msc cruise gluten free

All pasta and no chocolate: What it’s like eating gluten-free on a cruise 

"Will I be able to eat anything on this cruise ship?" is not a question you often hear about floating holidays known for 24/7 dining and enormous buffets. But if you have celiac disease, like my mom, it's a logical concern.

I had invited my mom to join my kids and me on a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard MSC Seashore from MSC Cruises, an under-the-radar line unknown to many Americans. In fact, though I've written about cruising for almost 20 years, I'd never sailed with that line. Its dining options were not familiar to me, so I couldn't guarantee what gluten-free options we'd find on the line's newest cruise ship.

Spoiler alert: My mom did not starve, but we couldn't have foreseen that based on the limited information we were able to find before our sailing. Here's the good, the bad and the glutenous we experienced on our sailing, so future gluten-free cruisers can decide if MSC is the line for them or not.

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Pre-cruise information was either lacking or not encouraging

Let's start with the official word from MSC Cruises' website:

We were pleased to find this information, but our ship – MSC Seashore – was not listed. Did it offer the gluten-free cuisine program and Bureau Veritas certification? The MSC phone reps could not give us a definitive answer.

Online reviews were decidedly mixed. One woman raved about the gluten-free menu at dinner, while another reviewer claimed, "MSC was the best GF experience I've had including Royal and Celebrity." On the other hand, one Cruise Critic poster was forced to eat the same chicken with carrots and zucchini for meal after meal and concluded, "Frankly, I couldn't wait to get off this ship. It was singularly the worst gluten-free experience I've experienced on a ship. Carnival and Norwegian do 10 times better without even trying."

So we looked for travel agents who specialized in gluten-free cruising to see what they knew. One gluten-free and celiac travel specialist at Travel Leaders told my mom flat out that she would not recommend going on an MSC cruise. Another recommended Celebrity Cruises. My mom's trusted AAA travel agent didn't even sell MSC Cruises.

Finally, I asked a public relations representative for MSC Cruises about MSC Seashore specifically, and she answered that the ship did have dedicated areas for handling gluten-free food. My mom was willing to take a leap of faith with that answer, and we booked.

My mom filled out the MSC special needs form, indicating that she had celiac disease and could not eat gluten. She got a generic response back that said to talk to the maitre d' on board and that the line "cannot guarantee a 100% allergy-free zone." No one contacted her to discuss dining options or ask if she had any special food requests.

With that lack of reassurance, we headed to our ship.

The main dining room was best — but there was no gluten-free menu

When we boarded the ship on the first day, the buffet was the only venue open for lunch. My mom flagged down someone on the restaurant staff, who basically said she couldn't eat anything on the buffet and they'd make her some chicken with gluten-free pasta. The kids and I finished eating before she even got her meal. But she ate something, and it wasn't horrible.

At dinner on the first night, one of the dining room managers came to discuss menu options with my mom. MSC Seashore does not have a separate gluten-free menu, as online reviewers reported from other ships, but he pointed out which regular menu items could be made gluten-free.

He also brought some pre-packaged rolls. At every meal for the rest of the cruise, a waiter would bring my mom pre-packaged, gluten-free bread products. At breakfast, it might be a packaged muffin or croissant. At dinner, it was one of two kinds of rolls. It was always a surprise, and variety was limited. (To be fair, the regular dinner rolls didn't have much variety either.)

After the first night, we switched dining times and dining rooms, and our knight in shining gluten-free armor became Jason from South Africa. I swear he was the hardest working person on that cruise ship, assisting all the guests with allergies and dietary restrictions at dinner, supervising the buffet at lunch, even biking around Ocean Cay delivering ketchup from one food truck to another.

Every evening, he'd discuss with my mom what she could and couldn't eat from the main menu, and even show us the next day's menu so he could run any questions by the chef in advance. He told her about off-menu items she could order, such as gluten-free pancakes at breakfast and gluten-free pizza at lunch. We wondered if there were other off-menu items she should be considering, but no one could give us a good answer.

My mom was able to eat osso buco and lamb shank, gluten-free pasta dishes and French onion soup, among other dishes. She had a different meal each night at dinner – no endless chicken dinners. Her dining experience was not any worse than those of us eating off the regular menu. She probably had more choices than I did as someone who does not eat meat or shellfish.

Dessert was a bust

Dessert was a different story.

The gluten-free dessert in the main dining room was always some variation of a white cake with frosting — or she could order the cheese or fruit plate. But we are chocolate people.

