P&O The Quays: Iona & Arvia Food, Menus & Dining Guide 2026
The Quays on P&O Cruises: Complete Guide to Food, Menus and Dining
The Quays is P&O Cruises’ casual dining venue on Iona and Arvia, combining several food stations in one informal dining piazza. Find out what’s served at The Quays, including fish and chips, burgers, Asian-inspired dishes and Arvia’s Roast Carvery, plus menus, opening times, location, booking, dress code, prices and how it compares with the Horizon buffet.
If you’re cruising on Iona or Arvia, The Quays is one of the dining venues worth getting to know early in your cruise. It’s included in the fare, doesn’t normally require a reservation and gives you considerably more choice than simply heading to the buffet every time you’re hungry.
The Quays at a glance
What is The Quays?
The Quays is different from most of the restaurants you will find on a P&O cruise ship.
Rather than being one restaurant with one menu, it is a multi-venue dining area, with different food stations and counters grouped together. The idea is simple: choose what you want from the available options and then eat in the shared dining area.
That makes The Quays particularly useful for families and groups. You don’t all have to agree on the same cuisine, and there is no need to plan your meal around a restaurant reservation.
The current concept covers a range of international food, with live cooking stations and casual dishes. Fish and chips, Asian stir-fries and other global flavours are among the food P&O currently highlights.
The Quays is an included dining venue, so there is no additional cover charge for eating there.
It is currently available on Iona and Arvia only.
Where is The Quays on Iona and Arvia?
The Quays is on Deck 8, the Promenade Deck, on both Iona and Arvia.
Its position is particularly useful because it sits alongside the outdoor promenade, making it possible to take food outside when the weather allows.
If you’re planning your day around the ship, The Quays is therefore particularly convenient for a casual lunch rather than having to head to a separate restaurant.
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Iona Deck Plans
Arvia Deck Plans
The Quays - Iona v Arvia
There is really only one key difference between The Quays on Iona and the same venue on Arvia. They both offer included casual, multi-venue dining with International and global cuisine. Both have live cooking stations, and are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. You will find Hook, Line and Vinegar and Fusion Asian restaurants on both ships.
However whereas Iona has the Boardwalk American Diner, on Arvia they have Roast instead.
What food is served at The Quays?
The food at The Quays is designed to be varied rather than centred on one particular cuisine.
The current offering can include:
Fish and chips
Burgers and American-style favourites
Asian-inspired dishes
Stir-fries
Katsu-style dishes
Roast-style food
Other international dishes
Fish & Chips from Hook Line & Vinegar at The Quays
The precise menu can change, so it is worth thinking of The Quays as a collection of food stations rather than a restaurant with a permanent menu.
That is particularly relevant if you find older reviews or menu photographs online. Some of the names and dishes associated with The Quays when Iona first launched are still widely quoted, but the offering has evolved.
A common point of confusion for passengers is trying to figure out exactly which food outlets are available at The Quays. While some online guides list older menus, P&O Cruises has streamlined the multi-station concept for the 2026 season.
Two signature stalls remain permanent fixtures across both Excel-class ships:
Hook, Line & Vinegar: Your classic British chip shop at sea. This counter serves up freshly battered cod, golden chunky chips, mushy peas, and tartare sauce, alongside popular seafood additions like scampi and crispy calamari strips.
Fusion: A vibrant Asian street-food and noodle bar. This live cooking station features custom stir-fries, aromatic curries, crispy spring rolls, and katsu-style chicken dishes tossed fresh to order.
The Crucial Ship Difference: The Third Stall
The third food counter changes completely depending on which specific vessel you are sailing on:
On P&O Iona – Boardwalk Diner: This stall caters to traditional American-style comfort food favorites. You can walk up to the counter to order juicy beef burgers, loaded hot dogs, southern fried chicken tenders, and seasoned fries.
On P&O Arvia – Roast at The Quays: Instead of burgers, Arvia features a traditional British carvery station. The star of the show here is the highly-searched Yorkshire Pudding Wrap- where succulent roasted carvery meats and classic trimmings are tightly rolled into a giant, gravy-soaked Yorkshire pudding.
Is The Quays free on P&O Cruises?
