Booking restaurants for Christmas cruise

[pennib]

Last evening ,complying with the time limit for pre cruise booking DH found he could not book the Epicurean for Christmas night. This is something we have always done so we’re disappointed when it seemed that this Christmas night would be different. In any event we were booked in for dinner in the MDR. Imagine his surprise therefore when today he casually logged on to P&O cruise personaliser and found an invitation to book the venue for Christmas night dinner. So he did it. So if there is anyone else been “knocked back “ for a restaurant booking, don’t give up!!

[sandancer]

Decided to check cruise personaliser for our Iona cruise on 30th December and sure enough Christmas Day dinner in the Epicurean and the Keel and Cow are both listed and “coming soon”. One slight problem is that we are on the NYE cruise so unless they are planning to repeat the menus on NYE, and I hope they are, it’s a bit confusing. 

[molecrochip]

Unless its changed, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and NYE tend to show as separate venues under dining. e.g. Epicurean - Xmas Day. This is because the supplement/menu is different.

[Mrs applehead]

We have booked to have christmas dinner in the keel and Cow, It looks like a main dinning room menu.

There is no extra charge.

[Presto2]

We are on a cruise from the 13th January and on the cruise personaliser it says that the New Year's Eve event is 'coming soon'. Am hoping we have the right date for our cruise or have not realised that there is such a big time gap between here and the Caribbean 🙂 🙂😉 

[sandancer]

52 minutes ago, Mrs applehead said:

We have booked to have christmas dinner in the keel and Cow, It looks like a main dinning room menu.

There is no extra charge.

This is for Iona and it is for the 30th December cruise. Keel and Cow menu
 

      Christmas Day Selection
Our festive creations can be enjoyed as individual dishes or why not indulge in all three courses for just £12.50.
Starter
Gin-cured Salmon Fillet
with Wasabi Bavarois, Pickled Ginger Jelly and a Seaweed Tapioca Cracker (gf)
£3.50
Main Course
Norfolk Turkey and Pheasant Ballotine served with
Maple Glazed Chestnuts, Château Potatoes, Poached Kumquats, Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts and a Cranberry and Apple Port Relish (gf)
£7.50
Dessert
Mrs Beeton’s Old Fashioned Christmas Pudding steeped in Ginger Wine with Brandy Fruit Cake Ice Cream, Clotted Cream and Cognac Sauce
£3.50

                

Edited December 2, 2023 by sandancer

[Mrs applehead]

12 minutes ago, sandancer said:

This is for Iona and it is for the 30th December cruise. Keel and Cow menu
 

      Christmas Day Selection
Our festive creations can be enjoyed as individual dishes or why not indulge in all three courses for just £12.50.
Starter
Gin-cured Salmon Fillet
with Wasabi Bavarois, Pickled Ginger Jelly and a Seaweed Tapioca Cracker (gf)
£3.50
Main Course
Norfolk Turkey and Pheasant Ballotine served with
Maple Glazed Chestnuts, Château Potatoes, Poached Kumquats, Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts and a Cranberry and Apple Port Relish (gf)
£7.50
Dessert
Mrs Beeton’s Old Fashioned Christmas Pudding steeped in Ginger Wine with Brandy Fruit Cake Ice Cream, Clotted Cream and Cognac Sauce
£3.50

                

Sorry you are right. There is an extra charge. You just don't have to pay it in advance unlike the other speciality restaurants.

[sandancer]

We would be happy with that menu if we were on the Christmas cruise. 
Enjoy. 

[sandancer]

Just checked our booking for March on Iona. Guess what?  Christmas dinner still being offered. I know some people like to stretch out Christmas but that’s ridiculous. P&O, by March we will have had enough turkey thanks. 

[Educator69]

Sailing on 17th to Norway. Less than 2 weeks to go and the speciality dining is still saying ‘coming soon’. Any thoughts on when it might appear as it says it will be available to book 2 weeks before departure and I don’t want to miss the opportunity.

[otbc]

Does anyone know if the buffet is open at lunchtime on Christmas Day? The formality and lateness of the Christmas Day MDR dinner doesn't appeal to us, so we were planning on having a buffet lunch that day instead as I'm not sure if there are any other options!