If you are planning a cruise on P&O Iona, one of the biggest questions is what the Iona dining options are actually like, what is included, and how it all works once you are onboard.
The short answer is that there is a lot of choice. The more useful answer is that not all of those options work equally well depending on the time of day, how busy the ship is, and how you prefer to eat. Some places are reliable every day. Others are better used at specific times. And a few are worth paying extra for, but only if you go in with the right expectations.
I have been on Iona twice and used the dining across the full cruise, so this guide is based on how it works in practice rather than how it is presented before you sail. This article covers all P&O Iona dining options, including what food is included, how the system works, what you need to book, and where each venue fits into your day. It will also help you decide what is actually worth your time so you can avoid the common mistakes that make dining feel more complicated than it needs to be.
Watch the Full P&O Iona Dining Options Guide
If you want to see how everything looks onboard, you can watch my full Iona dining guide here. This walks through each venue and shows what the experience is like in practice.
What Restaurants Are on P&O Iona?
One of the most common questions before sailing is what restaurants are on P&O Iona and how they fit together.
At the included end, you have the main dining rooms, the Horizon buffet, The Quays, and Taste 360 in the SkyDome and the Olive Grove. These are the places you can rely on every day, and you can easily cruise on Iona without paying extra for food if you are happy to mix sit-down meals with more casual options.
Alongside that, there are several speciality restaurants. These include Epicurean, Sindhu, The Beach House, The Glass House, Keel and Cow, and the Limelight Club. These are all extra cost and need to be thought about slightly differently, as they are not all offering the same type of experience or value.
There are also smaller options that sit in between, such as Vistas for cakes and pastries, Sundaes and Ripples for ice cream, and room service if you want something in your cabin.
What matters on Iona is not simply knowing what is there. It is understanding how to use these options across your day so you are not relying on the busiest venues at the busiest times.
Is Food Included on P&O Iona?
Yes, most food on P&O Iona is included in your cruise fare. The main dining rooms, Horizon buffet, Olive Grove, The Quays and Taste 360 are all included, and between them they cover breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night food. That means you can eat throughout your cruise without paying extra if you choose to.
Where people get caught out is assuming that the paid options automatically offer better value. Some do add something different to the experience, but others are more about variety than a clear upgrade in quality.
There are also a few smaller charges to be aware of. Room service breakfast has a small delivery fee and is continental only, and places like ice cream counters or afternoon tea in the Epicurean are extra. These are optional rather than essential.
In practice, the included dining on Iona is strong enough that you do not need to spend more unless you want a different type of meal or a change of setting.
How Does Dining Work on P&O Iona?
This is where most of the confusion comes from, because dining on Iona does not follow a fixed timetable in the way some people expect.
Iona uses a flexible anytime dining system rather than set dining times. That means you can choose when you want to eat rather than being assigned a fixed early or late sitting. The main dining rooms operate using a virtual queue, which you join through the My Holiday App once you are onboard.
When you are ready to eat, you join the queue and then wait until your table is ready. You do not stand in a physical line the whole time. You can go for a drink or stay elsewhere on the ship until you are called.
This system works well if you plan slightly ahead. If you wait until you are already hungry and then join the queue at peak time, you are more likely to wait longer. If you join a little earlier and build your evening around it, it feels much smoother.
For casual dining, places like The Quays, the buffet and Taste 360 do not require any booking. You simply turn up and eat when it suits you.
Speciality restaurants are different again. These need to be booked either before your cruise or once you are onboard, and popular times do fill up quickly.
P&O Iona Dining Options: Breakfast
Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to get right on Iona because there are several options that suit different types of mornings.
The main dining rooms offer a traditional sit-down breakfast with table service. This is a calmer way to start the day, especially if you are not in a rush. You order from a menu and everything is brought to you, which makes it feel more relaxed than carrying a tray around a busy venue.
The Horizon buffet is the most flexible option. It opens early and runs later than the other venues, so it works well if you have an early excursion or want something quick. The trade-off is that it is also the busiest place on the ship in the morning, particularly on sea days.
The Quays is one of the most useful breakfast options. It is split across different stations, which spreads people out and makes it feel less hectic than the buffet. You can build your breakfast across different counters, and it works well if you want something quick without the full buffet experience.
There are also paid breakfast options. Room service offers a simple continental breakfast in your cabin for a small charge, and both Keel and Cow and the Epicurean offer a quieter, more premium breakfast setting if you want something different.
If you want a calmer start, the dining rooms or Epicurean work best. If you want flexibility, the buffet is easiest. If you want something in between, The Quays is usually the most reliable option.
P&O Iona Dining Options: Lunch
Lunch is where Iona becomes more flexible, and you are not limited to one or two obvious choices.
The main dining rooms are open for lunch on both sea days and port days, which is something many people do not realise. This is a quieter, sit-down option and is one of the easiest places to get a table without waiting. It works well if you want a break from the busier areas of the ship.
The Quays is one of the most practical lunch venues. With fish and chips, Asian dishes and comfort food across different counters, it gives you variety without needing to book anything. It is one of the easiest places to use regularly without it feeling repetitive.
Taste 360 in the SkyDome offers burgers, pizza and quick options throughout the day. It is not something you plan your day around, but it is useful, especially after a port day or when you want something quick.
The Horizon buffet is also open through the afternoon, so it works if you are eating at different times or just want something simple.
One option that often gets overlooked is The Olive Grove. It is open for lunch and uses the same Mediterranean-style menu as the evening. It does need to be booked, but it can be a good alternative if you want a sit-down meal that feels slightly different from the main dining rooms.