When my mom asked if she could get a chocolate dessert, the manager responded that the line's chocolate providers did not guarantee their products were gluten-free, so they couldn't make her a chocolate cake or gluten-free cookies.

He also said none of the ice cream on board was marked gluten-free, so he couldn't serve it to her. She ate it at the buffet and Venchi gelateria anyway and felt fine.

We were glad to see the restaurant staff taking the allergy situation seriously. The downside was that anything that was obviously gluten-free, like plain chocolate ice cream, still could not be served to my mom. You want to be able to have fun desserts on a cruise line, and flourless chocolate cake and ice cream are so simple to make gluten-free. It was disappointing that the line couldn't bother to find suppliers for these items.

The buffet was mostly off-limits

Nothing on the buffet was marked in any way. Not only could you not tell if a dish was gluten-free or vegetarian, but you also couldn't find out what an unassuming dish contained without tasting it. Case in point: One day, there were two vats of mushy yellow-orange stuff side by side. I asked the server — one was polenta and the other a squash dish, but that was not obvious to anyone by sight.

My mom figured she could eat the salad, the fresh fruit or any made-to-order eggs. It wasn't worth ordering a gluten-free meal that would take 20 minutes to arrive. So she avoided the buffet, meaning she took nearly all her meals in the dining room.

Luckily, my daughter and I weren't big fans of the buffet either, and often came with my mom to breakfast in the main dining room. One day I had a leisurely lunch with her when the kids weren't hungry and stayed behind to watch TV in the cabin.

Snacks and bagged lunches were tricky to acquire

One of the online reviews mentioned gluten-free snacks at an onboard bar, but we never came across those. (I did find a gluten-free drink list, including gluten-free beer, at the Brooklyn Café.) My mom asked her buddy Jason about snacks, and he gave her a few, including one that was essentially a gluten-free Twinkie.

My mom's other concern was lunches off the ship. We had several excursions that took place over the midday mealtime, and she'd read that there wasn't gluten-free food on Ocean Cay, which Jason confirmed.

She asked the first night about the possibility of getting a packed lunch and was told to ask Guest Services. They said they'd have to contact Shore Excursions, which reported back that they did not handle food nor could they ask the tour operators about their food offerings. It was like a wild goose chase just to find information.

Once again, Jason came to the rescue. I can order you packed lunches, he said, just tell me which days and remind me the night before. The lunches were great, packed with two sandwiches (usually turkey and/or tuna), fruit and several snacks. The downside was of the three days my mom ordered them, twice they weren't ready and she had to wait 20 minutes before the lunch appeared.

Eating gluten-free, it turns out, involves a heck of a lot of waiting around.

There was no sliced bread

My mom certainly ate her fill of carbs – rolls, cake, croissants, pasta and pizza. What the ship did not have on board? Gluten-free sliced bread.

Any time my mom got a sandwich, it was on one of the same pre-packaged rolls she got with dinner. She would have liked some sliced bread, either to eat as toast with eggs in the morning or as a sandwich base at lunch, but for whatever reason, the ship did not stock it.

Bottom line

Cruising gluten-free on MSC was not the horror story some online reviewers and travel agents made it out to be. My mom had plenty of different foods to eat, and she did not get sick.

Were her options limited? Yes. Were there foods, like ice cream and bread, that MSC could have provided but did not supply? Certainly. Were there extra hassles involved with making sure my mom got fed — and was her satisfaction with cruise dining dependent on us being assigned to Jason's table and not a less helpful dining manager? You betcha.

Ultimately, I don't think my mom will be cruising on MSC again, but that's not entirely due to the gluten-free dining situation. My takeaway is that your experience eating gluten-free on MSC Cruises may vary based on the ship you're sailing and the region of the world you're traveling (since that could affect provisioning). The best tip I have for successful eating with a dietary restriction, and this applies to any cruise line, is to keep asking questions and advocate for yourself until you get what you need.

The squeaky wheel, in this case, gets the grease — ideally, in gluten-free pizza form.

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Overall Rating

Just came back after travelling with MSC Seashore and was SO positively surprised. In the buffet restaurant, they are very knowledgable about what you can eat and not, and they have gluten-free bread, muffins, cakes, croissants and more behind the counter (just ask for it in the fruit and sallad bar). The by far best option is however to eat in the restaurants. They have separate waiters ONLY taking gluten-free orders, so my two celiac girls had their own waiter the entire week. :) The menus change from day to day and they had SO much to choose from. MSC Seashore has a separate GL-free kitchen and as long as you inform them in advance of travelling, you’ll be served great food for the duration of your cruice - completely safe. And with fantastic service. Can highly recommend!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Completely dedicated gluten-free kitchen
• Dedicated gluten-free space in the kitchen
• Dedicated gluten-free fryer
• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Quality & Quantity

Is there a gluten-free menu.

