Vegan Menu

[CanuckCurlers]

My sister-in-law who is Vegan will be traveling with us at the end of the month on the CB. She has been told to see the maitre de at the restaurant after boarding but is still wondering if she needs to bring some of her own food aboard. Has anyone had experience with this?

[captainron]

Hi,

What you heard is basically correct. Explain the situation to him as soon as you board. If he is worth his weight in gold (and some are heavier than others), he will sit down with you and plan a meal menu with you for the duration of your cruise.

 

If he's only worth his weight in silver, you might have to kick it up the ladder a notch to the Passenger Services Director for intervention and assistance.

 

Ciao for now!!!

[CanuckCurlers]

Thanks for the heads up Captain Ron. Did you find they were able to vary the menu?

[Sailfish]

We have vegans in the family and thought I would share with you our experience with Princess. First off, notify the cruise line via your booking agent (or cruise line contact) with info about your sister in law's preference - it will be emailed over to the ship's head chef who will have a dozen or more vegan requests on any given sailing. Then, write out a detailed request in simple english that you can hand over to the guy in charge of the restaurants on the ship at embarkation - just in case. The Maitre'D will do, but more often than not, you can actually request to give this request over to the person in charge of special diets in the kitchen. I would also take a copy with you to dinner the first night, just in case.

 

It used to be a huge issue to accommodate a vegan diet - not any more. The chefs in the kitchen can pretty much modify a lot of meals to suit the needs of vegetarians and vegans - but you have to make sure they know who you are! A lot of passengers take it for granted that a requst such as this is sent off prior to the sail date - not so! You have to be a little persistent and follow-up at embarkation.

 

The kitchen often will have some unique Indian and Asian dishes not on the menu. The buffet has okay variety, but the good stuff will always be in the dining room - simply let the server know you have a special dietary requirement - her folio number will be coded this way in the computer and accessed by kitchen staff to insure she get something more than raw veggies for lunch!

 

We found it a bare to cruise with our vegan family members in the past, but not anymore. Quite often, some of the specially prepared vegan dishes were so good we all wanted some, including the meat eaters at the table! Some of the best included spicy thai and indian dishes - the green mango salad specially prepared for my brother in law was among the best we have ever had!

[caribill]

For the dining room, speak to the Matre d' or headwaiter the first evening.

 

Each evening he/she will bring you the menus for the next day and work with you to pick the food that meets your needs. He can also help with the first evening's menu, but they will be unable to cook up a special recipe on that short notice although they can leave some things off your plate (example, no bacon on a salad).

 

If you are in Anytime, be sure to let your waiter know each evening that you have a pre-selected meal awaiting you.

[Pam in CA]

For the dining room, speak to the Matre d' or headwaiter the first evening.

 

Each evening he/she will bring you the menus for the next day and work with you to pick the food that meets your needs. He can also help with the first evening's menu, but they will be unable to cook up a special recipe on that short notice although they can leave some things off your plate (example, no bacon on a salad).

 

If you are in Anytime, be sure to let your waiter know each evening that you have a pre-selected meal awaiting you.

We've been seated with vegans on past cruises and this is exactly what they did. With 24-hour notice, they can, and will, prepare food exactly as you request or modify a dish.

[captainron]

Pam,

Don't forget also that under special requirements in the Cruise Personalizer, they can indicate that they are Vegan.

 

Canuck Cruisers,

As you are well aware however, there are many of us here on CC who are not totally convinced that Princess actually reads the special requirements we detail in our Personalizers. That being the case go with my original suggestion of a tete a tete with the Maitre' d as soon as you get onboard, and the Personalizer can be used as a secondary means of advising the staff onboard.

 

Ciao for now!!!

[CanuckCurlers]

Thanks for the responses. She has used the personalizer and sent a list of ingredients etc. that she feels comfortable with. It is nice to know that there will be other Vegans likely on the ship and that they do try to accomodate. Taking a copy of the list and bringing it the first night makes good sense.

We do have traditional dining as we are a family group celebrating my parents' 60th anniversary. A cruise would not normally be my sister-in-law's first choice for a holiday but she is being a really good sport about it.

Keep any other hints or suggestions coming please.