Vegetarian Qs and Arriving by Train to Vancover on Embarkation day

[YayDisney]

We leave next Monday on the Wonder for the 7 day Alaska trip YAY!!

We are scheduled to arrive by train from Seattle at 11:45 the morning of embarkation. I have spoken to a few people who have told me that I am nuts because "you never know what happens with trains" and that I should stay the night before in Vancouver. I was fine with the plan until now, and now I'm second guessing the decision. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Also, having previewed the vegetarian options from menus posted on the Disney cruise blog, I think this may be the first cruise I lose weight on. Are there any vegetarians out there that can give me assurances that there ARE good options? I am hoping the menus posted are out dated. . . . !!

Thanks in advance!

 

[janiebubble]

My partner is vegetarian and admits the MDR choices can be limited. We almost didn't go to Pirate night this year as she doesn't like any of the food (she really isn't picky but said last year it was disgusting and didn't eat it) I think our server was aware of this, I did mention she ate a lot of curry/rice based dishes and he brought her veggie curry on pirate night and a biryani the next night. Both were very good. The buffet/deck choices are ok though

 

[Mickey4me!]

I really enjoyed the vegetarian options in the Dining rooms - especially the black bean chipotle cakes in Animator's. Yum!

 

[anricat]

I'm (mostly) a vegetarian and I think the DCL food is great. So many options for me! I do occasionally sample fish, though, so I feel like there are a lot of options. (I don't eat any other meats, though, so I guess I'm pescetarian?) My server often made suggestions and some of the dishes I ate were amazing. Don't be afraid to mix it up. You don't have to order a dish from each course and you can always have an app for your main dish. On each menu, there will be a section highlighting all the vegetarian options for that menu. However, also ask your server what other options are and you can always mix things up a bit - a side from this plate with a different item from this plate, etc.

 

[YayDisney]

Good advice. Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I am hoping the menus posted are out dated. . . . !!

Nope.

The ONLY meal I like is the potato celeriac gratin at Animator's. The tiger lily "pancakes" on pirate night nearly caused a scene with DH b/c they were so bad; I went with mac and cheese that night from the kid's menu.

We do MUCH better if we just request vegetarian Indian food on the first night; you won't get it that first night, but then you'll have it the following nights. In my perfect world we get Animator's the first night, I have my salad and gratin, then the rest of the time it's Indian food.


We live near Seattle and I would never ever in a million years take the train up on the same day of my cruise. Taking the train is fun, but it doesn't make travel a budget option, because if you're flying in you will not catch the morning train that same day, so you have to wait until the afternoon train. If you're doing that you definitely aren't making the cruise. So you fly in, stay in Seattle over night and catch the morning train, but things DO happen with trains (landslides are the biggie here...if you're on the tracks and one happens along the tracks, you are STUCK until they get a bus in to get you...but the other issue is that Amtrak doesn't own the rails, and freight has priority...the other other issue is if a freight train breaks down in front of you! stuck until that train moves), so you'll want to catch the morning train then stay the night in Vancouver. So that's two hotel nights pre-cruise. Or you fly in, take the afternoon train up, spend one night in Vancouver, and the next day get on your ship.

I'm sure there are a gabillion people who take the train up that morning and are just fine. Having experienced a last minute "there was a slide 2 days ago and you'll be on the bus" time, and having experienced an hour or more of just sitting there on the tracks while the freight trains in front of us got themselves moving again, I won't be on that train the same day as my cruise.

PLUS Vancouver is awesome and deserves a few overnights to have fun in. Many say that about Seattle, too, but I'm kinda jaded on it. The stuff I like to do in Seattle is more neighborhood-focused, not downtown-focused.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I am a vegetarian and never starve on the cruise As others have said, options are limited to usually one entree in the main dining room, but it is usually pretty good. I think on our last cruise, which was 9 nights, I only truly didn't like two of our meals. Just go grab some pizza up on deck later! My kids are pesco-veg and they fared much better since there was so much seafood.

