What do Viking offer as an alternative to butter?

[pcolmer]

My wife & I went on our first Viking cruise last year - one of the England's Scenic Shores cruises. While on board, we asked about an alternative to butter to go with the rolls but we were told the only non-dairy option they could offer was Marmite.

 

A senior member of staff relayed our request into the management team and, apparently, non-dairy spread (e.g. Flora or a sunflower spread) was going to get added to all of the ships.

 

We've got another cruise coming up in July and, before we get on board, I was wondering if anyone who is either on board a ship now or has been on one recently can tell me if there are now alternatives to butter available?

 

Thanks.

 

[FetaCheese]

Deleted 

Edited June 15, 2022 by FetaCheese

[pcolmer]

So I decided to contact Viking directly and this was their response:

 

"In response to your query about dairy free butter. Unfortunately, as far as we are aware we do not supply that onboard. Our team and constantly trying to cater for all dietary requirements and you can ask the crew in case they do have it in for when you are onboard. Alternatively, I can assure you that you can bring your own onboard."

 

Disappointing, to say the least 😞

 

[pontac]

9 minutes ago, pcolmer said:

Disappointing, to say the least

 

Surprising - the much small Viking River boats offer both butter and a non-butter spread as a matter of course

 

I wonder if it was the use of the word butter. Butter is by definition dairy - margarine is not.

[Haqdeluxe]

1 hour ago, pontac said:

 

Surprising - the much small Viking River boats offer both butter and a non-butter spread as a matter of course

 

I wonder if it was the use of the word butter. Butter is by definition dairy - margarine is not.

Yes... wonder if it is understood that you are asking about the availability of margarine and not one of the new plant-based butters?

I too have seen margarine available on the river cruises. Can't really recall the same on the ocean. But wasn't really looking.

[CILCIANRQTS]

Our waiter advises margarine IS available. Will check in the morning.

Once again, Viking phone reps don’t seem to have a clue.

[KBs mum]

Butter is dairy, ask about non dairy alternatives

[keokukjoe]

Don't they offer herb or garlic infused olive oil for dinner in place of butter?

[CILCIANRQTS]

Margarine ( on river) is Becel Pro Activ vegan.

[pcolmer]

When I contacted Viking about this, I emailed tellus and basically copied/pasted my original post to this thread.

 

Given the helpful responses about the river boats, I've gone back to them with a couple of the replies about the river boats in an attempt to clear up whether it is confusion/misunderstanding over the words used or if it genuinely is a situation where River offers something but Ocean doesn't.

 

[pontac]

I'm sure I am not the only one who'd like to hear the outcome.

[Reydnn38]

I'm not an expert but when I check into the ingredients in "non-dairy" creamers and margarines, they often include some form of dairy. I'm really sensitive to any form of dairy so these don't work for me.  My fall back has been to ask for vegan products just because the chances seem to improve of getting something that's truly dairy free.  We leave for a Viking trip this fall and I'm trying to locate a vegan store in Paris near the dock.  

[KBs mum]

28 minutes ago, Reydnn38 said:

I'm not an expert but when I check into the ingredients in "non-dairy" creamers and margarines, they often include some form of dairy. I'm really sensitive to any form of dairy so these don't work for me.  My fall back has been to ask for vegan products just because the chances seem to improve of getting something that's truly dairy free.  We leave for a Viking trip this fall and I'm trying to locate a vegan store in Paris near the dock.  

Ask for soya milk, it's the most 'mainstrean' milk alternative. The various nut or grain based whiteners tend to be found only in health food or pretentious coffee shops.

I have a dairy and soya intolerance and deal with it by drinking black or green tea. 

Margarine is traditionally an animal fat based product dyed yellow (wartime shortages) there are olive oil based products that aren't bad. Trex is a  vegetarian replacement for rennet. Goat or Sheep's milk works for some people who don't get on with cow's milk