Carnival Debuts New Vegan Menu

Carnival Cruise Line unveiled its new vegan menus, launched onboard Carnival Freedom in Port Canaveral, Fla., and Carnival Horizon at PortMiami. The line plans a phased fleetwide introduction of the menus through the fall of 2023.

The cruise line stated, "The new vegan menus will offer a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts that are entirely vegan." Recipes for each menu item will be prepared without animal products, and the proteins included are made from meat substitutes.

 "Plant-based food options are a rising preference on our ships just as they are on land, and so the new dishes we're introducing are a direct response to that shift," said Richard Morse, SVP of food and beverage at Carnival Cruise Line. 

He added, "Our skilled chefs work to accommodate all dietary needs and preferences but building on our vegan offerings and emphasizing them with specific menus will help to make ordering easier in the dining room and preparation more efficient in the galley."

Vegan menu options will include:

Appetizers

• Hawaiian Salmon Poke – a starter that combines plant-based salmon, edamame, mango and cucumber.
• Stuffed Mushrooms – four fried mushrooms stuffed with plant-based cheeses and spinach.
• Spaghetti Carbonara – a pasta with vegan bacon, onion and garlic.

Entrees

• Grilled Tofu Steak – tofu steak covered in honey barbecue sauce, accompanied by a Hasselback potato and mixed vegetables.
• Baked Vegetable Au Gratin – a medley of mixed vegetables combined with vol-au-vent and sprinkled with melted plant-based cheeses.
• Eggplant Cutlet a la Parmigiana – an entrée covered in vegan mozzarella, topped with pesto and basil leaves.

Desserts

• Key Lime Velvet Cake – a spin on the classic key lime pie, this cake combines citrus flavours with raspberry and strawberry.
• Dutch Double Chocolate Pave – with alternating layers of cake and buttercream frosting.
• Cappuccino Pot de Créme – coffee flavours surrounding cinnamon crème chantilly.

Besides the vegan offerings, Carnival says it continues to diversify its dining options, introducing new dishes across its dining rooms. This initiative includes dishes curated by Chief Culinary Officer and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.

More information is available on Carniva's website.