P&O Cruises is extending its A Taste of Barbados culinary programme for a second Caribbean season, with the experience returning to Arvia and Britannia during the October 2026 to March 2027 fly-cruise season. The initiative brings Barbadian chefs and a local mixologist on board to present dishes, cocktails and culinary traditions associated with the island. The first edition ran aboard the two ships during the 2025–2026 Caribbean season.
The 2026–2027 programme will again feature chefs Sophie Michell, Adrian Cumberbatch and Damian Leach, together with Barbadian mixologist Shane McClean. Guests will be able to attend live cooking demonstrations and special dining events, while selected dishes developed for the programme will also be served in the ships' Horizon buffet.
The menu will include lobster, fresh catch of the day, aromatic salt cod with roasted breadfruit, ginger sweet potato mash and spiced pineapple chutney. The programme is designed to place greater emphasis on Barbadian ingredients and cooking traditions, with the participating chefs explaining the background to the dishes and their connection to local cuisine.
Michell will additionally conduct interactive cooking demonstrations aboard Britannia, focusing on Barbadian produce and the island's farm-to-table culinary approach. Her involvement builds on the first season, when she also hosted special dining events and demonstrations through the ship's Cookery Club.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the decision to continue the programme followed the response to its first season and reflected continued demand for destination-focused experiences. The company has positioned the initiative as part of its wider approach to incorporating local culture into its Caribbean fly-cruise product.
The programme coincides with Arvia and Britannia deployments in the Caribbean, with Barbados among the destinations visited alongside ports including Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Grenada, Aruba and Curaçao. P&O Cruises' current schedules show both ships operating Caribbean fly-cruise itineraries during the 2026–2027 season.
The continuation of A Taste of Barbados also reflects the growing use of destination-specific culinary programmes within cruise itineraries. Rather than limiting local cuisine to shore excursions, P&O Cruises is incorporating Barbadian chefs, ingredients and drinks into the onboard product while the ships are operating between Caribbean ports.