P&O Cruises The Glass House Guide
The Glass House on P&O Cruises
The Glass House is one of P&O Cruises’ most relaxed speciality dining venues, combining Mediterranean tapas, sharing plates and hearty dishes with a wine list created by award-winning wine expert Olly Smith.
With Spanish chef José Pizarro behind its tapas offering, The Glass House has a distinctly Mediterranean feel. It is somewhere you can enjoy a few small plates and a glass of wine, settle in for a full meal or simply stop for a drink and a snack.
What is The Glass House?
The Glass House is a restaurant and bar built around the combination of good food and good wine.
The menu features Mediterranean tapas, sharing plates, hearty mains and indulgent dessert trios. The food is complemented by wines selected by Olly Smith, who heads up The Glass House across the fleet.
The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed, making it quite different from P&O Cruises’ more formal speciality restaurants.
It works equally well for a leisurely lunch, an afternoon drink or a casual evening meal.
Which P&O Cruises ships have The Glass House?
You can currently find The Glass House on:
Arvia
Aurora
Azura
Britannia
Iona
Ventura
It is not currently available on Arcadia.
The Glass House menu
The menu combines Mediterranean flavours with the wine-led character that defines the restaurant.
You’ll find:
Mediterranean tapas
Sharing plates
Hearty mains
Indulgent dessert trios
The menu is designed to be flexible. You can order several tapas dishes to share, combine smaller plates with a main course or simply choose a couple of dishes to accompany a bottle or glass of wine.
The exact dishes vary, so the menu on your sailing is the best indication of what will be available.
See Sample Glass House Menus ➡️
José Pizarro’s Tapas in The Glass House. Photo Credit: P&O Cruises
José Pizarro Tapas Menu
The Glass House features an authentic tapas menu created by acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro, P&O Cruises’ Local Food Hero. His menu brings the flavours of Spain to the ship with small plates designed for sharing, alongside Mediterranean dishes, hearty mains and desserts. P&O describes the menu as pairing José’s tapas with wines selected by resident wine expert Olly Smith.
Available on: Arvia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura.
José Pizarro’s tapas
The tapas menu is associated with acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro, one of P&O Cruises’ Local Food Heroes.
His influence gives The Glass House a distinctly Spanish character, making it a particularly good choice if you enjoy tapas-style dining and sharing food.
Mains
The Glass House isn’t restricted to small plates.
There are more substantial mains for anyone who wants a proper meal, making it possible to use the restaurant for lunch or dinner rather than treating it simply as a tapas and wine bar.
Desserts
For those with a sweet tooth, the menu also includes indulgent dessert trios.
These make sense if you’re sharing several dishes and want to finish with something sweet without necessarily committing to a large dessert.
How much does The Glass House cost?
The Glass House is an additional dining venue, so food is not included in the standard cruise fare.
Unlike restaurants with a fixed speciality-dining cover charge, The Glass House operates on an individual-item basis.
Current guide prices on Arvia and Iona include:
Starters from £2.75
Mains from £8.00
Desserts from £4.50
Tapas are advertised from £3.50 per dish.
Prices can change, and menus and pricing may vary between ships, so treat these as guide prices rather than guaranteed prices for your cruise.
The individual pricing also means you can keep the cost relatively low by ordering a couple of tapas rather than a complete three-course meal.
Do you need to book The Glass House?
The Glass House is designed as an all-day dining venue and, on the ships where it operates, P&O Cruises’ current information indicates that no booking is required.
However, the dedicated Glass House page also says that the venue can be booked once onboard through My Holiday.
The practical approach is therefore to check My Holiday once you’re onboard. If reservations are being offered on your sailing, you can use the app; otherwise, simply visit the restaurant during its opening hours.
Trio of Sliders from The Glass House on P&O Cruises Britannia. Photo credit: Cruise Lowdown
When can you eat at The Glass House?
One of The Glass House’s biggest advantages is its flexibility.
It is suitable for:
Lunch: A relaxed alternative to the buffet or included restaurants, particularly if you fancy tapas and a glass of wine.
Afternoon: Ideal for an aperitif, wine or a few small plates between other activities.
Dinner: A more informal speciality-dining option when you don’t want a lengthy or formal meal.
The Glass House is therefore more versatile than a restaurant that only operates as a traditional evening speciality venue.
What is the dress code?
The general dress code for The Glass House is Casual.
For evenings, the restaurant is described as Evening Casual, with tailored shorts accepted.
This makes it one of the easier speciality restaurants to choose if you want good food without dressing formally.
More on P&O Cruises Dress Codes ➡️
The Glass House and wine
Wine is central to The Glass House rather than simply being an accompaniment to the food.
Olly Smith, P&O Cruises’ award-winning wine expert and Food Hero, heads up the venue and creates its wine lists.
Wine is available by the glass and bottle, with recommendations designed to help match your choice of wine with the food.
This is particularly useful if you’re interested in wine but don’t necessarily consider yourself an expert. The Glass House is intended to make wine approachable rather than intimidating.
Wine tasting at The Glass House
The Glass House can also host wine experiences with Olly Smith.
His wine-tasting masterclasses are designed to introduce guests to different wines in an informal and accessible way. They take place in The Cellar Door, an intimate space within The Glass House.
