Dinner at The Wake

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The Wake is Virgin Voyage's answer to the Steak & Seafood dining venue.  Like all their dining selections, there is no extra charge for what would be a specialty restaurant on most other cruise ships.  As with the other dining options, select some starters to share and / or some for yourself.  Be adventurous if you like and try something different.  The steaks were excellent as were the starters and of course, the desserts.

This was one of the best meals of our cruise.  We considered going  back another night, but there weren't any reservations available at a time that worked for us.

Tip:  You can book your dinner selections on their app before you sail.

Click the image (left) to read more about this cruise.

Bookmark this page and come back to read all about this award-winning new ship.

See our  The Wake Photo Album for more pictures.

Visit our Shutterfly Page to view photo albums.

 

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What's for Dinner Pink Agave

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Tip: We were traveling with three friends in another cabin. Our reservations were cross-referenced which is important for planning purposes. You will want to plan your dining choices prior to arrival. To avoid disappointment, make them as soon as you can on the Virgin Voyages app. 

The Virgin Voyages dining experience is unlike those on other cruise lines. Just as there is no buffet, there is no main dining room. For our first dinner onboard our group selected Pink Agave for some Mexican food. We had a dinner reservation for 6:15 PM.

The dinner menu consists of a selection of small, medium, and large plates.  The intention is for everything to be shared.  Our waitress told us she would bring multiple dishes of each small and medium side dish to share.   Our table was filled with plates of food.

Pink Agave Menus Two big hits from the small and medium plates were the guacamole and corn.  You can have as much as you like, but pace yourself. Several of us ordered the ribeye steak for our large dish. That was excellent as well as all of the starters.  Make sure you leave some room for dessert.  Our recommendation is the Tacos de Chocolate.

If you like Mexican food, make sure to reserve Pink Agave when selecting your dinner venues on the Virgin Voyages app.   Don't wait until you get onboard - book ahead of time.   

       

Click the image (left) to read more about this cruise.

Bookmark this page and come back to read all about this award-winning new ship.

See our  Pink Agave Photo Album for more pictures.

Visit our Shutterfly Page to view photo albums.

 

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Cruising with Dietary Preferences and Needs

On a cruise, onboard restaurants cater to a variety of dietary preferences and needs, whether you’re lactose intolerant, sensitive to gluten, or looking for vegan options.  Celebrity Cruises is one line that is particularly favorable for vegetarian and vegan cruisers. Vegan cruise food can be found in nearly all onboard restaurants—if you know how to look for it.

Let Wait Staff Know Your Needs

If you have any dietary requirements, including food allergies, be sure to let your travel advisor know so that they can annotate it on your reservation.   For the best experience, you may want to select a traditional dining option so that you have the same wait staff for your meals.  However, you aren't locked into only eating in the main dining room.    The buffet is one of the best places to find vegetarian and vegan choices as well as other dietary choices. 

Check the Menu's Legend

Restaurants around the world, including those on cruise lines, are becoming more sensitive to diners'

needs by offering appropriate menu selections.  Many menus have a legend at the bottom of the page that makes it easier for diners to find what they’re looking for.

click image to enlarge menu

For example, on Celebrity Cruises, vegetarian menu options are noted with a leaf, and lactose-free choices are marked with a small blue cow with a line through it. If a menu item is designated with both a leaf and a blue cow, it’s most likely vegan. However, you should always check with your server to make sure there are no egg-based products in the meal.

Notice the legend in the menu above.  There are two vegetarian dishes, one of which is also vegan. Caprese is a vegetarian starter which could be ordered as a main dish as well.  Dal is a vegetarian dish that is vegan, since it has the blue cow and leaf designation.

If you’re on a cruise with ever-changing menus, the wait staff will be your greatest resource. Before each meal, let your waiter or maître d’ know you’re looking for vegan options on the cruise ship. They are well versed in the day’s offerings, the way food is prepared, and the ingredients used in each dish, so they will be your go-to experts to satisfy your dietary needs. Waiters have direct access to the kitchen, so if you have a specific question, they can get answers right from the source. We always ask them for their recommendations.

Find Your Choices on the Buffet

There are no menus on the buffet line, but there are signs by each food selection.  Many of them have the same symbols found on the bottom of dinner menus to help you determine how the dish is prepared and if it meets your dietary needs.   If you still aren't sure an item works for your diet, ask one of the servers.  If they don't know, they can get you an answer.

 

For example, many vegan cruisers find that the buffet is the easiest way to enjoy a meal without meat or animal by-products.  You could build your own salad at the salad bar, load up on vegetables at the deli, or fill your plate with an assortment of fresh fruits.

This Grilled Tilapia with Creamy White Wine Sauce is both vegetarian and vegan.   

For vegans, start with the vegetarian selections and explore further to see if it is something you can eat.

Whether you have food allergies or specific food preferences, cruise lines are committed to provide a culinary experience to meet your needs.  The staff are trained to  meet your requirements.  We've even seen executive chefs sit down at the table with guests to discuss menu options with them.  Don't be afraid to cruise fearing that you won't be able to satisfy your requirements.

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