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

Anyone Sail Carnival Recently?

Christine0125

Recommended Posts

Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted

This will be my first trip gluten free. I've read great things about Carnival's ability to handle gluten free meals. I have already contacted them and have it noted in my reservation and plan to talk to the dining room staff on the 1st day. Anyone with recent experience? What was good, bad? Did you eat at the buffet at all and if so what did you feel was safe? When I contacted Carnival they let me know that gluten free could only be accomodated in the dining room so I'll probably stick with salads/fruits, whole eggs, bacon, etc. at the buffet.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MinnesotaCeliac Rookie
MinnesotaCeliac
Posted

Hello Christine0125, I have not traveled with Carnival, so I'll be interested to know your experience upon your return. Since being diagnosed last year I have been on two cruises (Princes and Royal Caribbean lines). Both were similar in that you you notify them of your dietary needs prior to the cruise and on the first day (maitre d' upon boarding and again with the headwaiter on the first nights seating). I always avoided the buffets because of potential cross-contamination issues. Royal Caribbean actual listed the gluten free options (but do note that folks use tongs from other dishes that contain gluten). So get there first or ask them to get you some from the kitchen or skip it and eat your own food. For dinners you will preview the next days menu and select what you would like to eat (the will prepare it to your dietary needs). I still do not understand why they don't do that for all meals, as it seems to be the safest way to prepare food(I hear that Norwegian might do lunch too). The cruise lines and staff in general are really accommodating, I'm still getting over my upbringing in Minnesota where you do not ask people to go out of their way for you (I know...I'm my own best advocate...still working on it). I'm still healing and am risk adverse when it comes to food, so I happen to travel with a lot of safe food. Have fun and enjoy the cruise!!! Feel free to ask as many questions as you like and I look forward to hearing about your Carnival cruise.

Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

When are you traveling. I'm planning a Sep cruise on Carnival. I have never taken a cruise before.

Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted
  • Author

6/24 sailing. I will report back on my gluten free findings. I am sitting in the phoenix airport with a delay and its very lacking in gluten-free fare. Ended up with sunflower seeds for dinner. :(

Geffric Newbie
Geffric
Posted

Funny you should ask..I am on the 7/9 Carnival sailing. I emailed dining but todate have not response. It will be interesting what you find out. I am going with high hopes. I know Disney does gluten free right, i am thinking that Carnival will too.

Green Eyes Rookie
Green Eyes
Posted

I sailed on Carnival Destiny in April!!! Best vacation EVER!!! And dare to say the best vacation for someone on a gluten free diet. Had a great time, staff were attentive and if you have a gluten free diet - you become VERY SPECIAL!!! I did eat at the buffet and just watched what I ate. Each area has different foods and plenty of each. I had no issues at all.

The dining room dining - was excellent!! There is no way to describe how they cater to you. You eat in the same dining hall (the one assigned to you) each night and I even reqeusted the same waiter (Daniel from El Salvador - we loved loved loved him). I was also assigned a lady to deal with my menu. After the first night I would plan my meals for the next day. You can eat all three meals in the dining hall!!! The 2nd night I ordered a meal and then a backup meal just to make sure the chef could prepare that meal gluten free. When the waiter brought me my food they brought both meals!!! Gives you an idea of why I can 10 pounds on the cruise!!!

The last day on the ship they set a man (eating alone) at our table what was also celiac. Gave me a chance to chat with him which was really nice.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

  • 2 weeks later...
Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted
  • Author

Back from our cruise and overall I give Carnival high marks for accomodating gluten free. The first night the waiter told me the couple options they could make gluten free - I stuck with steak, baked potato and steamed veggies. After that the hostess came each evening to the table and took my order for the following night and I could order just about anything on the menu - she would point out the ones that could not be made gluten free. After the 2nd night of icky desserts I asked and they got better... one night I got a gluten-free chocolate melting cake and another night baked alaska (delish). I found when I didn't request dessert I'd get something really obscure - an apple baked in heavy syrup (yuck), some kind of weird pinapple thing. I found the gluten free bread pretty bad (gritty weird texture) which was disappointing. I could have ordered gluten free pancakes and french toast but after tasting the bread I didn't bother and stuck with omelets and fruit. One thing I noted was that the timing was sometimes off where they would have to wait longer for my food to be prepared (felt bad for the waiters) and one evening I got my appetizer and main course together. No biggie for me!

The buffet was hard to navigate when the dining room was not open but the salad bar was large with lots of options plus a lot of fruit. I risked it at the Indian buffet because salads were just not quite enough for me. I'd ask the chef which contained flour and they were pleasant and knowlegeable. As far as I know I didn't have any ill effects... but I'm new to gluten-free and not sure I recognize reactions vs. just normal ups and downs related to healing.

