Vegancruzer

Just FYI, I'm not sure if I posted it here before or not, probably not. Regarding the Naked Fries - 

when you get them at the Burger Bar by the pool, the "Naked" fries are NOT actually naked, they are "dusted with parmesan". 

If you order Naked Fries in the MDR, they are not dusted with parmesan.

Weird, I know. One of the staff members told me this when I was getting them at the burger bar because she remembered me from the MDR and knew I am vegan.

Personally I think Naked Fries should be just that. LOL

On 8/9/2024 at 5:58 PM, rj59 said:

 

Here is an exhaustive list of HAL menus, including their Indian vegetarian ones:

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/

GOLD MINE!!!! Thank you SO much!!!!

4 hours ago, Liskap said:

It is probably true that the European iteneraries are a bit more veg-friendly, but I think the problem/explanation is also that it is not allways consistant and not evrybody in the staff knows all the options. For instance I called roomservice one night and asked for vegan options. The woman said that if it is not on the menu, it is not available. Than I said that in the morning there were a lot of options that were not on the menu and I was sure adjustments could be made. Than she asked someone else and he was very helpfull and provided me with a delicious sandwich with avocado etc.

 

In the breakfastmenu of the NS that I posted before it said that they have vegan egg and cheeses, so it is definately on board of the Statendam. But you have to ask for it and you have to have a bit of luck with the people who help you.

I agree completely! It can certainly depend on who you talk to. LOL 

1 hour ago, Liskap said:

The Rotterdam from Rotterdam to Norway and back Iḿ from Holland). The Rotterdam and New Statendam are almost identical, so it is probably the same. 

 

 

Okay, because I don't think it's the same for the Caribbean itinerary. I was on NS in December 2023 and they did not have all these options. They had plenty and I was very happy, but there was no plant-based egg, and no vegan cheese. Although they did have a vegan cheese on one of the menu items as I recall, so that was weird. But when I ordered a Beyond burger through room service and asked about vegan cheese, the person just giggled (yes she did!) and said No. After that, I was hoping they didn't send me a beef burger...lol.

I believe most cruise lines are more veg-friendly for the European itineraries. 

Overall, I was very pleased with the options. My HAL PPC had emailed a menu to me in advance and I will contact her again a couple months before my next sailing to see if any changes. 

8 hours ago, Liskap said:

I discovered on my second HAL-cruise that there are also substitutes available for roomservice breakfast (free of charge). You can write it on the door-menu. I had delicious vegan scrambled eggs and sausage with spinach, onions and mushrooms. Peanutbutter was also available. 

First day I wrote a message via the navigator-app to the servicedepartment asking for the possibilities and they called me back to explain the options. It was super!

 

At Lido-market (I prefer the buffet over the MDR) they also had a designated vegan section at the wild-harvest-station in the evening, but only on one side of the buffet. The sweet spot in the buffet often has vegan deserts or icecream that they don't advertise. Anytime I asked if they had anything vegan, they came up with something. The Asian and the Italian spots can always make something vegan. A tip when you want pasta; you can get vegan cheese at the sweet spot (ask for it, it is not on display) and than go to the Italion spot for custommade pasta with mushrooms, vegetables and marinara.

 

And last but not least; the pizzaplace has a lot of vegan substitutions like fake meat, vegan cheese and vegan panacotta.

 

Enjoy!

What ship and itinerary was this? 

27 minutes ago, Denali2003 said:

My husband & I will be on Nieuw Statendam in Dec 2024.  This will be our first time on HAL.  We had sailed 18 times with Princess.  Really looking forward to sailing on HAL.  I am VERY impressed with the Vegetarian / Vegan options on HAL.  Princess has MAYBE 1 or 2 items in the MDR and in the buffet, their Vegetarian/Vegan options are the salad bar, rice, and cooked vegetables.  No real entree.  Even their pasta dishes in the buffet had meat in them.  I love Beyond Meats - so I am really looking forward to having it on HAL.

