Vegan-Friendly Cruises: Delicious Plant-Based Dining Options

Veganism is becoming increasingly popular, and the cruise industry is taking note. Many cruise lines now offer vegan-friendly options, with some even providing fully vegan cruises. While some cruise ships don't have vegan restaurants or menus on board, it's still possible for vegans to find plant-based meals. It's recommended that vegans contact the cruise line before travelling to ensure their dietary needs can be met, and to take vegan snacks and milk alternatives.

Some of the best cruise lines for vegans include Oceania Cruises, which offers hundreds of vegan options; Carnival Cruise Line, which has a separate vegan menu; and Royal Caribbean, which has a special three-course vegan menu. For those looking for a fully vegan experience, there are cruises such as Holistic Holiday at Sea and Vegan Culinary Cruises, which offer vegan-focused excursions and cooking workshops.

How to prepare for a vegan cruise

Before You Leave

It's a good idea to give the cruise line a heads-up about your dietary requirements in advance. Most cruise lines will have an option to indicate your nutritional needs during the booking process or in your online account. If not, send an email to their customer care staff with your booking number and explain your situation. That way, they might be able to keep some extra vegan treats on hand for you!

When You Arrive

When you first embark, you'll usually dine at a buffet for lunch. It's becoming easier to find vegan options at cruise buffets, and you can always ask a staff member if something is vegan. In the evening, you'll likely have dinner in the main dining room, where you can speak to the Head Waiter and inform them of your dietary requirements.

Coffee and Cafes

You should be able to find soy milk or almond milk for your coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos at the onboard cafe or coffee shop.

Vegan Treats

Vegan treats and desserts can be hard to come by on a cruise. You'll likely be served sorbet or fruit unless the cruise line has a specific vegan menu.

Special Vegan Cruises

If you want an entirely plant-based holiday, you could consider a vegan-themed cruise like Holistic Holiday at Sea or Vegan Culinary Cruises. These cruises feature vegan-focused excursions and cooking workshops.

Packing Tips

It's a good idea to bring your own vegan snacks and non-dairy milk, as cruise lines have different rules about bringing your own food and beverages onboard. Check with your cruise line or travel agent to see what's allowed.

Finding vegan food on a cruise

Being a vegan traveller has its challenges, but it is possible to find vegan food on a cruise. Here are some tips for finding vegan options while sailing the high seas.

Before you go

Give the cruise line a heads-up about your diet in advance. It's best to fill out the appropriate forms online and inform them of your dietary requirements. This will ensure that the cruise staff are prepared and able to accommodate your needs.

When you arrive

On the first day, meet with the maitre d' or head chef to discuss your dining options. You may need to pre-order your meals each day in advance to give the chefs time to prepare.

At mealtimes

Let the waitstaff know that you are looking for vegan options. They will be your greatest resource as they are well-versed in the day's offerings and ingredients used in each dish.

Where to eat

Vegan options are usually available in the main dining room and at the buffet. The buffet typically has a salad bar and a variety of vegetables, grains, and fruits that can be customised to be plant-based. Specialty restaurants and cafes may also offer vegan options, such as soy milk for coffee and tea.

What to eat

Vegan options vary by cruise line, but you can typically find plant-based starters, soups, salads, pastas, stir-fries, tofu dishes, and more. For dessert, sorbet or fruit are common, but vegan treats and sweets may be limited.

Vegan-friendly cruise lines

Some cruise lines with vegan options include:

• Oceania Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Silversea Cruises
• SeaDream Yacht Club
• Azamara
• Disney Wish

Vegan-friendly cruise lines

Cruising is a fantastic way to explore the world, and it's even better when you know you'll be well-fed with delicious vegan meals! While some cruise ships are more meat-themed, there are plenty of vegan-friendly options available, with plant-based options becoming more and more available. Here are some of the best vegan-friendly cruise lines to consider for your next holiday:

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises offers an extensive vegan menu with hundreds of options to choose from. In 2017, they unveiled an expanded vegan menu with over 250 dishes served in the Grand Dining Room aboard all ships at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They then added more than 200 new plant-based menu items across their dining venues in 2019. You can even find entire plant-based meals at their steakhouses! Their biggest ships, Marina and Riviera, also feature a vegan juice bar on the pool deck, serving cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and energy bowls. Sample vegan dishes include truffle mac 'n' cheese, pad Thai, and coconut milk carrot cake.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line caters to vegan and vegetarian diets with a 22-dish menu available in the main dining room for no extra cost. They also offer specialty dining venues with vegan and vegetarian options, although these come with cover charges. The buffet on Holland America Line ships is impressive, featuring a salad bar, daily sushi, and multiple made-to-order stations. Sample vegan dishes include tofu and vegetable kabobs, curried cauliflower steak, and grilled portobello mushroom.

