VEGGING OUT
Crystal Cruises’ ocean liners and riverboats devote serious menu space to sophisticated vegetarian and vegan fare at Waterside restaurant each evening. CroisiEurope Cruises, like many lines, prefers a heads-up from guests before a sail. That said, should you forget to do so, no worries; chefs do their best to create veggie bliss.
It’s never ho-hum for vegans sailing Oceania Cruises; this line rotates more than 250 vegan dishes on the Grand Dining Room menu. And hipster-y U by Uniworld showcases plenty of plant-based dishes, including a mean quinoa burger.
Avalon Waterways touts an Avalon Fresh menu in Europe. The menu’s driven by ingredients sourced from local farmers and suppliers along the riverboat routes, and created by veg-enthusiastic Austrian chefs, brothers Leo and Karl Wrenkh.
In the morning, tuck into grains, like amaranth and quinoa, and sweeten with honey scooped from a comb. Seeds for sprinkling, such as chia and basil, beckon. (Those seeds, long used in ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, contain concentrated nutrients and are said to possess antioxidant and other healthful properties.) At lunch, feast on fancy choices like fava bean stew or vegetable tagine ragout. Four- course vegetarian dinners showcase standouts like wild forest mushroom soup and vegetable-stuffed baked red onion.