On a scorching Sunday afternoon in Miami this winter, I got a reality check about the food that's offered on cruises. My friend Rob and I, both novice cruisers and both first-time participants in the CHIP-Shape Wellness cruise co-sponsored by VT, had just boarded the Carnival ship Paradise for a week in the Western Caribbean. Cranky and fatigued from early-morning travel, we needed a solid-food infusion--and fast. Rob's stomach and a convenient carry-with-you-everywhere map of the ship that we found in our stateroom pointed us to the Lido deck and a poolside buffet.

Grinning with look-what-Santa-brought-me glee, Rob queued up to the hot-food line, where the ship's cooks filled his plate with indistinguishable mounds of pasta salads, potatoes and gravy-slathered meat. This made my carnivorous companion a happy camper indeed but left me--a health-conscious vegetarian--hungry still and wondering, what's there for me to eat?

I sat down at our table empty-handed. But then I decided to further explore the Paradise. Eureka! I discovered the 24-hour pizza line. And the made-to-order omelets. And the fruit-and-salad bar that included--to my astonishment--couscous. And the veggie burgers. And the ethnic foods buffets. And the fresh fruit bars. And the gourmet vegetarian and vegan entrees on the dining room dinner menu that were almost too pretty to eat. And then I realized: Hey, I can do this cruise thing.

You can, too.

Forget what you think you know about cruises. You don't have to gain weight (I didn't); you don't have to suspend your fitness routine (Rob hit the gym or track every morning); and you won't be relegated to eating salads and fruit at every meal, no matter what your dietary restrictions.

So here are a few personal pointers on how to stay healthy and vegetarian on a cruise: