LowCarb Living....

Low-Carb Cruising: Easier Than Ever

With many land-based restaurants in the U.S. now offering at least some low-carb menu items, it was only a matter of time until cruise lines followed suit. Lines like Carnival, Crystal, and others are quickly coming up with a wide array of offerings that cater to those on low-carb diets.

Though passengers have already found keeping to a low-carb diet easy on most ships, cruise lines are reacting to the low-carb craze by bringing more low-carb menu items to the table. With Carnival Cruise Lines and Crystal Cruises recently taking the lead and introducing low-carb menu items fleetwide, other lines are sure to follow with more and more specific offerings for low-carb cruisers.

“The low-carb phenomenon has been building for years and has recently evolved to such an extraordinary degree that there is tremendous consumer demand for carb-conscious dining options and specific carb count information,” says Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. “Whether consumers are following Atkins, South Beach, the Zone, or simply subscribing to the low-carb philosophy, we want to make it as easy and convenient for them to enjoy the Carnival dining experience.”

Carnival began rolling out specially designated low-carb dining selections on dinner menus of the Carnival Victory this past spring, with a fleetwide implementation quickly following for the entire 20-ship line. Dinner menus in all of the ships’ main dining rooms feature a low-carb appetizer, salad, and entree.

On the menu the number of carbohydrate grams per dish is listed beneath each low-carb selection. In addition, a reduced carbohydrate bread selection is available each evening, upon request. As part of “phase two” in their low-carb dining concept, Carnival plans to add low-carb items to their buffet and dessert offerings as well.

"It's a huge trend," says Cyrus Marfatia, vice-president, food and beverage, Carnival Cruise Lines. "We didn't want passengers already on a low-carb diet to struggle maintaining the lifestyle once onboard, but we also thought it could be an easy and much less intimidating way for people to try low-carb dining while on vacation."

Of course, low-carb cruising isn’t new for Carnival passengers or on any other line. Because of cruise travel’s innate flexibility when it comes to dining, it’s always been easy to avoid carbohydrate-heavy meals and dishes by simply asking that they not be served. This is true in a ship’s main dining room, at the buffet line, and any other varied eating option afloat.

In addition, many lines have been offering “spa selections” on their menus for years, making it even easier to choose menu offerings that are lower in calories, fat, and, more than likely, carbohydrates. Other special menu selections have made sticking to a low-carb regimen easy, including the “Simplicity Menu” with Radisson Sevens Seas Cruises, Costa’s “Salute e Benessere” (Italian for “Health and Well Being” choices like low-carb, -calorie, -cholesterol, and -fat), Windstar’s “Sail Light,” Celebrity’s “AquaSpa Cafe,” plus many other lines’ health-oriented offerings. The proliferation of modern fitness facilities and an array of healthy activities onboard has also helped.

Many companies (like restaurants and food manufacturers) are catering to the low-carb craze and there’s even a company called Carb Counter Cruises(www.carbcountercruises.com) getting into the act with specific cruises that will include low-carb dining, speakers, activities, written materials, and more. Other offerings and companies will surely develop with additional ways to enjoy the low-carb lifestyle at sea.

Laura Sterling, a Community Manager with the popular site Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com), says she’s been living the low-carb lifestyle since mid-2002 and has found low-carb cruising quite easy. She sailed on the Star Princess in August of 2003 and found it easy to stay truly low-carb.

“I had lost 80 pounds and was not going to take one step back,” says Sterling. “I found low-carbing on board extremely easy. My best bet turned out to be eating a full breakfast.”

Sterling typically enjoyed a made-to-order omelet each morning (with Egg Beaters), drank lots of water throughout the day, and visited the gym several times during the cruise. “I also religiously took the stairs--both up and down,” she adds. “That’s workout in and of itself!

“I think it was easier to do low-carbing on the ship, as all the choices are there available to you--with no work or fuss involved,” Sterling claims. “At home, you need to prepare and make sure you have the correct foods. On a ship, you can eat your fill and do it right.”

Along with already offering the ability to avoid high carbohydrate menu items, spa selections, and more, other cruise lines are apparently quickly following in Carnival’s wide wake. For instance, in May, Crystal Cruises implemented a “low-carb menu” fleetwide. Guests aboard the Symphony, Serenity, or Harmony now see a three-course low-carb menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in every restaurant (including the Crystal Dining Room and all specialty restaurants--samples are featured in the sidebar). Popular afternoon tea in the Palm Court will also feature at least one low-carb choice (like low-carb chocolate muffins or low-carb butter cookies).

“Crystal’s low-carb offerings support travelers’ growing demand to maintain their chosen dietary routine while traveling, providing more choice without sacrificing flavor and style,” says Toni Neumeister, Crystal’s vice president, food and beverage operations. “Together with our extensive fitness programs and wellness education, the lighter fare and low-carb culinary options offer our guests choice of a more healthy vacation environment.”

The menus are the creation of Neumeister and Gunter Lorenz, corporate executive chef. They developed these menu items in conjunction with Crystal’s popular “On The Lighter Side” selections (low in salt, fat, sugar, and cholesterol), which will all still be available (as will Carnival’s “Spa Carnival” offerings). “We believe that it may well be easier to maintain a lifestyle routine on Crystal than it is at home,” says Lorenz.

Both Royal Caribbean and Silversea are rumored to be developing low-carb menus as well, but cruise lines aren’t just reacting with menu additions. Though most “light” beers are already relatively low-carb, many lines have been adding low-carb beers like Michelob Ultra, Rolling Rock’s Rock Green Light, and Coors Brewing Company’s Aspen Edge, as well as some low-carb cocktails. Holland America recently placed low-carb beers and cocktails on its bar menu.

Thanks to Carnival, Crystal, and many other lines, it’s easier than ever to stick to the low-carb lifestyle on a cruise. So these days, a cruise on the “Love Boat” won’t lead to love handles!

Low-Carb Dining: Crystal Cruises

Here’s a sampling of low-carb options:

Crystal Dining Room

*Tartar of Smoked Salmon with Dill Cucumbers
*Porcini Dusted Filet Mignon with Grilled Asparagus, Cauliflower, and Mustard Hollandaise
*Flourless Cheese Cake with Sugar Free Strawberry Sauce

Prego (Italian)

*Plum Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese with Balsamic Tossed Mixed Greens
*Sautéed Veal Scaloppini on Low-Carb Spaghetti with Broccoli and Lemon Sauce
*Decaffeinated Coffee Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries

Jade Garden (Asian)

*Chinese Chicken Salad
*Steamed White Fish with Scallions, Ginger, and Soy Sauce
*Lemon Custard with Low-Carb Vanilla Ice Cream

Silk Road (Asian)

*Tuna Sashimi Salad with Matsuisha Dressing
*Sautéed Chicken Breast with Balsamic-Teriyaki Sauce on Stir-Fried Vegetables
*Trio of Creme Brulees