My favorite thing on the DCL is the All Hands on Deck cheese plate from room service. I was sure to save room for one of those every night to nibble on with my wine.

Also, Palo brunch is divine. No problems there AT ALL. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[YayDisney]

Nope.

The ONLY meal I like is the potato celeriac gratin at Animator's. The tiger lily "pancakes" on pirate night nearly caused a scene with DH b/c they were so bad; I went with mac and cheese that night from the kid's menu.

We do MUCH better if we just request vegetarian Indian food on the first night; you won't get it that first night, but then you'll have it the following nights. In my perfect world we get Animator's the first night, I have my salad and gratin, then the rest of the time it's Indian food.


We live near Seattle and I would never ever in a million years take the train up on the same day of my cruise. Taking the train is fun, but it doesn't make travel a budget option, because if you're flying in you will not catch the morning train that same day, so you have to wait until the afternoon train. If you're doing that you definitely aren't making the cruise. So you fly in, stay in Seattle over night and catch the morning train, but things DO happen with trains (landslides are the biggie here...if you're on the tracks and one happens along the tracks, you are STUCK until they get a bus in to get you...but the other issue is that Amtrak doesn't own the rails, and freight has priority...the other other issue is if a freight train breaks down in front of you! stuck until that train moves), so you'll want to catch the morning train then stay the night in Vancouver. So that's two hotel nights pre-cruise. Or you fly in, take the afternoon train up, spend one night in Vancouver, and the next day get on your ship.

I'm sure there are a gabillion people who take the train up that morning and are just fine. Having experienced a last minute "there was a slide 2 days ago and you'll be on the bus" time, and having experienced an hour or more of just sitting there on the tracks while the freight trains in front of us got themselves moving again, I won't be on that train the same day as my cruise.

PLUS Vancouver is awesome and deserves a few overnights to have fun in. Many say that about Seattle, too, but I'm kinda jaded on it. The stuff I like to do in Seattle is more neighborhood-focused, not downtown-focused.

Thank you for your insight. I thought I was being paranoid, but you make some excellent and compelling points. I have family in Seattle that I am staying with since Friday night, so there is a reason to be there and I kind of wanted to spend a little more time with them, but forget it - I'll just leave on the 6:40 pm train the night before and spend the night in Vancouver for some peace of mind. I think I would have a heart attack if we got stuck on the tracks the morning of the cruise!

I'll have to come back to spend time in Vancouver. I know I am giving it too short shrift this trip, but it's already such a big long trip that we will have to do it another time - maybe with Whistler

 

[YayDisney]

To all the veggies - Thanks for your thoughts and ideas. We do have Palo booked for dinner and lunch so here are two meals I am sure of! I do love Indian food, so I like that idea too - as well as the mix and match sides. I forgot about the mac and cheese kids option! There are worse things to fall back on. . . . I am surprised at the absence of simple pasta or rice with veggies. . . .I'll see how it goes and chat with the servers and report back THANKS ALL!!!

 

[BelleWannabe4]

It really all depends on what you like I'm (mostly) vegan for health reasons but I'm a pretty adventurous eater within those parameters. Did every meal blow me away? No. But was I ever hungry? Certainly not! It was leaps and bounds easier than eating vegan in the South or most portions of the Midwest, which is where I'm from. There's always good salads and sides even if the entrees aren't ideal, and your servers will definitely work with you to make sure you're happy at every meal. When I was on the Fantasy, they brought me an extra serving of veggies every dinner. I finally had to tell them to stop - it was too much food!

