Food allergies and first time cruisers

[Vivian-momof4]

Hi, everyone, we are first time cruisers, ( Carnival Magic), travelling with 4 boys (18,15,14,11). Joining us is my cousin and her to kids(14 b, & 11 g). (9 people altogether) We are excited to travel, but also nervous. I want to be as prepared as possible. If anyone can help me in regards to food allergies and what to expect from Carnavel Cruiselines. ( my oldest is allergic to fish, pistachios,walnuts. & cashews, and carries two eli-pens) We have travelled to all-inclusive resorts in Caribbean, and have been pleased with their (Grand Palladium’s Punta Cana & White Sands) attention to our son’s allergies. Thanks!

[paul929207]

Contact Carnival to see if they want any advance notification of the allergies and how you should proceed.

 

My wife is lactose intolerant and allergic to shellfish. We cruise with Princess, and just ask for the head waiter when we arrive for dinner each evening. We learn the name of "our" head waiter and ask specifically for him. This eliminates going thru the same explanation each night. I am sure Carnival is similar.

[cb at sea]

All cruise lines have a "special needs" dept. About 2-3 weeks before your cruise, contact them...tell them of any allergies or special needs...they will see to it that they do right by you.

If you eat in the MDR nightly, and have the same waitstaff, it's much easier. In the buffet, you will probably need to speak with the manager...NOT the service folks on the food line, or simply eat that which you know is ok.

[kmdreamcatcher]

If Magic is anything like Pride...ADVOID the buffet or you as the adult need to make sure the food don't have nuts in the food.

 

I say this because I was on the Pride in February. In all of the 7day cruise I only ever seen 1 thing on the buffet labeled that it contained nuts. My sister has an allergy to nuts as well and when we discovered that stuff was not labeled that it contained nuts I went to guest services and complained about this. I complained about this not because my sister (an adult) could not see nuts in or on the food but due to the fact that kids were running around and they don't think to look first sometimes. Guest services reply to me about this was either eat around the nuts or don't eat the food.

 

So just be careful at the buffet!!!!!!!

[pacruise804]

If Magic is anything like Pride...ADVOID the buffet or you as the adult need to make sure the food don't have nuts in the food.

 

I say this because I was on the Pride in February. In all of the 7day cruise I only ever seen 1 thing on the buffet labeled that it contained nuts. My sister has an allergy to nuts as well and when we discovered that stuff was not labeled that it contained nuts I went to guest services and complained about this. I complained about this not because my sister (an adult) could not see nuts in or on the food but due to the fact that kids were running around and they don't think to look first sometimes. Guest services reply to me about this was either eat around the nuts or don't eat the food.

 

So just be careful at the buffet!!!!!!!

 

Kim, I was on the Pride cruise with you and agree that the buffet is not sensitive to allergies/sensitivities at all. I am very fortunate that neither my husband or I have and food allergies or limitations, but I have several friends with allergies or intolerances. I initially thought it was nice that the Pride had some GF bread offered, until I saw it was setting next to and sharing tongs with regular breads. I do not care for the taste of walnuts, and even as an adult it was not always obvious what had nuts in them (especially muffins) - I hope your sister didn't have any reactions.

 

OP - I agree with others to speak with the special needs department and be very vigilant if you do use the buffet. Also, be sure to always have at least one Epi-pen with your nephew. You probably do this anyway, but I was lax in carrying mine. I have a bee allergy and don't usually think about carrying during the winter but at least one of our stops had lots of bees - I had my Epi that day and no stings:halo:

 

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable cruise.

[Ashnal]

We are also first time cruisers on a Mediterranean Cruise in August. On Celebrity cruise line.

My son has an allergy to all nuts (peanuts and tree nuts) and carries an epi-pen.

Anyone have experiences or advice they can share?

[DarkJedi]

For allergies always talk to the head of dining about special requirements.

 

For the buffet, when in doubt, ask. If still in doubt, don't eat it or let a child eat it.

[tropicqueen]

Regarding food allergies on Carnival.

My Husband is a Celiac, and

gluten is any many forms and many different things.

Carnival has always been

great in dealing with his menu.

When he informs them about the problem they have a special person assigned for just this kind of issue.

Usually, a She, would bring the menu for the following

night. That would give him

A chance to pick out safe food ahead of time. This would also include them

fixing and changing a recipe

to be safe for him to eat.

Also, when you fill out the

boarding information there

is a place to put that kind

of information.

We also did not have to always have the same waiters. Just tell them you

have already ordered.

They can also send the

special needs person so

You again order for the next

night.

With nut allergies and the

buffet, you can ask to speak

to the person directly in charge of fixing that food in

question.

Not 1 person does all the food.

We have only had a problem

1 time and that was on Princess.

Hope you have a great time

With no problems!

Tropicqueen

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Forums mobile app

[SadieN]

This is my basic post about allergies..... We travel with a group that combined has allergies to peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, egg whites, chocolate, MSG and liquid dairy. Only had issues with 'user' error, no issues with Carnival. If you have a nut allergy, know that Carnival classifies seeds as nuts.