Good news.... I certainly didn't go hungry!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 6 months later...
Tosca3 Newbie
Tosca3
Posted

I responded under a different post regarding gluten free on Carnival - we had a terrible experience - my daughter with celiac disease was served gluten food on a few occasions.....

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,112
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Donna J G
    Newest Member
    Donna J G
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • jenniber
      Celiac support is hard to find

      By jenniber · Posted

      same! how amazing you have a friend who has celiac disease. i find myself wishing i had someone to talk about it with other than my partner (who has been so supportive regardless)
    • RMJ
      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      By RMJ · Posted

      They don’t give a sample size (serving size is different from sample size) so it is hard to tell just what the result means.  However, the way the result is presented  does look like it is below the limit of what their test can measure, so that is good.
    • knitty kitty
      Insomnia help

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @cristiana,  I react the same way.  Dairy consumption flushes out my digestive system within an hour, too! As casein is digested, it forms casomorphins that bind to opioid receptors in our bodies.  This is similar to digested gluten peptides being able to attach to opioid receptors in our bodies.   We have opioid receptors throughout our bodies including lots in the digestive tract. Casein raises tTg IgA antibodies just like gluten consumption does, which leads to further intestinal damage and continuing inflammation.  No wonder our bodies react to it by pushing the "emergency evacuation" ejection seat button! The mother of my childhood friend was British and introduced me to drinking tea properly with milk or cream.  I miss it so much.  And chocolate ice cream.  Not worth the after effects, though.  I've found taking Omega Three supplements (flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil, evening primrose oil) helps shake those dairy cravings.   Green leafy veggies like broccoli, kale, and greens (mustard, turnip, collards) are great sources of calcium.  Avoid spinach as it is high in oxalates that block calcium absorption and may cause kidney stones.  Yes, more leafy greens are needed to reach the same amount of calcium in a glass of milk, but the greens have other benefits, like increased dietary fiber and polyphenols that act as antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and promote health.   Exposure to gluten (and casein in those sensitive to it) can cause an increased immune response and inflammation for months afterwards.  The immune cells that make tTg IgA antibodies which are triggered today are going to live for about two years. During that time, inflammation is heightened.  Those immune cells only replicate when triggered.  If those immune cells don't get triggered again for about two years, they die without leaving any descendents programmed to trigger on gluten and casein.  The immune system forgets gluten and casein need to be attacked.  The Celiac genes turn off.  This is remission.   Some people in remission report being able to consume gluten again without consequence.  Another triggering event can turn the Celiac genes on again.   Celiac genes are turned on by a triggering event (physical or emotional stress).  There's some evidence that thiamine insufficiency contributes to the turning on of autoimmune genes.  There is an increased biological need for thiamine when we are physically or emotionally stressed.  Thiamine cannot be stored for more than twenty-one days and may be depleted in as little as three during physical and emotional stresses. Mitochondria without sufficient thiamine become damaged and don't function properly.  This gets relayed to the genes and autoimmune disease genes turn on.  Thiamine and other B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed to replace the dysfunctional mitochondria and repair the damage to the body.  
    • TheDHhurts
      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      By TheDHhurts · Posted

      Hi, I bought Naked Nutrition Creatine. It lists itself as gluten free but is not certified. (It used to be, but they dropped it in the past year or two apparently.) I wrote the company and asked them what testing results they had for creatine and they sent me the attached, which says the test result for gluten is <0.025MCG. I'm used to seeing test results as ppm, so I'm not sure what <0.025MCG means. Can it be converted to ppm easily? I want to confirm that it is safe to use.
    • cristiana
      Insomnia help

      By cristiana · Posted

      When I was still recovering my gastroenterologist suggested I bought lactofree product as I was very bloated.  So I bought some from the supermarket and from memory, I drank a nice big glass of milk - and it went right through me literally within an hour or so, if my memory serves correctly.  I came off dairy completely next and it worked like a charm, but started to reintroduce quite gradually it as I missed it! To this day, if I overdo dairy products, they work like a mild laxative.  I've never wanted to give up milk completely as I like it so much, and my mum had osteoporosis and it's an easy way of getting calcium.  But it doesn't really 'sit' well with me.   You may need to experiment a bit as when I was healing certain dairy products were worse than others - I could cope with one brand of Greek yoghurt, but I got extremely and painfully bloated with another brand of live British yoghurt.  
×
×
  • 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.