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

Anyone Sail Carnival Recently?

Christine0125

Recommended Posts

Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted

This will be my first trip gluten free. I've read great things about Carnival's ability to handle gluten free meals. I have already contacted them and have it noted in my reservation and plan to talk to the dining room staff on the 1st day. Anyone with recent experience? What was good, bad? Did you eat at the buffet at all and if so what did you feel was safe? When I contacted Carnival they let me know that gluten free could only be accomodated in the dining room so I'll probably stick with salads/fruits, whole eggs, bacon, etc. at the buffet.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MinnesotaCeliac Rookie
MinnesotaCeliac
Posted

Hello Christine0125, I have not traveled with Carnival, so I'll be interested to know your experience upon your return. Since being diagnosed last year I have been on two cruises (Princes and Royal Caribbean lines). Both were similar in that you you notify them of your dietary needs prior to the cruise and on the first day (maitre d' upon boarding and again with the headwaiter on the first nights seating). I always avoided the buffets because of potential cross-contamination issues. Royal Caribbean actual listed the gluten free options (but do note that folks use tongs from other dishes that contain gluten). So get there first or ask them to get you some from the kitchen or skip it and eat your own food. For dinners you will preview the next days menu and select what you would like to eat (the will prepare it to your dietary needs). I still do not understand why they don't do that for all meals, as it seems to be the safest way to prepare food(I hear that Norwegian might do lunch too). The cruise lines and staff in general are really accommodating, I'm still getting over my upbringing in Minnesota where you do not ask people to go out of their way for you (I know...I'm my own best advocate...still working on it). I'm still healing and am risk adverse when it comes to food, so I happen to travel with a lot of safe food. Have fun and enjoy the cruise!!! Feel free to ask as many questions as you like and I look forward to hearing about your Carnival cruise.

Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

When are you traveling. I'm planning a Sep cruise on Carnival. I have never taken a cruise before.

Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted
  • Author

6/24 sailing. I will report back on my gluten free findings. I am sitting in the phoenix airport with a delay and its very lacking in gluten-free fare. Ended up with sunflower seeds for dinner. :(

Geffric Newbie
Geffric
Posted

Funny you should ask..I am on the 7/9 Carnival sailing. I emailed dining but todate have not response. It will be interesting what you find out. I am going with high hopes. I know Disney does gluten free right, i am thinking that Carnival will too.

Green Eyes Rookie
Green Eyes
Posted

I sailed on Carnival Destiny in April!!! Best vacation EVER!!! And dare to say the best vacation for someone on a gluten free diet. Had a great time, staff were attentive and if you have a gluten free diet - you become VERY SPECIAL!!! I did eat at the buffet and just watched what I ate. Each area has different foods and plenty of each. I had no issues at all.

The dining room dining - was excellent!! There is no way to describe how they cater to you. You eat in the same dining hall (the one assigned to you) each night and I even reqeusted the same waiter (Daniel from El Salvador - we loved loved loved him). I was also assigned a lady to deal with my menu. After the first night I would plan my meals for the next day. You can eat all three meals in the dining hall!!! The 2nd night I ordered a meal and then a backup meal just to make sure the chef could prepare that meal gluten free. When the waiter brought me my food they brought both meals!!! Gives you an idea of why I can 10 pounds on the cruise!!!

The last day on the ship they set a man (eating alone) at our table what was also celiac. Gave me a chance to chat with him which was really nice.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

  • 2 weeks later...
Christine0125 Contributor
Christine0125
Posted
  • Author

Back from our cruise and overall I give Carnival high marks for accomodating gluten free. The first night the waiter told me the couple options they could make gluten free - I stuck with steak, baked potato and steamed veggies. After that the hostess came each evening to the table and took my order for the following night and I could order just about anything on the menu - she would point out the ones that could not be made gluten free. After the 2nd night of icky desserts I asked and they got better... one night I got a gluten-free chocolate melting cake and another night baked alaska (delish). I found when I didn't request dessert I'd get something really obscure - an apple baked in heavy syrup (yuck), some kind of weird pinapple thing. I found the gluten free bread pretty bad (gritty weird texture) which was disappointing. I could have ordered gluten free pancakes and french toast but after tasting the bread I didn't bother and stuck with omelets and fruit. One thing I noted was that the timing was sometimes off where they would have to wait longer for my food to be prepared (felt bad for the waiters) and one evening I got my appetizer and main course together. No biggie for me!

The buffet was hard to navigate when the dining room was not open but the salad bar was large with lots of options plus a lot of fruit. I risked it at the Indian buffet because salads were just not quite enough for me. I'd ask the chef which contained flour and they were pleasant and knowlegeable. As far as I know I didn't have any ill effects... but I'm new to gluten-free and not sure I recognize reactions vs. just normal ups and downs related to healing.

Good news.... I certainly didn't go hungry!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 6 months later...
Tosca3 Newbie
Tosca3
Posted

I responded under a different post regarding gluten free on Carnival - we had a terrible experience - my daughter with celiac disease was served gluten food on a few occasions.....

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,597
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tbolden
    Newest Member
    Tbolden
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.3k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Type 1 diabetes (4year old) and positieve ttg

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @marinke! "Type 1a diabetes (DM1) is associated with an increased risk of celiac disease (celiac disease) (1)." from: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/35/10/2083/38503/IgA-Anti-transglutaminase-Autoantibodies-at-Type-1 "The prevalence of celiac disease (celiac disease) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is 5.1%, and it is often asymptomatic (1)." from: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/2/e13/157637/Diagnostic-Outcomes-of-Elevated-Transglutaminase So, this is 5x the rate found in the general population.
    • Mari
      Long term recovery

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi James47, You are less than 2 years into your recovery from Celiacs.  Tell us more about the problems you are having. Do you just want to get rid of belly fat or are you still having symptoms like gas and bloating.    For symptoms you may need to change your diet and take various supplements that you cannot adsorb from the foods you eat because of the damage caused by the autoimmune reaction in your small intestine. 
    • marinke
      Type 1 diabetes (4year old) and positieve ttg

      By marinke · Posted

      My daughter (4 years old) has type 1 diabetes since she was 1. Therefore, every year a screening is done. We live in the Netherlands. Every year the screening was fine. This year here ttg is positive, 14, >7 is positive. IGA was in range. Could the diabetes cause this positive result? Or the fact that she was sick the weeks before the brood test?
    • Baz
      Shortness Of Breath (the "sighs")?

      By Baz · Posted

      @DayaInTheSun what were the shortness of breath symptoms for you ? And did they come on all of a sudden or was it a gradual increase in said symptoms?
    • DayaInTheSun
      Shortness Of Breath (the "sighs")?

      By DayaInTheSun · Posted

      I had shortness of breath so much so I went to a lung doctor. I told him I get short of breath wirh certain foods, he said “Food doesn’t affect hour breathing.” I told him maybe it was an allergy  he cut me off then said “Food allergies don’t cause shortness of breathe.” I beg to differ as soon as I figured out what foods were causing my shortness of breath it went away. I also never saw him again as he was rude, condescending? And refuse to listen to me kept dismissing my problems as “you’re young.” I cut out Soy, dairy, sesame, eggs, and of course gluten. I stopped being short of breath, going on a two years now. No thanks to the doctor I saw. Figured it out on my own.   
×
×
  • Create New...