The Beach House on P&O Cruises is a specialty dining option that is a relaxed and affordable alternative to complimentary dining onboard.
The menu takes inspiration from Caribbean and American cuisines to deliver menu choices that are sure to appeal to families and friends looking for comfort food and hearty dishes.
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Which P&O ships have The Beach House?
The Beach House is available on: Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Oceana, Ventura and Iona (coming soon).
It’s a pop-up dining venue situated in the buffet. A dedicated section is given over each evening to The Beach House with a separate reservations desk.
Dress Code
The dress code in The Beach House on P&O is casual. This means smart shorts and polo shirts are fine, anything except beach wear is acceptable. We opted to dine here during one of the formal nights when we didn’t feel like getting dressed up. Think of it as an extension of the buffet.
The Beach House Menu
There are typically two menus available during a cruise. This allows you to try this specialty dining venue more than once. On our Britannia cruise, we ate at The Beach House twice and were able to try both menus. The key menu items are available on both menus with some alternatives made to starters, mains and desserts.
The Beach House has some starters and mains for vegetarians and vegans, which I have marked in green text. The desserts are vegetarian and some can be simply altered to become vegan. You can also ask for some dishes to be prepared with vegan cheese or vegan ice cream.
How Much does it Cost to Dine at The Beach House?
There is a small cover charge of £7.50 to dine at The Beach House on P&O Cruises. £7.50 for a three-course meal is definitely the cheapest specialty dining I’ve seen on a cruise ship. There are individual items on the menu that have an additional charge but these are very affordable and are itemised on the menus.
Menu One: Starters
This starter is a hefty portion, it’s one and a half jacket potatoes fully loaded with soft cheesiness. If you have a big appetite it’s right for you but if not, it may be better for sharing.
Super Charged Salad served in a Tortilla Cup
Giant Peruvian crunchy corn, avocado, barrel aged feta, pickled carrots, toasted pumpkin seeds, baby spinach and pomegranate dressing (v) vegan option available
Piri Piri Boneless Chicken Thighs
Cream cheese slaw, garlic dough balls and sweet chilli sauce
Hush Puppies
Deep fried ham and Jalapeno fritters, red beet slaw and sour cream
I’d never tried Hush Puppies before so thought I’d give them a try at The Beach House on P&O. The sour cream dip helped to balance out the fattiness of the Hush Puppies. Overall quite tasty and the portion size was more than adequate.
Baked Porcini and Ricotta Crepes
Garlic and spinach cheese sauce (v)
Panko Crumb and Filo Straw Tiger Prawns (£1.75 extra)
Coconut and pineapple salsa, sweet chilli and bell pepper dip
This starter has an additional charge of £1.75 and our friend really enjoyed it. The prawns can be eaten like lollipops on sticks, which make dipping easy.
Beach House Nachos
Tortilla chips, Monterey Jack cheese, tomato salsa, guacamole, sour cream and jalepenos (v) Add grilled chicken breast or chorizo sausage for £1.00
Menu One: Mains
Sizzler Plates
Your choice of sizzling tiger prawns, turkey breast, New York strip beef steak, or grilled Halloumi (v), stir-fried rice and vegetables, flour tortillas, guacamole and sour cream.
The sizzler plates come to the table steaming, accompanied by stir-fried rice and vegetables, flour tortillas, guacamole and sour cream. If you like fajitas, it’s very similar.
Hickory Glazed Cedar Plank Salmon
Sour cream and spring onion potato salad, buttered green asparagus and cherry tomato compote.
Southern Fried Chicken Tenders
Beef and ham baked beans, corn on the cob and American cheese fries.