Yes. The Quays is included in the cruise fare on Iona and Arvia.
There is no cover charge for eating at The Quays. This makes it one of the included alternatives to the Horizon buffet and main dining restaurants.
Are Drinks Included at The Quays?
Drinks aren’t automatically included simply because your food is included. What you pay for drinks depends on your drinks package and the individual drink.
Is There Table Service at The Quays?
No, The Quays does not offer traditional table service for food. The venue operates strictly on a counter-service model where you order directly from the chefs. However, table service is available exclusively for drinks—dedicated bar staff regularly roam the floor to take beverage orders and quickly clear away your empty plates
The Quays on Iona
Iona was the first P&O Cruises ship to introduce The Quays.
It was designed as part of the ship’s more informal approach to dining, alongside venues such as The Olive Grove, The Beach House and Taste 360.
Today, The Quays remains one of Iona’s included dining options.
The Quays on P&O Cruises Iona. Photo Credit: P&O Cruises
P&O describes it as offering a diverse selection of international cuisines, while the wider Iona dining line-up includes several other included restaurants and casual venues.
This is important when considering how to use The Quays.
It isn’t intended to replace the main restaurants. Instead, it gives you another way of eating when you want something less formal or simply fancy something different.
Where is The Quays on Iona?
The Quays is located on Deck 8, towards the aft of the ship.
Its position makes it convenient for passengers using the aft areas of Iona, although the exact route will obviously depend on where your cabin and other activities are located.
If you’re looking at an Iona deck plan before your cruise, it is worth locating The Quays alongside the other dining venues so you can see how it fits into the ship.
The Quays on Arvia
Arvia also has The Quays, although there are some differences in the food offering.
One of the features particularly associated with Arvia is the Roast Carvery.
Rather than presenting a traditional plated Sunday roast, the concept takes roasted meat and trimmings and serves them in a Yorkshire pudding wrap.
The Quays on P&O Cruises Arvia. Photo Image: P&O Cruises
It is a good example of how The Quays differs from a conventional restaurant. Familiar food is presented in a more casual, portable format.
Arvia’s current dining information also lists The Quays as one of its included dining options and includes it among the ship’s all-day dining choices.
Where is The Quays on Arvia?
The Quays is on Deck 8, towards the aft of the ship.
It sits within the same general area as several other dining and passenger facilities, making it useful for casual meals during the day.
Is The Quays a buffet?
No, this is one of the most common points of confusion.
The Quays is casual and informal, but it isn’t simply another buffet restaurant.
At Horizon for example, you generally walk around a larger buffet area and select from multiple self-service stations.
The Quays is organised around separate food counters and live cooking stations, with different styles of food available within the same overall dining area.
The Quays vs Horizon Buffet
The choice therefore depends on what you want from your meal.
If you want maximum choice and lots of different sides, salads and desserts, the buffet is likely to be the better option.
If you already know you’re in the mood for something specific, The Quays can be more appealing.
You can find more about P&O Cruises Buffet Restaurants here.
The Ultimate Insider Hack: Breakfast at The Quays
While most passengers instinctively head to the main Horizon buffet or wait for table service in the Main Dining Rooms, savvy cruisers head straight to Deck 8 Aft.
The Quays opens daily to serve an incredible, crowd-free alternative breakfast option. Instead of standing in self-service buffet lines, you can order freshly prepared items straight from the counters:
Custom Omelettes: Hand-assembled and cooked to order with your choice of fillings.
Fresh Waffles & Pancakes: Served warm and topped with sweet syrups, fruit, or cream.
Full English Staples: Cooked-to-order eggs, premium bacon, sausages, and hash browns.
Breakfast On-The-Go: Perfect breakfast muffins and breakfast wraps if you are trying to rush off the ship for an early shore excursion.
What’s on the Counter for Breakfast?
Instead of a single line of buffet food, you can wander between the counters to build a completely fresh, hot breakfast. The standard breakfast roster at the counters features:
The Full English Station: Crispy bacon, premium sausages, grilled mushrooms, baked beans, golden hash browns, fried bread, and fried or scrambled eggs. Insider Tip: You can get Black Pudding here, which is often missing from the standard Horizon buffet lines!
