Our Dining Experiences
Dining is an important part of your cruise with us and there is always plenty of variety for you to enjoy: Delicious five-course dining in our main restaurants; speciality Asian dining at our signature restaurants, Vasco and Colours and Tastes; more casual dining at our sumptuous buffets; and, on Bolette and Borealis, there’s a menu of light bites at the poolside during the day.
All of our food is freshly prepared on board, including our mouth-wateringly delicious homemade bread.
Our restaurant teams take great pride in the food they prepare for you and they love nothing more than to chat and share their passion with you.
And, of course, our warm and attentive waiting team are always on-hand to assist you.
Our on board dining experience
Each of the main restaurants on our ships are beautifully decorated, where we know you’ll enjoy sampling outstanding food created by our talented chefs, who take great pride in making tasty meals using fresh ingredients, and for our Treats of the Region, they’ll source local ingredients to prepare dishes that are popular in the destinations you’re visiting.
We have two dinner sittings, first sitting is at 6.00pm and second sitting is at 8.00pm*, which you request when you make your booking, and our Maitre’D is more than happy to meet with you to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.
*Please note second sitting dining time in the main restaurants on embarkation day and on formal evenings will be at 8.15pm.
Our main restaurants are:
Bolette | Bloomsbury & Terrace Restaurants
Borealis | Borealis & Aurora Restaurants
Balmoral | Ballindalloch, Avon & Spey Restaurants
Our on board dining experience
Each of the main restaurants on our ships are beautifully decorated, where we know you’ll enjoy sampling outstanding food created by our talented chefs, who take great pride in making tasty meals using fresh ingredients, and for our Treats of the Region, they’ll source local ingredients to prepare dishes that are popular in the destinations you’re visiting.
We have two dinner sittings, first sitting is at 6.00pm and second sitting is at 8.00pm*, which you request when you make your booking, and our Maitre’D is more than happy to meet with you to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.
*Please note second sitting dining time in the main restaurants on embarkation day and on formal evenings will be at 8.15pm.
Our main restaurants are:
Bolette | Bloomsbury & Terrace Restaurants
Borealis | Borealis & Aurora Restaurants
Balmoral | Ballindalloch, Avon & Spey Restaurants
Informal and Fresh at our buffet restaurants
Our buffet restaurants on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral offer a feast of delicious dishes for each meal every day, making it incredibly difficult to know which appetising dish to choose! Select from a variety of salads or stir fries, catered to your request, or sample dishes at our Destination stations, where we'll feature meals related to the lovely ports of call you're visiting. They also provide a huge spread of complimentary afternoon tea options, including warm scones with jam and cream, tasty sandwiches and delectable cakes, all freshly baked on board.
Our buffet restaurants are:
Bolette | The View Buffet Restaurant
Borealis | The View Buffet Restaurant
Balmoral | Palms Café
Informal and Fresh at our buffet restaurants
Our buffet restaurants on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral offer a feast of delicious dishes for each meal every day, making it incredibly difficult to know which appetising dish to choose! Select from a variety of salads or stir fries, catered to your request, or sample dishes at our Destination stations, where we'll feature meals related to the lovely ports of call you're visiting. They also provide a huge spread of complimentary afternoon tea options, including warm scones with jam and cream, tasty sandwiches and delectable cakes, all freshly baked on board.
Our buffet restaurants are:
Bolette | The View Buffet Restaurant
Borealis | The View Buffet Restaurant
Balmoral | Palms Café
A taste of Asia at Colours & Tastes
Colours & Tastes offers exceptional Asian Fusion cuisine, with signature dishes from Japan, Thailand, China and the Philippines, cooked to perfection, beautifully presented and served to you by our attentive waiting team. Perfect for a special occasion, you’ll have the choice of succulent grilled meats, exquisite seafood, Bao buns and sushi, designed to suit all palates, and leaving you wanting more.
There’s a small supplementary charge for our Speciality Restaurants of £10pp before you cruise, or £15pp if you’d prefer to book on board.