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club is known for its luxurious vegan and vegetarian dining options. They go above and beyond to cater to guests' dietary needs and will work with you to create your dream meal. At breakfast, you'll find options like chia seeds and quinoa clusters, while the lunch buffet includes a DIY salad bar with fresh and organic veggies. Dinner features a complete plant-based, organic, and vegan meal option, and there's always a vegetarian entree on the regular menu. They also offer gluten-free, pescatarian, high-protein, and keto-friendly menu items. Sample vegan dishes include truffle tagliatelle pasta and lapsang souchong smoky portobellos.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line offers a variety of dining venues, most of which are free. The main dining room always has vegan and vegetarian selections, and casual venues also offer surprising veggie-friendly options. You can enjoy a veggie burger at Guy's Burger Joint or a bean burrito at BlueIguana Cantina. Carnival's pizza and salad buffet are also vegan-friendly. As of December 2023, they launched a separate vegan menu with dishes like Hawaiian salmon poke and spaghetti carbonara. Carnival has been awarded the Vegan Voyage Award by PETA.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a 7-day rotation vegan menu in the main dining room fleet-wide. You can also find vegan options in their cafes and pizzerias. Sample vegan dishes include edamame-stuffed portobello mushrooms, vegan spaghetti "Bolognese", and toffee "cheesecake" with dark chocolate and a peanut butter crust.

Azamara

Azamara offers a daily vegan dinner menu available in the main dining room and all specialty dining venues. While there is a cover charge for the specialty restaurants, the vegan menu is available for free in the main dining room. Keep an eye out for vegetarian-friendly Indian dishes, veggie burgers, and vegetarian spring rolls. Don't miss their famous White Night alfresco buffet dinner, which offers a wide variety of vegan options. Sample vegan dishes include tofu satay with nasi goreng and Moroccan spiced kebab with almond couscous salad.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises offers separate vegetarian menus in the main dining room, with 14 days of variations. They also mark vegetarian, vegan, and lactose-free dishes with icons on their regular menus. While the main entrees tend to focus on pasta and cheese, you can find more variety in the buffet, which offers a pasta bar, pizza, and made-to-order stir-fry. Sample vegan dishes include sun-dried tomato ricotta pasta and roasted carrot cumin salad.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises unveiled seven new vegan menus in October 2023 for their main dining rooms across the fleet. They offer gourmet vegan options that cater to various dietary preferences. Guests can pre-order vegan meals before their cruise or request them once onboard. Sample vegan dishes include roasted pears with dried apricots and pistachios, green goddess salad with tofu, and plant-based shepherd's pie.

Disney Wish

Disney's newest cruise ship, Disney Wish, offers vegan options at every dining experience. You can enjoy meatless stuffed cabbage rolls and tofu udon straight from the Marvel universe.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises has expanded its culinary offerings with a range of new vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based dishes. They collaborate with acclaimed Chef Jean-Luc Rabanel to ensure imaginative and delicious green cuisine. Guests can enjoy diverse plant-based starters, mains, and desserts, including roasted cauliflower bonbons and vegan chocolate mousse.

With so many vegan-friendly options available, you're sure to find a cruise that suits your taste buds and travel plans! Remember to do your research, inform the cruise line of your dietary needs in advance, and always pack some vegan snacks just in case. Happy sailing and bon appetit!

Vegan dining options

Before You Leave

While some cruises are entirely vegan, it is always a good idea to inform the cruise line about your dietary preferences in advance. Most cruise lines will have an option to indicate your dietary needs during the booking process or on your online account. If not, you can contact their customer care staff directly via email or phone. This will ensure that the cruise staff are prepared and can accommodate your vegan dining needs.

When You Arrive

Upon embarking on your cruise, you will likely first dine at a buffet, which usually offers plenty of vegan options. Salads, sushi, stir-fries, and pasta dishes can often be customised to be plant-based. If you are unsure, don't hesitate to ask a staff member for assistance.

In the evenings, you will probably dine in the main dining room, where you can speak to the Head Waiter about your dietary requirements. They will be able to customise dishes from the regular menu or, if available, bring out a separate vegan menu for you to choose from. You may be asked to pre-order your meals the night before to give the kitchen staff enough time to prepare.

Coffee and Cafes

Most cruise ships have at least one cafe or coffee shop on board, where you can find plant-based milk alternatives like soy milk or almond milk for your coffee or tea. However, vegan treats and desserts may be limited, so be prepared to opt for sorbet or fresh fruit.

