Cruises are notorious for the endless amounts of food. If you want to try one of everything, go for it. Do you want eight different desserts? You can have whatever your heart desires. Seemingly, it is a great feature of an all inclusive cruise vacation.
But what do you do if you have food allergies? Some cruise lines have limited offerings and it can get quite repetitive. By the end of the cruise, you are tired of that same mushroom flavored meat sauce they served on all of the gluten free proteins.
Traveling with food allergies can be quite daunting. How do you know if they will have something you can eat?
Disney Cruise Line blew us out of the water. Not only did they have a myriad of options, but the options they did have were absolutely amazing!
If you decide to try on a Disney Cruise with food allergies, there are a few must do's when it comes to going on a Disney Cruise.
Must Do Items
Before the Cruise
When booking your Disney Cruise, make sure to tell your travel agent or a Disney representative about your food allergies. All of your allergies will be kept on file with your account. For each meal, your waiter and the chef will be prepared to help you find delicious offerings that meet your allergy needs.
Packing for the Cruise
Depending on your allergies, it can be hard to find snacks onboard the ship. Not saying there aren't any, but after 7 days, you might be exhausted of having a fruit bowl every afternoon.
That being said, make sure to bring your favorite snacks. They need to be sealed snacks that have never been opened. I love to bring things like pretzels, chips, bars, cookies, etc.
Put the snacks in your carry on bag and keep them with you as you board.
Boarding the Cruise Ship
As soon as you are onboard your cruise ship, head to Cabanas, the buffet style restaurant. Take a good look at all of the tasty food in the restaurant and see if there is anything that catches your eye.
Then, find a cast member and alert them of your food allergies. They will have a pink slip where you will complete your lunch order.
Next, check out the dinner offerings the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. Give the same cast member your dinner order so that the chef can be prepared for you and to decrease your wait time at dinner.
Before Dinner Each Night
Before heading down to dinner, make sure to have in mind what you would like to eat for all of your meals the next day.
Then, once your dinner is complete, your waiter will ask what you would like to eat for the next day. While it may seem a bit daunting at first, it will make your dining experiences much more enjoyable. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. You would be surprised what they can cook up for you in that kitchen!
If Dining Didn't Go As Planned
As someone with food allergies, I know personally that a waiter makes or breaks your dining experience. If they are not patient or understanding of your food allergy needs, they can make you feel quite insecure. You end up feeling unsure if your food is actually safe to eat and if they were truly even listening to anything you just said.
If that does happen, know that you can always communicate with Guest Services about what happened and they will find a way to fix it.
Snacks and Quick Service
There are so many fun dining options around the ship. From soft serve ice cream to fresh pizza and french fries, you will never be left hungry.
If you decide to order from any of these quick service locations around the ship, make sure to communicate with the cast members serving you and make them aware of your food allergies. They can check on each item and see what is safe for you to eat. Sometimes, they will even show you a binder of all the ingredients of each food item. How awesome is that?!
The Last Night of the Cruise
If your waiter was fantastic, make sure to give them an extra tip and a cast compliment. They worked very hard to make sure that your food was safe and to find all of the possible offerings for you. From my experience, most waiters and waitresses really care and want you to have the most magical experience aboard your Disney Cruise.
All of this might seem a bit overwhelming. Vacations are supposed to be a time to rest, recover, and enjoy time with the people you love. Not a time to worry about the details. Well, problem solved. Don't fret.
As a travel agent, I am here to help you along the way. Travel agents are free and do not cost you a dime. My goal is to make your vacation as worry free and easy as possible.
Interested in going on a Disney Cruise?
Email me at felicia@chaseyoursunshine.com
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