Carnival Cruise Gluten-Free Review: You Need to Know Before You Go

Are you gluten-free and considering Cruising with Carnival? If so you may find my Carnival Cruise gluten-free review helpful. Here I’ll share my experience with gluten-free dining and give my impression of the cruise. 

Carnival Celebration from chair lift at Mahogany Bay, Roatan

My husband and I recently sailed a 7 day Caribbean cruise on Carnival Celebration. We were excited to leave the Canadian winter behind and have some fun in the sun. Of course my celiac disease is always a consideration.

The Challenge of Cruising with Celiac Disease

People with celiac disease often avoid travel if they can't control of their own food.  On a regular holiday you can rent a vacation home, cook your own meals and keep the anxiety at bay.

Cruising is different.  You are at the mercy of chefs and servers, trusting them to take the same care with your food that you would. Does the thought make you nervous?

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Cruising Aboard Carnival Celebration

Carnival Breeze with Celebration in the background - Cozumel, Mexico

It made me a little nervous, especially when I saw the cruise ship up close.

  Celebration is a massive ship! Hosting 6200 passengers and 1700 crew, this was the largest ship we'd been on with the most people. Just imagine the number of meals they have to make every single day!

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Is a Carnival Cruise Right for You?

My goal here is to give you all the information I gathered on my recent cruise so you can make an informed decision.

To decide if a Carnival cruise is right for you, first consider the cruise experience you’re looking for. After all, food isn't the only thing.

If you’d like my advice on cruising in general including how to choose your cruise line, check out my Gluten Free Cruise Guide.

Carnival offers a party atmosphere featuring high energy entertainment and nightlife. With 21 restaurants, 11 bars, and a casino, there's always something happening.

The cruise line excels at family entertainment too, featuring a roller coaster, water slide, and pools. During our cruise, over 1000 children were aboard.

There are Downsides Too, Consider These Trade-offs:

• The initial price is lower but there are many extra charges
• Aggressive sales of excursions and cruise port shops
• Limited port information beyond cruise port shopping and pricey excursions
• Basic entertainment - game shows and comedians rather than choreographed musical shows
• Crowded pool areas, especially on sea days
• Expensive Wi-Fi, free app is slow and messaging works sporadically

If you're seeking a lively, family-friendly atmosphere and don't mind the extras, Carnival may be right for you. If you like a quieter, more inclusive experience, you might consider other cruise lines.

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Eating Gluten-Free Aboard Carnival Celebration

If you're concerned about finding safe food, don't worry. There is lots of variety and the staff are helpful and knowledgeable.

Communication is a bit of an issue though. Here are some of the challenges I encountered.

• No list of all restaurants offering gluten-free options
• Menus are on the Carnival Hub app but gluten-free options not always easy to find.
• Gluten-free options not always noted on menu boards
• Gluten-free snack options are limited, especially if you are also dairy free.

I found myself having to explore, ask at each restaurant and piece it together myself. I knew things at the end of the week that I wished I'd known at the beginning.

Main Dining Room's Gluten Free Menu on Carnival Hub App

To save you the trouble I've compiled some tips for finding gluten-free food aboard a Carnival ship:

• Let the cruise line know about your gluten-free need when you book.
• Go to guest services when you arrive and let them know about your gluten-free needs.
• All menus are available on the Carnival Hub App which is free on board the ship.
• Some venues have a gluten-free menu.  Swipe left on the Carnival Hub app to find it.
• Choose a set dining time at the main dining room (more below).
• Inform your server of your needs. 

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Main Dining Room Experience

Moroccan Pumpkin Soup - Main Dining Room

Prime Rib of Beef - Main Dining Room

Key Lime Pie - Main Dining Room

We ate most of our meals at the Festivale Restaurant which is the main dining room. This is where the Carnival team shines!  Serving staff are very knowledgeable about gluten-free options.  They take note of any dietary needs and ensure that your food is prepared properly.

Choose a Set Dining Time

I recommend choosing either the early (5:30) or late (7:15) dining option as opposed to "any time dining." You'll have the same table and the same servers every evening. They will get to know you and will take care of your needs.

We had early dining at 5:30.  At first I though it might be too early, but you can go down a little later and by the time you get seated and served your eating at 6 or shortly after.

Stand-Out Meals

The gluten-free menus each night are generous and the food is terrific!  There is a different set of entree's every evening as well as standards from the grill.  For gluten-free desserts, you'll find fruit and cheese plates, sorbet and Carnival's melting chocolate every night.  Then fresh features are added each evening like pot de creme, key lime pie, or almond cake.

Mixed Green Salad - Main Dining Room

Pork Ribs with Fries - Main Dining Room

Dairy Free Creme Brulee - Main Dining Room

  Some of the stand-out meals I had while onboard included:

• Prime rib of beef
• Pork ribs
• Baked branzino
• Cornish hen
• Appetizers included delicious soups, salads and shrimp cocktail. 
• Deserts varied from fruit and cheese plates to key lime pie, almond cake and crème brulee.  They even did a dairy free crème brulee for me!

Breakfast in the Dining Room

There is a substantial gluten-free breakfast menu for the main dining room. Eggs, bacon, gluten-free bread (not toasted), muffins, banana bread and pancakes are on offer.  Juice smoothies are offered at an extra charge, and they keep the coffee topped up.

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Gluten-Free at Lido Marketplace Buffet: Successes and Challenges

Gluten Free Rice Dish Beside Regular Pasta - Lido Marketplace Buffet

On our first day, after we settled into our stateroom we went straight to the Lido Marketplace buffet.  The limited choice and cross contamination risk, made me think this might be a good week to go on a diet. 

But don’t give up so fast.  You can eat safely at a buffet if you’re careful.  Here are some tips:

• Look for the special diets list atop the buffet.
• Look for the gluten-free symbol above the trays
• Assess gluten-free items for cross contamination risk:
  o   Is it beside a gluten item?
  o   Is the tray nearly empty indicating its been out on the buffet for a while?
  o   Is the buffet tidy in general or does it appear messy?
  o   Are there breadcrumbs near the gluten-free food?
  o   Are other guests passing gluten food over the gluten-free dishes?

If you’re nervous ask the staff to get you a plate from the back.

Breakfast at the Buffet

I found plenty of choice for breakfast. There was always sausage or bacon, a potato dish, fruit and gluten-free bread. 

The bread was okay but not great, and there was no place to toast it.

If you eat eggs and dairy you’re golden as there was always an egg dish and yogurt to go with the fruit. 

Lunch and Dinner at the Buffet Seemed Riskier

Lunch and dinner were more limited and the few gluten-free items were beside gluten items. I observed other guests passing gluten food over the gluten-free food which made me very nervous.

On that first lunch after boarding the chef made me a special gluten-free burger with fries and they were delicious.  On the only other day I had lunch in the buffet I asked a staff member to get me some chicken and potato from the back. They happily did so and all was well.

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Other Dining Venues with Gluten-Free Options

As you wander the decks you'll see lots of other food venues and you'll be wondering if any of it is safe for you.

There are 21 restaurants aboard Carnival Celebration.  Some have gluten-free menus – swipe left on the app to see them.  Others offer gluten-free choices on request.  Sadly it’s not obvious which ones do so you’re left on your own to figure it out.

To save you the trouble, I’ve done some of the legwork:

• The Chef’s Table is a multi course dinner experience.  The chef can prepare gluten-free choices for you.
• Deco Deli offers gluten-free bread.  Check that your sandwich fillings are also gluten-free.
• Emeril’s Bistro is New Orlean’s style cuisine and has a few gluten-free options.
• Fahrenheit 555 is the steak house and has gluten-free options.
• Cucina del Capitano is an Italian restaurant with gluten-free options.
• The Seafood Shack has gluten-free choices.  
• Chibang is Chinese / Mexican fusion and has a gluten-free menu.
• Miami Slice offers gluten-free pizza crust on request, but all the flour in the air makes me nervous.
• Big Chicken is mostly breaded fried chicken.  You can request a grilled chicken breast, but I was concerned about cross contamination.
• Guy’s Burger Joint doesn’t make it obvious, but their burgers are gluten-free and you can get a gluten-free bun.  The fries are gluten-free if you ask for them without the seasoning.

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Snack Options on Board

This is where things get a little slim.  Especially if you’re dairy free as well as gluten-free. I resorted to picking up fruit or a few hashbrowns between meals. I recommend bringing your own snacks. 

A few options on board are:

• Swirls has frozen yogurt
• There is a candy shop on board
• The Lido Marketplace has a late-night buffet
• Guys burgers has gluten-free fries
• You can snag some fruit from the buffet or order an extra muffin at breakfast

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gluten-Free Dining on Carnival Celebration

1. Does Carnival have gluten-free food?

Yes! Carnival Cruise Line offers gluten-free food in the main dining room, buffet, and specialty restaurants. Stop in at guest services when you arrive and let your server know about your needs.

2. Does Carnival Have a Gluten-Free Menu?

Yes.  There is a gluten-free menu for the main dining room and a few of the other restaurants.  All menus are on the Carnival app which you can access while on board at no extra charge.  Swipe left to find the gluten-free menu if there is one for that venue. 

3. Is Gluten-Free Food Easy to Find on a Carnival Ship?

Yes and no.  Dining staff are helpful, but the complete picture is hard to find.  The main dining room offers the most reliable gluten-free options. Specialty restaurants also accommodate gluten-free requests. The buffet can be tricky due to cross-contamination risks.

4. How do I request gluten-free meals on a Carnival cruise?

Inform Carnival of your dietary needs when booking your cruise. Once onboard, visit guest services and let your server know your needs.  Look for gluten-free menus on the Carnival Hub app.

5. Is the main dining room on Carnival Celebration safe for celiacs?

The main dining room is the most reliable place to get safe gluten-free food onboard.  Choose a regular dining time so you get the same server every day and let them know about your needs.

6. Are Carnival’s buffet options gluten-free friendly?

There are some gluten-free options at the buffet, but cross-contamination is a risk. Shared serving utensils and open food stations make it difficult to ensure safety for celiacs. Choose carefully or ask staff to get you a plate from the back.

7. Does Carnival offer gluten-free desserts?

Yes! Gluten-free desserts like flourless chocolate cake and sorbet are available. Ask your server about gluten-free dessert options or check the gluten-free menu each evening.

8. Can I bring my own gluten-free snacks on board?

Yes, you can bring sealed, pre-packaged gluten-free snacks. This is highly recommended in case safe options are limited during your trip.

9. Are there cross-contamination risks on Carnival cruises?

Yes, especially at the buffet and certain quick-service locations. To minimize risk, request freshly prepared meals, avoid shared utensils, and speak with staff about your dietary needs.

10. Which Carnival restaurants are best for gluten-free dining?

The main dining room and specialty restaurants (such as the steakhouse) tend to offer the best gluten-free meals. It’s always best to check with the staff before ordering.

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Wrap Up - Would I Recommend Carnival for Gluten-Free Cruising?

As I mentioned, I knew a lot of things at the end of the week that I wish I knew earlier.  With that in mind, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Carnival for gluten free cruising if the Carnival experience is what you're looking for.

For me, I found the ship much too large and I was disappointed by the extra charges, the aggressive sales and the entertainment.  I would probably choose a smaller cruise like Viking which is more inclusive.

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