Hunterw0026

No....no need to call.

In the buffet I ask any worker (the guys who clean the table) for it. If someone don't know about it...I tell him to ask someone else. They keep it towards the center, where they have the cheeses.

 

If you eat in the dining room you could ask the maitre d' about it. I never eat there so I don't know how it works but I'm sure it can be done.

Thank you very very much!! :halo:

I have to drink almond milk (medical requirement for calcium) and if you need that, they do have it on board. You have to ask (insist at times), but it is there.

Excellent information! :D Who do you asked? Call prior to the cruise?

Please don't think I'm being antagonistic here, I am merely interested.

How can you not eat any oil in your diet?

Meaning.... can the body survive without any oil? how would you absorb/obtain fat soluble vitamins?

Salt... I find all meals on cruises to be saltier than I cook at home, I think this one maybe be the trickiest.

FYI, I was a chef for many years, and all veg has added salt in any commercial establishment. Unless notified otherwise.

 

If I had dietary requirements this serious, I would not trust a mainstream cruise company to do this. Your health is more important.

 

But this sounds like a weight loss plan.

It's not a weight loss plan but yes, I have lost a bit of weight on it. I get it. We are told so much false information. Heart disease, high blood pressure, IBS, Crohn's cancers and many other medical issues of which I have many of the others including heard disease and hospitalized with high BP 3 times in the past few years and one time was 223/119. People with EXTREME BP should not take in any salt. I also had extreme cholesterol and was facing that medication as well. Animal products are very bad for cholesterol but so is oil in any form. The amount of protein we need is a myth and it what is causing so many of us to go into renal failure. All fruit and vegetables have enough salt to sustain us as well as protein. I do tell people to look at the research on Dr Esselstyn, Dr Alan Goldhamer, Dr Pam Popper and Dr Colin Campbell.

I was on 15 meds daily and am now down to one and hoping to be off that here soon too. I am totally off blood pressure medicine. All my blood tests are in the perfect range. I got to this point in about 4 years.

This is not directed at you but I will say, I didn't want to argue my lifestyle and my health with everyone. I just wanted to know my food options. :halo:

My wife has extensive allergies...no wheat, corn, corn syrup, corn oil, milk products, etc., etc. ( Fortunately for me, gold also.) Ncl handled the issues well. For us, the key was to meet with the maitre d first day and explain needs. We were set up for meals with same table and wait staff for each meal. Maitre d would bring next days menu and review ingredients to ensure allergies handled. Buffet was more problematic. You will need to ask one of the supervising maitre d or chefs, not the servers to get accurate info. We also bring our own goat cheese, goat milk yogurt and snacks. Don’t forget to plan for time off the ships. Most ports will not allow fruits and non-commercially packaged foods to enter. We were allowed to take commercially sealed dried fruits and nuts ashore.

This was SO HELPFUL and I thank you so so much!!!! :hearteyes:

Is it medically related as in you’ll suffer a medical issue? Like an allergic reaction?? I’m asking because it sounds more like a diet plan.

Very much medical. Yes, I will suffer GREATLY!!

You don't need to give up cruising! This is the Forks Over Knives, WFPB diet. It is extremely healthy and congratulations! I have been on this for years, but I don't have to be as strict as you, so it's a bit easier.

I would stay away from the buffet and stick to the restaurants where you can consult with the staff. They are used to this and when it is for medical reasons they will be as strict as you are!

Still, when the food arrives, you can give it the finger test! I can always tell if they have added oil that way. Good Luck!

Wow! What a great answer!! Thank you so much and I am glad to meet a fellow FOK!!! :D:cool:

They have fresh fruit. On occasion, it hasn't been ripe (just warning).

There are generally "Asian" areas in the buffet. But, I don't know if they have just plain steamed rice. I suspect they add salt or some seasoning to everything.

There is a salad bar with fresh vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, beans....but the availability is hit and miss.

I've never seen plain steamed vegetables. Again, they liven it up a bit.

Carnival seems to have "baked potatoes" in the buffet. Maybe ask in that forum. I know some people are angry that they added "baked potato bar".

 

 

If for medical reasons you need to stay away from those things, I'd reconsider cruising. If it's just a personal choice you'll need to be flexible.

This was such an excellent answer and I thank you! Yes, it is for medical reasons so I am very inflexible. I do think my cruising days might be over. :(

Send an email to accessdesk@ncl.com with reservation #, sailing date, etc and explain in great detail exactly what is required. And then dont assume the wait staff etc know enough to order what you need....... speak directly to the maitre de or hostess at restaurants and seek out the executive chef at the buffet to point things out to you.

 

There is no way to "ensure" this the minute you leave the safety of your own kitchen so you need to be very proactive in what your requirements are. This is not just on a cruise but at any restaurant you eat at

Thank you so much! :halo: At this point, I don't eat out except potatoes from Wendys or steamed rice from a chinese spot.

I did email them. They were quite vague, so I called too. Still not really solid in their answers so I decided to ask here in case someone has seen these items available....

Plenty of fruits and veggies in the buffet, Dinning rooms will cater to your request as much as possible

Thank you so much! My issue is, it's can't be off at all. I can not have sugar, oil or salt in the food. Is there a way to ensure this apart from not cruising?

Again, I thank you.

Hi to all,

I cruised on Epic 2 years ago but at that time did not have this SUPER strict diet.

I want to know if I can get fresh fruit and vegetables and steamed vegetables (baked potato, steamed rice) on most of the Norwegian ships.

I did call the inquiry number and the gentleman stated example the free restaurants Taste and Manhattan would do this if I requested ahead.

Is steamed veggies in the buffets / cafe? I do recall fresh fruit and I think there are some plain salad vegetables.

