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 restaurant, Colours and Tastes; our casual, self-serve dining restaurant; 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
Casual dining
Our casual, self-serve dining experience 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 casual dining restaurants are:
Bolette | The View
Borealis | The View
Balmoral | The Thistle
Evenings at Colours & Tastes
Our Colours & Tastes restaurant features a tempting journey across Asia, blending bold spices, fresh flavours and the fragrant aromas of the East. From delicate stir-fries to rich curries and creative fusion dishes, every plate is crafted to excite the senses. Embrace the spirit of Italy, where timeless recipes and beautifully balanced flavours take centre stage, bringing together comforting pastas, bright seasonal notes and thoughtfully prepared sauces; or experience the full flavour of the grill, where every steak is hand-cut by our in-house butcher, selected by the chef, seasoned with precision and perfectly seared to lock in the flavours. From juicy, succulent steaks and tender, meaty prawns, to delicious plant-based steaks. Each plate delivers the deep, satisfying tastes of an exceptional grill experience.
Colours & Tastes will offer its blend of Asian, Grill and Italian menus on a rotation basis, from just £15pp when booked in advance or £20pp if booked on board.
There’s a small supplementary charge for our Speciality Restaurant of £15pp before you cruise, or £20pp if you’d prefer to book on board. Please note, from 14th February 2026 (cruise L2604), 7th April 2026 (cruise T2607) & 14th April 2026 (cruise S2607) the price to book before you cruise will be £20pp, or £25pp if booked on board.
The chef’s Table Experience
For true culinary enthusiasts, savour an exclusive multicourse menu crafted by our expert chefs. Complementing each dish are premium wines selected by our on-board Sommelier, who will be on hand throughout the occasion to introduce each pairing and share their expertise. Available to book once on board, this intimate event, from £100pp, offers an extraordinary dining experience.
Mediterranean Moments at Fresco
We’re delighted to introduce Fresco, a brand-new open-air venue debuting on board Borealis. Inspired by the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean, Fresco will serve a tempting selection of light bites. It’s the perfect place to enjoy laidback snacks in the sunshine, and is occasionally open in the evening as an inviting lounge deck under the stars.
*Colours & Tastes is available to pre-book, so we recommend securing your place early to avoid missing out.
Please note, from 14th February 2026 (cruise L2604), 7th April 2026 (cruise T2607) & 14th April 2026 (cruise S2607) the price to book before you cruise will be £20pp, or £25pp if booked on board.
Traditional Afternoon Tea with a touch of luxury
Each day, you can enjoy complimentary afternoon tea in The View or The Thistle. For something extra-special, indulge in our premium Traditional Afternoon Tea, available from £13pp* on selected sea days. Served in the elegant Observatory Lounge with live piano or classical music, this refined experience features finger sandwiches, pastries, warm scones and fine teas from The Rare Tea Company. *Our Traditional Afternoon Tea is available to book before you sail via your My Cruises account for £13 per person.
Jubilee Afternoon Tea
Step back into a golden era with our Jubilee Afternoon Tea, taking place on the final sea day of your cruise. This special event blends classic British charm with vintage-inspired entertainment, including live music and dancing, as you indulge in a selection of elegant sweet and savoury treats. A classic Pimm’s Royale cocktail or Golden Jubilee Fizz mocktail completes the experience – a joyful and memorable way to toast the occasion. Book on board, from £19.50pp.
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.
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.
Taking tea is ceremonious in the East, and our Serenity 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.
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 casual dining 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.