Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Princess Cruises

calisherbear

Recommended Posts

calisherbear Rookie
calisherbear
Posted

Has anyone had any experience with Princess Cruise Lines? I'm going on a 7 day cruise in May. They claim they can accomodate the diet, but without knowing anybody that has done this successfully, I'm a bit skeptical. I'm trying to figure out if I should pack any food to bring with me so I don't spend a week starving on vacation.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ROYAL BLUE Apprentice
ROYAL BLUE
Posted

Hi, I can't really help you. We were not gluten free at the time we took our cruise with them, but they appeared to be very accomodating to anything else you needed. TOO MUCH PAMPERING,so it might be great.

kejohe Apprentice
kejohe
Posted

As luck would have it I used to work for Princess as a bartender when I started culianary school. I worked on the train up here in Alaska and I can tell you that as long as they know in advance what you need, they do their best to have it before you get there. I also remember reading something on the old board from a gal that had just gotten back from a gluten-free Princess cruise and if I remember correctly, she was very satisfied.

In any case, I would probably bring food for snacks just in case, regardless of wheather or not they have a gluten-free meal for you. The time between meals can get really long and if your docked, and not on board, who knows where you can find gluten-free stuff if you get the munchies.

Just out of curiosity... where are you headed? Someplace warm I hope!

calisherbear Rookie
calisherbear
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the info! I was figuring that I would probably have to bring some snacks for the 3 days I was at port. I selected gluten free in my profile, but perhaps I'll also give them a call just to confirm, and to see what I can expect.

I'm headed to the Caribbean! B)

kejohe Apprentice
kejohe
Posted
:huh: Wow, I am so jelaous.. i think it's like 5 below now, and that's not including the wind chill factor! :D
  • 3 months later...
calisherbear Rookie
calisherbear
Posted
  • Author

I just wanted to let everyone know that Princess did a WONDERFUL job in accomodating my diet. I talked to the head waiter when we arrived, and each night he went over the menu with me to let me know what was safe, and what special modifications they could do if the whole dish wasn't safe. He also met me in the buffet for breakfast to help me in the mornings as well. They had pre-ordered bread for me, along with rice pasta and cookies which I never had to eat since I had so much "normal" food to choose from. Everything I brought with me as "just in case" food went back home at the end of the trip. I would definitely recommend this as a good way for us Celiacs to vacation without the worry of "what will I be able to eat??". I'll be going back again in October. :)

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest NitaB
Guest NitaB
Posted

Calisherbear,

I was so happy to see your response to your Princess cruise! I'm newly trying the gluten-free diet, and have a Princess cruise booked for Oct. 31st. Did you end up calling them with your diet concerns? What types of foods did you eat off the regular menu? Any info will be greatly appreciated!

Nita

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


calisherbear Rookie
calisherbear
Posted
  • Author

Hi Nita,

First, did you book through a travel agent, or on your own? If you used a travel agent, that person is supposed to sent a letter to Princess stating that you have special dietary needs. That will alert them to order our special breads and other items for you. If you booked on your own, Princess should send you a booking number or some kind of password for you to access the "Cruise Personalizer" section of their website. There is a place on there to indicate that you will need to eat gluten free. Also, since so many of us have this, you won't be the only person on the ship with this diet, so if you can't figure it out ahead of time most likely they will already have gluten free items on board. If your menu will be like mine was, it changed every night, but there was a section that stayed the same......grilled chicken, steak, salmon, all safe. Each night there were 3 different soups, and almost always they were ok. Even the ones with pastas in them. They made a separate batch for us special people. I mostly ate fish, a different kind every night. I also had prime rib, yummy! For most entrees it was just simply eliminating the sauce and the plate garnish that was the trick. Dessert was the best part, since I had a few choices every night. I ate lots of chocolate mousse, caramel custards, even some cookies made with almond paste! Your head waiter will become your best friend. If you have any more specific questions I'll be happy to answer them if I can. Where are you going?? I'm cruising again in October, maybe I'll see you. :)

Sheri

Guest NitaB
Guest NitaB
Posted

Sheri,

Thank you for your reply!

We are going on Star Princess, eastern Caribbean, Oct. 31st. How about you?

Was this your first cruise as gluten-free? I've been on 15 cruises, the last in March, and didn't know then I may be celaic. I'm still struggling at home, with this diet! I think I know better, but keep goofing up, and paying for it! I had a good day on the holiday, but wasn't good last evening. Yep, sitting here, paying for it!

I booked with a TA, but have my booking #, and will go on the cruise personalizer to fill it out. But, beings I'm just starting this, will wait to see if it works. I had an upper endoscopy that showed lesions looking like celiac. But a reputable blood test came back negative! So, this is still a trial diet. I also have what is probably the skin version, on my elbows and knees, so it's very likely I do.

Unfortunately I don't like fish or seafood. But, I can eat steak or chicken every night. And I hope to be back on dairy by then.

