As the popularity of veganism continues to grow around the world, travelling on a plant-based diet is becoming easier than ever, with suppliers being more receptive to this dietary requirement. However, that’s not to say that it doesn’t come without its challenges – especially when it comes to cruising, when you’ll rarely be in the same place for any more than 48 hours. But fear not, taking a cruise as a vegan needn’t be as daunting as it may first appear. This quick guide will give you three top tips to help you enjoy a stress-free vegan holiday at sea.
Look at the onboard menus
Buffets are generally the beating heart of any cruise’s culinary offering, and it’s here where hungry sailors will fuel up during those long days at sea. Buffets are, by nature, perfect for the vegan diner (providing the right options are available), since you can hand pick exactly what you want and craft your own plates. While it may not always be clear which dishes are vegan-friendly, there will always be staff on hand willing to help out and give you all the necessary information. They may even be willing to cook something off-menu if you ask.
When it comes to dinnertime, it’s important to note that most cruises will change their menus throughout the trip and vary the dishes they offer. To keep things simple, the best course of action is to simply inform your waiter before each sit-down meal about your dietary needs. They will be able to guide you to the available options, or potentially present some vegan alternatives to other dishes. On some cruise lines, you may find you’re able to sit at the same table and have the same waiter throughout the trip, which will help to streamline the process as they get to know you better.
Research your destinations
The beauty of a cruising holiday is that you have the opportunity to discover multiple towns, cities and countries on the same trip, without having to worry about getting from one destination to another. As exciting a prospect as this is, it can make life difficult for travelling vegans, who will need to understand how receptive each place is in catering to their vegan patrons. While you’re unlikely to be docked in any given destination for longer than a day or two, you will still want to have a rough idea on the sort of food you can expect to find away from the boat, and a shortlist of potential vegan-friendly restaurants and cafes.
When researching establishments in each destination, make sure you read up on reviews from other travellers, and filter them to highlight any mentions of vegan food. This way, you’ll be able to get a better idea of the quality of the food on offer, as well as how generous the selection is.
Keep some snacks to hand
If you’re heading out on an all-day excursion, it can be reassuring to have a few snacks to hand so you know you won’t be caught short if options are limited. These can be replenished along the way as you find vegan-friendly items in supermarkets, but it’s always good to come prepared from the outset by stuffing a few extra snacks from home into your case.
Everyone will have their own preferences, but there are a few snack options that are particularly travel-friendly. Dehydrated fruits, nuts, granola bars and crisps all travel well and won’t go off during your trip, so stock up on a few of your favourites before you set sail. And remember, there will always be a generous selection of fresh fruit at the onboard buffet, so stock up each morning for the day ahead.
Keep things simple at sea
It’s natural for vegans to feel a little anxious when travelling somewhere new. But most modern cruise lines will take a lot of the stress out of your holiday, and provide you with plenty of dining options onboard. On the days where you’ll be disembarking, it’s useful to have a basic understanding of what you can expect to find there when it comes to mealtimes. And remember, having a trusty snack bag to fall back on will keep you fuelled up and ready to fully embrace all the joys of a cruising holiday.
