Barcelona - Day Two Evening

As some of you know Bernie and I recentlly changed our eating habits to a more plant based diet.  We were worried how this would impact our travel.  We are probably 80% vegan and working at improving that.  

When we knew we were going to Barcelona I did a google search to see what tours they had for Vegans.  Vegan Food Tours came up.

We reserved for tonight and we met up with Olga, our tour guide at our first restaurant called BioCenter at 6 pm.  We were the only two on the tour so it was an nice experience where we really got to know Olga.

Here we started with two appetizers and a glass of red wine.

We then walk to our next spot which is about a 10 minute walk away called Vegetalia.  They have three locations in Barcelona.

Here we had the first course of paella, potatoes and bread with crushed tomatoes served with white wine.

Our next stop is Green Spot a very upscale restaurant that is beautifully decorated and an relaxing atmosphere. If you plan to eat here make sure you make reservations as it gets busy. 

Here we are having our entree (but we are already full) Summer nem, rice paper with seasonal vegetables. 

Also an amazing Kale and quinoa sald with cherry tomatoes, hazelnuts and white miso vinaigrette.  Then there is the Green Hemp pizza with cashew cheese.

We had dessert here because the place the usually go to closes early on weekdays.  Here we had Amaranth with coconut milk and mango. OMG that was good.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Olga and sharing our experiences with her and learning about her experiences.

She also really filled us in on the referendum taking place on Sunday for independence.  Now two years ago when we were here there was a referendum on independence from the Country of Spain.  But the Capital did not accept the results of the positive vote.  Now they are holding another referendum; however the Capital already has said they will not accept the outcome.  We are all concerned that a civil war could ensue if things are not settled.  This corner of Spain is truly unique - even have their own language.  So I hope things resolve.  Of course coming from Quebec and their issues with independence I know how difficult this can be.

One thing this tour has taught me is that eating Vegan does not have to be boring, in fact it was truely amazing and we will probably return to one of the restaurants before we leave on Saturday.

Olga recommends a bar we might like that is nearby.  Guzzo is so neat, very eclectic, amazing drinks, great service and the music is outstanding.  

We both order our drinks from Maurizzio and as we sit there we see the sign for Camparri and I say to Maurizzion what dose this taste like.  He says one minute and comes back with three shots of it!  We all have one and he asks what do I think.  I say "yuck not my thing" he responds -- yeah I don't like it either.  

I message our friend Katrina who lives near to us and is in Barcelona on vacation too and they end up joining us.  Katrina, her partner Rob and Amanda and her partner Graeme.  They arrive shortly thereafter and we catch up on their trip.

It is late - after midnight and we have to get up early tomorrow. So we flag down a taxi and head home.  I am surprised at how many people are still out and about at 1 am. People of all ages too, and this is a Wednesday!

It was a great day! 

Vegan on a Cruise - Is It Possible?

Recently both Bernie and I have transitioned to a more plant based diet. We call ourselves Vegan but we still have a few holdouts (butter and ice cream) but we are working on it.

Of course we love cruising too.  

Can this work? On our last trip we were probably following a plant based diet about 65% of the time. We could of done better.  

One thing is we did not let Princess know about our dietary requirements (just not enough time as booked last minute).  
So for our upcoming cruise in September we went to our cruise personalizer and went in and went to dietary requirements and selected vegetarian -- there was no vegan option.

Right away I received an email from Princess with the following information:

Thank you for contacting us with notification of Bernard Bowne's request for vegetarian meals. Please take a moment to review the following information. 

Vegetarian items are designated on our dining room menus with a 'V' and vegetarian selections are featured in all dining locations, including the buffet. Tofu, egg-free pasta and vegetarian burgers are available onboard and can be prepared in a variety of styles. Please liaise with your Head Waiter or the Maitre d' Hotel upon boarding to confirm suitable selections. 

Please be aware that the staff who provide room service or bar service cannot identify the food contents.  This is especially true of sauces, seasonings and spices that may be used.  Although we strive to source the freshest ingredients available, note that some of the meals prepared onboard may use prepackaged goods, which could contain some of the elements you may not wish to consume.  Should you have any questions regarding the preparation or ingredients, your Head Waiter or Maitre d’ Hotel will be able to assist you with this information. 

For your safety, any food/drink items you wish to bring onboard must be non-perishable, must not have reached the expiration date before the cruise ends, store bought and sealed in their original containers and packaging upon boarding. Any items brought onboard must be stored in the stateroom and we cannot assign crew members to assist with the preparation. No fruits, vegetables, homemade food or restaurant food will be allowed. Although we may allow certain items onboard, local port authorities may override any approvals we give. Once onboard, due to local agricultural regulations, food items may not be taken ashore.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

Kind regards,
Dietary coordinator

This is good but I knew it would not meet our needs so I responded with the fact that we are Vegan but there was no option for this.


Today I received this response: 

Thank you for contacting us with notification of your request for vegan meals. Please take a moment to review the following information.

Please advise if you are in need of a milk substitute. I can arrange either plain soy milk or plain rice milk. We do not carry almond milk, coconut milk or goat milk.

Once onboard, it is very important that you contact the Maitre d’ Hotel to discuss your special dietary needs and any special preparation of your meals. It will be at your discretion to order meals in accordance with your dietary needs. The Maitre d’ Hotel will be happy to assist with making selections from our standard menu that would be suitable.

We do not have a specific vegan menu available. We do offer some vegetarian dishes, which may be suitable for your diet. We can also modify certain menu items to accommodate your diet. We do carry tofu, egg-free pasta and can prepare veggie burgers, as well. The chefs have been able to come up with good meal ideas.

To best accommodate your needs, we recommend you take your meals in the main dining rooms and alternative restaurants. On selected port days when the main dining rooms are closed for lunch, every effort will be made to accommodate your needs in the buffet restaurant. We ask that you speak with the Maitre d’ Hotel the evening prior to discuss your meal requirements and any special preparation for the following day. When arriving at the buffet, please request to speak to a Supervisor, who will coordinate any special preparations directly with the chef.

Please be aware that the staff who serve stateroom snacks, meals, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, 24 hour dining (International Café and room service) or work in the self-service buffets cannot identify the food contents. This is especially true of sauces, seasonings and spices that may be used.  Additionally, some of the meals prepared onboard may use frozen, canned or prepackaged goods, which could contain some of the elements you may not wish to consume.

The buffet does offer a self-service dining option. Should you choose to dine in that venue we cannot guarantee that cross contamination among the various food selections will not occur.

I have received favorable feedback from vegans who have sailed with us. They are surprised at how the dining staff caters to their needs. Again, please contact the Maitre d’ Hotel and discuss your needs with him, this will result in receiving the proper assistance with your diet. The ship staff will do everything they can to accommodate your diet.

For your safety, any food/drink items you wish to bring onboard must be non-perishable, must not have reached the expiration date before the cruise ends, store bought and sealed in their original containers and packaging upon boarding. Any items brought onboard must be stored in the stateroom and we cannot assign crew members to assist with the preparation. No fruits, vegetables, homemade food or restaurant food will be allowed. Although we may allow certain items onboard, local port authorities may override any approvals we give. Once onboard, due to local agricultural regulations, food items may not be taken ashore.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you onboard.


Kind regards,

Dietary Coordinator

So we informed them that we will require soy milk in the International Cafe and we will contact the Maitre d'Hotel once on board. 


I will be blogging the entire voyage and will share how things work out and how we do.