Guests aboard three further P&O ships are to be introduced to the sought-after Marco Pierre White dining experience aboard cruise liners Oriana, Arcadia and Adonia; Gill’s Cruise Centre ‘foodies’ have been looking at how the celebrity chef has been expanding his creative cuisine across the brand.

The celebrity chef has already been delighting P&O guests with his trademark brand of speciality cuisine aboard a number of the cruise line’s ships, and it has proved to be such a hit that the facility is to be expanded further across the fleet, phased in over the next twelve months until January 2012. Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar will continue creating his own unique menus at Sindhu, his contemporary Indian speciality restaurant aboard Azura.

P&O’s new ‘smaller’ ship Adonia will be arriving into the fleet in April 2011, and will be the first in the fleet to be fitted with Marco Pierre White’s ‘Ocean Grill’ restaurant, with specialist dishes including White classics such as crayfish cocktail, grilled lobster with triple cooked chips, and to follow, ‘Sherry Trifle Wally Ladd’ – the comically named dessert that is said to be seriously delicious!

White’s Ocean Grill concept will also feature aboard the elegant Oriana, and will be installed in November 2011 as part of the major refurbishment to transform her into a sophisticated child-free ship, taking the place of Artemis who departs the fleet this month. Arcadia too will benefit from the addition of the Ocean Grill restaurant, in her own revamp in late 2011.

The changes will see the departure of Gary Rhodes from partnership with the leading cruise brand: his Arcadian Rhodes and Oriana Rhodes restaurants have been entertaining cruise guests with a taste for specialist dining since 2007.

P&O Cruises’ managing director Carol Marlow said: “All of these enhancements have been made following feedback from our passengers and we can’t wait for them to enjoy these changes on board. Recent research has shown that passengers want an entirely different select dining experience to that offered elsewhere on the ship and they also want a contemporary style.

“Marco Pierre White has proved to be a huge hit with our passengers so we have asked him to work his culinary magic on board Oriana, Arcadia and Adonia. These ships offer longer itineraries, and Ocean Grill by Marco Pierre White will provide an evolving menu to offer a different choice of cuisine throughout the cruise.”

Marco Pierre White’s initial foray into the cruise ship arena came with the creation of signature restaurants aboard Ventura, Oceana and Aurora, each unique in appearance, menu and ambience.

The ‘White Room’ aboard Ventura is popular with guests for its ‘fine dining with a fine view’; panoramic windows allow guests to gaze upon their surroundings, and even dine under the stars in finer weather.

‘Café Jardin’ aboard Oceana meanwhile has a delightfully jaunty and informal styling, with its trademark black and white checked table cloths and a lofty position above the ship’s atrium.

‘Café Bordeaux’ aboard Aurora is also informal in styling, but with an air of laid back elegance symbolic of classic French bistro dining.

The celebrated chef commented: “Dining is about the complete experience and this comprises the surroundings, the company, the service and of course the food. Each element is as important as the other and the Ocean Grill will offer these in equal measure.”

Gill’s Cruise Centre congratulates P&O for expanding the ‘White’ choice within their fleet, and feels that it’s sure to be a success for cruise guests with an eye for quality cuisine and something a little bit special.