Food glorious food. One of the things that excited us the most when it came to our time on P&O Ventura was the multiple dining options available.
Once on board Ventura, we made it our mission to try a bit of everything. We got a taste of most of what was on offer, from the main buffet to the à la carte dining rooms, from poolside snacks to one of the ship’s premium “signature” venues.
Read on to find out our dining delights and dining disappointments.
The Buffet: It's convenient, but lacks a ‘wow’
Ventura’s buffet is essentially one large space split into different seating areas, but the food offering is identical across them.
We sampled it a few times - a couple of lunches, an early dinner - and the type of options available were the same for both. There was a variation of a curry, an Asian noodle or stir-fry dish, a roast meat, one pie (either pastry or cottage), a fish option, plus sides like rice and bread rolls.
The salad bar was a highlight on some days, and desserts were decent if predictable. We had our share of chocolate desserts, hot pudding with custard, and the occasional oddity (the mysterious “green jelly” that looked like lime but tasted of nothing still makes us smile).
It wasn’t bad food. There was nothing that we’d call inedible. But perhaps we might say it was generic. Dishes in sauce tended to taste very similar no matter the label, and the variety wasn’t enough to get us excited about going back.
You may also say the presentation lacked the flair and imagination you might expect of a cruise ship buffet.
Kids’ choices were a real bugbear. The “children’s section” was only open between 5pm and 6pm. We found this baffling given that not all families would be ready to eat at that exact time. So if you wanted more of a basic offering (and by that I also mean chips - which were scarce later in the evening) then you needed to dine in the buffet during this early 'childrens' seating.
The positives? ... The food was kept topped up until closing and was usually hot.
Undoubtedly, the biggest bonus of eating here was the flexibility it offered, and the lack of dress code meant you could eat in casual clothes at whatever time suited.
For us, though, it mostly became a more functional refuelling stop than a great dining experience.
Having spoken to some repeat Ventura customers, there was a general consensus among them that the scale and quality of the buffet offerings did appear to have changed (for the worse) in the past few years.
P&O Ventura also offered a late-night buffet, which on paper, sounds perfect.
But it really wasn't anything to get excited over. After the theatre show one night, the “options” were essentially leftover sandwiches and salad. The only "hot" food available was a warm chocolate pudding.
Main Dining Room was a better standard
We dined most nights in the Bay Tree, one of Ventura’s main à la carte restaurants.
Food quality here was much higher than in the buffet, with a rotating menu that always offered a choice of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.
I can honestly say we enjoyed every meal we experienced here.
In particular, the Lamb dish we had was a standout. The starters and desserts also didn't disappoint. The soups were reliably good, and the sweet options were more refined and flavorful than the buffet’s.
Portions weren’t huge (standard, to be fair, with formal dining) but the three-course structure left us satisfied.
Our table was tucked in a windowed corner, which felt private and gave us sunset-at-sea views, adding to the classy ambience.
Service was prompt and friendly, and by the end of the week, the team knew our preferences well and kept the food coming (another steak or three, anyone?).
The main downside? Fixed dining times (ours was 8:30 pm) clashed with some evening entertainment, meaning we missed out on a few shows.
Also, the centre of the dining room felt busy and compacted. We were extremely fortunate with our quieter table location.
The Beach House was well worth the supplement
For a change of pace, we booked into the Beach House, one of Ventura’s “signature” dining experiences, for an additional charge.
It’s technically part of the buffet space by day, but at night the menu transforms into an American-Caribbean mix: ribs, steaks, brisket, Cajun salmon, and more.
Portion sizes were generous, service was on point, and the £7.50–£8.50 supplements on certain dishes felt justified.
It was definitely some of the tastiest food we experienced on board.
If you’re after a relaxed but high-quality meal, it’s a great pick — we all left happy.
Casual eats
The poolside burgers, chips, and pizzas were fine for a quick bite. Nothing gourmet, but they did the job when you didn’t want to stray far from the sun loungers.
Quality was hit-and-miss depending on how busy it was (our best pizza came when the queue was short). And at certain times, the staff did seem to struggle to keep up with demand.
The ice cream bar served a tasty premium brand, but at nearly £3.50 a scoop, we felt it could have been included, at least in part, given the “food included” selling point of a cruise.
What we skipped, and why
Ventura has several other “signature” dining venues we didn’t get to, though not for lack of interest.
Sindhu, the ship’s Indian-inspired restaurant, was on our radar early on.
The issue? Menus rotate, but you can’t see the full week’s schedule in advance — only a “sample” menu. The night we first checked, nothing really suited our family’s tastes, so we passed. Frustratingly, on the second-to-last night we saw an updated menu and found several dishes we’d have loved… but by then our plans were set for the remainder of the sailing.
Glass House, a wine bar and bistro serving tapas plates and tasty sounding mains, which looked appealing, and gets predominantly positive reviews from those who dine there. However, we felt it was more suited to an adult experience rather than family dining for us, on this trip.
As for Epicurean, Ventura’s most formal fine-dining spot, we didn't get the opportunity to see it in action. Tucked away and heavily geared toward a multi-course, special-occasion experience, it just didn’t fit our group’s plans this time.
Had we been cruising as a couple rather than with a mixed family group, we’d probably have tried them all. But on this trip, our time and appetites were better spent on the venues that matched our tastes, schedule, and vibe.
Final thoughts
Overall, Ventura’s dining left us fed and mostly satisfied, but rarely wowed — especially in the buffet.
The main dining room delivered consistently good meals, the Beach House was a highlight, and casual options were convenient.
If you’re cruising for gourmet variety, you might be underwhelmed; if you’re after dependable, no-fuss meals with a few standouts, you’ll be fine.
We Are Guests verdict:
- ⭐ Buffet: 6/10
- ⭐ Main Dining Room: 8.5/10
- ⭐ Beach House: 9/10
- ⭐ Casual eats: 7/10
In case you missed it ...
What dining options does P&O Ventura offer?
P&O Ventura offers a large buffet, main à la carte dining rooms (including Bay Tree), casual poolside eats, and “signature” venues like the Beach House, Sindhu, Glass House, and Epicurean.
Is the P&O Ventura buffet good, and what are the kids’ section hours?
P&O Ventura’s buffet is convenient but generic with hot, replenished food, and its children’s section is only open from 5pm to 6pm.
How is the Main Dining Room on P&O Ventura?
P&O Ventura’s Bay Tree main dining room serves higher-quality, rotating menus with prompt service, though fixed times can clash with evening shows.
Is the Beach House on P&O Ventura worth the extra charge, and how much is it?
The Beach House on P&O Ventura was a dining highlight with generous portions and supplements of about £7.50–£8.50 on certain dishes.
Can you see P&O Ventura’s specialty restaurant menus in advance?
P&O Ventura’s specialty restaurant menus rotate and only a sample menu is shown, so the full week’s schedule isn’t available ahead of time.
