Gluten-free cruise diet

by C.J.
(St. Louis)

Recently, I went on a cruise and I was concerned about how I would approach a gluten-free cruise diet. Would I have to eliminate a lot of the tastiest foods? Would I end up only eating fruit and salads? Since I had never been on a cruise before, I wasn't sure if they could accomodate my gluten-free diet.

I sent a few emails to my travel agent before the cruise started so that I could be prepared prior to arriving on the ship. She assured me that there would be gluten-free options for dinner on the cruise. She said that all I would need to do is consult with the head waiter when I arrived and that this person would arrange for my meals to be prepared just as I needed them to be.

The first night I ate in the dining room, I expected to have something already selected for me as that was what I understood the head waiter to say. Instead, I had to choose from a regular menu and ask a lot of questions about what was available. I was a little disappointed, but fortunately, they were able to accomodate my needs that evening without much preparation.

From that point on, eating dinner was a breeze. Our waiter, Troy, brought me the menu for the following night and I would select my meal ahead of time and they would ensure it was gluten-free. Honestly, unless you are gluten-intolerant, you can't possibly appreciate how stressful it can be to contemplate eating away from home.

One highlight was the last night I ate in the dining room. Troy set a plate of chocolate cake in front of me (well, actually it was three small pieces) and I took my first bite of absolute heaven. It was the most life-alteringly delicious dessert I had ever tasted. In fact, I liked it so much, I bought the cruise line's cook book just for that one recipe.

So, cruising and being gluten-free can work together. It worked for me.