DESTINATIONS DIETARY REQUIREMENTS FOOD & DRINK LEFT:


Tui Blue RIGHT:


Michael


Hoffmann BELOW:


Celebrity Cruises


across its seven European resorts, serving vegan, vegetarian, low- carb and gluten-free meals with a local twist. Guests also get a free weekly nutrition session, and can sign up to individual nutrition coaching and personal training.


w CRUISE CONTROL If there’s one thing cruise is known for, it’s food. From elaborate breakfast buffets to gut-busting five-course dinners – with elevenses, lunch and afternoon tea in between – dining is a central part of the experience.


As an industry, we are becoming ever more aware of the differing needs of our clientele


Luckily, cruise lines have


responded accordingly, with many going beyond the basic requirements. Celebrity Cruises has a 14-day rotating menu of


vegetarian options in its main and speciality dining areas, and all dishes can be modified for vegans. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has taken


this a step further by expanding its vegetarian menu on Europa 2 last year to include more than 80 dishes, under the direction of chef Michael Hoffmann, who specialises in vegetarian cuisine at his Michelin-starred Margaux restaurant in Berlin. Oceania Cruises has likewise


taken speciality options to heart, introducing a much-expanded vegan menu last year. Bernard Carter, senior vice-president and managing director for the EMEA region, says: “As part of our constant drive to improve and offer even more choice, we introduced the most expansive vegan menu at sea, allowing our vegetarian and vegan guests to immerse themselves in the same way as guests dining from our regular menus. I am impressed that, as an industry, we are becoming ever more aware of the differing needs of our clientele. At Oceania Cruises, we are already seeing an uplift in travel agents enquiring about a variety of dietary needs.” The expanded options, which


are available across the fleet, include cold-pressed raw juice and vegan smoothie bars, and more than 250 dishes in total, such as vegan tortilla espanola at breakfast, Tuscan-style bean soup for lunch, and Thai red vegan curry at dinner.


58 travelweekly.co.uk 26 April 2018


These aren’t the only dietary


restrictions agents need to be aware of – many lines can cater to halal or kosher diets, but often require at least 90 days’ notice prior to sailing. At Crystal Cruises, for example, kosher foods and wines are available, and staff have been trained to ensure only kosher pots and utensils are used, and that plates and glassware are washed separately. Crystal Cruises can also cater


to diabetic and low-sodium diets, and given the relatively older clientele of cruise lines, it’s worth knowing these options are available should your clients need them. At Carnival, the range extends to low-cholesterol, low-fat, low-carb, low-sugar and gluten-free diets, with gluten-free pizzas, pasta, sandwiches and cakes available. And if there’s one area that’s


expanded exponentially over the past few years, it’s this. From the rivers – where AmaWaterways can cater for gluten-free diets not only at mealtimes, but also in its main lounge snack bar and pre- dinner hors d’oeuvres – to the ocean, where MSC Cruises offers gluten-free meals in its main restaurants, beers and cocktails in its bars, and even a gluten-free lunchbox on excursions. As with most of these options,


the key is communicating with the supplier well in advance of travel to ensure a client’s requirements are catered for, so all they have to do is say ‘bon appetit’.


PICTURES: STEFAN ABTMEYER, FISH IN HEAVEN, BERLIN; CELEBRITY CRUISES


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