Celebrity has stepped up its vegan food game

[RobertoF]

We are recently off of the Celebrity Edge (June 3-10; Rome to Barcelona). We have been sailing Celebrity a few times a year from Fort Lauderdale. I am vegetarian (not vegan). I often struggle to get enough protein on a cruise, and bring protein bars with me. I was pleasantly surprised to see Celebrity added some great options to the "Vegan Corner" at the lunchtime buffet. There was often tofu (the real firm tofu, not the soft stuff that comes in a box) and typically a vegan "chicken" or "beef" dish. I was told the vegan chicken is a Beyond Meat product. It tasted like seitan but I was told it is soy based. I suspect it is a mix of soy and pea protein. It seemed like it would have a lot of protein and was filling. I am assuming the vegan beef was also a Beyond Meat product. Celebrity serves a Beyond burger in Blu but I have not seen Beyond products anywhere else. My favorite dish was the opor ayam, which thankfully was served twice. Celebrity also served a lot of quinoa (beyond the typical yummy quinoa salad that is served in the Spa Cafe), and had a great roasted veggies carving station that was a regular part of the lunch buffet - butternut squash, sweet potato, bell peppers, etc. I wish Celebrity included similar dishes on the vegetarian dinner menu. But I was able to load up on enough protein at lunch that I did not have to worry about dinner. I hope Celebrity keeps offering these options because it is the best vegan food by far I have ever had on a cruise. I have included some pictures of what I had.

 

 

 

[prmssk]

I was also impressed with the vegan options on the buffet on the Eclipse. I’m not vegan myself but allergic to dairy (and don’t eat red meat) so having a good vegan selection just gives more more options that I know are dairy free. They had a vegan taco bar one day that I really enjoyed. 
 

Now, I just wish Celebrity would follow RC and include vegan items on the menu. That way I don’t have to wait to be surprised by whatever the chef decided to make for the one dairy free dessert that day. There’s something nice about being able to order from the menu and know ahead of time what I’m getting. 

[39august]

That looks very impressive. I am neither vegetarian nor vegan. But I love veggies and will be trying some of those dishes next cruise. I always enjoy the Indian food which is often vegetable.

[Mark_T]

Disappointing to see the fake-meat options from a vegan/vegetarian perspective, but a great option for those just seeking a plant-based diet.

[Bo1953]

I have always had great vegan options on X...

 

As for "protein", when I wanted to bulk up on it, I would request a rice and beans side dish or something with tofu at dinner for that extra boost.

 

Often times the Chef would surprise me with a special Indian or Asian dish, which overall, had lots of protein but not the type that many would associate with being normal... LOL

 

While I have not been quite a fan of the new 'analogue' meats, I think it is a great way to start people to move from the real thing to being vegan for health reasons only!!!

 

But that be as it may, X has always been great for those of us with different eating lifestyles, rather that be readily available or by request in the OVC or MDR...

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

Edited June 17, 2023 by Bo1953

[ExpatBride]

2 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Disappointing to see the fake-meat options from a vegan/vegetarian perspective, but a great option for those just seeking a plant-based diet.

I agree and it seems that HAL is following the trend. They had a great veg menu in 2016 (no fake meat in sight), but it's been revised to mostly offer Beyond products 🙄

[Mike981]

3 hours ago, 39august said:

That looks very impressive. I am neither vegetarian nor vegan. But I love veggies and will be trying some of those dishes next cruise. I always enjoy the Indian food which is often vegetable.

 

My thoughts exactly, looks great.

[SPacificbound]

This is great to see! 

 

I am vegetarian and finding any kind of variety on board has been a challenge. Our first Celebrity cruises were b2b2b South America in 2015, and the only vegetarian meals were Indian, which I like, just not every day.

[GinaKaur]

Wow, looks great!  Can't wait to try the fake meat.  Love the texture of it.  

[mahasamatman]

On 6/17/2023 at 8:52 AM, Bo1953 said:

I think it is a great way to start people to move from the real thing to being vegan for health reasons only!

 

Take a serious look at the nutritional information on Beyond Meat and it will change your mind about being healthy.

[PTC DAWG]

I’ve seen salads on every cruise I have ever been on…makes a great first course. 