The Omelette & Egg Station: Chef-prepared ham, cheese, mushroom, or onion omelettes made live right in front of you, alongside fresh poached eggs and smoked salmon.
The Sweet Treats Counter: Made-to-order thick pancakes and sweet waffles topped with fresh whipped cream, maple syrup, chocolate sauce, or fruit compote.
The Grab-and-Go Station: Chilled fruit juices, individual yoghurts, fresh pastries, croissants, and a selection of teas and coffees.
Sample Menu Items: What Can You Order?
Because the menus rotate to keep options fresh for longer cruises, you won't find a static paper menu. However, the core, crowd-favorite dishes available to order at each station include:
Hook, Line & Vinegar: Battered cod fillets, golden chunky chips, scampi baskets, crispy calamari strips, fish burgers, and traditional mushy peas.
Fusion: Katsu chicken curry with sticky rice, custom vegetable or chicken stir-fry noodle bowls, vegetable spring rolls, and sweet chili duck wraps.
Boardwalk Diner (Iona Only): Classic beef cheeseburgers, southern fried chicken tenders, loaded chili-cheese hot dogs, onion rings, and skin-on seasoned fries.
Roast at The Quays (Arvia Only): Hand-carved roast beef, turkey, or pork loin; crispy roast potatoes; sage and onion stuffing; all rolled up tightly inside a large, gravy-dipped Yorkshire Pudding Wrap.
New "Little Diners" Kids Menu at The Quays
If you are traveling with children, P&O Cruises has introduced a dedicated "Little Diners" menu across their informal spaces.
If your kids are picky eaters and don’t fancy a massive noodle bowl or a plate of scampi, you can request items from the kids' counter menu:
The Puppy Dog: A classic, kid-friendly hot dog served with sweet relish, mild mustard, and crispy onions.
Crispy Buffalo Wings: Mildly seasoned chicken wings that come with fresh celery and carrot sticks alongside a cool, creamy dipping sauce.
Lunch at The Quays
Lunch is arguably where the format makes the most sense.
A cruise lunch doesn’t always need to be a sit-down restaurant occasion. You may have just returned from a morning ashore, want to get back to the pool or have an afternoon activity booked.
The Quays gives you the option of having a proper meal without making lunch a lengthy affair.
The range of food also makes it useful for families and groups. One person can choose fish and chips, another an Asian-style dish and another something from the burger or grill-style selection.
It is also a useful alternative when the buffet is particularly busy.
Dinner at The Quays
The Quays is not just a daytime venue.
It can also be used for an informal evening meal, providing another alternative to the main dining restaurants and speciality restaurants.
This is particularly useful on nights when you don’t want a long, formal dinner.
Perhaps you have a theatre booking, want to catch an early show or simply don’t fancy sitting down for several courses.
The Quays gives you the option of eating when it suits you rather than building your evening around a restaurant reservation.
Do you need to book The Quays?
No advance reservation is normally required.
The Quays operates differently from P&O’s speciality restaurants.
You turn up, choose your food and find somewhere to sit.
That doesn’t mean there will never be a queue. Popular meal periods can be busy, particularly around lunchtime on sea days.
However, you don’t need to plan ahead in the same way as you would for a restaurant where tables are booked.
What time does The Quays open on Iona & Arvia?
Opening times vary by ship, sailing and meal period, so there isn’t one timetable that applies to every cruise. Check the P&O Cruises app and daily onboard programme for the current opening times during your sailing.
What is the dress code at The Quays?
You can wear pretty much what you want in The Quays other than uncovered swimsuits (P&O Cruises Dress Codes suggest day/evening casual.)
That makes The Quays one of the easiest places to eat if you don’t want to dress for dinner.
It is particularly useful on evenings when you are planning to spend most of your time around the ship’s entertainment venues or when you have returned from a busy day ashore.
Can you eat outside at The Quays?
Yes, outdoor dining is available at The Quays.
This gives the venue another advantage over some of the indoor dining options.
On a warm sea day, taking a casual lunch outside can make The Quays feel quite different from eating in the buffet.
Outdoor tables are naturally subject to weather and availability, so they should not be regarded as guaranteed seating.
Is The Quays suitable for families?
