mergal Posted October 4, 2014 #1 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. We’re overdue for a holiday (10 years since the last) and are considering splurging on a luxury cruise (which will also be our first cruise). Cunard comes to mind, but I can’t say I’ve been bowled over by the reviews for any of their fleet, though would be interested in any other line but it MUST depart and return to an English port. As we’re non-smoking vegetarians I suspect we’re going to be out of luck on both fronts, so I’m wondering if there are any cruises which will meet our unpopular criteria? We're 55+ and intend to travel outside school holiday season 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSLeesburg Posted October 4, 2014 #2 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. We’re overdue for a holiday (10 years since the last) and are considering splurging on a luxury cruise (which will also be our first cruise). Cunard comes to mind, but I can’t say I’ve been bowled over by the reviews for any of their fleet, though would be interested in any other line but it MUST depart and return to an English port. As we’re non-smoking vegetarians I suspect we’re going to be out of luck on both fronts, so I’m wondering if there are any cruises which will meet our unpopular criteria? We're 55+ and intend to travel outside school holiday season 2015. There is a web site - cruise times dot com that allows you to view all ports of departure, and from there you can look at specific months to see which ships are sailing from that port. With this list, you can narrow down your research. I can't speak for smoking, although most lines have some restrictions against smoking but don't believe any are completely smoke free. Reviews on specific lines/ships will let you see if what they allow or don't allow will help you decide if they are right for you or not. In terms of vegetarians, all lines should be able to accommodate this easily. Hope this helps a little. Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted October 4, 2014 #3 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Most cruise lines have now restricted smoking on their ships. Usually to an area on the open deck and maybe one lounge inside. Often part of the casino is also a smoking area. So it is pretty easy to avoid the smokers. We sail with Princess and there is at least one veggie meal on the menu each evening. You can also talk to the head waiter or maitre 's and they will work with you to prepare additional choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 4, 2014 #4 Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) All cruise lines do a splendid job with vegetarian diets, and most cruise lines are now severely limiting smoking to one indoor venue and one or two outside venues, all of which are easy to avoid. We loved Cunard for the ambiance, and we love to dress up. You have several choices of ports and cruise lines sailing from the UK. Since I am in the US and don't know the school holiday schedule in the UK, I can't advise you on who is sailing when, but you have a choice of Cunard, P&O, Fred Olsen, Saga, Cruise and Maritime. Not sure if Thomson has any sailings from UK. But there are forums for each of those lines except Cruise and Maritime and Saga, here at Cruise Critic. You can ask questions about smoking policies on those forums. But be aware, smoking is a hot button issue on these forums, so after you get the info you need, quit reading your thread before it gets nasty! You can go to http://www.cruisetimetables.com and choose you departure ports from the top list, then the month(s) you want to sail, and it will show you who is sailing, and the itinerary. EM Edited October 4, 2014 by Essiesmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 4, 2014 #5 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Welcome to Cruise Critic. Have you checked out P&O? Once you have decided on a cruise, many cruise lines ask that you contact them 90 days prior to sailing and they will send you a menu with vegetarians in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted October 4, 2014 #6 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. We’re overdue for a holiday (10 years since the last) and are considering splurging on a luxury cruise (which will also be our first cruise). Cunard comes to mind, but I can’t say I’ve been bowled over by the reviews for any of their fleet, though would be interested in any other line but it MUST depart and return to an English port. As we’re non-smoking vegetarians I suspect we’re going to be out of luck on both fronts, so I’m wondering if there are any cruises which will meet our unpopular criteria? We're 55+ and intend to travel outside school holiday season 2015. vegetarian is not only easy to do, a few times my carnivore loving tastebuds have been VERY happy with the vegetarian options on board( many lines also have a separate Vegetarian/vegan only menu) as for non smoking: pretty much everyone bans smoking inside cabins and in most public spaces. Many, if not most also ban it on balconies. the hold outs are the casino and maybe one lounge where indoor smoking in permitted. the remainder will be in one outdoor section( typically port side, pool deck) it s actually pretty easy to avoid smoking issues on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luddite Posted October 4, 2014 #7 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I think you can find something that works for you. Cruise Critic is a terrific resource for finding a fit for your needs. Cruise ships routinely accommodate vegetarians and the re are no cruiseline companies that I am aware of that actually REQUIRE that the passengers smoke........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquilegia Posted October 4, 2014 #8 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I really don't see why you should have a problem. Many of the major cruise lines ban smoking in cabins, balconies and most public areas and you will find vegetarian options in the main dining rooms and plenty in the buffets as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mergal Posted October 4, 2014 Author #9 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thanks all for your replies which thankfully suggest that things might not be too bad. We usually find eating out as veggies to be a trial - restaurants seem to think that providing one option is adequate (and it's usually goat's cheese - yuck!), but would never dream of providing carnivores with only one choice. I remember one place had four options but three of them were mushroom dishes. Another recently offered a veggie menu that was entirely fish - and these are supposed to be food professionals!:confused: Anyway, I'm starting to rant now so I'll stop it and get back on topic. I've been scouring the web for reviews of cruises and have come to the conclusion that one person's good time is another's disappointment, so it seems a bit of a gamble. I've seen glowing reviews of Cunard alongside some which complain about their ships being mouldy muck-holes with rude staff and rubbish food. At the same time I've seen reviews which give one star because the restaurant ran out of their favourite wine - even I'm not that picky and I'm quite a hothouse flower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 4, 2014 #10 Share Posted October 4, 2014 If you like Indian food, that is fairly easy to get on the ship, even if it is not on the menu, because many of the cooks are from India, and they fix it for the crew. You need only talk with your waiter in the MDR. