If you’re planning your evenings on Arvia, dinner is the one part of the day where small decisions make a big difference. On paper, the ship offers a wide range of restaurants, from traditional cruise dining to casual options and a number of specialty venues. In reality, how well your evening goes often comes down to timing, understanding how dining works, and choosing the right place for the type of night you want.
Arvia operates differently from older P&O ships, particularly with its full freedom dining model. There are no fixed dining times and no assigned tables in the main dining rooms, which gives you flexibility but also introduces a level of unpredictability at busy times. There have also been some important changes since launch, especially to the main dining room menus and The Olive Grove, which you need to be aware of before you board.
This guide breaks down all Arvia dinner options, including what is included, what has changed, how freedom dining actually works, and where you should eat depending on the type of evening you want. It also includes two downloadable PDFs. One covers the P&O main dining room menus used across the fleet, and the other includes Arvia dinner menus, including casual and specialty dining.
If you want a full overview of all restaurants on Arvia across the day, you can also read my main Arvia dining options guide.
Watch Arvia Dining Options & Menus (Full Video Guide)
If you want to see the Arvia dinner menus, along with breakfast, lunch and specialty dining options, you can watch my full video below.
Where to Eat Dinner on Arvia?
Arvia offers a mix of dining styles in the evening. The main dining rooms remain the core experience for most passengers, offering a traditional three course meal with table service. Alongside that, you have casual options like The Quays, 6th Street Diner, Taste 360 and the Horizon buffet, which allow you to eat without booking or dressing up.
There are also speciality restaurants available at an extra cost, but those are better treated separately as a decision about value rather than part of your day to day dining routine.
The key point is that dinner on Arvia is not just about where you eat. It is about how you plan your evening. If you try to eat at the same time as everyone else without using the system properly, you will likely end up waiting. If you understand how the dining works, you can avoid most of that.
Main Dining Rooms on Arvia: Meridian and Zenith
The main dining rooms on Arvia, Meridian and Zenith, are central to the evening dining experience. This is where most passengers will eat on most nights, and it is where you get the most traditional cruise dinner.
Each evening you are offered a three course meal, with a rotating menu that typically includes a choice of meat, fish, vegetarian dishes, pasta and a Chef’s Recommendation. The menus change daily, which helps add variety over a longer cruise, but the overall format remains consistent.
One of the biggest improvements on Arvia is the introduction of the updated main dining room menus across P&O Cruises. Arvia received these earlier than most ships, and they are noticeably better than what came before. There is more variety, the dishes feel more modern, and the overall presentation is stronger. This is one of the areas where the dining experience has clearly improved.
You can download the full P&O main dining room menus in the PDF below, which shows exactly what you can expect across different nights.
The main dining rooms work best when you treat them as your default dinner option and build the rest of your evenings around them. They are not trying to compete with speciality dining, but they do provide a reliable and consistent experience.
Download P&O Main Dining Room Menus (Free PDF)
You can download the full P&O main dining room menus below, which are used across Arvia and the rest of the fleet.
Dining for Children on Arvia
If you are travelling as a family, dinner on Arvia is relatively straightforward. The main dining rooms offer a separate children’s menu with simpler, more familiar options. This gives you flexibility, particularly if younger guests are less interested in the standard three course menus.
The children’s menu is included in the downloadable PDF, so you can see exactly what is available before you travel. This is useful for planning, especially on longer cruises where variety matters.
The Horizon buffet also includes a dedicated children’s tea, which tends to offer familiar food in a more relaxed setting. This can be a better option on evenings where you do not want to deal with queues or wait for table service.
In practice, Arvia works well for families at dinner because you are not restricted to one option. You can move between the main dining rooms and more casual options depending on how the evening is going.
Freedom Dining on Arvia: How It Actually Works
Arvia operates on a full freedom dining system, which is one of the biggest differences compared to more traditional cruise ships.
There are no fixed dining times and no assigned tables. Instead, you decide when you want to eat each evening. You can either turn up at the restaurant or join the virtual queue through the My Holiday App system.
In theory, this sounds simple. In practice, it is where many people run into problems.
The busiest time for dinner on Arvia is typically between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, especially on sea days and formal nights. This is also when most people want to eat before going to shows or evening entertainment. If you try to join the queue at this time without planning ahead, you will often be waiting longer than you expect.
The key to making freedom dining work is understanding that it is not a last minute system. You need to think ahead slightly. If you know you want to eat before a show, you should join the queue earlier than you think. If you are flexible with your timing and willing to eat slightly earlier or later, the experience is much smoother.