 

Each ship seems to do things a little differently. This has been our experiences on the West Coast ships.

If you have an odd allergy contact Special Needs before your cruise. If you have a 'normal' allergy no need to do so.

 

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs/dietary-needs.aspx

 

See the Hostess at embarkation when the Maitre 'd has hours. Hours will be in the FunTmes, usually starting around 1pm. The hostess will take that night's order. Each night the hostess or your waiter will bring you the next day's MDR menu-breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner. If deciding between two entrees, order both. For brunch don't hesitate to order a breakfast and lunch if you want to eat both meals in the MDR. At ATD, an order slip will be generated and given to your waitstaff when seated. They will confirm the order with you.

Only issue we've ever had was one cruise DD's food arrived before mine.

 

For room service, they cannot make special for you but they can tell you the ingredients. No special area so there is always the possibility of contamination

 

Buffet is a minefield. Ask the Hostess or the Head Lido Chef or the Food and Beverage crew in the officer whites. DO NOT ask the line cooks or those serving desserts. They mean well but do not know the full recipes. Cross contamination is always a possibility.

 

Onshore--- we bring allergy cards. I made our own but you can buy some at selectwisely dot com.

You can only bring off commercially prepared food. We bring cereal bars, boxes of cereal, bottled water, hard candy etc.

Many ports will check. Some will do a physical search, others use dogs. You do not want the cute Labrador to sit next to you. I've had them alert on my Lemonheads.

 

Kids clubs have a form to fill out. There are some snacks served at times. The younger kids meet up at the dinner buffet certain nights. Ask the counselors what's on the menu.

 

Gluten Free has a few different things. Cruise Critic has lots of info about GF. Use ‘gluten’ or ‘celiac’ in the search engine. Know there’s at least GF pizza, noodles, bread available.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[pacruise804]

This is my basic post about allergies..... We travel with a group that combined has allergies to peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, egg whites, chocolate, MSG and liquid dairy. Only had issues with 'user' error, no issues with Carnival. If you have a nut allergy, know that Carnival classifies seeds as nuts.

 

Each ship seems to do things a little differently. This has been our experiences on the West Coast ships.

If you have an odd allergy contact Special Needs before your cruise. If you have a 'normal' allergy no need to do so.

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs/dietary-needs.aspx

 

snip

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Thanks for your post, I had a question on the bolded part: I have seen other posts that mention ships running out of GF items due to many passengers not indicating the need for a GF diet. Is this separate from special needs department? Celiac seems common enough to me that it would be a "normal" allergy.

[Bonnie J.]

Carnival handles food allergies wonderfully. Contact their special need department (on line or call) and tell them who has what allergies. The when you board also tell the Maitre'd. He will notify the hostess. My husband has acid reflex and can't eat any red meat with spices. Every night the hostess would bring him the next night's menu and he would choose what he wanted. They made sure whatever was on the menu he wanted would have no spices at all.

Once we booked a Carnival cruise Very last minute. It happened to be New Years Eve, 1st night. My husband usually had lobster AND prime rib this night. He decided he just have 2 lobster this night. WOW! what a surprise when the hostess came with lobster and prime rib for him! The Maitre'd and the hostess both remembered him and ordered for him what they knew he's like. (the prime rib was spice-less!)

Carnival will have no problem making sure you have what you must have.

And they have a deli, every lunch, - from 11am to 11pm- where they make the sandwich you want, while you wait. They have all sorts of sandwiches where you can take whatever you want off or add and I even got a grilled cheese once!

[Sgàile]

This is great! My DD is allergic to pork and shellfish but I forgot to mention this when we booked. I might email the maitre'd tonight. We sail Monday.

[kmdreamcatcher]

Kim, I was on the Pride cruise with you and agree that the buffet is not sensitive to allergies/sensitivities at all. I am very fortunate that neither my husband or I have and food allergies or limitations, but I have several friends with allergies or intolerances. I initially thought it was nice that the Pride had some GF bread offered, until I saw it was setting next to and sharing tongs with regular breads. I do not care for the taste of walnuts, and even as an adult it was not always obvious what had nuts in them (especially muffins) - I hope your sister didn't have any reactions.

.

 

Lucky she didn't. I just could not believe how they had the I don't care attitude about things not being labeled that had nuts in it. Yes it was not always obvious what had nuts...the stuffing had nuts in it on the buffet and she did not see the nuts in it and almost ate it, until my mother told her not to because of the nuts. It was a shock also that most of the deserts had nuts in or on them.

 

The one day I was sitting at the buffet for breakfast and watched a woman that could not wait for someone get done with the tongs for the bacon. This woman took the egg spoon and put bacon on her plate with that. The person manning the station seen this woman do it and did nothing to remove the eggs, spoon, bacon or tongs from the line...they acted like they did not even see it.