From cruise S2502 (1st February 2025), L2503B (2nd February 2025) & T2507 (24th April 2025) the pre-bookable supplement for our speciality dining is £15pp, and if booked on board, the charge is £20pp.
A taste of Asia at Colours & Tastes
Colours & Tastes offers exceptional Asian Fusion cuisine, with signature dishes from Japan, Thailand, China and the Philippines, cooked to perfection, beautifully presented and served to you by our attentive waiting team. Perfect for a special occasion, you’ll have the choice of succulent grilled meats, exquisite seafood, Bao buns and sushi, designed to suit all palates, and leaving you wanting more.
There’s a small supplementary charge for our Speciality Restaurants of £10pp before you cruise, or £15pp if you’d prefer to book on board.
From cruise S2502 (1st February 2025), L2503B (2nd February 2025) & T2507 (24th April 2025) the pre-bookable supplement for our speciality dining is £15pp, and if booked on board, the charge is £20pp.
Experience the warmth of Goa at Vasco
Featuring on board Bolette and Borealis, Vasco offers a taste of India in an intimate setting, decorated in warm colours inspired by the richness of Goan traditions. Our chefs have created each dish from scratch, where you can taste each of the perfectly blended spices and aromas, creating a range of tantalisingly different taste sensations, such as flavoursome curries, perfectly prepared seafood, freshly baked soft Naan breads, and traditional desserts made with coconut milk; resulting in a real treat for your senses.
There’s a small supplementary charge for our Speciality Restaurants of £10pp before you cruise, or £15pp if you’d prefer to book on board.
From cruise S2502 (1st February 2025) & T2507 (24th April 2025) the pre-bookable supplement for our speciality dining is £15pp, and if booked on board, the charge is £20pp.
Experience the warmth of Goa at Vasco
Featuring on board Bolette and Borealis, Vasco offers a taste of India in an intimate setting, decorated in warm colours inspired by the richness of Goan traditions. Our chefs have created each dish from scratch, where you can taste each of the perfectly blended spices and aromas, creating a range of tantalisingly different taste sensations, such as flavoursome curries, perfectly prepared seafood, freshly baked soft Naan breads, and traditional desserts made with coconut milk; resulting in a real treat for your senses.
There’s a small supplementary charge for our Speciality Restaurants of £10pp before you cruise, or £15pp if you’d prefer to book on board.
From cruise S2502 (1st February 2025) & T2507 (24th April 2025) the pre-bookable supplement for our speciality dining is £15pp, and if booked on board, the charge is £20pp.
Traditional Afternoon Tea
A delicious afternoon tea will be served each day in The View on board Bolette and Borealis, and the Palms Cafe on Balmoral, with a selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes on offer, accompanied by freshly brewed tea or coffee. On selected sea days, guests who choose to take our premium Traditional Afternoon Tea service will enjoy views from the Observatory Lounge with musical accompaniment from our on board pianist and other classical musicians. A selection of premium teas from The Rare Tea Company will be offered, along with finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes and warm scones with jam and cream.
Our Traditional Afternoon Tea is available to book before you sail via your My Cruises account for £13 per person.
Traditional Afternoon Tea
A delicious afternoon tea will be served each day in The View on board Bolette and Borealis, and the Palms Cafe on Balmoral, with a selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes on offer, accompanied by freshly brewed tea or coffee. On selected sea days, guests who choose to take our premium Traditional Afternoon Tea service will enjoy views from the Observatory Lounge with musical accompaniment from our on board pianist and other classical musicians. A selection of premium teas from The Rare Tea Company will be offered, along with finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes and warm scones with jam and cream.
This is available to book before you sail via your My Cruises account for £13 per person.
Enjoy a taste of food & drink of the world
On each of our sailings, you’ll have the chance to enrich your cruise with one of our food and drink experiences. From bespoke wine tasting sessions, sampling wines from the regions you are visiting; enjoying a Martini Experience where our talented Bar Team create your favourites; learning about luxury teas from The Rare Tea Company; to breakfast and lunch forums with our guest speakers, food and drink lovers can discover more about our tastes of the region.
