Figments and Perceptions Unleashed by LogicX

I just completed a 7 day cruise on the Carnival Victory through the South Caribbean.  This was my first experience cruising since learning I had Celiac Disease 2 years ago.  I really didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy to report I made it through the vacation with minimal issues.  I felt it worth sharing my experience.  Overall I give Carnival a 7/10.

A little background: Having only recently been diagnosed, and living in a create area (Cambridge, MA) -- I haven't been quiet as stigmatized as many who are initially diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I have a Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market across the street from where I live, and I Love Burton's Grill, BerryLine, Kick-Ass Cupcakes, Zing Pizza, Cafe Zing, Stonehearth Pizza, P.F. Changs, and UFoodGrill -- just to name a few of the establishments I frequent often!  This sets a very high bar for gluten free delicacies - to which I'm unsure any cruise line could compete.

My adventure started months before the cruise -- I filled out Carnival's allergy information form and faxed it in.  A few weeks before I cruised I proactively faxed it again, and worked with our carnival assigned travel agent to ensure it was received by the ship.  I brought along a number of my own snacks just in case - and for use on excursions.

As soon as I got on board I visited the dining room and spoke to the Maître d' about my issue.  Despite it being on my form that I was also lactose intolerant, I was often served food comprised of milk products or coated in butter: I was thankful I brought as my lactaid pills as I did! It was a little confusing for the first two days, to figure out exactly where I could eat, and how to go about getting food I could be sure was gluten free.  The evening dining room staff had my paperwork, knew of my issue, and did a great job of getting me gluten free food w/o much work.  The only issues I encountered there were occasionally being served my gluten free bread out of the normal bread basket, sitting next to gluten containing breads, and some of my desserts were rather bland (banana slices in honey, lime sherbet).  Only on the last meal did I discover they could handle gluten free deep frying and breading: when I insisted to speak to the Maître d' and be reassured that the fried shrimp and french fries I'd just been served were infact Gluten Free.  They were delicious and I had no symptoms - Success! Now I only wish I'd known earlier: The assistant Maître d' who took my order every night previously shot down any meal request which clearly had gluten in it.

Every other meal of the day, or between-meal snacks were a much more difficult challenge.  Breakfast in the dining room does not have assigned seating, and so I had a different waiter each day.  I had to be sure they had my information, and each morning it had down that I should be served gluten free bread and gluten free pancakes.  The bread got tiring after a week of 3-4 slices being forced on me at every meal: and at breakfast I often couldn't eat it as it had been served contaminated, next to the normal bread, and served with the same tong.   The pancakes were nothing to write home about: rubbery and bland.  I had to insist to be served some eggs; and only after the 4th day did I finally feel confident enough to try the bacon (after having been told a number of times by different staff that it was deep fried, then being told it was baked).

Meals outside the dining room were the most challenging: its served only as a lunch buffet on the top deck, and its impossible to determine which hot food items are gluten free or not.  Each time I wished to eat I ended up having to flag down a kitchen staff member, have them page the assistant Maître d' on duty, explain my issue: have them page the chef, and then have him prepare a special plate of food for me.

This became both a tiring process, and a long one: with disappointing results. I would always get my food right as the rest of my party was finishing eating their food, and I often received a piece of meat, steamed vegetables, and white rice.  Yes it was gluten free -- but it was also taste free.

I had one gluten free slipup on the trip when I came back on board in the late afternoon, and the only things open were the 24/7 burger stand, and the pizza stand.  I waited in line and ordered two burgers w/o buns - with lettuce tomato and onions.  I believe I got hit with gluten from the staff members wearing gloves who were handling buns, and then grabbing my lettuce with the same gloves: Put me out of commission for that evening and half the next day. (Later in the trip I ordered the same thing through the head chef.  It was prepared separately, and I had no issues.)

The biggest thing I missed on board was no gluten-free pastries -- I'm very use to gluten free brownies, cupcakes and other items I miss so much, and was disappointed that Carnival didn't experiment with offering me this, considering I couldn't choose my dinner, but had to be offered whatever the chef prepared for me for dinner dessert.

Carnival definitely made an effort to accommodate me, but I look forward to seeing if other cruise lines offer a better selection of gluten free offerings!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 2:55 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.