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.
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.
This Carnival Cruise Gluten Free Review is a little long. I get it, your time is valuable. Use the links below to take you to the part that interests you, or read through for all the info:
The Challenge of Cruising with Celiac Disease
Cruising Aboard Carnival Celebration
Is a Carnival Cruise Right for You?
Eating Gluten-Free Aboard Carnival Celebration
Gluten-Free at Lido Marketplace Buffet: Successes and Challenges
Other Dining Venues with Gluten-Free Options
Frequently Asked Questions About Gluten-Free Dining on Carnival Celebration
Wrap Up - Would I Recommend Carnival for Gluten-Free Cruising?
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?
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!
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.
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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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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Some of the stand-out meals I had while onboard included:
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.
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:
If you’re nervous ask the staff to get you a plate from the back.
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 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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, you can bring sealed, pre-packaged gluten-free snacks. This is highly recommended in case safe options are limited during your trip.
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.
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.
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.