New menus mean more choice for passengers

P&O Cruises has completed a major revamp of its menus focusing on fresh, local produce and flavourful combinations that Australians love.

The new menus, which mark the completion of a nine-month program to enhance the dining experience across P&O Cruises' fleet, have been designed in response to passenger requests to keep their favourite dishes available throughout their holiday.

Highlights of the new food offering include:

• A new lunch menu that includes almost 50 different contemporary offerings such as poached Tasmanian salmon, lime and pepper calamari, Thai chicken and lychee salad and traditional Vietnamese chicken pho
  
  
• An a la carte dinner menu featuring about 20 of passengers' most-loved dishes, alongside a five-course extravaganza that changes daily
  
  
• A range of signature dishes created by P&O Cruises' award-winning chefs, including spiced duck with peach and sweet chilli compote and seared fillet of coral trout with Sapphire Bay prawn ragout
  
  
• A simplified breakfast menu in the main dining room that allows passengers to mix-and-match ingredients to create their own meals.

The new dishes were created to complement the all-Australian and New Zealand wine list now available onboard Pacific Sun and Pacific Dawn.

P&O Cruises Vice President of Hotel Operations, Sture Myrmell, said the changes were designed to reflect the rapidly growing interest in food and wine among Australians.

"Australians are creative and have high expectations when it comes to dining and we want to exceed those expectations," Mr Myrmell said.

"We are taking the onboard culinary experience to a different level with our fresh new dishes which reflect what our passengers want."

Both the Sydney-based Pacific Dawn and the Brisbane-based Pacific Sun will feature the new menus from this week.

Pacific Dawn, which will be based in Brisbane from December, features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, "The Dome" entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.

Australia's favourite ship, Pacific Sun, now features a new child-free Oasis spa retreat, ocean-view gym and coffee bar, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools.

Meanwhile, P&O Cruises latest ship, Pacific Jewel, which will sail from Sydney from December, offers a range of extra features from private balcony cabins through to a large onboard spa facility with ocean-view treatment rooms, a child-free oasis and a circus show with a high-wire act.

Provided by P&O Cruises.