Yes, the informal format makes it particularly well suited to families. From summer 2026 P&O Cruises also introduced a more child-friendly menu with its dedicated "Little Diners" menu.
There is no need for everyone to order from the same menu, and children can choose something familiar while adults try something different.
It also avoids some of the challenges of taking younger children into a traditional restaurant for a longer meal.
P&O lists The Quays among the included dining choices on both ships and provides additional family dining options elsewhere, including children’s tea and children’s menus.
More on Family cruising on P&O Arvia and Family Fun on Iona
The Quays and dietary requirements
P&O provides dietary options across its dining venues, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary requirements.
If you have a significant allergy or dietary restriction, it is important to notify P&O in advance and speak to the onboard restaurant team rather than relying solely on the information displayed at an individual food station.
Because The Quays has several different counters, the availability of suitable dishes can vary from one station to another.
For anyone with a serious allergy, the usual cruise advice applies: don’t assume a dish is safe simply because it appears to contain suitable ingredients.
The Quays vs the main dining restaurants
The Quays and the main dining restaurants serve very different purposes.
The Quays is better for:
Casual meals
Flexible timings
Families
Quick lunches
Informal dinners
Different food choices within one venue
Days when you don’t want to make a restaurant reservation
The main dining restaurants are better for:
Waiter service
Longer meals
Multi-course dining
Special occasions
A more traditional restaurant experience
There is no need to choose one style for the whole cruise.
One of the advantages of Iona and Arvia is that you can move between different styles of dining depending on what you feel like doing that day.
Unlike the traditional P&O Cruises Freedom Dining rooms where you sit down for a formal, multi-course meal, Deck 8 offers a completely fluid experience. If you are browsing Iona Deck 8 food options or looking through Arvia restaurant reviews to plan your evening, remember that you can mix and match these venues throughout your sailing without needing to stick to a rigid schedule.
Which P&O ships have The Quays?
The Quays is only currently available on:
Iona
Arvia
It is not available on Britannia, Ventura, Azura, Aurora or Arcadia.
The Quays menus
The Quays doesn’t have one single menu that applies identically to every sailing.
The venue contains several food stations, and the dishes available can change.
There is also a significant amount of older information online dating back to the launch of Iona, when the three main Quays outlets were named Fusion, Hook, Line & Vinegar and Boardwalk Diner.
Those menus are useful for understanding how the concept started, but shouldn’t automatically be assumed to be the current menu.
How The Quays fits into Iona and Arvia’s dining options
One of the reasons The Quays can be confusing is that Iona and Arvia have so many different places to eat.
On both ships you have:
Included dining
The Quays
Taste 360
Other casual options depending on ship
Speciality dining
Other ship-specific venues
The Quays therefore isn’t competing directly with the speciality restaurants.
It fills the gap between buffet dining and traditional restaurant dining.
The Quays: what makes it different?
There are plenty of included places to eat on Iona and Arvia, so why have a separate venue like The Quays?
The answer is choice without formality.
The food is more focused than a buffet, but you don’t have to commit to a particular restaurant.
You can choose what appeals to you at the time, eat relatively quickly if you want to and move on to whatever you’re doing next.
That makes The Quays particularly useful on busy days.
It is also one of the better options for mixed groups because the different food stations mean that everyone doesn’t necessarily have to eat the same thing.
Can You Take Food To-Go From The Quays?
Yes! One of the best layout features of The Quays on Iona and Arvia is its seamless integration with the outdoor promenade deck.
While there is a large shared indoor seating area, it can get highly oversubscribed during peak lunch periods on sea days. If you cannot find an open table inside, simply ask the counter staff for your meal to be placed in takeaway packaging.
You can walk your fish and chips or noodle boxes right out to the exterior terrace tables, find a quiet sun lounger on Deck 8, or head back to the total privacy of your own cabin balcony to eat by the ocean.
The Lowdown
The Quays is easy to overlook when you first look at the enormous list of restaurants and food venues on Iona and Arvia.
It doesn’t have the same sense of occasion as Epicurean, the speciality appeal of Sindhu or the restaurant experience of The Keel & Cow. But that isn’t what it is there for.
The Quays is about making eating easy.
And on a cruise, that can be more useful than it sounds.
