How to Cruise Gluten Free with Celiac Disease

Many people are surprised when they ask me which mode of travel is easiest to plan when you're Celiac - because it's cruising! It seems counter-intuitive, but cruising is really the easiest form of transportation to take if you have Celiac disease or another food allergy.

Especially if you're new to Celiac disease or gluten-free, and you don't want to worry about food safety, I recommend cruising. The staff on cruises are extraordinarily service-oriented, and the chefs are very knowledgeable about their food and menus. I've never been sick on any cruises I've taken, and I eat more food on a cruise than on any other type of vacation!

Believe it or not, the cruises I’ve taken have actually been great with my dietary restrictions!

Why Cruises are the Easiest Vacation to Take if You Have Celiac Disease

Since the staff is super knowledgeable about what is and isn't in their food, they can quickly and safely tell you what you can and cannot eat. I have over a dozen foods that I can't eat, and I've been able to eat well on every cruise I've taken.

The service on cruises is off the charts - if you've never cruised before, you'll be sad when you get back home, and you're missing your vacation. They make your bed and service your cabin twice a day, bring you practically anything you want, serve you drinks and food, and have pool towels readily available during all pool hours. Your cabin server will get you anything you need - from extra blankets to new bed sheets to more tissues - if they can make it happen, they will. 

Cruise lines want you to have a fantastic experience - this goes for the food and other services and events on and off the ship. I've only been on one cruise line that didn't do an excellent job with food, and I won't travel with them again.

And the best part - you don't have to go with a large group of people on a memorable trip to get excellent gluten-free food because that's part of their operation. They want you to come back, so the chefs and crew go out of their way to make your gluten-free Celiac dining experience amazing!

Why Cruise for a Celiac Vacation?

Cruising is a great way to travel to several destinations in one trip. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are usually included in the price of the cruise. Once you board the ship, the only additional expenses you will incur are souvenirs, tipping, and alcohol. 

For many cruisers, the main dining room service is covered in the cost of your cruise. Other restaurants outside the main dining rooms that are not covered in the cost of your ticket are the specialty restaurants. However, I would not recommend eating at specialty restaurants because they are unfamiliar with your allergies. The two times I've eaten outside of the main dining rooms, I ended up not feeling well.

And while some cruise lines are better than others when it comes to gluten-free dining, such as Disney Cruises, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, my favorite cruise line that I've traveled to is Princess Cruise Lines. They have dedicated gluten-free kitchen space and a dedicated gluten-free chef, and I've never been sick once on any of the several cruises I've taken with Princess. In addition, Princess has fresh gluten-free bread that they make in-house - and I eat it every night on a Princess cruise!

Eating Gluten Free at Your Ship's Main Dining Room

First, you want to choose the main dining room you want to eat at nightly. Next, meet your maitre d’ for that dining room. Each level will have a different maitre d’. 

Now that you have established your dining room and met your maitre d’, ask about pre-ordering your food for the next night. Let your waiter know you have a pre-order because of a food allergy or Celiac disease, and explain that this is NOT a preference. Feel free to tell the maitre d’ you put in your pre-order the night before and that you have a food allergy/sensitivity. 

Your food should come out with the rest of the food at your table; if not, let your maitre d’ know that your food came out late. Choose what you want to eat and ask if it can be modified to be gluten-free. Review and check your order with the maitre d’ or the head chef to make sure they have the correct order before they walk away.

And remember, you can order more than one item on their regular menu without an upcharge on many cruise lines. For example, I remember once I had the option of a cold pear soup. After eating the cold pear soup, I was hooked! I asked for another pear soup, and they brought one out. You can order two appetizers for dinner or two main entrees - whatever you're in the mood for! Remember, you'll always order for the next night, so they have time to prepare your food for you.

When cruising, you're on an unlimited gluten-free buffet! I never feel deprived or hungry on the cruise - I feel quite the opposite. When cruising, I know I have to work out every day if I want to keep my weight gain to three pounds for the week.

Eating Gluten Free Safely at the Buffet

Located on the top level of the ship, the buffet can be dangerous if you don't know how to order! Look around to see what choices they have available, however; don't assume that any food is gluten-free!

Ask for the head chef. The head chef will give you a tour of the buffet and let you know what foods are safe to eat. They are very knowledgeable about all the ingredients on the menu on the ship. don't feel that you are bothering them by asking them every day what foods are safe to eat. Cruises are very service oriented! Also, be sure to mention the chef's name in your survey at the end of the cruise so they can get some well-deserved extra points for their next contract on the cruise ship.

Other Gluten Free Food Options Around the Cruise Ship

There are food options other than main dining rooms, buffet, and specialty dining. Many cruise ships have a 24-hour cafe that serves light fare any time of the day, along with tea, coffee, water, and ice tea. Some food may be labeled gluten-free, but if it isn't, ask the wait staff. You can also ask any maitre d’ or a chef on the vessel about which food options are safe to eat. Sometimes the people serving the menu are not sure. If they don't get the chef (and they always have, in my experience), ask another server if you want to eat a particular food. 

Eating Gluten Free Food Off the Ship

The food you are eating at the port when you get off the boat can be risky. There are several resources you can use to find safe food. Make sure to purchase Equal Eats cards in the foreign language of the country you’re visiting. These cards make eating out so much safer when you don’t speak the same language as your chef or server! Also download the Find Me Gluten Free App to find safe restaurants to eat at when you’re at home or traveling. Use the tools laid out in my book, The Guide to Traveling Gluten Free to navigate safe food on the shoreline!

Discover tips on how to safely travel gluten-free with my complimentary ebook, Ten Tips for Traveling Gluten Free! You can also find out more details about how to travel via cruise, road trip, or camping and learn the freedom you can have when you know how to travel with Celiac disease when you grab my Guide to Traveling Gluten Free.