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Recent Cruise Info - Which Line?

Sweetfudge

By Sweetfudge
in Traveling with Celiac Disease

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Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted

So, off to Mexico on a cruise in January w/ hubby's work. We have to pick a line stat, but his boss is being cheap, and wants to go as low as he can. I just wanted updated info on which cruise line to request (don't even know if the boss will consider it...). I've read lots of good things about Royal Caribbean, some mixed reviews about Carnival (most recently good reviews), and I know Disney's good. Just thought I'd see what's new :)

Thanks!!

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Yup Apprentice
Yup
Posted

Hi!

My hubby works for an airline, so we get to travel alot. My family went on Carnival in March and I got cross contanminated. The selections were very limited, and I ate the same dessert every night. I spent most of my time in the cabin. My husband who isn't gluten-free wasn't impressed with the selection of food because they had a lot of deep fried stuff. When I wrote them, I never received a response.

This past summer we went on Royal Caribbean and had a much better experience. They make their own gluten free bread daily - yum. I got to pick what I wanted to eat from a menu, and I got a different dessert every night of the week. I did not get sick at all. They really tried their best, but there is always room for improvement. I wrote them a long letter and let them know about the new Chex cereals, gluten-free beer available. Then I bought their cookbook I went through it and wrote them what is already gluten-free and what could be gluten-free if they selected a gluten-free alternative like Soy Sauce. I said that if you can do vegetarian, you should be doing gluten-free because being a vegetarian is lifestyle choice, and doing the gluten-free diet is a medical condition (the Calgary Children's Hospital just tested 1000 kids and 17 popped up as Celiac. That is 1 in 58!) They called me and thanked me for taking the time to write them and were going to send my suggestions to the appropriate departments. If you can, sail RC!

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the input! I am already in love w/ RC (from my pre-gluten-free days), and have rarely read anything negative about their gluten-free/customer service. I just don't think the boss is going to go for them, since they're pricier...

twe0708 Community Regular
twe0708
Posted

Good to know about RC. We are getting ready to book a cruise for next June.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted
  • Author

Just have to vent here real quick (since my husband's getting annoyed).

I'm so frustrated...the boss tells my hubby that it's up to all the employees who are going on the cruise to decide which one they want to go on. I gave hubby a list of the top 4 cruiselines for gluten-free dining, based on my research. And they've shot them all down. They and the boss are pretty much set on carnival (due to pricing), which I'm really irritated by, because everything I've read, NOT just from gluten-free reviews, says their customer service is crap. And everyone I've talked to (friends/family) who have gone on a carnival cruise has told me they wish they had gone w/ another company. Cooler shows, better service (in general), etc.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

So I understand from everyone else's point of view - why should we all have to pay more for a cruise so someone else (ME) can be accomodated. I get it.

But, still!!!! I'm so frustrated. I've only ever done RC cruises, and I LOVED them! I don't want to be disappointed by a cheaper cruise, AND have to deal with feeding myself or risk getting sick by a company that really doesn't give a damn about taking care of people w/ special needs.

Ok, thanks for letting me get that off my chest :P

  • 2 weeks later...
Kelynn Apprentice
Kelynn
Posted

For future reference, or to help anyone else out... I am in the process of being diagnosed and also in the process of booking a cruise. I have cruised 8 times before- always on either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. So, now that gluten-free meals are an issue I've started doing some research real quick so we can get this trip booked. I have read time and time again that by far, the best cruise line for gluten-free meals and accommodations is Celebrity. In my opinion, the best cruise line period is Celebrity. We're supposed to go in April- should be interesting, especially since I'm so new at this!

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