Top 5 Cruise Lines for Vegans
With so many cruise ships featuring main dining and specialty restaurants specifically appealing to meat-eaters – such as steakhouses and BBQ grills – cruising as a vegan can be quite daunting; it’s just not always clear whether there will be a decent selection of plant-based meals available while onboard. Thankfully, though, the days of only being offered a singular salad option when dining out are largely a thing of the past. You can now look forward to a healthy selection of excellent vegan-friendly food, without having to compromise!
While you will find a small selection of vegan options available in the main dining restaurants of almost all cruise lines, there are some cruise lines that have a better selection than others – when it comes to both the abundance of choice and the quality of the plant-based meals you can enjoy. The best vegan cruise lines sailing right now offer guests hundreds of excellent menu items, many of which are consistently available throughout the duration of your cruise holiday, and aim to deliver some of the finest cuisine available at sea.
So, without further ado, keep reading to find out more about some of the best vegan-friendly cruise lines out there and which cruise ships you should keep an eye out for when you’re planning your next getaway
Celebrity Cruises
Acutely aware that travelling the world as a vegan can come with some challenges, Celebrity Cruises makes a point of ensuring that anyone adhering to a plant-based diet can enjoy an excellent array of fantastic foods during their cruise holiday. To help you identify which menu items are vegan-friendly, Celebrity Cruises uses clear colour indicators, highlighting options that are meat-free and dairy-free alongside gluten-free dishes and even items with no added sugar.
So, whatever your dietary requirements, you’ll find yourself with a decent selection of dishes, from mouthwatering pastas, to rich vegetable soups, refreshing salads and more. Perfect for if you’ve got a Celebrity Cruises getaway coming up, you’re guaranteed a more hassle-free and relaxed escape!
Which Celebrity Cruises’ Ships Offer Vegan-Friendly Options?
Whilst all Celebrity Cruises ships offer some vegan-friendly options onboard, some ships present guests with a wider selection to choose from. These include Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Edge. On these ships, you’ll be able to enjoy an elegant vegan taster menu in Eden, with seven courses of sensational food available.
If you have any other further requirements, it’s also worth informing the crew and restaurant management onboard to ensure that these are covered. You’ll also have the option to pre-order vegan-friendly dishes approximately 24 hours prior to your meal. This might seem a little difficult on your first day, but you can also contact Celebrity Cruises directly to discuss this after booking your getaway.
Oceania Cruises
A luxurious cruise line beloved for its opulence, Oceania Cruises boasts some of the best vegan food available on any cruise line, making it a truly fantastic option for anyone on a plant-based diet. With wildly impressive expansions to their vegan menu in both 2017 and 2019, the main dining options on all Oceania Cruises’ ships boast over 400 options – from succulent bean burgers to rich vegetable soups, there’s something for all palates. You’ll even find plant-based options available in the steakhouse!
That isn’t all, though. At breakfast-time, you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of at least five main dishes – from vegan cream of wheat sprinkled with cinnamon to vanilla waffles – and there’s a conveniently located juice and smoothie bar on the pool deck – perfect for refreshing vegan-friendly drinks throughout the day. With upcoming Oceania Cruises dates sailing to some spectacular destinations, guests adhering to a plant-based diet will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the available cuisine.
Which Oceania Cruises’ Ships Offer Vegan-Friendly Options
As mentioned above, all of Oceania Cruises’ fleet offers an extensive selection of vegan options, so whether you’re aboard Oceania Insignia, Oceania Nautica, Oceania Regatta, Oceania Riviera, or Oceania Sirena, your preferences and dietary requirements will be taken care of!
If you have any additional dietary requirements, you will also be able to contact staff both ahead of time and onboard, which will ensure that these are taken care of so you can enjoy some excellent food.
Holland America Line
With a unique vegan menu available in all main dining restaurants, and optional meat-free variations of dishes like Indian curries available (to be requested 24 hours ahead of time), Holland America Line is easily one of the best cruise lines offering vegan-friendly options sailing right now. Not only do the main dining restaurants offer a sensational 22-item menu that’s specifically designed for vegetarian and vegan guests, some of the specialty restaurants onboard also offer tasty vegan treats at an additional cost. So, fear not, for you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to plant-based meals!
From flavourful dishes such as curried cauliflower and vegetable jambalaya to succulent tofu and vegetable stir-fry and grilled portabella mushrooms, this tailor-made menu highlights the healthy aspects of a plant-based diet – not relying on processed foods to make up for the lack of meat and animal products. If you’re a vegan planning to take advantage of any deals on upcoming Holland America Line cruises, rest assured knowing you’re in good hands when you’re hungry.
Which Holland America Line Cruise Ships Offer Vegan-Friendly Options?
You’ll be pleased to know that every single ship in the Holland America Line fleet offers the same wide array of vegan-friendly menu options, at the same high standard. So, whether you’re cruising on Eurodam, Westerdam, Nieuw Statendam, or any other Holland America Line ship, you can enjoy all the tasty plant-based options available and your dietary requirements will be met.
