dd57

You can ask for GF bread at HC, GF muffins at the IC, and GF pizza at Prego's. Except for the HC, you have to go a day ahead of time. I asked the IC to just always have muffins available and they did. The muffins were great and the pizza was good. I am not a huge fan of the bread as I prefer whole grain and this was white with that strange rice flavor if you know what I mean.

Oh, and there is always a GF desert at the IC. I am only gluten intolerant, not celiac, so sometimes I would get a cheesecake and be careful to only eat down close to the bottom. DH was always happy to eat the rest.

If your credit card is issued by a US Bank you won't be liable no matter what type of card, magnetic, chip and signature or chip and pin, no matter where you use it. Consumers in the US are never liable. In October merchants will be responsible if they don't take a chip and signature or chip and pin card if a consumer has one. If your card is issued by a non US bank then your liability depends on the laws of the issuing country.

 

I don't think they are correct about the purchase with a pin card being a cash advance. I think that would only be if you used your card for cash at an ATM.

Thanks.

Hopefully someone who already has a chip & pin card in the US can answer my questions. When we got our chip & sig card last year from Chase, we were told that we could have a PIN, but every transaction that used a PIN would be treated as a cash advance rather than a purchase. Has this (or will this) change?

I also read somewhere that there is a US law that specifies that if a CC (with signature) is used fraudulently, the CC issuer is responsible for the charge. But if a PIN is used, the consumer is responsible for fraudulent charges, the idea being you shouldn't lose your pin. Anyone know about this? Just scare tactics, maybe?

BTW, we used or card all over Germany, Denmark, and even in St Petersburg with no issues, as long as there was an attendant.

My husband, who says he is "allergic" to folkloric shows, enjoyed the onboard show. It is really entertaining. The ashore one might be better, but the advice about managing energy is spot on. Our friends went to the ballet that night and were really dragging the next day.

What ship?

We were on the Emerald Princess, TA and Baltic.

After pre-arranging with the Maitre D on the first day aboard, I was able to get gluten free muffins at the IC each day. I made it a standing order. Also, you can get GF pizza at the pizza place on Lido deck. You do have to tell them the day before to guarantee that a GF crust is available. Sorry, I can't help with dairy free at these venues. Once you board, go talk to the Maitre D during the published hours and you can get more information about how to make requests and what venues can accommodate you.

We had a cabin that was right across from an elevator "lobby" - the area between the elevators. Through the closed door you could faintly hear the ding of the elevator arriving. But the worst part was the people talking loudly as they went by the door. Luckily at night there was very little traffic and we slept soundly. Naps were hit or miss.

You can also get gluten free muffins at the international cafe in the mornings.

One word about expectations. I learned to my chagrin that who the executive chef is makes a huge difference. Last year on the Emerald transatlantic I had incredible gluten free food. Even gluten free souffle. We got off the ship in Copenhagen, and reboarded 11 days later for the baltic cruise. Unfortunately the executive chef left for a month and a new executive chef was onboard. Many things I asked for (which I had had on the first leg since the menus do repeat) were "not possible". I changed dining rooms back to the one I was in on the first leg in case that was the issue, and the food was better (the head waiter makes a difference too), but no where like it was on the transatlantic. I never had a flavorful sauce like on the first leg. I was really surprised at the difference. "Normal" dishes that my husband ordered were prepared very differently on the two cruises. I worked within the constraints on the second leg and everything was fine.

I still greatly enjoyed the cruise and will not hesitate to go back.

Crystal Light comes in small packets sized to be mixed in a .5L/16.9 oz water bottle.