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catperson02 Posted October 4, 2014 #11 Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) We sailed with P&O this summer with my veggie, nut allergy daughter. Each evening she was given the special veggie menus for the next day, for both lunch and evening meals for her to make her choice, This was in addition to the veggie choice on the main menu. If I remember correctly she had between 4 and 6 choices for both main and starter. She was more than happy (particularly enjoyed a sweet potato, lentil, black sesame and tofu creation). I hope this helps. I had to ring and tell tem of her requirements before departure Edited October 4, 2014 by catperson02 missing info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkUK Posted October 4, 2014 #12 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hi, fellow non smoking vegetarian here😄. I appreciate that most non vegetarians don't really understand what is and is not truly vegetarian and I am sorry to have to tell you that this extends to the cruise lines. You will need to be constantly vigilant about your food choices. All the cruise lines I am aware of include in their dishes which are supposedly suitable for vegetarians cheeses such as Parmesan and Gorgonzola which as I am sure you are aware are never suitable for vegetarians because by law they have to include an enzyme which involves the slaughter of a newly born calf to acquire. For anyone reading this who is interested there is more information here:https://www.vegsoc.org/cheese I know that some vegetarians are able to 'relax' their principles while travelling abroad ( I can not) it is absolutely not my place to judge anyone and if you fall into this category all of the other posters are quite right insofar as you are likely to find that all of the major cruise lines will cater for non meat/fish eaters. When my husband and I cruised we chose to do so with Celebrity and travel in Aqua class, this gave us a smaller dining room (Blu) with (on our ship) a separate galley. We went to see our Maître 'd' as soon as we could after boarding the ship and each night he showed me the next nights menu and I chose what dishes I wanted between the regular and separate 'vegetarian' menu. Often there was not anything actually vegetarian (because of the cheese) available but never fear because he had 24 hrs notice he was able to arrange for the chef to prepare something for me and this worked quite well; in practice I ate virtually vegan during my cruise. My husband and I are also in our fifties and found Celebrity a very good fit for us it was relaxed while still elegant and certainly not a party ship; outside school holidays you will probably find a mostly adult crowd and on a sailing from the UK you will likely have a mix of British, European, Antipedian and American guests; which we enjoyed. I found that Celebrity's policy regarding smoking worked VERY well, there were designated smoking areas and the crew were red hot making sure that no one smoked outside them, when the gentleman in the room next to ours smoked on his balcony; I complained and they promised to visit him immediately which they did and there was never a problem after. I hope this has been helpful, I am now hooked on cruising and can't wait to cruise again not only because it was such an exciting holiday but also because as a vegetarian it gave me peace of mind that food would not be a nightmare. Have a great time. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisead Posted October 4, 2014 #13 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Check out Celebrity Eclipse. It leaves and returns to Southampton and caters to the UK passenger. Celebrity has the most restrictive smoking policy, with absolutely no smoking anywhere inside the ship and only a few designated outdoor areas where people can smoke. They also have wonderful vegetarian menus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerin Posted October 4, 2014 #14 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Not sure what non-smoking vegetarians has to do with anything. Most people(Americans anyway) are non-smokers, and a vegetarian diet is quite common. Just pick a cruise that interests you and have a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinyork Posted October 5, 2014 #15 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Check out Celebrity Eclipse. It leaves and returns to Southampton and caters to the UK passenger. Celebrity has the most restrictive smoking policy, with absolutely no smoking anywhere inside the ship and only a few designated outdoor areas where people can smoke. They also have wonderful vegetarian menus. I will second that. My OH is veggie and has lots of choice. The main dining room has a veggie option for each course but also a separate veggie menu as well several more choices that change each night. Eclipse is a lovely ship, great service and lovely cabins. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vampire Parrot Posted October 5, 2014 #16 Share Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) I spend rather too much time on P&O cruise ships and the smoking policy is strictly enforced. No smoking on balconies/cabins/inside, smoking only permitted on a section of the midships starboard side prom deck and part of the port side aft top passenger deck. I'm hypersensitive to cigarette smoke and never have a problem. I'm not a vegetarian but I'll often pick the vegetarian option on the menu at dinner as they are usually delicious and very varied. Damnit, the thought of a P&O vegetarian Wellington is making me hungry.... :) VP Edited October 5, 2014 by Vampire Parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammen Posted October 11, 2014 #17 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. We’re overdue for a holiday (10 years since the last) and are considering splurging on a luxury cruise (which will also be our first cruise). Cunard comes to mind, but I can’t say I’ve been bowled over by the reviews for any of their fleet, though would be interested in any other line but it MUST depart and return to an English port. As we’re non-smoking vegetarians I suspect we’re going to be out of luck on both fronts, so I’m wondering if there are any cruises which will meet our unpopular criteria? We're 55+ and intend to travel outside school holiday season 2015. Welcome to CC, as for the vegetarian dinning, just ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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