I’d particularly recommend trying it for lunch early in your cruise. That gives you a chance to work out which stations appeal to you and where it fits into your own routine.
It is also a good option on port days. If you’ve spent several hours ashore, the last thing you may want is to dress up and sit through a long dinner. The Quays gives you somewhere to eat without turning the meal into an event.
The outdoor seating is another reason to make use of it when the weather is good. A casual lunch outside is a very different proposition from eating indoors in the buffet.
I wouldn’t choose The Quays for every meal, simply because Iona and Arvia offer too many other good dining options. But I would make it part of the rotation.
For families, it is particularly useful. For couples who want a quick meal before a show, equally so. And for anyone who gets tired of buffet dining after a few days, it provides a welcome alternative without adding to the bill.
Cruise Lowdown verdict
The Quays isn’t necessarily the dining venue you’ll be talking about most when you get home, but it may be one of the ones you use most.
It’s flexible, included, informal and offers enough variety to make it useful throughout a cruise.
If you’re sailing on Iona or Arvia, I’d definitely put it on your list to try.
If you are looking for other unique options on Deck 8 Midships, read our full P&O Arvia Green & Co Menu Guide here.
P&O Cruises The Quays FAQ
Is there table service at The Quays?
No. The Quays operates entirely on a counter-service model where you order directly from the food stalls. However, bar staff roam the floor to take drinks orders, and team members will clear away your empty plates and trays when you are finished.
What time does The Quays open?
The Quays opens early in the morning for breakfast (typically around 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM) and remains open throughout the day for lunch and dinner, closing late in the evening. Exact ship-specific times are published daily in the Horizon newsletter and on your My Holiday app.
Is The Quays free on P&O Cruises?
Yes. The Quays is included in the cruise fare on Iona and Arvia.
Which P&O ships have The Quays?
The Quays is currently available on Iona and Arvia.
What food is served at The Quays?
The offering includes international casual food, with examples including fish and chips, Asian-inspired dishes, stir-fries, burgers and roast-style food.
Is The Quays a buffet?
No. It is a casual dining piazza with separate food stations and live cooking counters.
Do you need to book The Quays?
No, you do not need to book a slot. The venue operates entirely on a walk-in basis. Because it is so popular, it can get busy during peak lunch hours on sea days, so arriving slightly earlier or later than peak times is recommended if you want to secure an indoor booth.
Can you eat at The Quays for breakfast?
Yes. Breakfast is available at The Quays, with P&O currently listing counter-service breakfast there on Arvia and The Quays among Iona’s included breakfast options.
Can you eat at The Quays for lunch?
Yes. The Quays is particularly suited to casual lunchtime dining.
Can you eat at The Quays for dinner?
Yes. It provides an informal alternative to the main dining restaurants and speciality restaurants.
Does The Quays serve fish and chips?
Yes. Fish and chips is one of the established dishes associated with The Quays.
Does The Quays serve Asian food?
Yes. Asian-inspired food and stir-fries form part of the international offering.
Does Arvia have anything different at The Quays?
Arvia’s Quays includes a Roast Carvery, with roasted meats and trimmings served in a Yorkshire pudding wrap.
Is The Quays on Britannia?
No. The Quays is currently available on Iona and Arvia only.
Is The Quays on Ventura or Azura?
No. The Quays is currently available on Iona and Arvia only.
Is The Quays the same on Iona and Arvia?
The overall concept is similar, but individual food offerings can differ between the two ships.
What is the dress code at The Quays?
Day/evening casual.
Can you eat outside at The Quays?
Yes, outdoor seating is available, subject to weather and availability.
Is The Quays good for families?
Yes. Its informal format and variety of food make it a practical choice for families and groups, especially with the refreshed children’s menu from 2026.
Does The Quays cost extra?
No. The Quays is included in the cruise fare. Drinks are subject to the usual P&O drinks arrangements.
What is the best time to eat at The Quays?
It depends on your itinerary, but lunchtime can be particularly useful for a quick, informal meal. Busy sea-day periods can be more crowded, so checking the daily schedule is advisable.
Does The Quays have the same menu every day?
Not necessarily. The food offering can change, and individual stations and dishes may vary between ships and sailings.
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