Gluten-free cruising advice

[Carleeb12]

My mother-in-law will be sailing with us and she is gluten-free and also mostly sugar-free. I am very nervous that she will not be able to find food she can eat. Any advice?

[MMastell]

My mother-in-law will be sailing with us and she is gluten-free and also mostly sugar-free. I am very nervous that she will not be able to find food she can eat. Any advice?

 

I have Celiac and have a number of cruises with Carnival since being diagnosed and Carnival does an overall good job with gluten free. You should give the Special Need department a call, at the regular Carnival number, before your cruise and let them know about her gluten free and low sugar diet.

 

You and your Mother-in-law should also speak with the Maitre 'd on the day of boarding and tell him/her about the need for gluten free. They will have the evening menu and you can pick what you want and if it can be made gluten free they will. Each evening one of the assistant Maitre 'd will stop by your table with the next night's menu and you make your choice. BTW: The chocolate melting cake can be made gluten free. But that defeats the low sugar issue. :(

 

In the Lido the best thing is that if you are unsure ASK. The staff will be glad to check to see if it is or isn't gluten free. Most cream like sauces are made from a roux and are not gluten free and, of course, anything breaded such as chicken is not gluten free.

 

I have found there are plenty of GF choices at the Lido and in the MDR.

 

Take care and enjoy the cruise.

Mike

[GUT2407]

We've found all lines we've been with do a pretty good job of special diets especially in the MDR, but you still need yo look out for yourself.

[vwrestler171]

Make sure to contact special needs. I don't have the address, but they can be aware and then you will have to meet with the Maitre'd on the first day and they will go over menu choices with her.

[RuthlessBoss]

This subject comes up often. In the search button at the top of this page, type in the words gluten free diets and a plethora of threads will come up with answers to questions. You need not worry for her, she'll know more about her food needs than anyone else.

[SadieN]

Carnival is very good with allergies. We travel with other allergies. Only had issues with 'user' error, no issues with Carnival.

 

 

 

Upon boarding see the Hostess when the Maitre 'd has hours. Hours will be in the FunTmes, usually starting around 1pm. The hostess will take that night's order. Each night the hostess or your waiter will bring you the next day's MDR menu-breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner. If deciding between two entrees, order both. For brunch don't hesitate to order a breakfast and lunch if you want to eat both meals in the MDR.

 

At dinner your waitstaff will know your order. If you have ATD the hostess will print out and give your order to your waitstaff.

 

 

For room service, they cannot make special for you but they can tell you the ingredients. No special area so there is always the possibility of contamination

 

Buffet is a minefield. Ask the Hostess or the Head Lido Chef or the Food and Beverage crew in the officer whites. DO NOT ask the line cooks. They mean well but do not know the full recipes. Cross contamination is always a possibility.

 

Onshore--- we bring allergy cards. I made our own but you can buy some at selectwisely.com.

 

You can only bring off commercially prepared food. We bring cereal bars, boxes of cereal, bottled water, hard candy etc.

 

Many ports will check. Some will do a physical search, others use dogs. You do not want the cute Labrador to sit next to you. I've had them alert on my Lemonheads.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=50378795

Edited July 4, 2016 by SadieN