P&O Iona Dining Options: Dinner
Dinner is where the system matters most, because this is when the ship is at its busiest.
The main dining rooms are the core of the evening dining experience. There are four of them, and they all serve the same menu each night. This is where most people will eat on most evenings.
You can choose when you want to eat using the virtual queue system. If you prefer an earlier time, you can try to book a slot, but most people join the queue instead. Wait times vary depending on when you join, but if you avoid the busiest period in the middle of the evening, it usually works quite smoothly.
The Horizon buffet is open for dinner as well and offers a more flexible alternative if you do not want to wait. It also serves late-night food, which is useful if you are eating later in the evening.
The Quays and Taste 360 are both open into the evening and work in the same way as they do during the day. These are the easiest options if you want something quick or do not want to work around the dining room system.
The Olive Grove is also available in the evening with the same menu as lunch. It needs to be booked and can fill up early, but it is another way to break up the routine of the main dining rooms.
There is also the Chef’s Table experience on Celebration Night, which offers the main dining room menu in a separate setting. This is included but does need to be booked once you are onboard.
Dining with Children on P&O Iona
If you are travelling with children, dining on Iona is flexible.
The buffet offers an earlier children’s tea in the evening, which works well if children are heading to the Reef club later on. This gives you an option before the main dinner period begins.
In the main dining rooms, there is a children’s menu alongside the standard menu, and you can mix between the two. This makes it easier to adapt meals depending on what children want to eat.
If you are considering specialty dining, children can still order from the main dining room children’s menu even if the adults are ordering from the restaurant’s menu. You only pay for the adult meals, which makes it easier to include these venues without needing a separate plan for children.
P&O Iona Speciality Dining: What’s Worth It?
The speciality dining on Iona is where you need to be a bit more selective.
Epicurean is the main fine dining restaurant. It offers a quieter setting and a more formal, multi-course meal. This is the type of place people usually choose for one evening rather than multiple visits.
Sindhu is one of the most popular options. It offers Indian dishes that feel different from the rest of the ship and is one of the restaurants that people tend to book early.
The Beach House is more relaxed, with Caribbean and Tex-Mex style dishes. It works well if you want something less formal.
The Glass House and Keel and Cow operate slightly differently. Instead of booking in advance, you join a virtual queue when you are ready to eat. The Glass House focuses on small plates and wine-led dining, while Keel and Cow is more of a steakhouse and grill.
The Limelight Club combines a meal with live entertainment. This is more about the overall evening experience than just the food, so it is worth checking who is performing before booking.
The key point is that specialty dining is best used to add variety rather than replace the included options. The included dining is strong enough that you do not need to rely on these every night.
What Is Actually Worth It on P&O Iona?
Overall, the Iona dining options are strong, but they work best when you use them properly.
The main dining rooms are reliable and form the base of your evenings. The Quays is one of the most useful venues across the whole day and is easy to underestimate. The buffet works best when you use it at quieter times rather than at peak hours.
Speciality dining can add something different, but it is not essential. If you are going to book one or two, it is better to choose based on what you want from the experience rather than assuming they are all equal.
The biggest difference you can make to your dining experience on Iona is timing. If you avoid the busiest periods and use the range of options available rather than defaulting to one place, the whole experience feels much easier.
Useful Guides
If you want to plan your dining in more detail, these guides break down each part of the day with menus and practical advice.
You can read my Iona breakfast options guide to see where to eat in the morning, including the main dining rooms, The Quays and the buffet, along with menus and a downloadable PDF.
My Iona lunch guide explains where to eat during the day and how to use the more flexible options like The Quays and Taste 360.
For evenings, my Iona dinner guide covers how the virtual queue works, how to avoid waiting, and which options are best depending on your plans.
If you are thinking about paying extra, my Iona specialty dining guide breaks down each restaurant, what it costs and whether it is worth it.
If you’re still getting a feel for the ship as a whole, it helps to see how dining fits into the wider onboard experience.
My Iona 10 things you need to know guide covers the key things that can make or break your cruise, including how busy the ship feels and how to plan your days.
You can also read my what’s onboard Iona guide for a full breakdown of the ship, including where all the dining venues are located and how the layout works in practice.
FAQs: P&O Iona Dining Options
What restaurants are on P&O Iona?
P&O Iona has a mix of included and specialty restaurants, including main dining rooms, Horizon buffet, The Olive Grove, The Quays, Taste 360, Epicurean, Sindhu, The Beach House, The Glass House, Keel and Cow and the Limelight Club.
Is food included on P&O Iona?
Yes, most food is included, including main dining rooms, buffet and casual venues. Specialty restaurants and some smaller options cost extra.
Do you need to book restaurants on Iona?
You do not need to book the main dining rooms or casual venues, but you may need to join a virtual queue. Specialty restaurants should be booked in advance.
How does dining work on P&O Iona?
Dining is flexible. You choose when to eat, join a virtual queue for the main dining rooms, and use a mix of included and bookable venues depending on your plans.
What is Freedom Dining on Iona?
Freedom Dining means there are no fixed dining times. You decide when to eat and either join a virtual queue or book a time where available.
What is the best restaurant on Iona?
This depends on what you want. The main dining rooms are the most reliable, while specialty restaurants like Sindhu are popular for something different.
Can you eat whenever you want on Iona?
Yes, there are options available throughout the day and evening, including late-night food in the buffet.
Can you get food late at night on Iona?
Yes, the Horizon buffet serves late-night food, and room service is also available.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise 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.