Cruise life

Splash out: 3 ways to treat yourself on board

There’s no better time to indulge than when you’re on holiday, so why not use your on-board spending money to spoil yourself? From fabulous food to sumptuous spa treatments to luxurious gifts, the choice is yours.

8 min 20 Feb 2022

Editorial Team

Author

We firmly believe that a holiday is the perfect chance to treat yourself to something special – to take the spirit of relaxation and discovery to the next level.

When you book a P&O Cruises holiday, you might receive extra on-board spending money to help you make the most of your time with us. It can be used across the fleet on everything from shore experiences to drinks packages to items from our shops – things that help make your holiday that much better.

Here are three of our favourite ways to indulge in some of life’s little luxuries on your next P&O Cruises holiday.

Freedom dining on board P&O Cruises ships

1. Dine out in style

Whether it’s for a celebratory meal or simply a chance to try something new, our Select Dining restaurants are a treat for your tastebuds. Whatever flavours you fancy, you can find them on board.

For a truly special evening out, head to The Epicurean (Azura, Britannia, Iona, Ventura, Arvia). The menu fuses classic dining elements with the best of modern British dining, uniquely presented in a sophisticated and contemporary setting.

Sindhu (Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona, Arvia, Ventura) is a treat for the senses with its mouthwatering menu and opulent décor. Authentic Indian cuisine with a British twist is a triumph of perfectly balanced spices, delicate flavours and wonderful aromas.

The Glass House (Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona, Ventura), headed up by P&O Cruises Food Hero and wine expert Olly Smith, is the perfect place for a light bite, lunchtime tipple, afternoon apéritif or a tastefully informal evening out. If you love wine, you’ll love exploring Olly’s hand-picked collection of around 40 wines from some of the world’s finest producers.

Oasis Spa on board P&O Cruises ships

2. Say ‘ahh’ in the spa

With the busy lives we lead, taking time to relax is the ultimate treat. And where better to spend that time than at the spa?

Days at sea are perfect for a spot of pampering. Each of our ships boasts an on-board spa, where you can enjoy massages, facials, body treatments, hot-stone therapy and more. The Thermal Suite on Arcadia, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura offers sauna and steam rooms, refreshing tropical showers and heated ceramic loungers, while on Arcadia and Britannia, you can soothe away stress and tension in the Hydropool as high-powered jets invigorate your circulatory system and help relieve stiff muscles.

On Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura, head to The Retreat, an open-air spa terrace exclusively for adults. Where else can you indulge in a spa therapy in the privacy of a shaded cabana while sipping a refreshing drink and soaking up the sea views? Relax on your own sun lounger, get cosy in your bathrobe and slippers and enjoy the VIP service from our Retreat stewards.

Bottled ales in Brodie's Bar on-board P&O Cruises Ship, Britannia

3. Raise a glass

Enjoy a gin? Partial to a pint? Craving a cuppa? Whatever your tipple of choice, you can use your on-board spending money to help quench your thirst. From your morning speciality coffee to sundowners on deck, there are options to suit every occasion.

Our on-board pubs are the perfect place to watch the big match, test your knowledge with a quiz or simply catch up with friends. Each ship has its own pub with its own unique personality – Brodie’s on Britannia houses the largest collection of bottled British beers at sea, while Anderson’s on Iona will feature its own gin distillery.

When it’s cocktail o’clock, our expert bartenders can whip you up something special, from a classic margarita to unique on-board favourites such as the raspberry crème brûlée. There are plenty of places to enjoy them: why not head to The Crow’s Nest (Arcadia, Aurora, Britannia, Iona, Oriana) for a drink with a view, or dance the night away in a nightclub? And of course, you can’t beat a sundowner on deck as you sail away from port, toasting the day’s adventures and new ones to come.

We also offer plenty of non-alcoholic drink options, from a Costa coffee to kickstart your day to a teapigs™ tea for an afternoon pick-me up to a fruity mocktail by the pool.

To help you tailor your holiday just the way you like it, we’ve created four drinks packages that offer unbeatable choice and value on board. Each is available on any holiday of five nights or more and you can use your package in all the restaurants, bars and cafés on board.

And don’t forget…

From today, we’ve waved goodbye to our service charge. With no tipping needed on board, you can relax in the knowledge that the P&O Cruises standards of service you’ve come to expect are all part and parcel of your holiday.