I appreciate your advice!

Nita

calisherbear Rookie
calisherbear
Posted
  • Author

Sounds like you are a seasoned cruise veteran!

This was my first cruise, but definitley not my last. We will be on the Caribbean Princess but haven't picked a week for sure yet, we're looking mid-October. We'd like to go West, but in October I think they only sail East, so we'll probably have the same ports of call.

I found the diet to be a struggle at first too. I've been gluten-free for about 16 months now and it does get easier with time, although I do still have those days where I'm frustrated. The week I spent on the ship was one of those easy times, I hope you find it that way too!! :)

Guest NitaB
Guest NitaB
Posted

Sheri,

Thanks again!

It's encouraging to know your cruise week was an easy one. I'm addicted to cruising, as the perfect vacation! I'm almost thinking it may be easier to do, with celiac, than some land trips. We were planning a trip to Fiji for next Feb., but I backed out, as thought it may be too hard.

I just had my first experience with dining out. I ran into friends today, who asked me to join them. I did, and received a blank stare from the waiter, when I asked about gluten-free foods! I was able to decide on a 100% beef patty, scrambled egg, and fresh fruit. It is setting okay, luckily! I know there is the possibility about cross contamination, but took a chance.

Have you been to Cruise Critic.com, to see about meeting up with others on your sailing? It's a great message board, with mostly very nice people. I've met and remained friends with folks from some of our recent sailings. We end up meeting, and sometimes taking tours together.

Good luck with your cruise! Enjoy!!!! B)

Nita

  • 1 year later...
Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted
I just wanted to let everyone know that Princess did a WONDERFUL job in accomodating my diet

I am so glad to hear that! :D

I want to plan a cruise trip to the ancient Greece area (Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt), for next summer and I was thinking of going with Princess. How far in advance do they have to know that you require special dietary needs? And has anyone ever had good/bad experinences with this cruise line or any others? Thanks B)

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,208
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Emily H
    Newest Member
    Emily H
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      70.7k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      For people with celiac disease and corn intolerance from it: Is salt still okay for most people?

      By trents · Posted

      There is dextrose in table salt?
    • trents
      Gluten Free Beer - The Enzymatic Hydrolyzation Process Problem

      By trents · Posted

      Jason, I have a bone to pick with your terminology. There is "gluten intolerance" which I believe is synonymous with celiac disease and then there is "gluten sensitivity" which comes from Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or NCGS for short. It is true, however, that there is still a lot of inconsistency in the use of these terms.
    • Liquid lunch
      Medicinal mushrooms 🍄

      By Liquid lunch · Posted

      I can’t say this will work for everyone but for me the difference is incredible so might be worth trying. I’ve never been diagnosed celiac but via an elimination diet I realised I can’t eat any lectins, gluten soy and oats are particularly problematic. If I eat them I’m in bed for a week, then heavy bleeding and extreme pain for another, followed by a third week of bleeding on and off. My skin was a mess and it snowed when I brushed my hair. Since taking reishi and cordyceps mushroom tincture I can’t believe the difference, I’ve had a lot of help from this site so I want to return the favour. I took the tincture for my guts but the most apparent effect is that I feel like my brain works again, I can’t begin to describe how wonderful it is to be able to achieve basic things, I’ve barely been able to organise getting out of bed for so long, it feels like I haven’t been hit over the head with a mallet for the first time in years. Then I glutened myself, not necessarily gluten as so many things wipe me out but definitely ate something I shouldn’t have, I took a treble dose of the tincture and almost immediately felt much better so continued with the increased dose and three days (not weeks) later was back to feeling great, no bleeding involved. My skin is better than I can remember it ever being, I feel great 😊. I spend £1.50 a day on these but it’s worth every penny, I hope this helps someone else out there reading this. I wish I’d known about them 20 years ago. best wishes everyone 🍄 
    • Scott Adams
      Endoscopy

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Given your history of a high TTG (167) that decreased to 16 on a gluten-free diet, along with genetic confirmation of celiac disease, it’s likely the negative biopsy is a false negative due to not eating gluten before the endoscopy. Gluten is necessary to trigger the intestinal damage seen in celiac disease, and avoiding it can lead to healing and a normal biopsy despite ongoing immune activity (reflected in your still-elevated TTG). The inflammation observed during the endoscopy (“diffuse moderately erythematous mucosa”) could be residual damage, mild ongoing inflammation, or another condition like peptic duodenitis, but it’s consistent with celiac disease in context. Continued positive blood markers suggest ongoing gluten exposure, possibly from cross-contamination or hidden sources. Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet and follow-up testing are key to managing symptoms and reducing inflammation. Discuss these findings with your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and refine your dietary approach. This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
    • Scott Adams
      Biopsy results after 1,5 gfd

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Yes, it sounds like great progress, but what was the time frame between the two endoscopies? 
×
×
  • Create New...