Created by 3GoExploring.
If you’ve cruised on Iona or Arvia you’ve probably heard of the Chef's Table, known as an ‘exclusive dining event’ during celebration & gala nights with a Black Tie dress code. The Chef's Table is found within the Buffet, a section is closed off for the event, although the buffet is still open and people freely walk through in shorts and t-shirts. You can book this event via My P&O 15/14 days before sailing and you’ll be offered a time of 6 pm or 8 pm. As this was our first time on Iona, we wanted to give the event a go on our second formal night, with a booked time of 6 pm. Due to Amy’s allergies, you’re required to pre-order the night before - which is the same process for all meals onboard. Unfortunately, the selection of foods available at the Chef's Table catering for allergies were extremely limited due to the extent of food brought onto the ship from shore side, therefore most meals cannot be adapted - who knew Dauphinoise potatoes contain nuts?!
No tickets are needed for this event, it’s all on the My Holiday App and no check in is required, but this may be the case on busier celebration nights and the seas were quite rough due to a passing storm.
Unfortunately, the Chef's Table for us was very stressful, the night started off with the pre-order being lost and felt like there was a manhunt for the missing order! 45 minutes later and we breathed easy as they found it, however those around us had already received their starters and well into the mains by the time the rest of our group were ready to order. Also, for any nut allergy sufferers out there, the chocolate truffles are out of bounds as these do contain nuts and no alternatives are available. On previous ships, staff have offered fruit jelly sweets as an alternative.
We imagined the experience to be full of grandeur, but it was quite the opposite. The seating is extremely close, no different to the set out during Buffet's normal opening. We feel that the Chef's Table is an event you should try but if we happen to go back on Iona or Arvia (never say never!) we wouldn’t choose to go back there. With the event being in the buffet it didn’t have the same atmosphere as celebration nights do in the Main Dining Room (MDR), however, you are more likely to get a seat with a sea view in the Chef's Table with the buffet being on deck 16 overlooking the sea.
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