[Sea38]

I totally agree with the OP, I was recently on the Apex, I’m a vegetarian not a vegan, the vegan options were fab some really creative choices 😊

[Napagirl]

Good to know! Looks like lots of options

[Wansbrough]

A quick write-up of my wife's recent vegan experience on Celebrity Solstice.

 

2024 – Vegan Options on Celebrity Solstice, Singapore to Hong Kong 15-27 Jan

 

Mostly positive and a couple of blips but overall a big improvement.

Well done Celebrity. 👍🏼

 

 

[mcshane]

19 minutes ago, Wansbrough said:

A quick write-up of my wife's recent vegan experience on Celebrity Solstice.

 

2024 – Vegan Options on Celebrity Solstice, Singapore to Hong Kong 15-27 Jan

 

Mostly positive and a couple of blips but overall a big improvement.

Well done Celebrity. 👍🏼

 

 

I’m so concerned and disappointed to hear this. We have done 3 Celebrity cruises and have always been offered the standard vegan menu in the MDR on the first night. 

[The_Big_M]

On 3/4/2024 at 8:00 AM, Wansbrough said:

A quick write-up of my wife's recent vegan experience on Celebrity Solstice.

 

2024 – Vegan Options on Celebrity Solstice, Singapore to Hong Kong 15-27 Jan

 

Mostly positive and a couple of blips but overall a big improvement.

Well done Celebrity. 👍🏼

 

 

 

Agree with your experiences.

 

Evidently what Celebrity has offered is additional choices, rather than being integrated into the regular menus. This is supported by it being a separate section in the buffet, rather than having good choices integrated throughout. 

 

I have only seen the additions in the buffet as recent sailings have been dining in Luminae and Blu. So it's good to see an addition in main dining, although as you say they don't change the menu, unlike the regular menu. Blu doesn't have special options, but fortunately its regular menu has more options by default that are vegan, vegetarian, or pescetarian. 

 

Unfortunately, Celebrity really misses a trick in Luminae and hasn't made any changes there, which means it is the least appealing of those available. There's only one vegetarian (not vegan) dish a day, not always very good, and they don't customise, and even getting alternative menus from other restaurants is in practice problematic.

[Liao]

1 hour ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Agree with your experiences.

 

Evidently what Celebrity has offered is additional choices, rather than being integrated into the regular menus. This is supported by it being a separate section in the buffet, rather than having good choices integrated throughout. 

 

I have only seen the additions in the buffet as recent sailings have been dining in Luminae and Blu. So it's good to see an addition in main dining, although as you say they don't change the menu, unlike the regular menu. Blu doesn't have special options, but fortunately its regular menu has more options by default that are vegan, vegetarian, or pescetarian. 

 

Unfortunately, Celebrity really misses a trick in Luminae and hasn't made any changes there, which means it is the least appealing of those available. There's only one vegetarian (not vegan) dish a day, not always very good, and they don't customise, and even getting alternative menus from other restaurants is in practice problematic.

Ordering from other restaurants is only problematic on E-class in Luminae.  I don't understand why anyone goes there and expects to order from the menu of a restaurant 8 decks away.  Some have said they have done it because the waiter said OK, I just don't feel my waiter needs to run a marathon to bring me my dinner.  If this is what you want go on the older ships, they offer that service.

[zitsky]

14 minutes ago, Liao said:

Ordering from other restaurants is only problematic on E-class in Luminae.  I don't understand why anyone goes there and expects to order from the menu of a restaurant 8 decks away.  Some have said they have done it because the waiter said OK, I just don't feel my waiter needs to run a marathon to bring me my dinner.  If this is what you want go on the older ships, they offer that service.

Comments about the Retreat from Cruise Critic,

 

I like to stay in the Retreat.

 

But I don’t like the sundeck.

 

And I don’t like the restaurant.

 

And the seats in the lounge are uncomfortable so I never go there.

 

And they let all the “other” people into the Retreat.  It’s too crowded.

 

And why would I ever use a butler?

 

(I guess they just want a bigger room?)

 

 

[NMTraveller]

They should add more vegan options to the menus.  No one should have to dine in the buffet.

Edited March 10 by NMTraveller