 

[jahber]

I just want to chime in and say you are definitely doing the right thing coming in the night before. When I researched our Alaska trip, I heard way too many stories of train problems. Even driving up has its issues. They may not be likely, but it just takes one small holdup to throw your whole day into a tailspin. Not a great way to start a vacation! We flew in a couple of days early and enjoyed Vancouver, but even the night before should give you tremendous peace of mind! Have a GREAT cruise! You're gonna love it! (Oh, and my husband, who is Indian, can vouch for the Indian food. He always orders it...in addition to a regular entree )

 

[sambycat]

You can get tofu scrambles at the sit down breakfasts. You order the night before. That was fine and good. There is a vegan choice at every meal. It will be fine.

 

[xlxo]

If money is a concern for overnighting.... Vancouver has rooms for all budgets (I don't recommend the shelters). Check out the Blue Horizon, Empire Landmark and Hampton Inn downtown rates for your travel dates. Book early before the prices go up.

 

[janiebubble]

Nope.

The ONLY meal I like is the potato celeriac gratin at Animator's. The tiger lily "pancakes" on pirate night nearly caused a scene with DH b/c they were so bad; I went with mac and cheese that night from the kid's menu.

We do MUCH better if we just request vegetarian Indian food on the first night; you won't get it that first night, but then you'll have it the following nights. In my perfect world we get Animator's the first night, I have my salad and gratin, then the rest of the time it's Indian food.


We live near Seattle and I would never ever in a million years take the train up on the same day of my cruise. Taking the train is fun, but it doesn't make travel a budget option, because if you're flying in you will not catch the morning train that same day, so you have to wait until the afternoon train. If you're doing that you definitely aren't making the cruise. So you fly in, stay in Seattle over night and catch the morning train, but things DO happen with trains (landslides are the biggie here...if you're on the tracks and one happens along the tracks, you are STUCK until they get a bus in to get you...but the other issue is that Amtrak doesn't own the rails, and freight has priority...the other other issue is if a freight train breaks down in front of you! stuck until that train moves), so you'll want to catch the morning train then stay the night in Vancouver. So that's two hotel nights pre-cruise. Or you fly in, take the afternoon train up, spend one night in Vancouver, and the next day get on your ship.

I'm sure there are a gabillion people who take the train up that morning and are just fine. Having experienced a last minute "there was a slide 2 days ago and you'll be on the bus" time, and having experienced an hour or more of just sitting there on the tracks while the freight trains in front of us got themselves moving again, I won't be on that train the same day as my cruise.

PLUS Vancouver is awesome and deserves a few overnights to have fun in. Many say that about Seattle, too, but I'm kinda jaded on it. The stuff I like to do in Seattle is more neighborhood-focused, not downtown-focused.

The gratin had gone last week from Animators. Replaced by a halloumi filo parcel. It looked better than it tasted and took ages! We were on the Magic

 

[markwilaoto]

I think the DCL food is great. So many options for me!

 

[gismo1554]

Oh Kids Veggie Croquettes - not sure what night these are on but this was my best Veggie dish ever! Honestly they are really nice!

 

[UK-Simon]

You are wise to head up the day before. If I was going the day of I'd rent a car and drive up super early before I took the train as at least if you get a breakdown you can get a new car etc. But even still you never know what issues you may run into at the border, the the night before definitely gives peace of mind!

I was crossing the land border one time at the Blaine border in WA. I used to always have to go inside at the time as I was travelling on a UK passport (thankfully I have dual Canadian/UK now and avoid the inside extras!)

Not many people in line, and all of a sudden we hear shouts "watch his gun, watch his gun" as someone ran out of the interview room and jumped on the officer reaching for the gun in his holster. Every officer jumped from their seat and flattened this guy. After several minutes and arm and leg shackles being bought out, they slowly got off him and took him away. He sustained a head injury and an ambulance was called. For the next 90 minutes the border was completely shut down. The officers were there but discussing the events with each other. Very slowly one of them re-opened. Needless to say if you were in any kind of a rush forget it.

Moral of the story: when I have a cruise to catch, if I have any kind of border to pass through I leave A LOT of time!

Enjoy your evening in Vancouver, and welcome to our beautiful city!