Gained a couple pounds? Can’t blame the cruise anymore

February 22, 2008 by slcooper
Filed under Food

Now here are two words you don’t expect to see together…Cruise and Diet? You’re kidding! Well, cruise lines are actually taking this concept pretty seriously…enough to offer healthier cuisine. That’s of course to keep up with the demand from their increasingly health-conscious customers.

We already see fewer midnight buffets. Recently, trans fats went overboard. Now we’re being offered healthier choices in the form of spa-cuisine. Before you turn up your nose, let me relay a quick personal story.

Celebrity Cruises implemented this healthier eating alternative awhile back. My husband and I were drawn to the lighter fare, set up next to one of the pools aboard Celebrity’s Summit. They had tacos with vegetarian choices, beautiful salmon filets (cold), tuna, just to name a few choices and we were pleasantly surprised (keeping in mind my husband’s favorite dinner is a thick, rare, gut-busting, platter-hiding steak). In fact we chose the spa-style cuisine for our main dinner a couple of times. On the flip side, there’s always the pizza/pasta bar if you’re hungry later.

Royal Caribbean (sister of Celebrity) has introduced its “Vitality” program, which weaves healthier meals and exercise into your cruise. Carnival Cruises offers lighter fare with nutritional numbers visible on menus. Whole grains and fresh fruits are playing a bigger role in the buffet line on Crystal Cruise journeys.

The bottom line is, cruise lines are offering healthier choices in an attempt to dispel the idea that cruising is about overeating. Also, they’re looking to lure health-conscious baby boomers blindsided by visions of huge weight-gains.

Oh, the horror of being trapped at sea with an unlimited supply of french fries and sausage links, or a 24-hour pizza bar!

One other observation, the one thing that’s always struck me about cruise desserts, they’re not that sweet. You’re not talking Cheesecake Factory richness or Claim Jumper’s 7-layer-cake. Cruise dessert portions are usually pretty small and very light, easing our guilty conscious as we taste-test six varieties…

So next time, give the vegetarian taco a try. Truthfully, after you’ve started to give that fourth button on your formal night jacket a run for its money, your tummy is probably looking forward to some lighter fare.