If you are trying to work out the best P&O Britannia breakfast options before your cruise, the good news is that breakfast is fairly straightforward. You do not have as many venues as you get on newer ships like Iona or Arvia, but you do have three useful choices that cover most types of morning.
The more important question is not just where breakfast is served. It is which option works best depending on your plans for the day.
On Britannia, you can have a sit-down breakfast in the main dining room, a quicker breakfast in the Horizon Buffet, or a continental breakfast delivered to your cabin. Each one has its place, but they feel very different in practice.
I have cruised on Britannia and used the breakfast options onboard, so this guide focuses on how breakfast actually works rather than just listing the venues. It covers where to eat in the morning, what is included, which option gets busiest, and why free room service breakfast was one of my favourite things about Britannia.
You can also download the full Britannia breakfast menus in the free PDF below, including the main dining room breakfast menu, Horizon Buffet options and room service breakfast menu.
If you want a full breakdown of food across the whole cruise, you can also read my P&O Britannia dining options guide, which covers lunch, dinner, speciality restaurants and what is actually worth paying extra for.
Britannia Dining Options: Full Video Guide
For a complete overview of dining on P&O Britannia, including how breakfast fits into the rest of the day, you can watch my full video guide here.
Where to Eat Breakfast on P&O Britannia
P&O Britannia breakfast options fall into three main types.
You have sit-down dining in the main dining rooms, casual self-service breakfast in the Horizon Buffet, and continental room service breakfast in your cabin.
The main dining room gives you the calmest traditional breakfast experience. The buffet is the earliest and most flexible option. Room service breakfast is the quietest and, on Britannia, it is also included.
That is one of the nice differences with Britannia. On Iona and Arvia, room service breakfast has a small delivery charge, but on Britannia it was free when I sailed.
The key is choosing the right option for the kind of morning you want. If you are heading ashore early, the buffet is usually easiest. If you want a slower start, the main dining room works well. If you have a balcony and want a lazy sea day morning, room service breakfast is hard to beat.
Main Dining Room Breakfast on Britannia
If you prefer a sit-down breakfast with table service, the main dining rooms are one of the best P&O Britannia breakfast options.
Britannia has three main dining rooms: the Peninsular Restaurant, the Oriental Restaurant and the Meridian Restaurant. However, breakfast is not usually served in all three. On my cruise, breakfast was served in the Oriental and Peninsular restaurants.
The exact restaurant and opening times can vary, so it is always worth checking the Horizon daily programme each evening or morning.
As a guide, breakfast was served from around 7:30am to 9:00am on port days and from around 8:00am to 9:30am on sea days. Times may change depending on the itinerary, so use those as a guide rather than a fixed rule.
You can either use the P&O My Holiday app or simply turn up at the restaurant. I found it easy to get a table by just turning up, and breakfast service was quick and efficient.
Once you are seated, you order from a menu and everything is brought to your table. This makes the experience feel much calmer than walking around the buffet with a tray, especially on a busy sea day.
The main dining room breakfast menu includes a mix of continental and cooked options. You will usually find pastries, cereal, fruit, yoghurt and lighter dishes, as well as cooked breakfasts such as the classic full English, omelettes and smoked haddock.
Tea, coffee and fruit juice are also available.
The menu is fairly traditional, but that is not a bad thing. The main reason to choose the dining room is the calmer setting and table service rather than a wildly different menu.
If you have dietary requirements, there are also options available, including vegetarian and gluten-free choices. As always, it is worth speaking to the restaurant team onboard if you need anything specific.
For me, the main dining room is the best breakfast option on Britannia if you are not in a rush. It feels more relaxed, the service is usually efficient, and you are not dealing with the busiest parts of the buffet.
Room Service Breakfast on Britannia: Free and Perfect for a Balcony Morning
One of my favourite breakfast options on Britannia was room service breakfast.
On Britannia, continental room service breakfast was free when I sailed. That makes it one of the best included breakfast perks on the ship, especially if you have a balcony cabin.
