from 6:30-7.00 pm to find out, meaning if we were unsuccessful we would have missed our dinner in The Oriental MDR. Fortunately we were first in the queue, and whilst there were no tables for two available, we were able to join with a party of four who we had been chatting to in order to fill a larger table. So it is possible to join a wait queue, but be prepared to be flexible.

Sadly, Epicurean was the only one of the speciality restaurants we were unable to get a cancellation for, and we were so disappointed as had heard such great things about it. I would definitely advise you to book in advance wherever possible.

Can you use your Drinks Package in Speciality Restaurants?

I was recently asked this on my blog so thought I would include it in this article. You can use your drinks package in the speciality restaurants for the same drinks included elsewhere. Drinks over £6.95 are excluded, but you do get a discount of 20% off drinks over this cost and on bottles of wine. Check out my Ultimate Guide to P&O Drinks with links to Terms & Conditions.

Are the Speciality Restaurants Worth The Extra?

Collage of food enjoyed in speciality restaurants onboard P&O Cruises Britannia February 2023 Image: Cruise Lowdown

As I said at the beginning of this piece, we always thought speciality dining was an unnecessary expense given the quality of the included dining. However, our experience on Britannia showed us that the menus in these ‘extra-cost’ venues were even more exciting, and the food even more delicious. Without exception, each meal we enjoyed in these restaurants was delightful - so much so that we came to the decision that we would budget for their inclusion on future cruises.

Which was our favourite restaurant? A difficult choice, but for us it was The Glass House. Each dish was so tempting and very reasonably priced (starting at £4.95 for a trio of starters/desserts, £6.95 for a fillet steak for example); you could choose a plate to suit your appetite - the starters were very large so made a great lunch choice; and there was the bonus that you could pair your meal with a selection of delicious wines curated by wine expert, Olly Smith. See The Glass House Menus

I’d love your recommendation to share with other readers. Leave details of your favourite speciality restaurant (and the ship we can find it on) in the comments below.