Nieuw Amsterdam Specialty Restaurants - Food Allergies

[esmo]

My husband has a severe peanut/shellfish allergy, about which we have already alerted the ship and will follow up once onboard. We are very careful about what he eats when we eat breakfast/lunch and normally we restrict ourselves to set dining in the MDR when we cruise to ensure there are no problems. I am wondering how this issue would be addressed should we want to try the Pinnacle or the Tamarind restaurant. We will be celebrating our anniversary on this cruise and I thought a special dinner would be nice.

[woodworker&knitter]

Our adult daughter, suffers from anaphylaxis to legumes, which are all beans, and nuts. Also to fresh, salt water and shellfish. She contacted Ship Services prior to our family cruise on the Rotterdam last year. 

Once on board she spoke with the DRM and also contacted the Pinnacle grill as soon as we boarded the ship.  

[leerathje]

My brother has Celiacs, and we ate in MDR every night, except one night in Tamarind.  In MDR, they provide you with a menu the night before. In Tamarind, we discussed it with our server when we sat down. There was never a problem.

[*Miss G*]

I would not eat in the Tamarind with a nut allergy,  Everything seems to have nuts on it so the concern for cross-contamination is high.  Even after I told them I did not want nuts on my selections they still came out with nuts.  They were not listening so I don’t trust that they won’t cross-contaminate within the kitchen.

[esmo]

1 hour ago, *Miss G* said:

I would not eat in the Tamarind with a nut allergy,  Everything seems to have nuts on it so the concern for cross-contamination is high.  Even after I told them I did not want nuts on my selections they still came out with nuts.  They were not listening so I don’t trust that they won’t cross-contaminate within the kitchen.

That is my concern. We have run into this when eating out at home. On Princess they have been very diligent, bringing us the menus the night before and really watching out for him. The last time on Holland America - not so much, we really were very much on our own. We always had to ask for the next days menus. I think we won't risk it.

[*Miss G*]

For some reason allergies and sensitivities, including chemical, are not taken seriously on HAL.  At least that has been my experience.  Just the fact that they still allow smoking in the casinos will tell you that.  There is still a lot of education to be done.  I will continue to sail with them but I know their limitations.