Wethen

On 9/5/2020 at 5:59 AM, Crazycruiser50 said:

PS, one last thing.  My kids and wife do not have celiac disease.  I insist that they have the full experience and eat everything they can with gluten in it.   Although I find it admirable that you won’t eat gf desserts in front of your daughter you gotta live your life too!   
 

Just the card we were dealt and GF foods have come a very long way in the last 10 years.  The days of chewing on a cardboard box are over hahaha.  
 

I hope you have a great time!  

Thanks so much that truly does help!!  Now that she is an adult I may well eat things she can't have in front of her especially in this unlimited scenario!! LOL   You have really made me feel more comfortable and I am so very grateful!  I am starting to feel like this won't be any harder than taking her to Disney which is our favorite spot for gluten free fare!   You are probably already aware of this but RCCL has a group they work with for Celiac cruises this didn't work for us this time but we are on the list and watching https://www.celiaccruise.com/

On 8/29/2020 at 3:48 PM, Crazycruiser50 said:

Hi Wethen,

I am a 37 year old Father of 2.  I was diagnosed with celiac disease in early 2017 and had my world flipped upside down.  Huge fan of bread, pasta and beer!  Haha.  Even though the MDR does a decent job of finding GF options for me, I find the unlimited dining package to be the perfect option for me.

First off the food is 10X better in the specialty restaurants.  They have many more GF options including the ability to make most dishes GF upon request. 
 

Second, the waiters and waitresses are typically more experienced and work far fewer tables than you will find in the MDR.  My experience with them has been amazing!  
 

For instance on our last cruise on Enchantment they only have CHOPS as their specialty restaurant.  Our waitress (Amelia) was the best we have ever had.  She knew how to turn any dish into a GF version and made sure the chef’s knew I was a celiac and took special care for my plates.  (I never once had an issue).  Each night she would have her chef’s prepare me a GF dessert that you might not find on any menu’s of the ship including the MDR.  (Cheesecake that was diff than the GF cheesecake in the MDR, a chocolate lava flow type cake, you name it and it could be done.).   I knew in the past that RCCL doesn’t have a GF soy sauce.  I brought packets of my own from home and she had the chef’s use it to prepare sushi and other appetizers that required soy sauce.  Again, never had a single (celiac) issue the whole time.  
 

Same experience on the Liberty this past Feb in both Giovanni’s and Chops.  
 

My wife and I not only find the food to be so much tastier, with better options, but the service to be 10 Star in the specialty restaurants.  We will never dine in the MDR again.

 

Let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them for you and make your daughters experience that much better. 

Do I need to bring her salad dressings?  Do you know if there is anything she can have at Playmakers?   She is not a fan of gluten free beer but likes Margaritas so I think we have the drink package figured out.   What is hard for for her is she doesn't like meat at least not every day but a filet now and again is ok 
or seafood for the most part  and I am guessing she will have to learn to like those proteins more  lol.   She is more of a pasta, pizza salad and fries  kind of gal at least for what she considers treats. I told her is she has a cocktail first the food may seem more fun to try.   I read Jamies can do gluten free pasta I will just have to make sure they do it in safe manner 

21 hours ago, twangster said:

Depends on your taste.  Decent Sauvignon Blanc wines are covered, not so many Cabs or Pinots.    When I'm eating a specialty steak I'll generally pay the $3 or $4 uplift to a decent Cab.  

I may have to change to cocktails except at dinner lol    

Thanks I usually go for the Decoy or Conundrum on Celebrity both of which are included for Reds they have a nice Malbec too........ or the Mer Soeil or Seeker is I am going white all are  included.   So looks like up charge it is ............:)

The included wine list on symphony looks very limited and not very good compared to celebrity.   Is it my imagination or are the wines included VERY limited. 

On 8/29/2020 at 3:48 PM, Crazycruiser50 said:

Hi Wethen,

I am a 37 year old Father of 2.  I was diagnosed with celiac disease in early 2017 and had my world flipped upside down.  Huge fan of bread, pasta and beer!  Haha.  Even though the MDR does a decent job of finding GF options for me, I find the unlimited dining package to be the perfect option for me.

First off the food is 10X better in the specialty restaurants.  They have many more GF options including the ability to make most dishes GF upon request. 
 

Second, the waiters and waitresses are typically more experienced and work far fewer tables than you will find in the MDR.  My experience with them has been amazing!  
 

For instance on our last cruise on Enchantment they only have CHOPS as their specialty restaurant.  Our waitress (Amelia) was the best we have ever had.  She knew how to turn any dish into a GF version and made sure the chef’s knew I was a celiac and took special care for my plates.  (I never once had an issue).  Each night she would have her chef’s prepare me a GF dessert that you might not find on any menu’s of the ship including the MDR.  (Cheesecake that was diff than the GF cheesecake in the MDR, a chocolate lava flow type cake, you name it and it could be done.).   I knew in the past that RCCL doesn’t have a GF soy sauce.  I brought packets of my own from home and she had the chef’s use it to prepare sushi and other appetizers that required soy sauce.  Again, never had a single (celiac) issue the whole time.  
 

Same experience on the Liberty this past Feb in both Giovanni’s and Chops.  
 

My wife and I not only find the food to be so much tastier, with better options, but the service to be 10 Star in the specialty restaurants.  We will never dine in the MDR again.

 

Let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them for you and make your daughters experience that much better. 

Thank you so much for the reassurance.   I of course want it to be a great trip for her just like our trips to Disney World.   I had read they did have gluten free soy sauce so I am glad you responded, I did want to take her to Sushi at Imuzi,  I have read Wonderland which can't change dishes still has enough gluten free items to accommodate her as well.   Do you ever go to the buffet?  She is VERY sensitive (after she was diagnosed we actually but in a second kitchen to have gluten in the house  but to avoid continual exposure lol)  so I am guessing NO buffet even for fruit and non gluten containing options ?

Well I booked it and we shall see.  Worse case if there are no desserts for her  I wonder if I can preorder a dessert from main dining to end up at the restaurant for her.  I certainly don't want to eat dessert in wonderland and she has nothing for example.  I know she is an adult now but I really have never done that to her or my son, IF there is a treat like a funnel cake they can not have I do not eat it either lol   now if there is something else that they want and can have ......now that she is an adult I will enjoy a non gluten free item.   

Do they have Evian?,  What about bottled teas?  

I agree about the food allergies my son has anpahylaxis to several food and we actually would never take him on a cruise because he has anaphylaxis with even "same equipment" type situations so we don't even eat out on land.   I will keep trying I just want her to have a good birthday trip without being sick in pain and vomiting the entire trip while still getting to try some interesting meals.     Thanks for the advice ! 

Hi, needing some advice sailing with my adult daughter for the first time.  She has celiac disease and  we are going to celebrate her and her cousin being 21!  The food situation has kept her from cruising up until now but it my favorite vacation.  We are booked on symphony for may 2021.  We are considering the unlimited dining package because we would like to try a few of the restaurants however blogs are spotty on how well they do with true celiacs vs just gluten free diets.  I have emailed the special services several times asking about accommodations for her and they keep ignoring my questions about the specialty dining and referring back to MDR.  I know MDR will work but my nephew is a foodie and would love the package instead.  Any advice from experience using this package and getting modifications at specialty dining venues?