Another important point is that you are not physically standing in a queue. Once you join, you are free to go elsewhere until your table is ready. This is one of the advantages of the system, but it only works well if you manage your timing.
Freedom dining gives you flexibility, but it rewards people who plan slightly ahead. If you treat it as completely spontaneous, it can feel frustrating. If you use it properly, it works well.
If you prefer not to use the My Holiday system, you can also go directly to the restaurant and request a pager. This means you don’t need to use the virtual queue, and you’ll be notified when your table is ready.
How the My Holiday App Works for Dining
The My Holiday app is central to how dining works on Arvia. It is not a traditional app you download, but a web-based system you access through the ship’s WiFi.
You will use it to join queues for the main dining rooms, check estimated wait times, and book certain restaurants like 6th Street Diner. It is also used for viewing your onboard account and checking availability across different venues.
For dinner in the main dining rooms, you select your restaurant in the My Holiday App , join the queue, and then wait for a notification telling you when your table is ready. This allows you to spend your waiting time elsewhere rather than standing outside the restaurant.
The biggest mistake people make is opening the app when they are already hungry and expecting to eat immediately. On a ship the size of Arvia, that approach rarely works at peak times.
Using My Holiday effectively is one of the easiest ways to avoid waiting for dinner. It does not need to be complicated, but it does require a bit of awareness of how busy the ship is at different times.
The Olive Grove on Arvia: What’s Changed
The Olive Grove has changed significantly since Arvia first launched, and it is one of the most noticeable differences in the dining line-up.
Originally, this was a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant offering dishes from Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco. It provided variety and gave you an alternative to the main dining rooms that felt distinct.
Now, it is used much more like a third main dining room. A smaller Olive Grove menu still exists, but it is not the wide-ranging experience it once was.
You can see the current Olive Grove menu which is included in the downloadable PDF. Compared to earlier versions, the offering is more limited and the rest of the menu is the same as Zenith and Meridian.
From an operational point of view, this change helps reduce queues in Meridian and Zenith. From a passenger point of view, it removes some of the variety that made the ship feel stronger.
Celebration Nights on Arvia: What It Means for Dinner
Celebration Nights on Arvia, sometimes referred to as formal nights, can change how dinner feels on the ship. These are the evenings when many passengers choose to dress up, and the main dining rooms tend to be at their busiest.
In practice, this means longer wait times if you are trying to eat at the same time as everyone else, especially between 6:30pm and 8:00pm. If you want to avoid queues, it is worth eating slightly earlier or later.
It is also worth knowing that you are not required to take part. Casual options like The Quays, Taste 360 and the Horizon buffet remain available, and there is no dress code in those venues. This gives you flexibility if you prefer a quieter or more relaxed evening.
Casual Dinner Options on Arvia
Not every evening on Arvia needs to revolve around a formal, sit-down dinner. The ship offers several casual options that allow you to eat without booking or waiting, and these can be useful depending on your plans.
The Quays in the Evening
The Quays is one of the most flexible dinner options on Arvia. It reopens in the evening with slightly different menus at Asian Fusion and the Roast Carvery. Hook Line & Vinegar’s menu of Fish & Chips stays the same.
This is one of the easiest places to eat if you do not want to join a queue or commit to a full three course meal. There is no dress code, no booking system, and you can eat as quickly or as slowly as you like.
The advantage of The Quays is its simplicity. If the main dining rooms are busy or you have a show coming up, this is the most reliable fallback option. The trade-off is that it is not a formal dining experience, but that is not the point.
This is one of the most useful Arvia restaurants in the evening because it gives you flexibility when other options are less convenient.
6th Street Diner in the Evening
6th Street Diner is also open for dinner and offers a completely different experience from the main dining rooms.
The menu rotates between 2 menus and focuses on American-style comfort food, including burgers, cheesesteaks, ribs and milkshakes. The atmosphere is lively and more informal, which makes it feel like a break from the standard cruise dining routine.
This venue is included in your fare, but it is not something you can rely on at short notice. You will usually need to book through My Holiday or join the virtual queue, and it fills up quickly.
If you plan ahead, this is one of the more enjoyable casual dinner options on Arvia.
Taste 360 in the Evening
Taste 360 remains open into the evening, typically until around 6:00pm, and serves the same poolside food as during the day.
This includes burgers, hot dogs, rotisserie chicken and pizza. It is not a traditional dinner venue, but it is a useful option if you want something quick without joining a queue.
