Adult dining options for a sensitive palate (soft, non-spicy foods)

[Athlen]

My mom and dad are sailing on the Escape May 14. My mom is a 'super taster' who is very hard to please when it comes to restaurant dining. It's not that she doesn't want to enjoy the food. Spices and strong flavors are simply more powerful to her sense of taste than for the majority of people. (She especially dislikes cinnamon and sage.)

 

She's in her 60s and has some difficulty with chewy or hard foods, as well. When she does find a food she likes, though, she really does enjoy them. Some favorites are butter pecan ice cream, cheesecake, gelato, and tender meat dishes without too much spice, like chicken teriyaki and roasted chicken.

 

So I would really appreciate some advice from similar people. I just know there's somewhere aboard that will have food she'll love -- somewhere she'll wish she found on the first day. Do any folks out there have some recommendations to please a sensitive palate? Where is the best cheesecake and ice cream on Escape?

[GeezerCouple]

My mom and dad are sailing on the Escape May 14. My mom is a 'super taster' who is very hard to please when it comes to restaurant dining. It's not that she doesn't want to enjoy the food. Spices and strong flavors are simply more powerful to her sense of taste than for the majority of people. (She especially dislikes cinnamon and sage.)

 

She's in her 60s and has some difficulty with chewy or hard foods, as well. When she does find a food she likes, though, she really does enjoy them. Some favorites are butter pecan ice cream, cheesecake, gelato, and tender meat dishes without too much spice, like chicken teriyaki and roasted chicken.

 

So I would really appreciate some advice from similar people. I just know there's somewhere aboard that will have food she'll love -- somewhere she'll wish she found on the first day. Do any folks out there have some recommendations to please a sensitive palate? Where is the best cheesecake and ice cream on Escape?

 

She might want to be in touch with Special Needs BEFORE the cruise.

They'll ask about her needs, and also arrange for a contact person on board who can help her select meals for the next day, each day.

 

Then she can have "plain fish or chicken" poached (or?), or just regular meals prepared separately.

 

In some cases, it's easy to ask when ordering on the spot that something be done "special", but if her concerns are such that the very beginning of the preparation is likely to make the item not work for her, then this won't work, although there might often be something on the menu that is quite "plain", or can be arranged that way without advance notice.

 

The advance planning can be arranged for the main dining rooms or the specialties.

This would be similar for those who must have low/no-salt diets.

[PatJim]

This is excellent advice. I don't know how they do it, but the diet consultant on board each NCL ship manages to advise their clients about meal items for all the restaurants, and for every meal.

 

Do contact NCL ahead of time. Then, when you board, you'll find a letter in your cabin with the phone number for the diet consultant. Call as soon as possible, to set up a meeting. He/she will ask where you plan to dine, and each day will bring you menus for the following day's restaurant.

 

We used a consultant on the Gem for gluten-free choices for one of our guests, and for sodium-free choices for my husband. We've also found out that chefs willingly prepared separate dishes for them, if they were alerted ahead of time by the consultant. It's amazing how attentive the staff is.

 

There is no charge for this service, but we did tip the diet consultant. He/she helps make a good cruise into a great cruise experience.

[OneWord]

Buffet?

[IsanTom]

Buffet?

 

A second that! Buffet!