Health-Conscious Cruise Cuisine

Here’s how some lines are boosting nutrition in their latest resh and full-flavored fare.

- Janice Wald Henderson

Forget the Christmas cookies you gobbled with abandon. It’s so last month. Actually, it’s so last year. We begin 2019 in gratitude, for we can now dine more healthfully — and deliciously — while cruising more than ever before. Organic, low-calorie, vegetarian, vegan — you name it. We’ve got the goods on how cruise ships and riverboats make health-driven meals fun and yum.

Water, Water Everywhere

AmaWaterways’ hydration stations lure passengers eager to sip Detox and Gemstone waters. The former — which include cucumber, lemon and mint, or spa-apple-cinnamon water — aid in flushing the body of toxins and may boost metabolism and energy levels. Gemstone-infused H2O, using stones such as rose quartz, amethyst, and mountain crystal, may not possess scientifically proven health benefits, but it certainly attracts curious guests. We all know staying hydrated is vital to good health, and so easy to forget when traveling.

VEGGING OUT

Crystal Cruises’ ocean liners and riverboats devote serious menu space to sophisticated vegetarian and vegan fare at Waterside restaurant each evening. CroisiEurope Cruises, like many lines, prefers a heads-up from guests before a sail. That said, should you forget to do so, no worries; chefs do their best to create veggie bliss.

It’s never ho-hum for vegans sailing Oceania Cruises; this line rotates more than 250 vegan dishes on the Grand Dining Room menu. And hipster-y U by Uniworld showcases plenty of plant-based dishes, including a mean quinoa burger.