Vegetarians and Food Allergies

[gingerbumblebee]

Hi, just wanted to share our experience on board Azura. I'll start by saying no one in my family currently has a food allergy or any special needs, but we met a number of people on board who had varied experiences. The first lady we met was vegetarian, and was disappointed with only 1 choice on the evening menu, but happy to accept her lot. The next was when we did an offshore excursion (privately booked) and out of our group of 15 there were 10 vegetarians. One couple mentioned a Vegetarian menu! Apparently if you ask the waiter you will be shown a vegetarian menu, but this is ordered 24 hours in advance. There are approx 4 dishes to choose from, and the menu changes every 3 days.

I managed to find the 1st vegetarian lady we met and let her know about the secret menu so she could enjoy it too!

We also encountered a gluten free gentlemen, he was ordering from the main menu, but again 24 hours in advance, and they made all (I think!) the dishes gluten free on request.

 

The thing that amazed me was that they hadn't informed the vegetarians about the vegetarian menu, it seemed only the select few knew about it, and it came up in a review I read last night from what sounded like a seasoned cruiser who also refered to only 1 vegetarian option, so it musn't be widely known.

 

Hope this helps someone :)

[FatBoy20]

When booking the your Cruise indicate that you have a diet requirement & you will "be in the system" for pre-ordering 24hrs in advance for both Lunch & Dinner if you are on Club or Freedom Dining. You can also pre-order for the Speciality Venues. Hope it helps.

[dgs1956]

If were a vegetarian or gluten free I would have done a bit of research and found out that P&O do special diets. P&O can't surely be expected to ask everyone if they have food allergies, it has to be up to the person themselves.

I knew before I went on a cruise that they did special diets and I don't even fall into that category.

[daiB]

Hi, just wanted to share our experience on board Azura. I'll start by saying no one in my family currently has a food allergy or any special needs, but we met a number of people on board who had varied experiences. The first lady we met was vegetarian, and was disappointed with only 1 choice on the evening menu, but happy to accept her lot. The next was when we did an offshore excursion (privately booked) and out of our group of 15 there were 10 vegetarians. One couple mentioned a Vegetarian menu! Apparently if you ask the waiter you will be shown a vegetarian menu, but this is ordered 24 hours in advance. There are approx 4 dishes to choose from, and the menu changes every 3 days.

 

I managed to find the 1st vegetarian lady we met and let her know about the secret menu so she could enjoy it too!

 

We also encountered a gluten free gentlemen, he was ordering from the main menu, but again 24 hours in advance, and they made all (I think!) the dishes gluten free on request.

 

 

 

The thing that amazed me was that they hadn't informed the vegetarians about the vegetarian menu, it seemed only the select few knew about it, and it came up in a review I read last night from what sounded like a seasoned cruiser who also refered to only 1 vegetarian option, so it musn't be widely known.

 

 

 

Hope this helps someone :)

 

 

When you book you tell them that you are vegetarian or whatever diet you require. You are looked after very well and you tend to get very good meals as you have your own chef. But you have to inform them of your needs.

[HomelessBear]

Both DH and I have a specific serious food allergy each and inform P&O when we book our cruise. We've done a lot of cruises now, and our experience on board with this just gets better each time.

On our first evening, we were visited in the main dining room (freedom dining) by the head waiter, who brought us the next days menus (both dining room lunch (which we didn't do) and dinner) for us to choose from. The head waiter was also very amenable to "changing" some of the dishes on request.

 

Maybe the key is to inform P&O when you book the cruise that you have a specific dining request (eg. vegetarian, vegan, allergy) and I'm sure that they will oblige.

[Beachmad]

Thats really useful to know gingerbumblebee.

There was 1 in our party that had become vegetarian since booking, months before.

Will know now for next time.

[Mysticalmother]

I agree with all said. I have a specific food allergy (tomatoes - I know , weird! But you wouldn't believe what has tomatoes in it) and I get really good service on P & O. They adapt anything on the menu to suit me . I have also had instances where I haven't fancied anything on the menu and they have prepared something else especially for me. They can also produce lunch time meals for you in the evening ( eg starters) if you ask in advance.

 

I really cannot fault the service.

[whoops]

On the Ventura I ordered the vegetarian option on Day 1; the waiter asked me if I was a vegetarian; he sent for the head waiter who advised me of the vegetarian menu and asked me to choose my main course for the next day. Brilliant service and all very well organised.

[gingerbumblebee]

Thats really useful to know gingerbumblebee.

There was 1 in our party that had become vegetarian since booking, months before.

Will know now for next time.

 

Glad someone found it helpful. It sounds like most people it applied to did know, but from our experience it's not always obvious. I agree that if I was vegetarian or had a food allergy I would do as much research as possible before going, but I'm an information junkie, and some other people aren't!

[groovechick]

We've had a very varied experience with P&O. Our first time cruising with the children, who have a severe egg allergy (we have to carry Epipens), was on RCI and they were brilliant. I think it helped that the head chef, whom we happened to meet, had a severe allergy to shellfish, so he completely understood the issues involved. They selected from the dinner menu 24 hours in advance, the waitress took their choices through to the galley and came back to say everything was OK or that a particular dish contained an unsuitable ingredient and to suggest adaptations or alternatives. Worked faultlessly, was obviously a tried-and-tested system, and was done with a great attitude.

