If you’re sailing on P&O Cruises’ Iona or Arvia, The Olive Grove gives you an alternative to the ship’s main dining rooms, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring sharing plates, pasta, pizza, seafood, grilled dishes and desserts.

You’ll find a relaxed restaurant with Mediterranean-inspired décor, plenty of choice and some lovely tables overlooking the sea. The Olive Grove is currently listed among Iona’s and Arvia’s included dining venues, although selected dishes can carry an additional supplement.

Where is The Olive Grove on Iona?

On Iona, you will find The Olive Grove on Deck 8, Iona’s Promenade Deck, towards the aft of the ship. The Olive Grove on P&O Arvia is located on Deck 6 towards the aft of the ship on the starboard side. Inside, the Mediterranean theme continues with pale wood, stone-effect walls, greenery and lantern-style lighting. You’ll find a mixture of tables and banquette-style seating, as well as tables positioned beside the large windows.

If you can get a window table, you can enjoy your meal with views straight out to sea. The smaller restaurant-style seating areas also help The Olive Grove feel quite different from Iona’s larger main dining rooms.

What food can you eat at The Olive Grove?

The Olive Grove isn’t based around the cuisine of just one Mediterranean country. Instead, you’ll find dishes influenced by destinations including Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Morocco and Turkey.

The menu has included grazing and sharing dishes, salads, pasta, seafood, regional specialities, grilled dishes and thin-crust pizzas, followed by a selection of desserts.

You can choose something familiar such as pizza or pasta, or try dishes inspired by different parts of the Mediterranean. This makes The Olive Grove a particularly useful option if you’re dining with someone whose food preferences are different from yours.

The Olive Grove menu

Menus can change between sailings, so use the menu in this article as an example of the type of food you may find rather than the exact menu for your cruise.

There’s plenty of variety. On my visits, the menu included Greek mezze and Italian antipasti for sharing, alongside pasta, seafood, grilled meats, regional dishes and pizza. If you enjoy ordering dishes for the table rather than everyone having a traditional starter and main course, The Olive Grove works particularly well for this style of dining.

What is the food like at The Olive Grove?

If you enjoy sharing dishes, the Greek mezze is a great example of the style of food you can find here. The version served during my visits came with barrel-aged feta, chargrilled Mediterranean vegetables, pitta bread, houmous, Kalamata olives, moutabel and beetroot dip.

It arrived on a large sharing board, giving you plenty of different flavours to try before your main course.

If you fancy pizza, the menu has included 12-inch thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizzas. The Funghi Formaggio di Capra was topped with porcini mushrooms, goat’s cheese, caramelised onion and rocket pesto.

For something more substantial, the slow-cooked Moroccan lamb tagine was served with aubergine, chickpeas, tomatoes and apricots alongside lemon and herb couscous, toasted almonds and pomegranate.

You can also save some room for dessert. Options during my visits included Crema Catalana, Sicilian lemon tart, chocolate and hazelnut cake and tiramisu.

The food I tried was delicious, but the biggest advantage is the amount of choice. You can keep things simple with pizza or pasta or use your visit as an opportunity to try something a little different.

Is The Olive Grove included on Iona and arvia?

The Olive Grove is currently listed by P&O Cruises among Iona’s and Arvia’s included dining venues, although selected dishes can carry an additional supplement.

This means you don’t necessarily have to pay extra to eat here. You can choose from the included dishes, with an additional charge if you decide to order one of the supplement items. As menus and supplements can change, check the current menu once you’re on board rather than relying on prices from a previous sailing.

How do you book The Olive Grove on Iona and arvia?

You can book The Olive Grove using P&O Cruises’ My Holiday web-based app while you’re on board Iona or Arvia. You access My Holiday through the browser on your phone or tablet rather than downloading a traditional app. From there, you can manage your dining and see what is available during your cruise.

If you particularly want to eat at The Olive Grove, it’s worth checking availability rather than waiting until you want to dine, especially if you have a particular time in mind.

Is The Olive Grove open for lunch and dinner?

The Olive Grove is a restaurant you can consider for both lunch and dinner. Opening times can vary, so check My Holiday for the times available during your cruise.

It works particularly well for lunch. The Mediterranean-style food and bright surroundings make it a nice alternative to a more traditional sit-down lunch, especially if you manage to get one of the tables overlooking the sea.

What can you drink at The Olive Grove?

You can order a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to accompany your meal, with options including wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and alcohol-free choices.

One of the cocktails I tried was the Lemon Drizzle Spritz, made with Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin, Taittinger Brut Réserve, lemon sherbet and bitters, topped with soda.

Drinks menus change, so the menu above is best used to give you an idea of the choices rather than as a guide to exactly what will be available during your cruise.

Are there vegetarian options at The Olive Grove?

Yes. If you don’t eat meat, you should still find plenty of choice.

Options have included Greek mezze, Italian salad, mushroom ravioli, Margherita pizza and the Funghi Formaggio di Capra pizza, alongside vegetarian desserts.

Gluten-free dishes and alternatives were also clearly identified on the menu during my visits. If you have an allergy or specific dietary requirement, check the current menu and speak to the restaurant team on board about what is suitable for you.

Should you try The Olive Grove on Iona and arvia?

If you enjoy Mediterranean food or simply want a change from Iona and Arvia’s main dining rooms, The Olive Grove is well worth adding to your dining plans.

The broad menu is one of its biggest advantages. You can have pizza or pasta, share a mezze board, choose seafood or opt for something such as a Moroccan tagine, so you aren’t tied to one particular style of Mediterranean cuisine.

Having eaten here several times, I’d happily return. The food was delicious on my visits, but it’s the combination of choice, relaxed surroundings and those sea views that makes The Olive Grove somewhere worth trying during an Iona or Arvia cruise.

Looking for more dining inspiration for your next P&O Cruises holiday? Explore my restaurant reviews of Sindhu, The Beach House and The Keel & Cow to discover more delicious dining experiences at sea. You can also browse my P&O Cruises articles for more restaurant guides, ship reviews and helpful cruise tips.