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

Good Gluten Free Cruise Experiences?


givenupgluten

Recommended Posts

givenupgluten Explorer

My mom and I want to take a cruise (we have never taken one before) and we are both celiacs - Has anyone had a really great vaca on any of the cruise lines while being gluten free? Thanks in advance for any recommendations! :)


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Lisa Mentor
My mom and I want to take a cruise (we have never taken one before) and we are both celiacs - Has anyone had a really great vaca on any of the cruise lines while being gluten free? Thanks in advance for any recommendations! :)

Open Original Shared Link

This might be an old site, but bob and ruths.com arranges for gluten free travel, including gluten free cruises, around the world. It's a great place to start.

MaryJones2 Enthusiast

I've never heard of a bad experience with Disney Cruise Lines. You might check with them. I understand they are quite dedicated to this.

Sailing Girl Apprentice

I second the vote for Disney Cruise Lines. DD and I have been on three Disney cruises so far (another planned for this summer), and they've been amazing.

If you've been following the other recent thread on Disney World, you can tell I'm a big fan of Disney -- but the truth is, they do an *incredible* job of feeding us great gluten-free food, both in the parks and on the ships.

givenupgluten Explorer
I second the vote for Disney Cruise Lines. DD and I have been on three Disney cruises so far (another planned for this summer), and they've been amazing.

If you've been following the other recent thread on Disney World, you can tell I'm a big fan of Disney -- but the truth is, they do an *incredible* job of feeding us great gluten-free food, both in the parks and on the ships.

Thank for the help everyone! My mom had mentioned Disney cruise lines, and I hear they have great service and as everyone said 'are good with the gluten free thing', which is wonderful! Do they have different types of cruises..my mom and I are looking for a very relaxing experience, and I wonder if we will feel out of place if there are lots of families and kids around (no offense families with children!) I just want to make sure we are comfortable and don't stick out like a sore thumb...and are able to also get in some relaxation time :)

Chicklet Rookie

I cruised with Royal Caribbean, it was fine and they even brought me gluten free bread with my supper.

rmmadden Contributor

I went on an Alaskan Cruise aboard Norweigan......They sent me a list of gluten-free foods prior to departure and let me pick what items I wanted to have aboard (English Muffins / Pasta / Crackers, etc.). Then, I had a meeting the first night with the Maitre'd who reviewed the menu with me and discussed what items the Chefs could present as gluten-free. They even made me a gluten-free, flourless Chocolate dessert (Which was amazingly rich!).

Each night at dinner I was able to review the menu for the following night and pre-order my meal (Same went for B-fast).

Needless to say it was most reassuring that these people took me seriously and were watching-out for my best interests. I made a point of writing a thank-you note and tipping the Maitre'd for his consideration and, I definitely recommend Norweigan to anyone thinking about a cruise.

Cleveland Bob B)


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



  • 2 weeks later...
nothungry Contributor

To those of you who have cruised with Royal Caribbean and Alaskan Cruiselines, I have a few questions (I am trying to plan a cruise myself). Did you have to eat in the main dining room each meal, or were you able to eat at other restaurants on the ship? Also, did they seem to have knowledge of cross contamination ? Did you eat off of a buffet or was food custom prepared by the chef? Thanks for any info!

Jackie78 Newbie

I had a great experience cruising with Carnival. They take your dinner order the night before. They can make most of the items on the menu gluten free. They have gluten free pasta, bread and even dessert!

Sweetfudge Community Regular

Anyone have a bad cruise experience? My husband's company is planning a cruise for next year, and I'm wondering which companies to recommend they avoid.

dlp252 Apprentice

I haven't had a bad experience, but I can add that I've had a good experience on Princess lines. I've sailed twice since knowing about my gluten intolerance, and they've been very good each time. Before the cruise I fax them a letter with my request for gluten free diet, and when I get on board, see the maitr'd the first day. Like another poster said, they'll go over the next day's menu with you and can make just about anything gluten free. THey even had pasta for me last time. It is MUCH easier if you eat in the traditional dining room with set seating and wait staff, but I've always had what Princess calls "Anytime Dining" and have been well taken care of. The buffet is risky, but if you befriend one of the staff there, they can point out what you should avoid, as happened on one of my cruises, so I was able to eat at the buffet with my friend who REALLY LOVES buffets, lol.