Thank you!!!!!! :D:D:D

Wendy

Another great way to cover up shoulders/knees are scarves. They're light, easy to pack and can quickly be thrown on over your shoulders or cover your knees with a little bit of creativity. They also tend to have cheap, pretty scarves in about every marketplace in Europe so they're easy to pick up while there too.

YES! Agree totally, especially since all my sundresses are ankle length!:D

Definitely go into the Colosseum. It is very cool and if you are able go up the stairs to the second level. Yes you do need coverage for the Vatican. Ask them the current rules about that though. Rome is a crazy day, but they get it done. I have no idea why it is so difficult to find this group. Are you on the Epic? That was our exact trip.....enjoy! !

I am planning on packing only sundresses as it's going to be hot for one and two they roll up so tight and don't need ironing, so I better keep a cardigan with me for anything like that.

I am on Epic from Barcelona on July 31st for 7 days going to Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes and Marseille ending in Barcelona Sunday the 7th and then I will spend one night on Barcelona before flying back to Atlanta on the 8th at 10.25am.

Glad I could help. We thoroughly enjoyed both excursions.

I am so grateful. I just paid for them. Did you go into the Colosseum or just view from outside?

Do you need to cover shoulders in the Vatican?

I have used Can't Be Missed Tours for Amalfi Coast and Rome from Civitevecchia and they are very affordable and amazing tour guides and drivers. I read about this group in a Rick Steves book on Mediterranean Cruises and his suggestion was spot on. Give them a try, you will not be disappointed.

:D

USAmickey!!! You are the best!! The same tour without lunch (which is my preference) is only $79 USD where as the trip I paid for with the cruise ship is $369. Same thing for Rome and Florence. WAY LESS for the same excursion. I owe you so much!!! I need to buy you a credit voucher for your next cruise!!!

I need some help.

I just purchased this. $369 and it seems a lot to me but maybe you can tell me differently.

1stly, is Positano as amazing as I think because really, that is why I am spending this money.

The trip includes a smaller bus (obviously to get through Positano) from Naples to Positano first, then back to Sorrento when lunch and wine is included at a beautiful hotel overlooking the water, then on to Pompeii. I think it's 10 hours.

I don't care about lunch, I don't care about Pompeii. I think I care about Positano though. Is it MUCH better than Naples and Sorrento which I can do easily and much cheaper?:confused:

Under no circumstances take a backpack and wear it on your back.

It's nerve-wracking to be planning your first cruise - but I know you'll have a wonderful time.

So this is why I bought the hop on hop off bus. I can get on with my back pack from the port. It drops about .5 miles from my hotel. I will have to get from that stop to the hotel with the backpack though.

Both Getaway and Breakaway have "Spice H20" as well. The layout is a little different from Epic, but it serves the same purpose with similar parties in the evening.

 

Is it free to get into Spice H2O on Epic?

I highly recommend joining the roll call for your cruise. We joined with people from our roll call for private tours in all the ports we went to. We met some great people and had more enjoyable tours with only 8 people, instead of being crammed on a bus with 50 other people for the ship excursions. And we saved a ton of money. You should not have to pay hundreds of dollars to go to Rome - you can do it on a private tour for about 75 euros.

You are going to have a great time - enjoy!

Can you please explain the roll call and also how I can find info on the private tour in Roma? I paid $369 to NCL for a tour from Naples to Sorrento and Positino then lunch and tour through Pompeii. I fear I was taken :confused:

Firstly, I am so grateful for all of this. You said I should look you up as I am doing the Solo on Epic in August. This was so so helpful!

Is it hard to do Rome on your own? I wanted to see the Vatican too, almost thinking of buying the NCL tour but boy are they expensive and I already did an expensive one to go to Positino from Naples etc.

Also, how much is laundry?

Did you ever see anyone else in that lounge designated to the solo cabins?

Was there any place that you thought was a little bit more unsafe then others as a single woman?

THANK YOU!

Wendy

Are you sure you cannot drop luggage at hotel until 1PM? Most hotels I dealt with in Europe will allow you to drop off luggage before check in time and will hold it for you.

Good to know. I just sent them an email so I will see!!!

Thanks so much for all the information.

Another question, do you need your passport with you on each of the excursions in Italy?

You can stay on the ship and be one of the last off if that is what you want to do. That would be some where around 9:30 to 10:30. Why not get off earlier and walk around to see some sights?

Well, for one to sleep in as much as possible. But main reason is I don't want to walk around with my luggage. I can get on the hop off/hop off bus at 9.00am at the earliest. I can't drop my luggage at the hotel until 1pm.

Is Breakfast served the day of disembarkment?

Gosh! I am so grateful for the replies!!

I do plan to get the NCL transfer from the airport to the ship when I arrive so no worries there at all!

So I can take food with me when I go on excursions? I hate to sound like this but, I am single, I don't make a huge amount of money, I can only afford to go on a trip once ever few years and I did spend $400 on excursions in Rome and Naples so I am trying to keep to a budget!

If I do not give my bags to the ship for disembarkment (it will only be one carry on sized back pack what is the LATEST I could get off the ship when I arrive back in Barcelona?

I hope you all understand how grateful I am!

I have quite a few questions please. Bit nervous as a sigle woman traveling alone.

My flight lands in Barcelona from Atlanta to 8.25am. I want to just go to the ship. I see some say then can embark as early as 11.00am. Is this true?

When I get back I have a hotel for one night but can not check in until 1pm. I bought a hop on hop off bus pass but they do not start until 9am. Could I say on the boat that long?

I plan on having just a decent sized backpack but will have to have that on the bus until 1pm. Am I a target in Barcelona with it?

Is there any way to take fruit from the boat to have as snacks on excursions?

Thank you all so much!!!

Wendy