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Thanks. We are looking forward to visiting this port.

Do the trams run on Sunday? We will be in Zeebrugge in early May.

I do not believe that all of the crepe batter on the Constellation is gluten free. When I would order, I would have to wait for the chef to come out and make my crepes.

When she had the time, she came to the table and spoke with me. I do wish I'd made note of her name.

I'm comfortable witht the crepes but would not touch the pasta or toast in the buffet. I've had them "warm" the bread in the samovar in the Lido kitchen but it wasn't toasted. You also have to request that they change gloves.

We always enjoy lunch in Bistro 2 or 3 times during a cruise. I always order gf crepes, and I've never had a problem.

Now ordering gf toast in the buffet area is another issue. I've read they have gf pasta at the buffett but I do not know how it is warmed. Is gf pizza available anywhere?

I've been told it is because of the possibility of cross-contamination but labeled or not, the possibility still exist. It sometimes takes 2 or 3 trips around the buffet area to find a maitre'd.

Our last experience with HAL was in June. They do not label items on the menu or at the buffet. The maitre' d will visit your table at dinner and you pre-order your meal or meals for the next day. If you want pancakes the next day, you need to let them know then. If you eat at the buffet, you will need to find a maitre'd and they will guide you as to what is gluten-free.

Prior to sailing, you should contact HAL and pre-order the items you would like. These are Kinnickinnik products and include breads, cereals, pizza crusts, etc.

I have cruised with Celebrity several times with a gluten-free diet. Most of my desserts have been milk based although I have been served fresh berries on request and I was also served pavlova. Fortunately my lactose intolerance is controlled with enzymes and probiotics and am able to enjoy some milk based desserts. I use almond milk and have never seen that onboard, they do have soy and rice milks. Silk now puts out individual cartons of almond milk and I will carry a couple with me in the future.

You might try calling the special needs department and talking with them. You will find the number on Celebrity's website at:

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/tabLanding.do?pagename=onboard_special_needs

Drift Wood, I'm looking forward to reading your review. As far as things changing, I'm not sure they will since people do not speak up. They are satisfied to be served the same quality bread that was available 10 years ago. They do not mind not being included in tea, dessert extravaganzas, etc but prefer to simply accept the few offerings sent our way.

I have never seen Redbridge or any gluten-free beer on any Holland America or Celebrity cruise. It is going to take many of us making a request prior to our cruise and also on the end of cruise review to see a change. Numbers will speak but we need to work together on this. Carry a few bottles onboard with you, do not put it in your checked luggage. Be sure to talk with the beverage manager onboard.

GracieinMelbourne, I am always happy to see good, up-to-date information posted. To further your statement concerning glucose syrup, Shelley Case in the most recent printing of Gluten-Free Diet, A Comprehensive Resource Guide, states that you find insignificant levels of gluten in glucose syrup (R5 ELISA) and goes on to say "The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has permanently exempted wheat-based and barley-based glucose syrups from allergen labeling based on this recent research.

I enjoyed gelato more than once on our recent Celebrity cruise onboard the Constellation.

I do hope your experience on the Brillance was not solely due to your intentions to write an article but because the cruise lines see the need to step up to the plate. When your article is published, please post a link here so we may all read it.

Funny, I've always been given different information. For me it doesn't matter, I prefer the whole egg either fried, poached or in an omelet. I carry some granola with me and can always make a yogurt parfait for breakfast as a change. For me, a Lara bar with fresh fruit also is a nice breakfast.

We once had unpleasant tablemates and sat with them throughout the cruise. We have decided that we would never endure that situation again and ask for a change early on by going to the restaurant manager and then the hotel manager if the first did not work.

I find the person who makes my trip most enjoyable is the maitre'd and tip him extra at the end. We have done the anytime dining on Celebrity and Holland America the last 3 cruises and it worked well. It also makes it easy to not go to the main dining room. They also recognize me at the buffet and take care of me there.