 

Next year on Aurora was awful. Despite informing them well in advance of the children's requirements, they just didn't handle it at all well (it didn't help that we had very poor waiters for our part of the MDR) and it led to some very awkward and upsetting moments for the children, who get embarrassed about being "different" anyway.

 

Following year on Azura having spoken to P&O head office and the specialist department that supposedly deals with this, I wasn't convinced that they really had a handle on it. I'd been told that on embarkation we should go to our dining room and talk to the head waiter. Tried to do so, only to be sent to the MDR at the opposite end of the ship to join a queue of people mainly wanting to move sittings/restaurants. After waiting for 1.5 hours and a near riot when the dining room staff tried to send people packing for the muster drill with upwards of 100 people still queuing, I finally got to see the head waiter. At first he tried to dismiss my concerns, but I politely but firmly made my point and thereafter all was well. The head waiter, Danny, was a lovely guy and very concerned for the children's welfare. The egg allergy seriously limited their choice of desserts and he went out of his way to try to find something different for them.

 

Maybe we were just unlucky on Aurora, but it was so bad it got to the point we were apprehensive about going to dinner. It sounds like P&O has generally upped its game, which has to be a good thing, as food intolerance and allergy is an issue affecting more and more people.

[GUT2407]

On the Ventura I ordered the vegetarian option on Day 1; the waiter asked me if I was a vegetarian; he sent for the head waiter who advised me of the vegetarian menu and asked me to choose my main course for the next day. Brilliant service and all very well organised.

 

DW found the same, asked for veg once from then on there it was.

 

If you have any special requests ASK the crew go out of their way to comply.

[DolphinWatcher]

I'm sorry if people have had bad experiences as this is not the norm. I'm veggie & gluten free and have always had excellent service. Worth noting they carry gluten free crackers if you want cheese & have gluten free pasta so always happy to make a pasta dish or one of their excellent curries if you do not fancy anything in the lunch/dinner/veggie menu. Only grumble is the gluten free roll at dinner, I tend to ask for the gf bread instead, which is always available at breakfast too if you ask.

 

Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions via pm if you want.

[puffin108]

I'm sorry if people have had bad experiences as this is not the norm. I'm veggie & gluten free and have always had excellent service. Worth noting they carry gluten free crackers if you want cheese & have gluten free pasta so always happy to make a pasta dish or one of their excellent curries if you do not fancy anything in the lunch/dinner/veggie menu. Only grumble is the gluten free roll at dinner, I tend to ask for the gf bread instead, which is always available at breakfast too if you ask.

 

Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions via pm if you want.

 

Thanks Dolphin Watcher, can I ask do you just select off the vegetarian menu and they adapt it? My mum is both veggie and coeliac, any /tips meal ideas gratefully recieved! Thanks.

[dgs1956]

Thanks Dolphin Watcher, can I ask do you just select off the vegetarian menu and they adapt it? My mum is both veggie and coeliac, any /tips meal ideas gratefully recieved! Thanks.

 

They have a separate menu and you select at dinner the night before.

[whoops]

They have a separate menu and you select at dinner the night before.

 

There are 4 choices plus one from the main menu. The menu changes once or twice during a 14 day cruise at least that is what happened on my only P&O cruise on the Ventura.

[DolphinWatcher]

Hi.

 

You can also pick from the lunch menu or ask for something off menu. They will adapt whichever to your particular needs.

[Florry]

groovechic I feel your pain, I have an allergy to egg too. It sounds easy to avoid until you think about egg washed bread, egg used as a binding agent etc. I have also had a mixed experience, I was once very ill on Arcadia which I eventually found was caused by consommé soup. I have to say P&O have recently got a lot better, in fact the head waiters in the buffet were so brilliant on Britannia I wrote to the Captain to compliment the service - I only had to walk in there and egg-free desserts would be sent for! I didn't have such a good experience with the speciality restaurants on Britannia but the MDR was fine. I have e to say the tendency is to miss something off the plate as opposed to creating anything special. What would be absolutely fabulous is a Waggamammas style allergy book for the speciality restaurants showing what allergens are in which dish and whether they can be adapted - this would help the waiters and chefs sort us awkward ones out quickly :) Arcadia buffet need to watch out in November now I've been spoilt on Britannia [emoji3]. I order all my evening meals 24 hours prior.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Florry

[DolphinWatcher]

Arcadia buffet need to watch out in November now I've been spoilt on Britannia [emoji3]

 

Good point re buffet. LOTS of room for improvement. I couldn't eat any of the hot dishes at lunch as no allergen labelling. Wasn't always convenient to go to MDR, particularly on port days, so lots of salad eaten (probably not a bad thing!)

 

If we all keep asking for allergen labelling in feedback forms we might eventually get there....