Vegan-Friendly Cruise Lines

Several cruise lines have been recognised for their exceptional vegan dining options:

• Oceania Cruises offers hundreds of vegan menu items, including a raw juice bar on their largest ships.
• Holland America Line provides a 22-dish vegetarian and vegan menu in the main dining room, as well as vegan options in specialty dining venues.
• SeaDream Yacht Club offers the first raw food vegan menu in the industry, developed in partnership with the Hippocrates Health Institute.
• Carnival Cruise Line launched a separate vegan menu in 2023, featuring dishes like Hawaiian salmon poke and spaghetti carbonara.
• Royal Caribbean introduced a vegan menu in their main dining room, offering options like edamame-stuffed portobello mushrooms and vegan spaghetti Bolognese.
• Azamara offers a daily vegan dinner menu with numerous vegan main courses, appetizers, soups, and side dishes.
• Celebrity Cruises offers separate vegetarian menus in the main dining room, with vegan options marked by a leaf symbol.
• Princess Cruises unveiled seven new vegan menus in October 2023, featuring gourmet options like roasted pears with dried apricots and pistachios and plant-based shepherd's pie.
• Silversea Cruises offers a diverse array of vegan dishes, including tofu, soy milk, and colourful vegetable meals.
• Costa Cruises features vegan and vegetarian meals, including vegetarian soups, salads, pasta with marinara sauce, and tofu-based products.

Sustainability and ethical considerations of cruise ships

Sustainability and ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important in the cruise industry, which has often been criticised for its environmental impact. Here is an overview of the sustainability landscape within the industry:

Environmental Impact of Cruise Ships

Cruise ships have been likened to floating cities due to their size and capacity. They emit large amounts of carbon, with a medium-sized ship emitting greenhouse gases equivalent to 12,000 cars. They also produce significant amounts of waste, including sewage, wastewater, and solid waste. The burning of bunker fuel, the dirtiest type of fuel, exacerbates the problem, leading to high emissions of black carbon, sulfates, and other harmful chemicals.

Sustainable Alternatives

There are several alternative vacation options that have a lower environmental impact than traditional cruises. These include all-inclusive resorts, national parks, escorted tours, multi-city/country trips, staycations, land cruises, freighter ship travel, sailboat cruises, river cruises, and catamaran trips. These alternatives typically result in lower carbon emissions, less pollution, and reduced harm to marine ecosystems.

Sustainable Cruise Lines

Some cruise lines are making efforts to improve their sustainability practices. Here are some examples:

• Hurtigruten: This expedition cruise line focuses on four pillars: emissions, people, community, and nature. They source food locally, minimise food waste, and develop eco-conscious vessels. They aim for carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
• MSC Cruises: MSC has committed to reducing emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieving total net-zero cruising by 2050. They have reduced carbon emissions by 35% since 2008 and utilise liquid natural gas (LNG) for fuel.
• Aurora Expeditions: This line is committed to responsible cruising and is a member of two sustainability groups. They offset their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in a renewable energy wind farm and a conservation program. They also have specialised water and waste management systems and efficient energy sources.
• Havila Voyages: Havila operates hybrid vessels with large ship battery packs, reducing carbon emissions by 35%. They aim for climate-neutral operations by 2028 and emission-free operations by 2030. They serve locally sourced meals, minimise food waste, and encourage guests to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Virgin Voyages: Virgin aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Their ships feature energy-saving sensors and smart wearable bands made from recycled ocean plastic. They serve ethically sourced seafood, do not have buffets, and use a recycling system with sustainable products.
• PONANT: This French-owned luxury line works towards six major environmental goals, including reducing emissions and waste, banning single-use plastics, and investing in scientific research. They utilise high-quality wastewater treatment systems, navigation technology, and locally sourced food and drinks.

Sustainable Practices on Cruise Ships

There are several practices that cruise lines and passengers can adopt to improve sustainability:

• Opt for shorter voyages or smaller ships: Choosing shorter itineraries and midsize or small ships can help minimise carbon emissions and environmental damage.
• Choose transparent cruise lines: Select cruise lines that provide annual sustainability reports and are committed to improving their operations.
• Use alternative fuel systems: Shifting to lower-carbon alternative fuels, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or hydrogen fuel cells, can significantly reduce emissions.
• Embrace energy efficiency: Implementing energy-saving features like LED lighting, advanced air conditioning systems, and efficient hull designs can decrease energy consumption.
• Advanced wastewater treatment: Onboard wastewater treatment plants can process sewage and greywater to meet international standards for safe discharge.
• Reduce and manage waste: Onboard recycling programs, composting systems, and initiatives to minimise single-use plastics can substantially reduce waste generation.
• Renewable energy integration: Incorporating solar panels, wind power, and wave energy can enhance energy efficiency and reduce fuel dependence.

While the cruise industry has been criticised for its environmental impact, some cruise lines are making strides towards sustainability. By adopting alternative fuels, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and integrating renewable energy, the industry can move towards a greener future. Additionally, passengers can make more sustainable choices by opting for shorter voyages, choosing transparent cruise lines, and supporting eco-friendly practices.

Frequently asked questions