A guide to cruising for vegetarians and vegans

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Cruising is known for being a form of travelling that suits everyone from all walks of life with varying tastes and preferences, so it is no surprise that cruising is a really good option for vegetarians and vegans as well as those who enjoy a selection of cuisines and dishes.

Cruising is a wonderful way to explore new dishes, new cuisines and amazingly talented chefs who put their heart and soul into making delicious dishes for you whilst on your voyage, but what is cruising like for vegans and vegetarians who may not have as many options as others onboard? In this article, we take a look at some of the options for vegetarians and vegans as well as speak to foodie cruise lovers about their food experiences onboard similar ships to Ambience.

What food offerings to expect on Ambience

Although she has not set sail yet, Ambience already prides herself on providing a wonderful service to each and every guest, no matter their needs and that includes its food and dining services. For those who may have a limited diet or have chosen to eat vegan or vegetarian, a cruise may seem daunting, but that doesn’t need to be the case. All of our restaurants have a range of delicious vegetarian or vegan dishes, and if there is something else that takes your fancy, we will do our best to serve it to you meat or dairy-free.

Our ethos is to always put our guests first, and that doesn’t stop at dining. On Ambience, there are a huge range of dining options so you can tailor your experience to suit you. Exceptional service, exquisite flavours and wonderful surroundings are a given with every meal. So, if you’re planning to enjoy a six-course gala dinner, a romantic date in a fine-dining restaurant or you want to enjoy a casual lunch with friends, your wish is our command.

There is nothing better than great friends and family coming together to enjoy great food, which also gets better with breath-taking sea views and the wonderful sea air between mouthfuls. Our carefully crafted menus have been tailored by our talented chefs and will offer you a taste of the finer things in life.

What do foodie bloggers have to say?

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, it might be important to you to know what fellow vegan or veggie cruising enthusiasts have to say about their previous experiences on cruises. We spoke to Jenni who blogs at Cruise Mummy, she has experienced plenty of cruises and knows exactly what options there are for vegan or vegetarians, she commented:

"Having taken many cruises both as a vegetarian and most recently as a vegan, I've discovered that the food choices can be pretty hit and miss, depending on the cruise line you choose. Some cruise lines do offer carefully planned vegan menus with a choice of tasty options. I do believe that a cruise is one of the best holidays you can take as a vegan. If you choose the right ship, you'll have no worries about finding a good place to eat as you might do on land. As long as your ship offers vegan menus, you can relax knowing that there will always be expertly-prepared dishes on offer."

Justin Plus Lauren are a duo that have experienced many cruises whilst travelling the world and have plenty of experience when it comes to vegan cruising, they explained a little more about their experiences on their blog, commenting: “When you initially embark on a cruise, you’ll usually dine at the buffet for lunch. I’ve always found tons of options at cruise buffets for vegetarians and vegans. It’s actually getting a lot easier as time goes on. On our last cruise, their “buffet” is actually many different stations where everything is prepared individually for you. In the case of salads, sushi, a stir fry, pasta dishes, and so much more, it’s easy to customize them to be plant-based. If you have any questions, you can always ask a staff member if it’s vegan.”

Notify your cruise line beforehand

If you are planning to join a cruise or board Ambience in the near future and you have specific dietary or food requirements, then it is always advised that you make the cruise company aware beforehand so they can make provisions for your needs.

Whether you have to stick to a vegan, low sugar, gluten-free diet or have any allergies you think they should be aware of, letting the crew know beforehand will ensure the best food experience and allow the cruise company to cater to your needs ahead of time. If you want to find out what we can offer you in a little more depth then make sure you head to our general information page.

If you are looking to enjoy a cruise on Ambience, whether that is a northern lights cruise, Fjordlands cruise or any other type of cruise, then you can rest assured that all of your needs will be catered to and any food requirements will be tailored to.

For more tips, guides, and advice, make sure to visit our blog page.