[Florry]

Also I have never been on a trip which included food which catered for me. I usually make sure I take something with me. [emoji106]🏼

[groovechick]

groovechic I feel your pain, I have an allergy to egg too. It sounds easy to avoid until you think about egg washed bread, egg used as a binding agent etc. I have also had a mixed experience, I was once very ill on Arcadia which I eventually found was caused by consommé soup. I have to say P&O have recently got a lot better, in fact the head waiters in the buffet were so brilliant on Britannia I wrote to the Captain to compliment the service - I only had to walk in there and egg-free desserts would be sent for! I didn't have such a good experience with the speciality restaurants on Britannia but the MDR was fine. I have e to say the tendency is to miss something off the plate as opposed to creating anything special. What would be absolutely fabulous is a Waggamammas style allergy book for the speciality restaurants showing what allergens are in which dish and whether they can be adapted - this would help the waiters and chefs sort us awkward ones out quickly :) Arcadia buffet need to watch out in November now I've been spoilt on Britannia [emoji3]. I order all my evening meals 24 hours prior.

 

That's very reassuring about Britannia, Florry, as we're on her at Christmas. Yes, egg is in all kinds of things you wouldn't expect, including roll-on deodorant! And yes my daughter is so allergic she would react to that!

Glad you had such a good experience.

[Mysticalmother]

Good point re buffet. LOTS of room for improvement. I couldn't eat any of the hot dishes at lunch as no allergen labelling. Wasn't always convenient to go to MDR, particularly on port days, so lots of salad eaten (probably not a bad thing!)

 

If we all keep asking for allergen labelling in feedback forms we might eventually get there....

 

I do agree with food labelling...but what is classified as an allergen? Nuts, gluten, dairy - yes. But then we have mine.....tomatoes! I actually have met quite a few with an allergy (aka food intolerance) to tomatoes but if you tell people they always say "oh I have never heard of anyone with an allergy to tomatoes"....the only way is to list ALL ingredients....and then you would have long queues at the buffet!

I am lucky - my allergic reaction is not life threatening, although very, very unpleasant.

[groovechick]

I do agree with food labelling...but what is classified as an allergen? Nuts, gluten, dairy - yes. But then we have mine.....tomatoes! I actually have met quite a few with an allergy (aka food intolerance) to tomatoes but if you tell people they always say "oh I have never heard of anyone with an allergy to tomatoes"....the only way is to list ALL ingredients....and then you would have long queues at the buffet!

I am lucky - my allergic reaction is not life threatening, although very, very unpleasant.

 

Ah Mysticalmother, there are so many. I've definitely heard before of people who have an allergy to tomatoes, I had a schoolfriend who was allergic to strawberries, another to coconut. I'm allergic to goat's cheese - strange as goat's milk is often recommended for people who are allergic/intolerant to cow's milk. My husband reacted badly to skate when he was a child, but quite happily eats fish and shellfish now, although he's never dared try skate since.

Wishing you lots of tomato-free dining. :)

[dgs1956]

Ah Mysticalmother, there are so many. I've definitely heard before of people who have an allergy to tomatoes, I had a schoolfriend who was allergic to strawberries, another to coconut. I'm allergic to goat's cheese - strange as goat's milk is often recommended for people who are allergic/intolerant to cow's milk. My husband reacted badly to skate when he was a child, but quite happily eats fish and shellfish now, although he's never dared try skate since.

Wishing you lots of tomato-free dining. :)

 

Goat's cheese allergy is unusual. I'm allergic to Horse Radish Sauce and my wife to Oranges and Orange Juice.

Edited August 13, 2015 by dgs1956

[groovechick]

Goat's cheese allergy is unusual. I'm allergic to Horse Radish Sauce and my wife to Oranges and Orange Juice.

 

Horseradish makes sense, because it's part of the mustard family, which is a known allergen for some people. Citrus fruit allergy is not uncommon either.

 

The evidence for my allergy is empirical - went to live and work in France for a while, was taken on a picnic by a work colleague and was offered goat's cheese for the first time. Tried a very small piece the size of a small finger nail and was violently ill for 3 days - rash, vomiting, etc. etc.

 

Tried another tiny piece a few years later just in case the previous reaction had been caused by something else and the same thing happened. Easy enough to avoid, you would think, except DH recently innocently bought some feta, only for it to contain goat's milk.

[dgs1956]

Horseradish makes sense, because it's part of the mustard family, which is a known allergen for some people. Citrus fruit allergy is not uncommon either.

 

The evidence for my allergy is empirical - went to live and work in France for a while, was taken on a picnic by a work colleague and was offered goat's cheese for the first time. Tried a very small piece the size of a small finger nail and was violently ill for 3 days - rash, vomiting, etc. etc.

 

Tried another tiny piece a few years later just in case the previous reaction had been caused by something else and the same thing happened. Easy enough to avoid, you would think, except DH recently innocently bought some feta, only for it to contain goat's milk.

 

Our sister-in-law visited us in Spain. She has a number of allergies and is very careful. However she tried the Horchata (Tiger Nut Milk) and loved it. Unfortunately it also had lactose and she really suffered from it.