Cruise lines might pleasantly surprise you with healthy vegetarian options!
Cruises are one of the best possible ways for spending an unforgettable vacation - they combine fun and relaxing and each of the famous cruise lines is focused on making you feel happy, but what about healthy vegetarian diets?
Which cruise line offers the best range of meat-free cuisine and vegetarian options? Which truly understands vegetarian diets? You can find a few galleys that understand the meaning of tofu and soy milk and are not surprised about taking orders like that.
Vegetarian options on cruise ships
The number of vegetarians served on cruise ships is around six percent, but this number could be much higher because often non-vegetarians order vegetarian food just for health reasons and vegetarian diet weight-loss. Cruise ship menus usually offer the same percentage vegetarian options as most of the middle-American restaurants. For every course there is generally one option in the main dining rooms at lunch and dinner. Most lines began bringing influences like Latin American, Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, which are thankfully excluding the bane for vegetarians- steamed vegetable "special meals"! You might be offered Greek Spanakopita on Cunard; South Indian vegetable biryani on Disney; baked poblano chile rellenos with queso and red rice on Lindblad; spiced eggplant kebabs on NCL; Moroccan vegetable ragout on Princess; vegetable pad Thai on Royal Caribbean. On the menus of most cruise lines, pastas prominently also figure either as specifically vegetarian options or as an "always available" alternative for passengers.
Vegetarian diets and cruise ship restaurants
All lines offer different vegetarian options in their buffet restaurants, though some are more diligent at identifying them. If you doubt about meaty contents of dishes, simply ask the staff about it. Most of the specialty restaurants in cruising world offer vegetarian options and alternative. At NCL's Steak House, for example, vegetarians may order sample plates of small dishes available to other guests as sides: marinated mushrooms, baked potatoes, and others. Usually room service offers the same proportion of non-vegetarian and vegetarian options - salads, sandwiches, burgers, cheese plates, pizza. There are cruise lines offering one vegetarian option at each meal - Crystal, Celebrity, Holland America have separate vegetarian menus at dinner which are available by request. Ask for it when getting to the restaurant!
Main cruise lines vegetarian options
Those who are longtime vegetarians, are going to be well versed when scoping port towns for vegetarian options and restaurants. The easiest way is to consider bringing some snacks if you are going to take an all-day shore excursion. Lines like NCL, Celebrity, Crystal, MSC, Royal Caribbean are ready to make special lunch if you request 24 hours in advance. Cruise lines which maintain private islands in Caribbean - Costa, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean, provide vegetarian options at beach barbecues. Fred Olsen is also good enough with regard to choice. At least two main vegetarian meals are provided there on offer and you can also request dishes that are not on the menu. P&O have a separate vegetarian menu and be sure- the vegetarian food on P&O is excellent! All you have to do is to ask the head waiter about it on the first night on board- then he will prepare it for you every night so you can choose your meal for the next evening. The waiter will also offer you the main menu for in case there is anything that is suitable and they won't have to prepare anything from the vegetarian options just for you. On some smaller ships, for example - the luxury vessels of lines like Seabourn, or the more adventure-oriented vessels of Lindblad Expeditions, and the cozy ships of Cruise West, guests can simply sit down with the onboard chefs and explain about the kinds of vegetarian options that would please them most.