This works particularly well after a port day or if you are around the SkyDome area early evening. It is not something you would plan your entire evening around, but it fills a gap that other restaurants do not cover.
Horizon Buffet in the Evening
The Horizon buffet is also open in the evening and offers a wide range of food, similar to lunchtime but with some variation.
It’s the most convenient option on the ship, but also the busiest. At peak times, it can feel crowded, and finding a table can take time. The experience depends heavily on when you go.
If you use the buffet outside the main rush, it can be a straightforward way to eat. If you go at peak times, it is one of the less appealing Arvia dinner options. It’s best treated as a backup rather than your first choice.
What Time Is Dinner on Arvia?
Dinner on Arvia doesn’t follow a single fixed time, but most venues start serving in the early evening and run through to around 9:30pm.
The main dining rooms, Meridian and Zenith, typically open for dinner from around 5:30pm through to 9:30pm using the freedom dining system. The Olive Grove follows similar timings.
Casual options run for longer. The Quays is open from 12:00pm through to 9:30pm, making it one of the most flexible places to eat in the evening. Taste 360 usually runs until around 6:00pm, so it’s more of an early evening option rather than a late dinner choice.
The Horizon buffet serves dinner from around 6:00pm to 9:30pm, with late night snacks available later into the evening. 6th Street Diner also opens for dinner from around 5:30pm to 9:30pm, but you’ll need to book or join the virtual queue.
The key thing to understand is that while dinner times are flexible, most passengers aim to eat between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, which is when the ship is at its busiest.
Is Dinner Included on Arvia
Most dinner options on Arvia are included in your cruise fare. This includes the main dining rooms, The Quays, Horizon buffet, Taste 360 and 6th Street Diner.
Specialty restaurants come at an additional cost, and these should be considered separately based on whether you want a different experience rather than assuming they are necessary.
In practice, you can have a full and varied dining experience on Arvia without paying extra for dinner.
Download Arvia Dinner Menus (Free PDFs)
You can download the full Arvia dinner menus below, including main dining room menus used across the P&O fleet and Arvia-specific dinner menus covering casual and specialty options.
These PDFs show exactly what is available and are the easiest way to plan your evenings before you sail.
Useful Guides for Your Arvia Cruise
If you are planning your dining across the whole cruise, it helps to understand how each part of the day works.
You can read my Arvia breakfast options and menus guide to see where to eat in the morning, including The Quays, main dining rooms and buffet, along with full menus and a downloadable PDF.
My Arvia lunch options and menus guide explains where to eat during the day, including The Quays, Taste 360 and 6th Street Diner, with full menus and practical tips.
If you are considering paying extra, my Arvia speciality dining guide breaks down each restaurant and helps you decide what is worth the cost.
You can also read my full Arvia dining options guide for a complete overview of all restaurants on the ship.
FAQs: Arvia Dinner Options
What are the dinner options on Arvia?
Arvia offers a range of dinner options including the main dining rooms, The Quays, Horizon buffet, Taste 360, 6th Street Diner and specialty restaurants.
How does freedom dining work on Arvia?
Freedom dining allows you to eat at any time by joining a virtual queue through the My Holiday system rather than having fixed dining times or assigned tables.
Do you need to book dinner on Arvia?
You do not need to book the main dining rooms, but you may need to queue. Some venues like 6th Street Diner require booking or joining a virtual queue.
What is the best place to eat dinner on Arvia?
The main dining rooms are the best option for a traditional dinner, while The Quays is the most flexible casual option.
Is dinner included on Arvia?
Most dinner options are included, including the main dining rooms, buffet and casual venues. Specialty restaurants cost extra.
What restaurants are on Arvia for dinner?
Restaurants open for dinner on Arvia include Meridian and Zenith, The Quays, Horizon buffet, Taste 360, 6th Street Diner and speciality venues.
Dinner on Arvia is one of the areas where understanding how things work makes the biggest difference. Once you know how to manage timing and use the system properly, the range of restaurants and flexibility of the ship work in your favour.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Staying Connected at Sea
If you don’t want to rely entirely on the ship’s Wi-Fi, another option is a cruise eSIM.
Saily has recently launched cruise eSIM plans that provide mobile data both at sea and in supported ports. Depending on your itinerary and how you use your phone, this could be a convenient alternative for messaging, maps and general internet browsing.
You can check the latest plans and coverage here: Saily Cruise Esim
Use code SOLOTRAVEL10 to receive 10% off your purchase.
Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I haven’t personally tested Saily’s cruise eSIM yet, so please check the latest coverage, data allowances and device compatibility before purchasing.