This month is Organic September, which is about celebrating all things organic and the hard work and dedication that goes into growing and sourcing organic products.
There’s often a lot of confusion about what the term ‘organic’ means. For a product to be labelled organic, at least 95% of the ingredients must be sourced from sustainably grown plants or animals and:
- Contain no artificial additives or preservatives
- Contain fewer pesticides
- Contain no genetically modified ingredients
- Conform to high standards of animal welfare
- Be produced in a sustainable way
All farmers and food companies are inspected by a certification body at least once a year to ensure that they comply with the strict regulations set out and enforced by European law.
In recent years, many cruise lines have taken measures to improve sustainability at sea. This includes serving more organic foods in their restaurants and offering a range of treatments using only organic products in their spas.
In this blog, we take a look at which cruise lines excel at providing organic dining and spa treatments and include a few dishes and remedies we recommend trying on your next organic-friendly cruise.
Cruise lines that offer organic dining
Oceania serves ‘The Finest Cuisine at Sea’, built around the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. More than 200 organic dishes are available on rotation in the Grand Dining Room and in all speciality restaurants across all six ships. This extensive menu is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner – speaking of which, guests can even order an entirely organic, plant-based meal at the signature steakhouse, Polo Grill.
Oceania’s largest ships, Marina and Riviera, also feature the only organic juice and smoothie bar at sea, located on the pool deck and open from 7am to 11am. Guests can order cold-pressed juices and smoothies made with homemade cashew milk. Also on the menu are “energy bowls” made using ingredients like acai berries and chia seeds.
Sample drinks: Rise & Shine Juice, Yellow Sunshine Smoothie and Cold Brew Latte.
SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream goes above and beyond to cater to all dietary requirements. Organic options are available alongside all mainstream dining. At breakfast, you can enjoy a variety of options, including fresh fruit and free-range eggs, with jars of chia seeds and quinoa clusters also on offer. The lunch buffet comprises a do-it-yourself salad bar with a plethora of fresh helpings and ship-made pepper spreads and tapenades as well as a soup of the day. For dinner, guests can order from a completely organic and plant-based full-course menu.
SeaDream was also the first cruise line to introduce a “Raw Food” menu option. “Raw” refers to a style of preparation in which all ingredients are organic and vegan-friendly, and as the name suggests, raw. None of the dishes are heated above 118°F in order to retain all the healthy micronutrients.
Sample dishes: Truffle Tagliatelle Pasta, Chanterelle, Shitake and Pink Grapefruit Ceviche and Lapsang Souchong Smoky Portobellos.
Silversea Cruises
When it comes to dining, Silversea is one of the most organic-friendly cruise lines there is. S.A.L.T. is Silversea’s all-encompassing gourmet food programme offered across three venues. The S.A.L.T. Kitchen is a destination-focused restaurant and a place to enjoy regional delicacies made from local, organic-produced ingredients.
For after-dinner drinks, head next door to the S.A.L.T. Bar, where you can enjoy an array of organic, regionally-inspired cocktails made from locally sourced, quality spirits. The master mixologists will teach you how to let a local whisky rest on your palette and explain how the botanicals in a local gin infuse and enhance the taste.
Finally, the S.A.L.T. Lab is an interactive cooking laboratory where guests can get hands-on experience in a professional environment. Small groups can participate in guided cooking sessions where they will learn how to cook local recipes passed down through generations while gaining an understanding of where each ingredient has come from.
S.A.L.T. is exclusive to Silver Moon and Silver Dawn – and the forthcoming Silver Nova and Silver Ray – and guarantees to make any voyage aboard either of these ships a unique and immersive organic food-based trip.
Cruise lines that offer organic spa treatments
In addition to offering organic dining, Oceania provides a range of organic spa treatments in the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre. This super organic-friendly cruise line has partnered with Canyon Ranch to bring guests the ultimate spa experience using a range of formulas created with ingredients that are biodynamic, wild-picked and toxin-free.
As far as organic treatments go, the Organic Body Wraps – of which there are four to choose from – are a firm favourite, even among those not specifically looking for natural alternatives.
Must-try treatment: Organic Lavender + Seaweed Sugar Glow (50 minutes) – This full-body exfoliating treatment uses three key ingredients: sugar to gently slough away dead skin cells, seaweed extracts to soothe and soften the skin, and lavender oil to melt away stress and prepare you for a restorative night’s sleep.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas uses globally-sourced, natural ingredients that capture the essence of indigenous secrets and unique traditions worldwide that have long proven to promote health and restore balance. At the Serena Spa, sea and land come together to offer a whole wealth of benefits.
From the Caribbean’s most-loved fruit, the coconut, which helps to hydrate and protect the skin, to the eucalyptus grown in Australia, known for its medicinal and healing properties, Regent Seven Seas’ impressive collection of organic ingredients will enhance your whole being.
Must-try treatment: Brazilian Bamboo Massage (50, 75 or 100 minutes) – Immerse yourself in a massage inspired by Brazil’s tropical rainforests and woodlands. Warmed natural bamboo stalks are worked over the body, deep into the muscles, getting into areas of profound attention. The therapeutic warmth of the bamboo relaxes the muscles, while a combination of deep tissue techniques and gentle strokes produce a veritable muscle-melting sensation.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen has partnered with Made for Life Organics to offer inclusive spa treatments for people with chronic health conditions, specifically those with sensitive skin and living with cancer. Operations Director, Thomas Renneland, summarised the collaboration as “A significant advancement for health and wellbeing treatments at sea”, adding, “Amanda Winwood and the team have revolutionised the spa experience for those living with long-term health conditions. We can’t wait to share this with our guests.”
Borealis and Bolette were the first ships to offer these new therapy rituals, which include meditative back, body and scalp treatments and facials using only organic, botanical ingredients. The line has since introduced Made for Life Organics to the Balmoral and Braemar ships.
Must-try treatment: Soothe and Nurture Facial (30 minutes) – A beautiful way to restore luminosity to the skin, leaving you looking and feeling radiant. 100% organic balms and oils will nourish and cleanse the skin, eliminating congestion and restoring natural balance, while the deeply relaxing face and scalp massage will calm the mind and soothe the soul.
Working towards a more sustainable future
Sourcing organic foods and spa products isn’t the only measure our partners are taking to improve sustainability at sea. Many mainstream and non-mainstream cruise lines strive to reduce the environmental impact of cruising, from eliminating single-use plastics to switching to liquified natural gas. You can find out more about cruise sustainability via our blog.
Alternatively, to learn more about sailing with any of the lines mentioned above, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677.