I would like to see every gluten-free cruiser ask for things to be labeled on the buffets and safe desserts be provided there as well. They may need to be covered but at least have one choice available. As a growing community, we need to work together for change. On our last cruise I complimented them for the more appealing main courses and then requested the other two changes.

I've also asked about eggs and were told they were safe. I think is best to ask a maitre'd or the chef.

I know what you are saying about being nice, we learn these lessons over time. It has happened to me but I don't plan on it happening again. I am a good bit older than you.

I, like you, was surprised to see that one ship labeled buffet foods as gluten-free. I make this suggestion on my cruise comment card at the end of each cruise.

I've found each line to handle things a bit differently but do manage to cruise safely with Celebrity and Holland America. I usually eat breakfast and lunch on the lido deck and sometimes find things limited but can usually find something that works. I have not found scrambled eggs that contain pancake batter, they are using eggs in plastic bags, they may be powdered. I don't care for the way they cook them but request fried or scrambled with real eggs at the omelet station or a poached egg. I may carry Gluten Freeda Instant Oatmeal packs the next time - I believe the water for hot tea is hot enough to add half the water - let it soften a couple of minutes and then add the rest. Udi's bagels will keep for 5 days or so if you purchase them before boarding and they were frozen. I can enjoy a half bagel for breakfast or use the whole bagel for a burger bun.

At the buffet, I always look for the maitre'd on duty and let him guide me. If I have a special request, they will take care of it. On Celebrity Constellation we enjoyed lunch a couple of times at the Bistro on 5 where they prepared gluten free crepes. There are days I resort to a plain burger and fixings. If I was not dining in the dining room at night, I would let them know the night before. One night we enjoyed dinner on the lido deck and they fixed a stir fry for me. I carry Tamari sauce and they used that. I make individual packets using my sealing machine. If I like toast a breakfast I request if from the matre'd and have them toast it in the main kitchen rather than on the Lido deck. There is a delay but it is not long.

Constellation did not have replacement items other than bread and pasta. Desserts were limited to dairy based. Foods were nicely sauced and better than previous cruises.

Holland America allows you to preorder many items including breads, cereals, cakes, cookies, muffins and pizza crusts. They use Kinnikinnick products.

No line is perfect but I've found both to be acceptable. Granted, it sometimes get boring but we've come a long way in the last 4-5 years.

No one should chastise you for not showing up to dinner, you are the customer. If possible, even at lunch, if you know you are not going to go to dinner, just let them know. I'm sure you can call the dining room and leave a message.

I've not cruised on RCCI so cannot help there. It does help to talk to the matre'd's at the various dining venues throughout the ship, I've always found them to be very helpful when I explain my needs. I would think they could help with the ice cream issue. Between now and February, your son may learn to be observant in relation to the details of foods he enjoys which would allow him to eat away from the main dining room. I've found that the matre'd would bring me food from the kitchen if there was a chance of cross contamination. It always helps to avoid the busiest times if enjoying a meal out of the dining room.

Be sure to contact the cruiseline now with your request for a gluten-free diet.

Would this thread better serve our needs it there were a new catagory created for special needs? I'm sure many would not think to check Cruise Foodies for gf information and confining our tips to the individual cruise lines is limiting. Thank you cruznut1111 for initiating this thread.

I've had more good experiences than bad on Celebrity and Holland America. As our numbers increase, I hope we see more consideration for tea, evening snacks, etc.

Has anyone tried "anytime dining" on Celebrity? If so, how well was it handled?

It's nice to bring back pleasant memories. Our first cruise was with Home Lines on the Oceanic in August of 1980. We sailed NY to Nassau, seven days round trip. When we returned home my DH found the company he was working for had been sold.

Our first HAL cruise was 1996 on the Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska. She was a beautiful ship.

It's nice to bring back pleasant memories. Our first cruise was with Home Lines on the Oceanic in August of 1980. We sailed NY to Nassau, seven days round trip. When we returned home my DH found the company he was working for had been sold.

Our first HAL cruise was 1996 on the Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska. She was a beautiful ship.