by Megan Martin
If there is one activity I really enjoy, it would be traveling. But as a “selective eater” (the nicer way of saying I’m picky), it can come with some stress, additional planning and backup rations when traveling the world.
While preparing for our vacation to the Baltic Region of Europe, I have already started researching restaurant menus to make dining reservations. We will be starting our trip in Helsinki, Finland.
When I started looking at menus, panic quickly set in. On most menus I found reindeer, venison, elk, arctic char and even bear … I can’t even imagine allowing any of those to cross my lips! “What am I going to eat while also allowing my husband the opportunity to enjoy local dishes?” was my initial thought.
For most restaurants, I’m able to find something that I’m willing to try. It’s usually a salad with chicken or a cheeseburger. During our three-day stay in Helsinki, we will have dinner at a brewery one evening and a bistro another evening. I’m leaving our last day open so we can grab pizza or something else. From Helsinki, we will board our cruise, which will take us to Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Denmark. For those of us who aren’t adventurous eaters, a cruise is my type of travel.
While cruise ship restaurants and food choices vary between cruise lines and ships, on most ships you will find a buffet-style dining option that serves typical breakfast items daily. Lunch will typically include pizza, burgers, salads, soups and some food items from various regions of the world.
For dinner, you’ll find themes each night. Some cruises in the Caribbean may offer a “Caribbean Night” with cuisine from that region. If a buffet doesn’t sound interesting to your palate, the main dining room is always a great option. The main dining room menu typically changes daily, but you will also find options that stay on the menu every day.
If you’re looking for something a little different, most cruise ships offer specialty dining options that may include a steakhouse, Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican or sushi. The specialty dining restaurants will have a cover charge. On my upcoming cruise, the cover charge ranges from $40 to $60 per person. This cover charge does not include alcoholic beverages, specialty drinks or soda.
While I’m traveling on a cruise, I know I can find a great breakfast, return to the ship and have dinner every day. Lunch while on shore will sometimes be tricky, but most places are welcoming visitors from all over the world, so I should be able to find something!
Thinking back to some destinations I have traveled to over the years, I feel like I can always find pizza, pastries or a burger no matter if I’m in Iceland, Alaska, Norway, Tanzania or France.
Don’t let being a “selective eater” keep you from exploring the world and experiencing how other countries serve your favorites in their own way!
