How to be a happily fed Vegan aboard a Cruise Ship!

Some would think that it might be a difficult task to eat and find yummy foods on a cruise liner.
I know because I was one of those people.
But now I'm here to show and tell you just how wrong I was!

There I was imagining how hungry I'd go, while everyone else onboard was eating at every possible moment - I mean that is what cruises are known for.
Well I can't say that I as happy with how I found out, and I can say that I am a bit embarrassed by how/when it happened - but once it did, it completely changed EVERYTHING!

There I was on board the Holland America MS Volendam and about to be heading through Alaska's beautiful Inner Passage.
Each night I went to the dining room I was handed the menu, and had picked it apart for anything that would be suitable for my consumption. Nothing exciting to say the least.

After almost a week of cruising, and being pretty BOARD with my options I had asked our head waiter about a menu that I noticed being handed to another passenger each and every night that has past - she would look the menu over, make some notes and then hand it back to the staff.

THIS IS HOW and when I was informed that she got to see a "special" menu and pre-order her dinner for the following night! At this point all I could think was "are you kidding me?!" I was both kind of excited and pissed off at myself at the same time!

How could I have missed this and why on Earth did it take me so long to ask this question (when you know that I was curious about it since night one!). 
Well I finally did, and I finally got my answer, and I finally got a vegan/vegetarian menu for the following and last night of the cruise.
There were so many options that I couldn't believe my eyes! I had so many choices, and now I was limited to just the one night's dinner. What a dummy I was.

I had researched online before the cruise and never found anything posted anywhere to let me or other fellow vegan passengers know that on some of the cruise lines that they actually have a full vegan/vegetarian menu!!! All we need to do is ask!

Well, the next cruise that we took wasn't on Holland America, but was on Princess and this time we had immediately spoken to the head waiter and let them know our dietary needs. They were more than happy to oblige and cater to us. However they did not offer a vegan/vegetarian menu.
Each night the chef would make us a "surprise meal". I just love surprises, and I enjoyed each creation that he came up with. We certainly weren't bored, nor were we hungry! 

The following cruise after that was on a Carnival Cruiseliner and again we made the restaurant staff aware of our needs. The first couple of nights we were delighted by the "surprise meals" and then the head waited began handing us the following night's regular menu for review and for us to choose what we would like for him to re-create vegan!
And again each night we were served delicious and very creative vegan meals! ​

The following cruise after that was on a Carnival Cruiseliner and again we made the restaurant staff aware of our needs. The first couple of nights we were delighted by the "surprise meals" and then the head waited began handing us the following night's regular menu for review and for us to choose what we would like for him to re-create vegan!
And again each night we were served delicious and very creative vegan meals! 

Even though I've always wanted to go on a vegan cruise - mainly so that I could eat... LOTS!
And I still would like to go on one of these vegan cruises, but since they aren't that abundant, until the day that I do opt for the vegan cruise, I know that I'll be eating plenty fine on board the rest of these cruise ship, and there will be no more iceberg lettuce salads and plain baked potatoes for me!

Bon Voyage and Bon Appetite!
​-T