Vegetarian and meals on excursions

[CinderellaDreamer]

I am a vegetarian and a first time cruiser. We are doing a 7 night western. Some of the excursions I have booked do include a buffet, some do not. I was wondering if I should get an uncrustable from room service at night to make sure that I have something to eat each port day. I am not vegan or picky. I am usually happy with sides, but if it is a barbecue meal, there are not typically any good protein sides, like beans, or cheesy dishes. Just curious about experiences.

We are doing Cozumel: ruins, chocolate, beach break; Cayman's: Boatswain; Jamaica: Dunn's and dolphin encounter.

Thanks!

 

[Jess_S]

I'm also vegetarian. I haven't done any of the excursions you mentioned, but I do have lots of cruise excursion experience. In some instances, there are sides and snacks that one could make a meal out of. Sometimes, the pickin's are extremely slim. I would definitely make sure DCL (or the tour operator if you booked on your own) know about your dietary needs ahead of time because sometimes I have been accommodated if I provided advance notice. My understanding is that you can no longer get the uncrustables in their package, so I'm not sure if that will work as a backup plan.

 

[mom_rules]

Agree with Jess. Call ahead and see what arrangements can be made. My understanding is that you can take non-perishable, government approved snack food items in their sealed, original packaging off the ship but it would be easier if you called.

 

[AAAG]

My husband is also vegetarian.
Cozumel - does the Beach break go to playa Mia? We went there on our own, but purchased the all inclusive package, so we had the same food options you will have. Quite frankly, the buffet food was horrible, vegetarian or not. There weren't any vegetarian main options in the buffet. my husband ate a plate of nacho chips and salsa for lunch. There was some fruit and salad, but they looked really unappealing. There is a menu that you can order from and pay for - we wished we had decided to do that instead. That food looked much better, and there were some veggie burritos etc on that menu. So if you don't mind paying extra, order from the menu.
In Grand Cayman, we also went to Boatswain's on our own. Again the buffet looked horrible, and we ended up ordering off the menu - that may have been because there wasn't much vegetarian there other than salad. I remember on the menu there was a veggie wrap and fries, something like that that my husband ate and said was pretty good.
Bottom line - order off the menu and you'll be fine. Eat from the included buffets and you will have limited options.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

I don't mind paying to order off the menu if that has a good option, thanks! I will bring some packaged protein bars with me if there are no longer uncrustables that I can take in the package. I appreciate the information!

 

[jiminy14]

My DD is also a vegetarian and we have found some options for her on the buffets but not many. There is usually a salad of some sort and a selection of sides, some vegetarian some not. In Jamaica, you will probably find red beans and rice and fried bread. In Grand Cayman, we had salad, rice and beans, and fried plantains. We did not do an excursion in Cozumel so I'm not sure of options there. We always travel with a bag of protein bars, granola snack packs, and packaged dried fruit so she has something to eat on the excursions.