Cruises have become increasingly popular over the last decade.
You might be wondering how your dietary restrictions will affect your vacation, but don’t worry!
There are plenty of options for all types of dieters. Whether you’re vegan or gluten-free, there is a cruise that’s perfect for you.
Let’s have a look at some of the best cruise lines for dietary restrictions.
The first thing you need to know about cruises is that they are a floating buffet.
You can expect there to be an abundance of food available 24 hours a day.
From morning breakfast buffets to late-night room service snacks and dining options in the ship’s restaurants.
The good news is that most ships offer dishes with special dietary needs, that will satisfy vegetarian diets as well as those who have other restrictions such as allergies or veganism.
Yes, it can be frustrating not being able to eat what everyone else does, but you can still have fun sampling some of the onboard dietary packages.
With so many cruises to choose from, finding the best cruise line for your dietary restrictions can be difficult.
To help you choose the best cruise line, below is a list of the best cruise lines for dietary restrictions.
Best Cruise Lines for Dietary Restrictions
Norwegian Cruise Line
This cruise line is an excellent option for those who need to adhere to strict dietary restrictions because they offer more than 150 gluten-free items at their main dining room on every ship.
Norwegian Cruise Lines offers more than just one option to suit your eating needs. The “Norwegian Sky” features an inflight menu that includes a lot of food items without meat.
Plus, they have a plant-based menu entirely free from animal products such as eggs and milk (though they do offer cheese).
There are also many restaurants onboard where you can order specialty vegan or vegetarian meals like pasta primavera or tofu stir fry.
Additionally, this cruise line offers allergy information so you can make informed decisions about what to order in any restaurant onboard the ship or ashore excursions while abroad.
Celebrity Cruise Line
It only takes one look at Celebrity Cruise Line’s website to see how much they care about catering to all types of dietary restrictions.
With many different foods already marked with symbols denoting whether or not it contains dairy, wheat, soy, seafood, or nuts. There should be no problem finding something.
For those with food allergies, you’ll have to do a little more research into the specific ingredients of the dish and then let your waiter know so they can serve it accordingly.
Celebrity Cruise Line has plenty of vegan dishes available on its menu! They also offer lactose-free meals at their restaurants through Celebrity’s Dairy-Free program!
One other thing you will like about them is that if there is an ingredient in any dish you dont like-say seafood -you are free to ask them not to include it for you.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative culinary choices. They have a fantastic selection of vegan dishes and gluten-free options on all their ships.
They also have vegetarian menus with some dairy-free products included – so you can mix it up for your diet!
Royal Caribbean offers several specialty restaurants that provide gluten-free meals and vegetarian options. This cruise line has three ships that are all vegan friendly: Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean also caters to those with allergies by providing allergy information on menus so you can make informed decisions about what to order.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line is another great option for people with dietary restrictions. It has several ships that offer gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
For those with celiac disease or wheat allergy, the cruise line offers dishes made without any flour ingredients. You can also find dairy-free (but not totally vegan) menus on their cruises.
The best part about Holland America is they have an entire ship dedicated to people who prefer these dietary restrictions: “The Veendam!”
This ship can hold up to 700 travelers (with dietary restrictions), so you won’t feel lost in the crowd. They are happy to accommodate all kinds of special needs.”.
AIDA Cruises
If you’re looking for something vegan, AIDA Cruises might be your best bet. They offer several gourmet restaurants on board with a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menus.
AIDA Cruises also have their own bakery and pastry shop containing cakes and desserts that fit any dietary restrictions you may need!
AIDA Cruises menu has something for everyone, including those with special dietary needs like lactose intolerance, wheat allergies, and celiac disease.
They also offer an allergen guide so you can see what kind of food will best suit you while aboard one of its vessels!
Disney Cruise Line
A Disney Cruise Line vacation can be just what you need if you’re looking for an allergen-friendly experience on your next getaway with family or friends.
Disney offers special menus for those who need low-calorie meals (including diabetic diets), vegetarian diets (with no meat but plenty of dairy substitutes), and gluten-free dishes – which means that everyone gets exactly what they’re craving.
The best thing about Disney is they are constantly expanding their menus to include more foods catering to different diets, so it will only get better from here!
MSC Cruises
Although MSC has only one ship catering to vegan diets, the “MSC Divina” is an excellent option for those who follow a particular diet.
The plant-based menu features a wide variety of dishes that do not contain meat or any other animal products—and includes plenty of fruits as well!
MSC Cruises offers vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free dishes at the Antipasti Restaurant. They also offer special menus for guests with celiac disease or those following a vegetarian diet.
They also have an allergy guide on their website so you can see what type of foods are available to you while aboard one of its vessels!
Things You Should Know Before Making a Booking
Can I Make Special Dietary Requests?
Yes! If you’re vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or lactose intolerant (or even just looking for an alternative menu), most major cruise lines offer specialty menus catering to these specific needs each day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time!
Man jumps off cruise ship after fight with wife
Can I Bring My Own Food On A Cruise?
Cruise ships have a kitchen staff that prepares meals for the passengers. However, if you want to bring your own food on board with you, it will need to be sent in advance and sealed before boarding.
This helps prevent any incident of contaminated food served onboard from occurring while also meeting all health regulations required by the cruise line.
Can you eat as much as you want on a cruise?
While most cruise lines have a set meal plan, you’re welcome to order off the menu and eat as much or little of that item as you want.
If I’m allergic to something, can I still go on the cruise?
Most ships will offer special meals for those with food allergies.
If your allergy is life-threatening, such as a nut allergy, please consult with your doctor before going so they can prescribe an EpiPen in case there’s any risk of exposure onboard!
Royal caribbean halloween cruise
Conclusion
Cruise lines are well aware of the growing demand for dietary restrictions and offer a wide range of options.
They all have something to please everyone, but there is no such thing as one size fits all cruise lines.
The best way around this problem is by choosing your next cruise carefully and selecting the right Cruise line based on what you need from them.
