Windstar Cruises Announces New Vegan Plant-Based Menu

Ultra-luxury cruise line Windstar will roll out a new whole-food, plant-based menu this summer aboard all of the company’s yachts.

Vegetarian and vegan cruisers—along with those who are looking to eat healthier—will find more menu options on Windstar’s luxury yacht cruises beginning this June.

On March 14, 2023, Windstar Cruises announced it’s partnering with the National Health Association to create a new vegan menu on board all six of the small ship line’s yachts.

Windstar Cruises’ new vegan menu

Windstar’s new plant-based menu, which started as a special offering for groups and charters, will roll out fleetwide this summer.

The menu items will not only be vegan but will also be prepared without added salt, oil, and sugar—and are gluten-free.

“The National Health Association points out that vegetarian and vegan diets are not always healthy, and for meals to be truly health-promoting, they also need to be minimally processed and prepared,” explains Windstar’s Director of Hotel Operations Peter Tobler.

Windstar’s gluten-free and plant-based menu will also be prepared without added salt, oil, and sugar (stock photo, not a representation of menu offerings)

“We’ve seen an increased demand for whole-food, plant-based dishes from our customers, and we’re really excited to work with the NHA to bring them something that’s nutritious and delicious. As a side benefit, plant-based foods also reduce our environmental footprint—a major goal of Windstar’s—allowing us to tread more lightly on this planet.” continued Tobler, who oversees food and beverage operations for the cruise line.

Windstar has begun training its culinary team on the new vegan menu and plans to launch the program fleetwide in June. Lacto-ovo vegetarian options, as well as the line’s existing omnivore menu items, will continue to be served as usual.

Wanda Huberman, executive director of the National Health Association, worked closely with Windstar’s culinary team. Huberman shared NHA expertise and discussed Windstar-developed recipes that meet the organization’s standards for an exclusive whole-plant food diet and lifestyle.

“The Windstar culinary team has knocked it out of the park in executing the specific requirements of our meals,” Huberman said in a press release. “Every meal is absolutely delicious and served in a beautiful presentation with so much variety that no one will leave a meal feeling hungry or less than satisfied.”

The new vegan menu on Windstar evolved out of hosting several plant-based groups, which have grown significantly in popularity since the start of the pandemic.

Lisa McCarl, a former open heart recovery nurse turned travel advisor, has booked several plant-based groups on Windstar and says there is a huge demand for healthy travel options.

“More people are changing the way they eat to prevent and reverse diet-related disease. Why not make it easy for them to continue that healthy lifestyle while sailing on the trip of a lifetime? Windstar is doing a phenomenal job in making healthy cruising a reality,” said McCarl.

What to expect from Windstar’s new plant-based menu

Windstar has released a sneak peek at some of the dishes from the new menu, including:

Roasted Butternut Squash Velouté with baked pumpkin seeds
Baked Cauliflower Croquettes with salsa verde and sautéed spinach
Penne Rigate Pasta with crisp vegetables and Espelette pepper sauce
Veggie Enchiladas with black bean & cilantro sauce
Chia Seed Truffles with dates & coconut sauce
Tahini Brownies with fresh strawberries

The cruise line also reports that fresh smoothies will also be available daily at breakfast as part of the new plant-based offerings.

About Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of six boutique ships and sailing yachts carrying 148 to 342 guests each. The cruise line offers two ship classes: Wind Class sailing ships and the all-suite Star Plus Class, which are motor powered.

The company’s ultra-luxury small ship cruises sail throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada & New England, the US west coast and Mexico, Arabia, and the South Pacific.

Windstar maintains one ship, Wind Spirit, year-round in Tahiti. In 2024, Wind Spirit will be replaced in Tahiti by Star Breeze, Windstar’s newly-renovated 312-guest yacht.

*Star Breeze*, Windstar’s newly-renovated 312-guest yacht, is part of the line’s all-suite Star Plus class (image courtesy of Windstar Cruises)

In 2019, the company launched the $250 million Star Plus Initiative to transform the three Star Plus Class yachts with new suites, restaurants, and a world-class spa and fitness center.

Windstar is known for immersive experiences, destination authenticity, port-intensive itineraries, exceptional service, and an innovative culinary program.

What do you think about Windstar’s new plant-based menu initiative? Does it make you more likely to consider cruising with them? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments below!

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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