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good selection of healthy options

Gluten-Free Features

• Reported to have dedicated kitchen space
• Reported to have a dedicated fryer
• Gluten-Free Menu
• Kid Friendly
• Vegetarian Friendly
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CRUISE BUFFET AND RESTAURANTS

Our onboard  main   restaurants  will always give you a wide choice of high quality cuisine with a different menu selection every day and signature dishes by star chefs, from International to the best Mediterranean food. At our extensive Buffet you can explore an astonishing variety of our cuisine, with the freedom to walk in and treat yourself at any time. The Buffet is open for breakfast , lunch , dinner and late night snacks .

Depending on your Ship and Experience, you can choose from Classic to  Early or Late Dining when booking and we’ll reserve a table for you for the entire duration of your cruise. To enjoy even more flexibility you can choose My Choice dining style that lets you dine any time you like during the main restaurant’s opening hours.

Important notice

For cruises departing from a U.S. homeport: The first entrée, appetizers, and desserts are complimentary per each guest. For guests who wish to order a second entrée, an additional surcharge of $5 will be applied.

As one of the healthiest diets on the planet, Mediterranean food takes centre stage at our main restaurants, tempting you with French, Italian and Spanish cuisine.

Available on: all MSC Ships

Location: Main Restaurants

Type of service: Included

Our main restaurants invite you on a journey around the world’s cuisines, offering exceptional international dishes every day of your cruise. 

Come to the Carvery for deliciously tender, juicy and flavourful roast meat specialities that will please your palate any day of the week. Enjoy the theatre of watching your personal favourites being carved right in front of your eyes especially for you. Available on: all MSC Ships

Location: Buffet

The Take-away Station is just the place to be when you’re feeling peckish for a snack on the go. A wide range of the most popular fast foods awaits you, the perfect casual dining fix for those moments when hunger suddenly strikes. Available on: all MSC Ships

Check out the Pasta Station for authentic Italian pasta just like mama used to make. Discover a new selection of delicious flavour combinations every single day to satisfy even the most discerning palate.                                                      

Created with the little ones in mind, Kids’ Corner offers a selection of tasty, healthy and fun meals to tickle your children’s taste buds throughout your cruise. Dishes change on a daily basis so there’s always something new and exciting to discover. Available on: all MSC Ships

Get set to be wowed by the creativity of our talented chefs at the Daily Special Corner. Wrap your taste buds around a different speciality every day of your cruise for an unforgettable culinary surprise.

A selection of light and tasty dishes awaits you at our Wellness Corner. Made with your health in mind, these dishes will boost your wellbeing without putting a strain on your waistline. Stock up on your five-a-day with dishes that are delicious, nutritious and packed with flavour. Available on: all MSC Ships

Enticing aromas and mouth-watering flavours are served up at our Ethnic Corner. Choose your personal favourite from a range of delectable dishes, hand-selected from every corner of the world, from Asian to Indian – and everything in between. Available on: all MSC Ships

We believe everyone’s special on an MSC cruise ship which is why we provide tailored menus and solutions to meet everyone’s dining requirements:  

• Vegetarian Menus of delicious specialities, freshly prepared to the gourmet standards for which MSC is renowned;
• Kosher meals (pre-packaged breakfast, lunch and dinner) may be available on board for an additional charge starting from €25 pp/day. Kosher meals can be consumed in the main restaurants and must be booked at least 3 weeks before ship’s departure
• Halal products (beef, lamb and poultry) may be available on board following former request of the guest at least two months before departure; 
• Gluten-Free Menus * are prepared by skilled personnel in dedicated kitchens on board.

MSC Cruises has obtained a certification from Bureau Veritas to provide gluten-free menus worldwide (food code: 20 ppm). Available on: all MSC Ships . Please check the availability of gluten-free menus when booking.

*On MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica guests can find only a limited selection of pre-packaged gluten-free snacks such as, biscuits, croissants, sponge cakes and muffins.  

Indulge your sweet tooth at the Dessert Corner, a cornucopia of deliciously sweet treats that will have your mouth watering. Enter the magical world of fine patisserie, crafted with love by our team of talented bakers and pastry chefs with meticulous attention to detail.

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MSC Cruises

How to Stay Gluten-Free on Your Cruise

By Thomas Faddegon

Cruiseline.com

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Gluten Free on MSC..the bad, good and great..

