First night we ate in Sindu after going to the restaurant to notify them in advance as advised by reception.
I also visited Horizon and spoke with an office before The Chef's Table on the Sunday. There I was served Beef Wellington which I refused despite protestations that is was safe for me to eat, even after pointing out that I have Coeliac Disease and celery and fish allergies. They eventual brought me pain beef as I was told the previous day. I also asked if the bread roll provided was gluten free and was told twice it was save for me to eat, sadly it was not and I suffered from Sunday night to Thursday unable to keep anything down.
I did accompany my wife to the MDR on Wednesday and asked for the gluten free cheese and biscuits pointing out my celery allergy. I hoped I might keep dry biscuits down but no chance as they served it with celery batons. Anaphylaxis could have been the result had I consumed any of the cheese and biscuits meal.
Thursday I went on the Langfoss Waterfall day trip, the excursions staff had confirmed is be provided with lunch that meet my dietary needs. On arrival the caterer was not aware and P&O Cruises had not notified her. I did manage to eat the salad provided so not silk bad. That evening we went to Epicurian Restaurant and more in hope than expectation I visited on Wednesday evening to pre-order sirloin steak and was told am would be gutted free and safe for me to eat, including onion rings. I checked on arrival with the manager, had waiter and waiter but shortly after eating the onion ring the symptoms began. The restaurant manner informed me that the chef was sorry he'd given the waiter the wrong plate.
I was so unwell I could not leave the cabin for the rest of the cruise.
Everything seemed to casual, the staff so busy and the ingredients lists missing from menus, yes they did state gluten free and vegetarian but that was it.
My concerns are the training of the staff, most I spoke with had no idea what coeliac is, I had to explain why I was not eating when accompanying my wife When are staff trained to deal with special diets? The ship's are constantly sailing with passengers on board. What are the management processes and procedures and how are they checked and by whom? Why aren't allergen lists posted next to the take away food serveries as in UK restaurants. The night before embarking I nervously ate in a chain restaurant, the manager spoke with me explained how my food would be prepared separately and my allergies where entered on a tablet device and the meals I could eat and not eat were shown. None of this on Iona.
I was unwell for almost 2 weeks after the cruise requiring specially prescribed medication to stop stomach spasms and help prevent sickness.