P&O Cruises celebrates 20-year partnership with Marco Pierre White in 2026
27 February, 2026
He’s the godfather of British cooking, holding a seat at the table of the world’s most influential chefs – and this year, Marco Pierre White is celebrating two decades with P&O Cruises.
It’s a culinary partnership that has redefined contemporary dining at sea, with the legendary chef having shaped P&O Cruises modern food philosophy and reaffirming the line’s reputation for proudly British cuisine.
To mark the anniversary, world-renowned photographer Rankin created a series of striking portraits of Marco that capture his unique persona, reflecting the boldness and style he showcases with his dishes on board P&O Cruises.
The 20-year milestone will be celebrated throughout 2026, with Marco Pierre White returning as a Food Hero across three cruises on board P&O Cruises flagship Britannia, culminating in a dedicated anniversary cruise to Northern Europe and Scandinavia in August.
Joined by fellow Food Heroes Olly Smith and José Pizarro, the special sailing will celebrate the legacy of a partnership that has pushed boundaries and created unforgettable guest experiences.
The 20-year partnership
Britannia remains the cornerstone of Marco’s presence on board P&O Cruises, home to his beloved Cookery Club.
The immersive experience offers guests the opportunity to learn directly from Marco’s culinary philosophy, techniques and approach – a concept that has become one of the most distinctive and enduring food experiences at sea.
Over the past 20 years, Marco Pierre White’s influence has been felt across the fleet through a series of standout restaurant concepts, including The White Room on Ventura and Azura, and Ocean Grill on Arcadia.
Alongside these, his celebratory menus in P&O Cruises main dining restaurants have ensured that his signature dishes have been accessible to every guest.
To mark the anniversary, P&O Cruises is hosting a series of exclusive experiences throughout its 2026 Food Heroes programme, including special menus and celebration nights curated by Marco himself – as well as hosted tastings, intimate talks and immersive events – to bring his culinary vision to life on board.
And while August’s anniversary cruise will shine a light on what has been achieved together, P&O Cruises and Marco Pierre White have confirmed that 2026 will also signal the start of an exciting new chapter – with further innovative dining concepts and experiences already in development for the years ahead.
Carnival UK & P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “We are incredibly proud of our enduring partnership with Marco Pierre White, who has continually elevated our dining experiences to new heights. For 20 years, Marco has helped define what dining on P&O Cruises stands for – innovation, bold British flavours, and undeniable quality. This anniversary is not just a celebration of everything we’ve achieved together, but a statement of intent for the future. We feel hugely privileged to be working with a genuine food icon, and we are so excited about what’s still to come.”
Marco Pierre White added: “I’ve always believed that great food should be for everyone, and that philosophy has sat at the heart of my relationship with P&O Cruises from day one. Over the past 20 years, we’ve created something genuinely special – bringing proper cooking, great ingredients and a sense of theatre to life at sea. Celebrating this anniversary on Britannia, and looking ahead to what we’re building next, feels incredibly special.”
Prices for Marco’s 20th anniversary cruise on Britannia currently start from £1,679 per person based on two people sharing an inside cabin.
A selection of images can be downloaded, here.
P&O Cruises Wave offers
Guests booking applicable holidays can now take advantage of these limited time offers:
Up to £400 on board spending money if booked by 3 March 2026 (based on a 14-night balcony cabin), available on applicable Select Pricer holidays, which can be spent on shore experiences, speciality dining, spa treatments and more
Savings up to £400 per cabin for past guests on a wide range of sailings across the fleet (if booked by 3 March, 2026). The offer is available across all cabin grades, as well as Select Price and Early Saver fare types that are outside of the balance-due period.
New 5% low deposits are available on Select Price and Early Saver fares until 3 March 2026 on all cruises up to and including 23 nights, provided bookings are made outside of the balance due period.
Additional guests sail from £49 per person, if booked by 3 March 2026 (on selected cruises).
P&O Cruises new all-inclusive packages (including drinks, Wi-Fi and speciality dining credit) are an always-on offer. For example, guests can elevate their holiday with the Classic Package, for £49 per person per day, a saving of up to 32% compared with buying the individual elements on board.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
*Full details of all promotions can be found here: https://www.pocruises.com/deals/promotion-terms-and-conditions
For further press information please contact:
Michele Andjel, michele.andjel@carnivalukgroup.com 07730 732 072
Sam Balls, sam.balls@pocruises.com 07879 198864
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About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Britain’s favourite cruise line, welcoming guests onboard its seven ships to experience holidays with a blend of discovery, choice, relaxation and exceptional service catered towards British tastes. With a proud history spanning more than 187 years, each ship has its own appeal from family friendly or exclusively for adults with every sailing delivering each guest a holiday like never before.
With over 180 destinations worldwide, P&O Cruises itineraries are carefully curated to inspire discovery and are varied to suit newcomers and experienced guests alike. P&O Cruises prides itself on working with top culinary talent; Food Heroes include chefs Marco Pierre White and José Pizarro as well as award-winning drinks expert Olly Smith.
Recent awards for P&O Cruises include:
Wave Awards 2025 – Best Advertising & Marketing Campaign
British Travel Awards 2025 – Best Cruise Line for Family Holidays
The Travel Industry Awards 2025 by TTG – Industry Marketing Campaign of the Year
Sailawaze Excellence Awards 2025 – Best in Entertainment
Best in Cruise Awards by Cruise Critic Awards 2025 – No-Fly Cruise Line (Ocean Category)
The company is part of Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).