I really enjoyed the vegan options available on the Nieuw Statendam last December. So much that I am also going on the Nieuw Statendam THIS December - are you going the 14th by any chance?

I'm guessing not since I haven't seen you on the roll call..

I forgot I was even following this thread so thanks for the reminder - I haven't posted since I went.

My best advice, especially if you are vegan, is to reserve your specialty restaurant for the 1st night, I highly recommend Tamarind for vegans, it was SO delicious. But also visit the MDR before dinner is over the 1st night to let them know your diet choice and you will need to let them know what you want a day in advance. So, this strategy makes sure you don't go hungry the first night! lol

You can always get a Beyond burger, even room service, if needed.

Last tip: One of the hostesses told me that the Naked Fries in the burger bar are "dusted" with parmesan. But the Naked Fries in the MDR do not have parmesan. Weird!

Just a beautiful ship - this was my second cruise on the Divina, just last month, March 2023. I was passing through and the "Sailing" tune caught my attention. Hope you enjoy! 

19 hours ago, KKB said:

It’s my sweetener of choice!

Thx

Mine, too! Thanks for reminding me - they did not have Stevia last time I sailed with them. They also don't have dairy-free creamer, so I am taking dry coconut creamer in packets...

On 1/27/2023 at 6:33 PM, KKB said:

Sodas are not free on most cruise lines.

We've "run the numbers" and found a current drink menu with prices, decided to purchase drinks as we go. I found a video on Youtube that explained the levels and something I didn't consider - at the lowest level package you only get drinks priced to $6 or $7. My cruisemate reminded me how weak most of the drinks were last time. We only plan to have a cocktail or two occasionally, and a soda a day is enough for me. I think we'll be fine. Thanks!

I am having a hard time picking  myself up off the floor at the change in the MSC drink package prices since my last cruise with them. Minimum is $38 per DAY per PERSON. I'm only drinking water, sodas and the occasional cocktail, this is way too much, especially for days in port. Are ANY beverages free?? - sodas in the buffet area? I know there is coffee and tea available.

My cruisemate and I are not planning to go on a drunkfest, good grief...

Can we NOT purchase a drinks package and just pay as we go on the cruise card? 

All the travel agent has to say is "That's just the way it is now"....not impressed.

The Hilton Barbados offers two types of day pass. There is a basic day pass without any food or drinks included. That is $40. The other includes lunch and one drink for $55.

I just need to go there for the snorkel excursion. Will not be spending time at the resort. Thanks for the info

Ugh.....not liking the sound of this.. our ship is only there 6 hours so we didn't book an excursion, thinking of just checking out the town, thinking there would be vendors, possibly selling souvenirs/crafts/local crap that tourists buy....?

Also, this is the only port we're visiting that prefers euros. Sounds like I don't need to bother converting any before we cruise.

My mistake - we DID book an excursion at this port! However, it's been my experience that tipping the tour operator is customary - do you recommend getting some euros for this purpose? I'm thinking now that maybe I will just get a minimal amount as I have no other use for euros in the foreseeable future.

Ugh.....not liking the sound of this.. our ship is only there 6 hours so we didn't book an excursion, thinking of just checking out the town, thinking there would be vendors, possibly selling souvenirs/crafts/local crap that tourists buy....?

Also, this is the only port we're visiting that prefers euros. Sounds like I don't need to bother converting any before we cruise.

Thank you so much Denise! I will make sure to confirm the price before the ride -

Does anyone have any updated info on this? I will be traveling from the cruise port to the Hilton for a snorkeling excursion booked separately (not assoc with cruise) and the vendor tells me it's only 1.5 miles. From what I see here, 20 minutes (?!) and $17 sounds ridiculous for a short taxi ride!! Is that accurate? The excursion itself is only $40....

The vendor said there are lots of taxis but then said "I like carts as sometimes the vans wait for more people". What is a CART??? I googled it and nothing comes up except some donkey carts that used to be in operation years ago.

I considered walking, at least one way, but not sure at all about that as I will be alone - my travel companion is not going.

Thanks for any updated info - cruising there next month - can't wait!