To order it, you fill in the breakfast card the night before and hang it outside your cabin door before the cut-off time, usually before 1:00am. The next morning, breakfast is delivered to your cabin during the time slot you selected.
The menu is continental rather than cooked. You are looking at items such as fresh pastries, fruit, yoghurt, cereal, tea, coffee and juices.
It is not the option to choose if you want a full English breakfast. But if you want a quiet, easy start to the day, it works really well.
This is especially good on a sea day. Having breakfast delivered to your cabin, making a cup of tea, and sitting outside on the balcony while the ship is at sea is one of those simple cruise moments that feels genuinely relaxing.
It quickly became one of my favourite things to do on Britannia.
The important thing to know is that this is different from some of the newer P&O ships. On Iona and Arvia, there is a small surcharge for room service breakfast, but on Britannia it was included when I sailed.
For me, room service breakfast is not something I would necessarily use every single morning, but it is absolutely worth doing at least once, especially if you have a balcony.
Horizon Buffet Breakfast: Early, Flexible and Busy
If you want a quicker or earlier breakfast, the Horizon Buffet is the most flexible option on Britannia.
The Horizon Buffet is on Deck 16 and opens early in the morning. On my cruise, continental breakfast started from around 6:00am, or around 6:30am on sea days, with hot food usually available from around 7:00am.
This makes it the easiest option if you have an early excursion, want a quick breakfast before getting off the ship, or do not want a sit-down meal.
The buffet includes cooked breakfast items such as eggs, bacon, hash browns, beans and toast. You will also find cereals, fruit, pastries, tea, coffee and juices.
There are also options for vegetarians and vegans, along with choices for dietary requirements such as gluten-free. I also noticed dairy-free milk options, including oat milk.
The main thing to be aware of is that the buffet can get extremely busy, especially on sea days. The busiest period was around 9:00am to 10:30am.
If you enjoy a lie-in and then head to the buffet at peak time, it can feel crowded and less relaxing. You may find yourself moving around busy food stations and trying to find a table at the same time as everyone else.
The Horizon Buffet is useful, but I would use it strategically. Go early if you want it to feel easier, or use it when convenience matters more than atmosphere.
One thing I did miss on Britannia was a fresh omelette station in the buffet. After sailing on Arvia, I did notice the difference because The Quays offers freshly made omelettes, pancakes and waffles. Britannia’s buffet breakfast is more traditional and less varied in that sense.
It still does the job, but it is not the most relaxed breakfast option onboard.
What Time Is Breakfast on P&O Britannia?
Breakfast times on Britannia vary depending on the venue and whether you are on a port day or sea day.
As a guide, the main dining room breakfast was served from around 7:30am to 9:00am on port days and from around 8:00am to 9:30am on sea days.
The Horizon Buffet opened earlier, with continental breakfast from around 6:00am or 6:30am and hot breakfast from around 7:00am.
Room service breakfast is delivered within the time slot you select on the breakfast card the night before.
It is always worth checking the Horizon daily programme onboard, because times can change depending on the itinerary, port arrival times and sea days.
The general rule is simple. If you want the quietest experience, go earlier or choose the main dining room or room service. If you go to the buffet late on a sea day, expect it to be busier.
Is Breakfast Included on P&O Britannia?
Yes, breakfast is included on P&O Britannia.
The main dining room, Horizon Buffet and continental room service breakfast are all included in your cruise fare.
That means you do not need to pay extra for breakfast unless you choose to order other chargeable room service items outside the included continental breakfast.
For me, this is one of Britannia’s strengths. You can have a proper sit-down breakfast, an early buffet breakfast, or breakfast in your cabin without needing to spend more.
What Is the Best Breakfast Option on Britannia?
The best breakfast option on Britannia depends on the kind of morning you want.
If you want the calmest included breakfast, I would choose the main dining room. It is more relaxed than the buffet, you are served at your table, and it is a much nicer way to start the day if you are not in a rush.