Availability varies by cruise, so check the onboard programme if this is something you’d like to try.
Trio of Chicken - one of the dishes available in The Glass House on P&O Cruises
Is The Glass House good for lunch?
Yes. Lunch is one of the occasions for which The Glass House particularly lends itself.
You don’t have to order a large meal. A few tapas dishes with a glass of wine can make an enjoyable alternative to the ship’s included lunch venues.
It is also a good option when you’ve had a substantial breakfast and want something lighter later in the day.
8oz Rib Eye Surf and Turf in The Glass House on Britannia. Photo Credit: Cruise Lowdown
Is The Glass House good for dinner?
The Glass House is a good choice if you prefer relaxed speciality dining rather than a formal restaurant experience.
The individual pricing gives you plenty of flexibility. You can order several tapas to share, add a main course, finish with dessert or simply have a couple of dishes alongside your wine.
It is particularly well suited to couples and friends who enjoy sharing food and trying several different flavours.
Is The Glass House suitable for children?
The Glass House is not an adults-only venue.
However, it is primarily designed around Mediterranean food, tapas and wine rather than being a dedicated family restaurant.
For families with children who enjoy trying different foods, the sharing-plate format can work well. For younger children who prefer familiar dishes, one of P&O Cruises’ dedicated family dining options may be more suitable.
Can you use a drinks package at The Glass House?
The Glass House is an additional dining venue, while drinks are covered separately under P&O Cruises’ drinks-package terms.
If you have a drinks package, check the current package conditions and the drinks menu on your sailing to see which wines and other drinks are included.
For a detailed explanation of P&O Cruises’ current drinks packages, see our P&O Cruises Drinks Packages Guide.
Is The Glass House worth the extra cost?
The Glass House is one of the more flexible speciality-dining options because you’re not committed to a fixed cover charge. You can spend relatively little on a few tapas or build a more substantial meal from several dishes.
The wine element is another reason to choose it. Olly Smith’s involvement gives the restaurant a stronger wine identity than most cruise ship speciality restaurants.
Trio of desserts from P&O Cruises Glass House. Photo Credit: Cruise Lowdown
The Glass House on each ship
The core Glass House concept is the same across the fleet, but the surroundings and wider dining choices differ from ship to ship.
Arvia: The Glass House is part of Arvia’s extensive choice of speciality dining and works particularly well as an informal alternative to the ship’s larger restaurants.
Aurora: The Glass House is one of the ship’s speciality dining options and adds a relaxed wine-and-tapas experience to Aurora’s more traditional dining line-up.
Azura: The Glass House provides a casual alternative to Azura’s other speciality restaurants, including Epicurean and Sindhu.
Britannia: The Glass House is one of several speciality options aboard Britannia, giving passengers an alternative to the ship’s more traditional dining experiences.
Iona: The Glass House is particularly well suited to Iona’s informal approach to dining, with individually priced dishes available throughout the day.
Ventura: The Glass House adds a relaxed Mediterranean and wine-led option alongside Ventura’s other speciality restaurants.
The Glass House FAQs
Is The Glass House free on P&O Cruises?
No. It is an additional dining venue and dishes are individually priced.
How much is The Glass House?
Prices vary by dish and ship. Current guide prices include tapas from £3.50, while P&O’s published prices for Arvia and Iona list starters from £2.75, mains from £8 and desserts from £4.50.
Do you need to book The Glass House?
Generally, no booking is required, although booking may be available through My Holiday once onboard. Check the arrangements for your particular sailing.
What food is served at The Glass House?
The menu includes Mediterranean tapas, sharing plates, hearty mains and indulgent dessert trios.
Who created the tapas menu?
The tapas offering is associated with Spanish chef José Pizarro, one of P&O Cruises’ Local Food Heroes.
Who chooses the wine?
Olly Smith, P&O Cruises’ award-winning wine expert and Food Hero, heads up The Glass House and creates its wine lists.
Can I just have a drink at The Glass House?
Yes. The venue also operates as a wine bar, making it suitable for a lunchtime drink or afternoon aperitif as well as a full meal.
What should I wear to The Glass House?
The general dress code is Casual. In the evening it is described as Evening Casual, with tailored shorts accepted.
Is The Glass House suitable for children?
Yes. It is not an adults-only venue, although its menu is primarily aimed at Mediterranean and tapas-style dining rather than children’s food.
Which P&O Cruises ships have The Glass House?
The Glass House is currently available on Arvia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura.
The Lowdown
Best for: Wine lovers, tapas fans and relaxed speciality dining.
Food: Mediterranean tapas, sharing plates, hearty mains and dessert trios.
Wine: Curated by Olly Smith.
Food Hero: José Pizarro.
Price: Individual dishes; no fixed restaurant cover charge.
Dress code: Casual; Evening Casual at night, with tailored shorts accepted.
Booking: Generally no booking required, although check My Holiday for your sailing.
Ships: Arvia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura.
Cruise Lowdown verdict: The Glass House is one of P&O Cruises’ most flexible speciality restaurants. Its combination of tapas, sharing plates, individually priced dishes and a strong wine focus means you can make it as casual or as substantial as you like. If you enjoy wine and relaxed dining, it is one of the speciality restaurants worth trying.