For anyone with any additional dietary requirements, you can get in touch with the crew and restaurant management either ahead of time or onboard and discuss options. So, don't worry about missing out on any tasty food if you need to avoid something specific.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ vegan cuisine is some of the best available at sea right now, with several new vegan menus available in the main dining rooms for all upcoming Princess Cruises getaways – no matter where in the world you’re sailing. If you have any particular dietary requests alongside a general need for plant-based food, you can contact Princess directly – or take advantage of the Cruise Personalizer online – and they will be more than happy to make an effort to accommodate you.
From tasty Baja-Style Cauliflower Tacos to a delightful Walkaway Ratatouille, Princess Cruises’ commitment to culinary excellence isn’t lost on the plant-based options available. You might find yourself a little limited when it comes to dessert options, but you are allowed to bring your own pre-packaged food onboard. So, there’s nothing to stop you enjoying some vegan chocolate or an egg-free cake – provided you bring it yourself.
Which Princess Cruises Ships Offer Vegan-Friendly Options?
In an effort to ensure everyone sailing with Princess Cruises has access to this fantastic selection of vegan-friendly dishes and plant-based treats, almost every cruise ship in this impressive fleet offers Princess Cruises’ updated vegan menu – however, there are some exceptions at the moment.
So, while there will be limited vegan options available on all Princess Cruises holidays, the improved menu is available on the following ships: Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess, Enchanted Princess, Majestic Princess, Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Regal Princess, Ruby Princess, Sun Princess, Star Princess, Diamond Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Sky Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess, and Royal Princess.
Carnival Cruise Line
If you’re considering a Carnival Cruise Line holiday, you’ll be pleased to know that this is one of the best cruise lines for vegans with a fantastic selection of plant-based options always available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll find some sensational vegan sushi available at Bonsai Sushi, and you can request any of the main menu items without fish if you want to expand your options further.
Similarly, at other specialty restaurants – which will be available at an additional cost – you will find a small selection of vegan menu items and, while this might look limiting at a glance, you can always ask the chef to leave out certain ingredients when preparing your dish – and they will be more than happy to oblige if possible. Regardless of where you’re dining, be it the BlueIguana Cantina or the Cucina Del Capitano, you can let the crew know about any dietary requirements, so you can still enjoy a Carnival Cruise Line cruise full of colourful cuisine.
Which Carnival Cruise Line Ships Offer Vegan-Friendly Options?
While vegan guests will find some plant-based options available on every Carnival Cruise Line ship, an improved menu catered to vegan guests isn’t available on every voyage – at the moment. For now, a refined menu of vegan dishes is available on the following ships: Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Dream, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Glory, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Jubilee.
So, if you do adhere to a plant-based diet, you’ll find yourself with more options when sailing on one of the above cruise ships. Anyone with any dietary requirement, though, can also get in contact with the crew and restaurant management ahead of time or onboard to discuss options and ways to take care of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need to pay extra for plant-based and vegan-friendly meals?
Not always! If you’re enjoying a plant-based dish from one of the main dining options, this won’t cost you extra – and the same applies to non-vegan dishes with changes from these venues. If you plan to dine in one of the specialty restaurants, though, you may find there’s an additional charge.
It can be hard to work out what a cruise is actually like with so many misconceptions online, but the idea that they're not accommodating to vegans is just one being tackled by major cruise lines. You can check out a few more common cruise myths debunked right here.
Does Norwegian Cruise Line have vegan options available?
Yes, but they’re limited. Norwegian Cruise Line does offer plant-based, vegan friendly dishes in the main dining rooms and a limited selection in the specialty restaurants onboard, but not quite as many as the cruise lines mentioned above. That being said, there’s still nothing stopping you requesting non-vegan dishes with modifications; it’s best to contact Norwegian Cruise Line ahead of time to discuss options, though.
Can I request vegan meals for room service?
Yes, you can! Most cruise lines accommodate special dietary requirements for room service, and you should have no trouble ordering any standard menu item – vegan-friendly or otherwise – to your cabin. So, even if you’re looking for a plant-based bite, you should have no trouble enjoying your food in the comfort of your own cabin.
Can I discuss my dietary restrictions directly with the chef?
Yes, absolutely! When you board, you will be able to request a meeting with the cruise ship’s chef to discuss any dietary needs you might have – including the vegan options and any adjustments that can be made to the existing menu items.
How do I inform the cruise staff about my dietary requirements before I board?
There are a few ways you can inform cruise staff about your dietary requirements before you board. While you will find that most cruise lines will present you with a way to highlight this during the booking process or online afterwards, you can also discuss this with your cruise consultant.
Are there any all-inclusive vegan cruises available?
Yes, in a way! Technically, you can enjoy any all-inclusive cruise as a vegan – as long as you stick to a plant-based diet. And, going the extra mile, there are a selection of all-vegan cruises sailing; however, these are very rare, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for any that come up in the future.
Book Your Next Cruise Getaway With Iglu Cruise Today
If you want to enjoy a luxury cruise holiday with the finest cuisine – vegan or otherwise – and the best entertainment on the sea, book your next cruise with Iglu cruise today. With so many of the best cruise deals available throughout the year, you'll be certain to find the right trip to suit your tastes and budget.
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