Imagine just for one moment that you’re not busy with work, school, or household chores. You’re not stressed. You’re not tired. In fact, the only thing you have to worry about is when you have to leave the white sands of Bora Bora or Tahiti to head back to your yacht for a delicious plant-based meal crafted by some of the world’s best chefs. It may feel like a faraway dream, but it’s very much a possibility.
In February 2025, Windstar Cruises is launching Dreams of Tahiti, its inaugural plant-based cruise to French Polynesia. The voyage will take place on Star Breeze, a newly renovated all-suite motor yacht with room for 312 guests, meaning it’s small enough to fit into the tiny island ports of Polynesian destinations like Raiatea and Motu Mahaea, but big enough for a spa, pool, and some seriously impressive dining venues—all of which serve delicious, totally plant-based food crafted by globally renowned chefs (fun fact: Windstar is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation).
If you want to get a spot, you’ll have to move fast, because the voyage is almost sold out. According to Jessica Chiang, Windstar’s director of marketing, the all-vegan sailing trip was launched in response to rising demand from passengers.
Windstar’s yachts can visit many destinations that larger cruiser ships can’t. | Windstar Cruises
It’s true that plant-based diets are growing in popularity in the US. One study published earlier this year in the journal Nutrients noted that from 2012 to 2022, the percentage of Americans following a plant-forward diet more than doubled from 12 percent to 26 percent. Documentaries that demonstrate the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle—such as Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones and You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment—have also been popular with Netflix viewers in recent years.
This demand has spilled over into the cruising industry, which is more popular than ever (research suggests that by the end of this year, 36 million passengers will have taken to the high seas on a cruise ship). In 2023, Carnival Cruises announced it launched a brand-new vegan menu on all of its ships. And in the same year, Princess Cruises and Virgin Atlantic launched new plant-based options aboard their cruise liners as well.
But if you’ve been curious about trying plant-based food on vacation, there is arguably no better opportunity than Windstar’s intimate Dreams of Tahiti voyage.
Eggplant cannelloni, one of the plant-based dishes served onboard Windstar’s luxury yachts. | Windstar Cruises
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Windstar: a more intimate, more refined cruising experience
The average cruise ship can hold around 3,000 passengers at any one time. That means that if you’re heading off on a cruise during the height of the season, you’ll be tussling for a good seat on deck, lining up to get off the ship to see all of the wonders at your port destination, and battling for the last few vegan options at the buffet.
The world’s biggest ships are basically floating resorts, which is great for some, but not so appealing to those looking for a more refined and tranquil vacation experience with plenty of space and opportunity to try new experiences, including food.
“Because we only serve up to 350 guests, we can source the produce locally with the freshest ingredients from trusted purveyors we work with frequently. We try to localize as much as possible.” —Jessica Chiang
This means that your meals will be packed with flavor, of course, but also that they’re better for the planet—sourcing food locally from port stops along the journey reduces any extra emissions from shipping it in from external food service providers.
Research shows that intimate vessels like those from Windstar Cruises have a significantly smaller environmental impact than larger cruise ships. According to Marine Insight, a 3,000-capacity cruise ship can generate around 150,000 gallons of sewage and graywater—that’s enough to fill 10 swimming pools. Carnival, which operates several cruise brands with large ships including Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, generates around 1.3 pounds of food waste per person per day on average. Windstar, on the other hand, operates with around 10 percent of the passengers of large vessels.
Inside Windstar Cruises’ dreamy plant-based menu
Even if you miss out on the dreamy plant-based voyage to Tahiti, there are plenty of other vegan-friendly voyages with Windstar to choose from. In fact, the cruise line is renowned for the vegan-friendly dining experiences on all of its yachts, from the Wind Surf yacht, which is fitted with 171 staterooms, to its smallest yachts, like the Wind Spirit, which has just 74 staterooms on board.
Aside from smaller crowds, the size of the yachts is important: it means that Windstar can take you to places that other, larger cruise ships can’t (some of its most popular voyages include Tahiti and the Tuamotu Islands, Iceland’s fjords, and Niue in the South Pacific), but also that the crew can always offer an intimate, personal experience. They’ll get to know you and your dietary requirements, Chiang promises, and strive to make sure you have the very best plant-based options at every meal.
There are plenty of plant-based options onboard Windstar’s yachts, including cabbage bulgogi. | Windstar Cruises
A few examples of some of the vegan options you can expect to be treated to include citrus pumpkin risotto, vegetable enchiladas, and eggplant cannelloni, and on Star Class ships like Star Pride and Star Breeze, there is also plant-based Korean bulgogi.
For breakfast, you can choose from options like fresh fruit smoothies, oatmeal, and muffins, all of which you can order straight to your room for maximum comfort (date pancakes are also available on special request). If you’re craving something sweet, expect to come across options like mango lime tart, chia seed truffles served with coconut sauce, and tahini brownies with fresh strawberries for dessert.
If you’re traveling with a group, it’s important to note that vegan options aren’t just for those who eat a plant-based diet. Chiang notes that many guests who are simply trying to eat healthier options have tried them and been suitably impressed.
Expect to find a range of beautifully presented, plant-based desserts onboard. | Windstar Cruises
“So far the feedback on our plant-based options has been positive. There are quite a few guests who are interested in trying to eat healthier, but often have a misconception that healthy foods are not flavorful or tasty,” she explained. “Our guest feedback is very important to us, as it helps us improve and innovate our menus.”
Ready to embark on a unique, luxurious cruise experience? To find out more about the Tahiti plant-based cruise or any of Windstar’s upcoming voyages, click here.
Thank you to Windstar Cruises for partnering with VegNews on this story.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
