How does Carnival handle Gluten Free?

[cgolf1]

We are looking at cruises likely on either the Sunshine or the Mardi Gras for sure, but we may end up on another ship, who knows as we are still planning.

 

We have seen some examples of the new gluten free menus online and they actually looked pretty good. Has anyone eaten off these menus, and do you feel like you have ever been glutened on Carnival?

 

We have been enjoying Celebrity and how they handle the buffet with items labeled gluten free. We saw some buffet reviews on the Mardi Gras and they also had the buffet dishes labeled as gluten free. Is this a fleetwide thing or just on ships like the Mardi Gras? 

 

Really hoping that they do gluten free well. Finally decided to give Carnival a try.

 

 

[dctravel]

The gluten free menus are "realtively" new, so that is a step in the right direction. As you book, you should also contact the Guest Access Support office (access@carnival.com). My son is allergic to dairy, we contact them with questions about his allergies, and they sent us back a reply that included the ship's chef's staff. Also, they noted that have a new Menu Mate application that allows you to navigate the menu more easily. It's available on all ships except Carnival Venezia. Here is what they said:

 

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Our ships* are equipped with Menu Mate™ food ingredient program fleetwide to accommodate guests with food allergies. Easily operated on touch-screen tablets at food venues, the Menu Mate food ingredient program is powered by award-winning CertiStar software to mitigate the risks of allergic reactions. The new program is the first of its kind among major cruise lines. Our staff will ask guests about food allergies and enter any restrictions into the program. The software will then sort through all available options and display which items are allergen-free, which options can be modified to exclude the specified allergen and which selections should be avoided. If preferred, guests can also use the Menu Mate designated tablet themselves to enter in their own allergy/dietary information and then order from the options curated to meet their needs. Guests will also be able to find a Menu Mate tablet on display near the Lido buffet stations as well.

 

* Menu Mate™ currently not available on Carnival Venezia™

 

Once on board, it is highly recommended that you contact our dining team for assistance.

Edited February 28 by dctravel

[Roscoe13]

1 hour ago, dctravel said:

The gluten free menus are "realtively" new, so that is a step in the right direction. As you book, you should also contact the Guest Access Support office (access@carnival.com). My son is allergic to dairy, we contact them with questions about his allergies, and they sent us back a reply that included the ship's chef's staff. Also, they noted that have a new Menu Mate application that allows you to navigate the menu more easily. It's available on all ships except Carnival Venezia. Here is what they said:

 

-------

Our ships* are equipped with Menu Mate™ food ingredient program fleetwide to accommodate guests with food allergies. Easily operated on touch-screen tablets at food venues, the Menu Mate food ingredient program is powered by award-winning CertiStar software to mitigate the risks of allergic reactions. The new program is the first of its kind among major cruise lines. Our staff will ask guests about food allergies and enter any restrictions into the program. The software will then sort through all available options and display which items are allergen-free, which options can be modified to exclude the specified allergen and which selections should be avoided. If preferred, guests can also use the Menu Mate designated tablet themselves to enter in their own allergy/dietary information and then order from the options curated to meet their needs. Guests will also be able to find a Menu Mate tablet on display near the Lido buffet stations as well.

 

* Menu Mate™ currently not available on Carnival Venezia™

 

Once on board, it is highly recommended that you contact our dining team for assistance.

Menu Mate is actually a kiosk that's manned by one of the dining representatives. They use the tablets to look up information regarding specialty diets. 

 

They are also the person you check in with once you embark to order for MDR dinning for the first night. 

 

They can also make sure you are flagged to the wait staff that you have a special diet and what you cannot eat. Wait staff will take your order at the conclusion of dinner for the next night's dinner. 

 

Buffet items are landmines for cross contamination...

[sparks1093]

We sailed last year with a young lady with gluten allergies and sensitivities to a handful of other foods. DW is allergic to shellfish. They met with the dining staff and the information was put into Menu Mate. At each night's dinner they were able to order their next night's dinner and the waitstaff was able to tell them if it could be made without the offending food or not. A slip was generated with their order for the waitstaff to use. They were also able to order items for sea day brunch and when we were seated they simply informed the waitstaff of their order and they retrieved the slip for it. Our friend was even able to get a gluten free Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. 

[PammyMouse]

I’m recently gluten-free.  Am I able to bring my own sealed snacks onboard?  
Thanks, PM

[staceyglow]

1 hour ago, PammyMouse said:

I’m recently gluten-free.  Am I able to bring my own sealed snacks onboard?  
Thanks, PM

Yes.