Throughout your cruise, some of our wonderfully knowledgeable guest speakers will host private breakfasts and lunches with small groups, focusing on a particular topic of conversation within their area of expertise, giving you the chance to chat to them on a more intimate and personal level.
This experience is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
Throughout your cruise, some of our wonderfully knowledgeable guest speakers will host private breakfasts and lunches with small groups, focusing on a particular topic of conversation within their area of expertise, giving you the chance to chat to them on a more intimate and personal level.
This experience is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
Taking tea is ceremonious in the East, and our Oriental Tea Room creates a sense of occasion mixed with a wonderfully calm atmosphere on all three of our ships. Join our knowledgeable Tea Sommeliers as they host Tea Tastings throughout your cruise - passionate about their craft, they can recommend an infusion for any type of taste or mood with our range of luxury, sustainable teas supplied by London-based The Rare Tea Company. Our tea tastings are limited to just 14 people per session, making for an intimate and friendly experience, giving you the chance to learn more about the various teas available around the world.
This is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
Taking tea is ceremonious in the East, and our Oriental Tea Room creates a sense of occasion mixed with a wonderfully calm atmosphere on all three of our ships. Join our knowledgeable Tea Sommeliers as they host Tea Tastings throughout your cruise - passionate about their craft, they can recommend an infusion for any type of taste or mood with our range of luxury, sustainable teas supplied by London-based The Rare Tea Company. Our tea tastings are limited to just 14 people per session, making for an intimate and friendly experience, giving you the chance to learn more about the various teas available around the world.
This is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
Join us and learn how to fully appreciate the intricacies of a variety of wines, with our expert Sommelier as your guide. They'll take you through the methods used in production, to the depth of flavour and aroma in every glass of the world's finest wines. We hold bespoke tasting and pairing events during each cruise, so check your Daily Times once on board for full details.
This experience is available to book on board and a small extra charge applies.
Join us and learn how to fully appreciate the intricacies of a variety of wines, with our expert Sommelier as your guide. They'll take you through the methods used in production, to the depth of flavour and aroma in every glass of the world's finest wines. We hold bespoke tasting and pairing events during each cruise, so check your Daily Times once on board for full details.
This experience is available to book on board and a small extra charge applies.
At our fun Martini Experiences, our talented Bar Team shake up a storm and will teach you how to create your favourite tipples. From the original dirty martini to recipes with a modern twist, you'll discover the origins of this classic cocktail with this immersive experience. Our Martini Experience is limited to just 30 people, so you'll have the chance to compare flavours with your fellow friends and guests.
This is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
At our fun Martini Experiences, our talented Bar Team shake up a storm and will teach you how to create your favourite tipples. From the original dirty martini to recipes with a modern twist, you'll discover the origins of this classic cocktail with this immersive experience. Our Martini Experience is limited to just 30 people, so you'll have the chance to compare flavours with your fellow friends and guests.
This is available to book before you sail and a small extra charge applies.
Formal Nights on board our ships offers you the chance to enjoy a Cocktail Party with the Captain, where he’ll introduce some of our fabulous team members, from both front of house and behind the scenes, accompanied by delicious canapés; before you head into dinner to enjoy a specially created menu with your fellow guests. Ladies may choose to wear glamorous dresses, skirt or trousers with a sparkly top, while many gentlemen opt for black tie or a smart suit and tie.
Should you prefer to be more relaxed, our buffet restaurants offer a superb selection of dishes in a more casual setting, which you can visit at a time more suited to your plans on the day.
Formal Nights
Formal Nights on board our ships offers you the chance to enjoy a Cocktail Party with the Captain, where he’ll introduce some of our fabulous team members, from both front of house and behind the scenes, accompanied by delicious canapés; before you head into dinner to enjoy a specially created menu with your fellow guests. Ladies may choose to wear glamorous dresses, skirt or trousers with a sparkly top, while many gentlemen opt for black tie or a smart suit and tie.
Should you prefer to be more relaxed, our buffet restaurants offer a superb selection of dishes in a more casual setting, which you can visit at a time more suited to your plans on the day.