| For vegetarians, dining out presents many | | | | so you'll be able to pick and choose. Sample |
| challenges; finding vegan choices can be even | | | | menus are generally posted on a resort's |
| more frustrating. Add travel to the mix and | | | | website, so logging online may be one way to |
| you've got a potential recipe for disaster. | | | | do a bit of investigative work. Still, it's a |
| While the Caribbean's abundance of seafood | | | | good idea to check with the resort before |
| will suit pescetarians, discovering true | | | | booking to find out how veg-friendly they |
| vegetarian meals requires a bit more work. | | | | are.Higher-end resorts are often more |
| Fortunately, a little research before you go | | | | conscious of serving healthy food, including |
| will help find dining choices which are not | | | | vegetarian dishes. Some of them use locally |
| only suitable but delicious.If you're | | | | grown and/or organic items in their cooking. |
| planning to take a cruise, you're in luck. A | | | | Even if you can't afford to stay there, you |
| number of cruise lines offer vegetarian | | | | may be able to eat at their restaurants. For |
| options, a complete vegetarian menu, or can | | | | instance, the Sugar Mill Restaurant at the |
| make you special dishes on request. Celebrity | | | | Sugar Mill Hotel (British Virgin Islands) is |
| Cruises has received rave reviews for their | | | | a local treat that's worth the trip. Voted |
| excellent gourmet vegetarian cuisine, which | | | | "The Best Restaurant in the Caribbean" by |
| tailors meals to diners' needs. NCL and Royal | | | | readers of Caribbean Travel & Life, this |
| Caribbean also rank highly with vegetarian | | | | gourmet restaurant's ever-changing menu |
| passengers. Carnival Cruise Lines, on the | | | | always offers several vegetarian dishes and |
| other hand, may be one to avoid. Although | | | | its atmosphere makes it a great place for a |
| they offer one vegetarian item per menu and | | | | special night out.Meat-free travelers |
| claim they can accommodate vegetarian | | | | interested in visiting the Dominican Republic |
| requests, they don't have a dietician on | | | | should consider Sirenis Hotels, which have an |
| board, so their ability to make changes is | | | | all-vegetarian restaurant at their Punta Cana |
| limited. For vegans, this can be a big | | | | resort complex. Comprised of Sirenis Cocotal |
| problem. One vegan reports that she was | | | | Beach Resort and Sirenis Tropical Suites, the |
| assured before the cruise that her diet would | | | | vegetarian restaurant seems to be on the |
| be no trouble; however, all she could | | | | all-inclusive plan of Tropical Suites but not |
| actually eat was bread, lettuce, and an | | | | Cocotal Beach Resort. If you prefer to stay |
| occasional baked potato. When booking a | | | | at Cocotal, check with them to find out if |
| cruise with any company, tell them you're | | | | you'll be able to eat at the vegetarian |
| vegetarian or vegan and ask any questions you | | | | restaurant.As far as specific countries go, |
| may have about menu offerings.Land-lubbers | | | | Jamaica is veggie heaven. Because |
| may find the easiest way to assure a variety | | | | Rastafarians are vegetarian, options abound. |
| of vegetarian choices is to stay at a resort | | | | The key word to remember is "Ital," derived |
| with several restaurants. The Sandals chain, | | | | from "vital." Ital cooking uses pure, organic |
| for example, includes up to eleven eateries | | | | ingredients, and is essentially vegan. |
| at each location. Their menus typically | | | | However, some dishes may contain honey, so if |
| include at least one vegetarian option in | | | | you don't eat honey be sure to ask about it. |
| each category. While that may sound limiting, | | | | In fact, Ital is a good word to look out for |
| resort menus tend to change frequently, often | | | | anywhere, as Ital food can be found in other |
| nightly. Resorts also usually have a buffet, | | | | countries, too. |