mickletickle

Yeah. They look at how many people who have "gluten-free" noted on the reservations, add a small percent of that number to it, and order gluten-free bread and flour and such based on that number. Usually it works out, but if there is a higher number of people who end up saying they are gluten-free once on board, they can start running short.

 

Good to know. There was one night on Brilliance where I had to order the night of because the chef changed the menus and what I'd ordered wasn't on the new one. There's a not so great report from Jewel that popped up today that has me a little worried. But I figure I'll pack some Luna bars or some of my Weight Watchers Protein Stix and live on those if push comes to shove. (And then send a polite but firm email expressing my disappointment...and happily cruise with Disney from now on. :) )

WrittenOnYourHeart

Where is that review about the Jewel you mentioned. Would like to read. Gluten is only one of my allergy issues and need to compare and get management tricks ready before boarding ship. Gluten may be one of the easier ones for to manage on ship if I take notes since RCCL already tries to deal with it.

Have you been on the Allure recently? Since others have said any bed that has not already been replaced by the super hard mattresses is in the process of being replaced. Others comments brought this issue up. I was expecting all to be fine. I really hate to even be asking about this.

Sorry to ask too much of forum. Just wanted personal experiences with this ship since seemed like RCCL both with mattresses, pads, and special needs promises. I'd never seen that many complaints about a mattress anywhere we have traveled. I saw posted that others who had it in writing had issues where others did not. Just trying to prepare.

Harlequin- as far as those Amazon mats go, if they have improved over the years might be a possibility. We had similar style mats many years ago and they would never work for her. But things have changed a lot in all tech so may see what our friends that camp have in newer mats we can test before ordering. As with all things Amazon the quality varies. If she can stay on one of those on top of our mattress at home, we could consider ordering a queen size for the cruise.

I still have an issue if special needs claims they can handle but do not. Too late to cancel. I thank those with input.

I still would like to know if everyone only sees big fat uncomfortable poly-fill pillows throughout the ship or not.

Read varying accounts of the mattresses across the RCCL ships. I need the ruth about situation on The Allure. Many stating mattresses on RCCL so hard cannot sleep at all and access to foam or toppers varies even when promised by special needs. It almost seems to vary from cabin to cabin. I rarely see people complain about this issue so much, from my point of view seems that most Hotels and CL have improved the quality of their mattresses in recent years and most have topper options for those who need them.

I am speaking from viewpoint of a man whose DW has always required a soft comfortable mattress in hotels, CL or hospital. Not a wish - a requirement.

I need a better idea of the reality on the Allure. DW will actually be in cabin in bed a lot during the cruise. Yes, we have contacted special needs, but from earlier posts, I question whether what we were told by them can be trusted. They state that double toppers are on all Allure beds now. If were not flying in with much medical luggage, we would bring back ups in case needed. I want to avoid getting to cabin and finding we have a problem that will cause SEVERE health issues for DW. In past we have always requested double foam padding to be safe and received it even when CL had an excellent mattress as good as what we use at home.

Someone please relieve my mind about the Allure or give me the terrible truth so know what we are dealing with.

PILLOWS- told by special needs that only one type of pillow on the Allure. A hypoallergenic poly-fill pillow. Are these all the same super big stuffed poly-fill pillows or do they have varying thicknesses? This is the first time I've ever been told only one type of pillow onboard a ship. Steward usually brings a variety for us to choose what will work for her neck condition. The cabin pictures show big overstuffed poly-fill pillows. I know these will not work for her. This may not be the reality onboard, so need to hear from those who have been onboard Allure recently. She hasn't used a poly-fill pillow in over 10 years. If not so thick might work. Again, flying with so much medical luggage is an issue.

Before someone chimes in that we should stay home if so many issues. Is our first, real vaca since 2012. Want to savor the time we have. A ship is a hotel, so have a right to expect what we do from a hotel. But since we cannot run out to target after we get on the ship, need the true situation before we board. To make enemies at airline if situation is covered onboard is silly.

Dealing with RCCL special needs on land and having promises in writing does little good if once onboard the ship they cannot accommodate. One thing I have learned from past cruises, is that special needs dept. and ship do not communicate that much and many things are left to do on sail date.

I would not be asking for experiences if there has not been some question about RCCL honoring the promises the special needs department makes. One person on another RCCL ship was promised a topper by special needs, did not get though promised and begged onboard, suffered greatly, then as debarked looked into other cabins and saw many had toppers on their beds. The inconsistency is as much a concern as anything. Some even say mattresses comfortable. That does not mean would work for DW.

The real question should be why RCCL bought such terrible mattresses when the trend everywhere else is to improved mattresses. I do not want to be demanding. I want to find the truth about the Allure and decide what we must do. Do not want to be stuck on ship and tearing apart 20 pillows to stuff poly-fill into a duvet to make a topper just to survive. To critics of this post, I truly hope you never have to experience what DW has to everyday of her life. I am concerned that RCCL special needs is assuring those with special needs before sailing and not coming through onboard.This is not my personal experience with RCCL. I am getting this from posts from others about various RCCL ships.:confused: