Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):
  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Royal Caribbean?


jayhawkmom

Recommended Posts

jayhawkmom Enthusiast

My husband and I are going on an Alaskan cruise next June. I've already identified myself as someone needing dietary accommodation while on board. I'm wondering if anyone has any firsthand gluten-free experience with RC??

I admit, I'm a little nervous, even though it's a year away. All our "vacations" thus far have been trips where we've visited and stayed with family. The only other trip we've been on since going gluten free has been to Disney World. That was a piece O' cake! =)

I'm looking for both positive and negative experiences, so I can be fully prepared.

TIA!!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



blueeyedmanda Community Regular

I researched their cruises when we were trying to decide on a honeymoon trip. We choose not to do a cruise due to the timing of the trip but I can tell you if I was going to cruise I was going to book on RC. Their FAQ says they can accomodate gluten free meals. I did not see that listed on Carnival.

I do hear Alaskan cruises are spectacular! Have fun!!!

jayhawkmom Enthusiast
ITheir FAQ says they can accomodate gluten free meals. I did not see that listed on Carnival.

Yep, when we booked it was an option. I made sure to indicate that I would need gluten-free meals. The timing worked well for us, so I was pleased that they do have gluten-free options. I think there was one other that I researched that indicated they could accommodate gluten-free requests but I don't recall which one it was. I'm really very excited. Albeit, apprehensive.

Chicklet Rookie

I cruised with RC earlier this year, when you get on to the ship go to the dinning room and talk to the head waiter and let them know. They are very good to work with and even had gluten free bread for me, it was really nice, and they had desserts for me too. :D I only eat my supper in the dinning room I ate at the buffet for other meals. The only thing I didn't like was ordering my meals ahead of time, they have you pre order your meal for the next night. I guess it is easier this way to keep it gluten-free.

The mashed potatoes are not gluten free. Other then that I had lots to eat. Take sweet snacks though cause there isn't much gluten-free there for that, loads of fruit though.

blueeyedmanda Community Regular

Marie-thanks for the heads up. Sounds like your cruise was nice. glad to hear it went well for you :)

jayhawkmom Enthusiast

Thanks Marie!

I can take my own "treats" on board???

I wasn't sure whether or not they'd permit that. I'd be thrilled if I could have some Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles out at sea.

kbtoyssni Contributor

You can take whatever food you want on board. They won't search your bag! In fact, the more food you bring, the less they have to feed you :) Have fun on the cruise!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



munchkinette Collaborator

I went on RC last summer. I had a really easy time in the main dining room. We had the same waiter every time. He brought us (my brother and I) gluten-free bread every meal. He also went and got us plain white rice from the crew dining room for breakfast one morning.

The buffets- be careful, but there is still some stuff you can eat. The biggest issue is the excursions. If you go on a day tour, make sure to get them to prepare a lunch ahead of time. Pack some snacks in your suitcase.

nothungry Contributor

We are looking into a RC Cruise - I am wondering if any of you were able to get any gluten free vegetarian dishes? I am vegetarian, and it is usually pretty tough to get veggie gluten-free (unless I just want plain veggies). Do they make rice/rice pasta etc. for gluten free options? I would like to go on a Disney cruise, because I know that they cater to vegetarians and gluten free needs too, but the cost is too much for the large group I am traveling with (also, they can eat anything, anywhere, so the food service is not especially important for them). Any tips?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

    2. - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

    3. - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

    4. 0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,334
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    johnfreirefr
    Newest Member
    johnfreirefr
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.