Caribbean Pulled Pork Cubano Sub
Sweet potato fries, onion rings, spicy black beans and sweet chilli dip
Lentil, Cheese and Bean ‘Dog’
Sub roll, seasoned wedges and coarse grain apple mustard (v)
Huevos Racheros
Baked tortilla with a fried hen’s egg, avocado, refried beans, taco chips and tomato salsa (v) vegan option available
Slow Cooked New Orleans Suckling Leg of Lamb to Share (£7.95 for two)
Cajun and rosemary rub, garlic wedges, sauteed greens and peach relish
Speciality Hanging Kebab Garlic King Prawn, Lobster Tail, Squid and Red Spiced Monkfish (£5.95 extra)
Bean paella, sauteed greens, sweet chilli dip and Hollandaise sauce. (Photo in Menu Two)
Texan Slow Cooked Beef Brisket and Hot Links Sausage (£2.95 extra)
Mac and cheese, pit beans and corn bread
Double Decker Burger Prime Beef, Dry Cured Bacon and Monterey Jack Cheese in a Sesame Brioche Bun (£1.95 extra)
Skin on fries, onion rings and coleslaw
We usually crave a good burger at least once during a cruise, it’s a nice change from the rich food and this one didn’t disappoint. It was a fair size but very juicy. The burgers were prime beef with dry cured bacon and Monterey Jack cheese served in a brioche bun. The onion rings were nothing special and reminded me of cheap frozen ones you can buy in the supermarket. We thought it was worth the £1.95 extra charge.
Beach House Rib Combo Glazed Beff Short Ribs and St Louis Sticky Baby Back Pork Ribs (£3.95 extra)
Thick cut chips, onion rings and red slaw
This is a substantial dish with glazed beef short ribs and St Louis sticky baby back pork ribs. I enjoyed that there was plenty of BBQ sauce with the ribs and although I was getting full by the end, managed it all. My previous thoughts remain on these onion rings, I just wish they had been freshly battered but understand that it’s difficult on a cruise when trying to cater for the masses. This was one of my favourite dishes at The Beach House on P&O.
Cook Your Own Beef Fillet of a Lava Rock 6oz £2.95 / 8oz £3.95
Blackened plum tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, thick cut chips and onion rings. (Photo in Menu Two)
Menu One: Desserts
Baked White Chocolate New York Cheesecake with Spiced blueberry compote
Warm Apple and Pecan Pie with vanilla yoghurt sorbet
Philadelphia Carrot Cake with Amarena cherry compote and honey ice cream
Triple Layered Chocolate Fudge Cake with Praline sauce and Bourbon vanilla ice cream
Key Lime Sundae, lime cream cheese, lemon sorbet and brown butter crumb
This dessert appears decadent but had a considerable amount of cream cheese!
Banana and Strawberry Daiquiri Sizzler (£1.50 extra) with coconut rum and Eton mess ice cream
This is the dessert version of the sizzler plates from the main course menu. The coconut rum is drizzled over the fruit to make it sizzle and steam.
Milk Chocolate Fondue to Share (£4.00 extra for two) with toasted marshmallows, churros, vanilla ice cream, toasted almonds and sprinkles.
Menu Two: Starters
Enjoyable and not too spicy. We opted to go for the blue cheese dip.
Crispy Bacon Caesar Salad
Sourdough croutons and Parmesan
It’s quite easy to fill up on the garlic bread by dipping it in the cream cheese sauce.
Burnt Ends Hash
Pulled beef brisket, maple glazed Pancetta and a soft poached hen’s egg.
Sea Salt Pork Crackling
Bramley apple sauce, chicken gravy and honey and mustard dip
I was intrigued with this starter and decided to try it. The pork crackling are puffs that I tried with each of the three accompanying condiments. Chicken gravy turned out to be my favourite and they were extremely morish. I was a little sad when I’d got to the last one!
Panko Crumb and Filo Straw Tiger Prawns (£1.75 extra)
Coconut and pineapple salsa, sweet chilli and bell pepper dip (Photo in Menu One)
Beach House Nachos
Tortilla chips, Monterey Jack cheese, tomato salsa, guacamole, sour cream and jalepenos (v) Add grilled chicken breast or chorizo sausage for £1.00.
Menu Two: Mains
Sizzler Plates
Your choice of sizzling tiger prawns, turkey breast, New York strip beak steak, or grilled Halloumi (v), stir-fried rice and vegetables, flour tortillas, guacamole and sour cream. (Photo in Menu One)
Blackened Atlantic Cod Fillet with a Jack Daniels Miso Glaze
Steamed bock choy and chorizo fried potatoes
Salt and Pepper Chilli Squid
Mexican rice, stir-fried vegetables
Sticky Fried Chicken Breast
Skinny Fries, Kimchi slaw salad and peanut dip
This dish had a good combination of flavours. The peanut dip reminded me of satay sauce and it was nicely presented on the plate.
Creamy Truffle Mac and Cheese
Grilled Portobello mushrooms, toasted pretzel crumb and sweet and sour dill pickle (v)
Spicy Mexican Black Bean Burger
Smoked Cheddar and Portobello mushroom in a sesame brioche bun, sweet potato fries and Chipotle corn slaw (v)
Slow Cooked New Orleans Suckling Leg of Lamb to Share (£7.95 for two)
Cajun and rosemary rub, garlic wedges, sauteed greens and peach relish
Speciality Hanging Kebab Garlic King Prawn, Lobster Tail, Squid and Red Spiced Monkfish (£5.95 extra)
Bean paella, sauteed greens, sweet chilli dip and Hollandaise sauce
A couple nearby our table both ordered this dish but did complain that there was little taste. It’s quite a flamboyant meal to arrive at your table, with the kebab suspended on a frame. In contrast, Sandra, from Brits on a Ship thoroughly enjoyed the hanging kebab on her Azura cruise.
Texan Slow Cooked Beef Brisket and Hot Links Sausage (£2.95 extra)
Mac and cheese, pit beans and corn bread
Double Decker Burger Prime Beef, Dry Cured Bacon and Monterey Jack Cheese in a Sesame Brioche Bun (£1.95 extra)
Skin on fries, onion rings and coleslaw (Photo in Menu One)
Beach House Rib Combo Glazed Beff Short Ribs and St Louis Sticky Baby Back Pork Ribs (£3.95 extra)
Thich cut chips, onion rings and red slaw (Photo in Menu One)
Cook Your Own Beef Fillet of a Lava Rock 6oz £2.95 / 8oz £3.95
Blackened plum tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, thick cut chips and onion rings.
This dish was good value for money and a novelty to cook your own steak on a lava rock – that was extremely hot. Care had to be taken not to overcook as it lay on the rock. The steak was excellent.
Menu Two: Desserts
Chocolate and Vanilla Candy Shop Cheesecake, chocolate truffle and Oreo cookies
Warm Apple and Pecan Pie with vanilla yoghurt sorbet
Philadelphia Carrot Cake with Amarena cherry compote and honey ice cream (Photo on Menu One)
Triple Layered Chocolate Fudge Cake with Praline sauce and Bourbon vanilla ice cream
Key Lime Sundae, lime cream cheese, lemon sorbet and brown butter crumb. (Photo on Menu One)
Banana and Strawberry Daiquiri Sizzler (£1.50 extra) with coconut rum and Eton mess ice cream
Milk Chocolate Fondue to Share (£4.00 extra for two) with toasted marshmallows, churros, vanilla ice cream, toasted almonds and sprinkles.
Overall Thoughts
The Beach House on P&O Cruises is a casual dining option that only costs £7.50 per person. The items such as the fillet steak and double decker burger, which did attract a minimal additional cost were well worth it.
It’s likely to appeal to passengers who are seeking an alternative to the Main Dining Room but fancy something more special than the buffet. My initial feeling was that it was along the same lines as Frankie & Benny’s but the food is much nicer than that (and you won’t find any Italian dishes).
It was never busy on the two occasions we dined here on Britannia. We made a reservation for our first visit but just walked in on our second. No booking is required.
Even after eating here twice, there was still plenty of items on the menu that I’d like to try. Notable mentions for ‘next time’ would be the Texan Slow Cooked Beef Brisket and Milk Chocolate Fondue.
If you are interested in other dining venues on P&O, you can check out my post on The Glass House.
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