I haven't sailed Disney yet, but very much want to. The Travel Channel has a 1 hour show on the Disney line, and it looks like a great experience. The Disney folks are very knowledgeable about food allergies and Celiac.

curiousgeorge Rookie

We were on Celebrity over xmas and they were great. They even made me gluten-free gravy for my chirstams dinner. Their gluten-free bread was some of the best I've ever had :)

kim:) Apprentice
My mom and I want to take a cruise (we have never taken one before) and we are both celiacs - Has anyone had a really great vaca on any of the cruise lines while being gluten free? Thanks in advance for any recommendations! :)

Hi!

Sorry this is late...but yes I have had AMAZING times on a cruise being gluten-free. I went on the Royal Caribbean cruise and had a blast! I had called ahead so the chef/waiters already knew about my situation and so litteraly when we first checked on the ship they took me around and told me what all will be gluten free everyday and ALL the different choices I could have for all meals! It was great! I had a great time and got all the food I wanted and never got sick once, and I am really sensitive. So I only wish the best for you and your mom because Im sure you will have an amazing time! Enjoy! No need to worry about food..it just may help to call ahead :)

  • 2 weeks later...
FreeTime Apprentice

Disney Cruise is great for all kinds of families with and without young kids. The adult area is great we really enjoyed it. The adult area on Castaway Cay looks fantastic (we haven't been able to go because of having kids with us).

My daughter was able to get anything she wanted to eat. She would have to order her food for the next day the night before. They made her pancakes, brought out rolls, chocolate cake, had lots or premade brownies available, steak, breaded chicken, pasta, pizza, fries, etc.!

Tica Apprentice

Disney is definitely teh way to go, but have heard that Carnival Cruise line have been very helpfull too.

We just came back from a trip to Disney World and let me tell you that it was the best vacation (finding food-wise) since my daughter was diagnosed back in June. EVERY manager in every food place was aware of gluten free food preparation and items on their menu. They made my daughter freshly made gluten-free chicken tenders, gluten-free "Mickey" waffles, oven baked fries, etc. I contacted the food and services people from Disney ahead of time and htey emailed me lists for every gluten-free item in every park-- IT WAS GREAT!!!!!

They sent me a form to fill out so that they could notifiy the resorts to hae food ready and available.

I always loved Disney-- now I love them more because they made my daughter feel special and not a bother when it came to finding food/restaurants. :D

Daxin Explorer

DW and I have cruised twice now with Holland America, and have had no problems with my gluten-free diet. They were more than helpful, and even baked my a gluten-free birthday cake :) It was VERY good and not nearly as dense as some other baking can be.

I would think that almost any cruise line would be able to accommodate the gluten-free diet and almost any other restriction we can have woth our sundry of food in tolerances. Ask your travel agent, or, one you are booked on a cruise, call SHIP SERVICES directly and they will be able to help you.

  • 3 weeks later...
mrg8610 Rookie

My family and I returned about a week ago from a cruise on the Carnival Liberty and they did a great job taking care of my daughter. The hostess in our dining room (Ramona in the Golden Dining Room) was incredible and quite knowledgeable about gluten. Each evening before we finished dinner, she would bring over the next night's menu so my daughter could choose her food. Since my daughter is only 11 and the food can sometimes be more "grownupish" as she puts it, Ramona always let her pick a dish not on the menu if she preferred. A few nights she chose pasta dishes such as chicken, broccoli and ziti or fettucine alfredo. She also had steak, chicken, scallops and many appetizers including soups and mozzarella sticks. They did bring gluten free bread for her each night, but it was pretty nasty. The chef made a special gluten free desset for her each night and a few times my husband actually wished he could have what she was having. Ramona also helped us figure out what was safe at the buffet. She had eggs, bacon, hash browns, sausage and fruit for breakfast and could choose from salads, stir-fry (they had rice noodles), hot dogs, french fries, chicken dishes and more at lunch. I know buffets can be risky, but she ate from them and didn't get sick once. We also had a few breakfasts and lunches in the dining rooms and she was always fine there too.

While they did a wonderful job of taking care of her, I did suggest that they might look into providing gluten free pizza and some baked goods for dessert. The Guest Services Manager that I spoke with seemed very interested in my comments and promised that they would look into them. Overall though, it was a great vacation and everyone ate well, including my daughter.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,668
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    CDR40
    Newest Member
    CDR40
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • 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.