P&O Cruises Celebrity Chef Cruises

Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White

As mentioned earlier this summer celebrity chef appearances onboard cruise ships are becoming more and more popular. To showcase this P&O Cruises, Britain's favourite cruise line, have put together a programme of ship visit from two of Britain's favourite chefs and the country's favourite wine expert.

P&O Cruises have been synonymous with food for years and currently boast restaurants including the former three Michelin Star Marco Pierre White. The ship also have only recently broke ties with the quintessentially British, TV chef Gary Rhodes. But what is the point of boasting restaurants from world-class chefs, unless they will actually be making onboard appearances?

Well, P&O Cruises have finally given us a list of dates that these two fabulous chefs will be onboard their ships. They are a wide variety of itineraries that range from world cruise sectors to Med cruises, and each chef will be onboard the ships for four days at at time. Though these are all longer itineraries as opposed to the mini cruises that have boasted guest appearances including Derren Brown in the past, it means as part of your holiday you will have ample opportunity across the four days to meet these great characters, watch their skills in action and taste their creations.

Marco Pierre White will be gracing six of P&O Cruises' fleet in 2012, visiting the White Room and showing off his skills in his usually fiery demeanor, no doubt. The three Michelin star chef only handed back his stars when he swapped the kitchen for a more behind the scenes role as a restaurateur, but as we often see with his TV appearances, he skill's have not lessened for it. Between April and October next year he will make two four-day appearances on the Ventura, plus one four-day appearance on each of the Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Oceana and Oriana.

Marco Pierre White's dates onboard:

  • Oriana from 07/01 to 10/01
  • Ventura from 03/04 to 07/04
  • Aurora from 11/06 to 14/06
  • Oceana from 30/06 to 03/07
  • Adonia from 12/08 to 15/08
  • Ventura from 16/09 to 19/09
  • Arcadia from 20/10 to 23/10

If that isn't enough for you, or you are more interested in finding the right tipple to accompany the already fantastic food on your cruise, then why not join the charismatic and clearly eccentric wine expert, Olly Smith, onboard the Azura. The Glass House is his baby and has fast become a signature of Azura's excellence. Olly Smith personally selects all the wine for this superb venue and has also put together taster menus, with food and wine flavours perfectly matched. His infectious love of fermented grapes and his unquestionable knowledge of all things vino will keep you entertained and leave you ready to take on the vast choices on offer from Waitrose to boutique wine cellars.

Olly Smiths's dates onboard:

  • Azura from 15/04 to 18/04
  • Azura from 19/05 to 22/05
  • Azura from 14/07 to 16/07
  • Azura from 19/11 to 23/11

These visits may not necessarily tempt you into a cruise, but if you weren't sure of the entertainment and food onboard, this news should settle your nerves. For those who have already booked, then the demonstrations, tastings and chance to meet these three fab Brits will surely entice you away from your sun lounger.

Now, if only they would get the Hairy Bikers onboard — because that definitely would get me onboard!