If you want the easiest option before an excursion, I would use the Horizon Buffet. It opens early, has plenty of choice and is the most practical option when timing matters.
If you have a balcony cabin or want a lazy sea day morning, I would choose room service breakfast. It is continental only, but the fact it is free makes it feel like a real bonus.
Overall, my personal favourite was room service breakfast on the balcony, but the main dining room was the best all-round option for a proper breakfast.
The buffet is useful, but I would try to avoid it at peak time on sea days.
Download the Britannia Breakfast Menus Free PDF
You can download the full P&O Britannia breakfast menus below, including the main dining room breakfast menu, Horizon Buffet breakfast options and room service breakfast menu.
This is the easiest way to see what is available before you sail and decide where you want to eat on different mornings of your cruise.
Useful Guides for Your Britannia Cruise
If you are planning your dining across the whole cruise, it helps to see how breakfast fits into the rest of the day.
You can read my full P&O Britannia dining options guide for a complete breakdown of all restaurants onboard, including what is included, what costs extra and how the different venues work together.
My P&O Britannia lunch guide covers the main dining room, Horizon Buffet, Lido Grill, pizzeria and casual lunch options, including menus and what I thought was actually worth choosing during the day.
For evenings, my P&O Britannia dinner guide explains how main dining works, the difference between fixed dining and Freedom Dining, what the evening menus are like, and why the main dining room was one of the strongest parts of the dining experience for me.
If you are thinking about paying extra, my P&O Britannia speciality dining guide breaks down The Beach House, Sindhu, The Glass House, The Epicurean and The Limelight Club, including menus, prices where relevant, and which restaurants I personally think are worth booking.
If you are still getting familiar with the ship, my what’s onboard P&O Britannia guide gives a full overview of the ship, including where the main restaurants, buffet and casual dining options are located.
You can also read my P&O Britannia bars guide if you want to plan where to have a drink before dinner, after the theatre, or during a sea day.
FAQs: P&O Britannia Breakfast Options
What is the best place for breakfast on Britannia?
The main dining room is the best option if you want a calm sit-down breakfast. The Horizon Buffet is best if you need something quick or early, while room service breakfast is ideal for a relaxed balcony morning.
What time does breakfast start on Britannia?
The Horizon Buffet usually starts earliest, with continental breakfast from around 6:00am or 6:30am and hot food from around 7:00am. Main dining room breakfast usually starts from around 7:30am on port days and 8:00am on sea days.
Can you get breakfast in your cabin on Britannia?
Yes, you can order continental room service breakfast to your cabin by filling in the breakfast card the night before and hanging it outside your cabin door.
Is room service breakfast free on P&O Britannia?
Continental room service breakfast was free on Britannia when I sailed. This is different from Iona and Arvia, where a small delivery charge may apply.
Is breakfast included on P&O Britannia?
Yes, breakfast is included. You can eat in the main dining room, Horizon Buffet, or order continental room service breakfast to your cabin.
Do you need to book breakfast on Britannia?
Most of the time, you do not need to book breakfast. You can usually just turn up at the main dining room or buffet, although the P&O My Holiday app is used and you can join a virtual queue. But it’s not really needed for Breakfast.
Is the buffet the best breakfast option on Britannia?
The buffet is the most flexible option, but it is not always the most relaxing. It works well early in the morning or before excursions, but it can get very busy later on sea days.
Which main dining rooms serve breakfast on Britannia?
On my cruise, breakfast was served in the Oriental and Peninsular restaurants. This can vary, so always check the Horizon daily programme onboard.
Does Britannia have The Quays for breakfast?
No, Britannia does not have The Quays. Breakfast options are more traditional, with the main dining rooms, Horizon Buffet and room service breakfast being the main choices.
Can you get a cooked breakfast on Britannia?
Yes, cooked breakfast is available in the main dining room and Horizon Buffet. Room service breakfast is continental only.
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.
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