By Nashna , February 4, 2020 in MSC Cruises

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We just spent 17 days on the Divina.  My husband has Celiac Disease so the quality and selection of the GF offerings is very important to us.

A dedicated area on the ship to prepare GF foods.  

A special GF Menu in the MDR and offered in YC for breakfast and dinner.  This menu had items not offered in the MDR such as prime rib and lamb chops.  The sauces were fantastic and the presentation was great.  I actually ordered some items off the GF menu when I wasn't thrilled with what was offered on the regular MDR menu.  Not sure why they bothered with the breakfast GF menu as it did not offer anything other than the usual meats, eggs, etc.

The pastry offered on Divina was all pre-packaged and came in the original wrappers.   The chocolate croissants were great as was the focciocio.  The bread was just ok.  At breakfast, these were presented cold and we had to ask them to be reheated.   

NO PIZZA!  This was a big surprise as it has been available on our last 7 sailings on different cruise lines.  RCCL's pizza was so good that our grandchildren preferred it to the regular.  Even offering frozen pizza would be better than none.  I did ask and was told that they had received lots of complaints about this.   We were informed that no MSC ship offers pizza.

NO TOAST, PANCAKES, WAFFLES.  Again, he has had these on previous sailings on other lines.  

When asked about options on the buffet, we were told by two different people that there were no GF options and "you can't eat anything on the buffet"!  Of course, this was untrue as there were always salads or plain meats and fruit.  

While MSC special GF kitchen really shines at dinner, they need to do more to enhance the G F options for breakfast, breads and dessert. 

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Thamks for the report. Being more sensitive than full on allergic, I tend to be able to eat around most foods. Your dinner report has me wondering whether I should actually formalize the GF requirement for my April cruise.

Definitely ask for both menus.  When we were in Le Muse, the maître de actually came over to check on the GF menu to see if they had prime rib for a passenger who was not eating GF, but wanted prime rib.  Every night, shrimp cocktail was on the GF menu.

BermudaBound2014

This is a very nice summary. One of the girls in our group for April just asked me last night about GF options. Thank you for taking the time to share.

31 minutes ago, Nashna said: Definitely ask for both menus.  When we were in Le Muse, the maître de actually came over to check on the GF menu to see if they had prime rib for a passenger who was not eating GF, but wanted prime rib.  Every night, shrimp cocktail was on the GF menu.

Oh wow. I wish we had known that. The shrimp cocktail was one of the best things we had in Le Muse, but it was only offered once.

10 minutes ago, Kmkub said: Oh wow. I wish we had known that. The shrimp cocktail was one of the best things we had in Le Muse, but it was only offered once.

My husband had shrimp almost every night.  One evening, we dined with another couple, and when they heard him ordering it, they did as well.  

22 hours ago, Nashna said:     Bad... NO PIZZA!  This was a big surprise as it has been available on our last 7 sailings on different cruise lines.     

Wait a second ... for a second there I thought you said NO PIZZA  😱

CruisinCrow

So anyone can ask to see the gluten free menu?  You didn't have to set it up in advance or order the night before?

My husband asked for it on the first night and they brought it to the MDR every night.  When we were in the YC, he also just mentioned it once and it came every night.  MSC has a separate kitchen that just does GF.  They have a menu printed every day, you just need to ask.  Bob would check out both menus and then pick from the one that he wanted.  Only area where they did not match the regular menu was in desserts.  He pretty much was stuck with ice cream.  

Best Cat Mom

On Seaside, we ordered Room Service pizza. I am extremely gluten-sensitive but not "emergency room visit" sensitive. I plucked the toppings off my husband's pizza and had no issues. The toppings came off clean and I had zero issues. Yummy!

• 1 month later...

Back from our March 10th 3 night Divina cruise and wanted to share my experience with gluten free on MSC. This was my first time on MSC.

I had heard so many good things about how MSC excels at gluten free because of their European experience etc. but this was simply not the case for me.

Our cruise had no sea days and went to Ocean Cay and Nassau.

1. Boarding Day: The ONLY option was the buffet which is something I avoid as a celiac sufferer. We were told that the only thing on the buffet that "might" be safe was the salad and fruit. Everything else was off limits. We spoke with an officer who said that theycould prepare us some chicken and fish. Turns out it was a grilled chicken breast (no fish) with steamed carrots and zucchini. Chicken breast was delicious, carrots OK, and zucchini was underdone.

2. Boarding day dinner: We were given our own separate menu but the choices were very limited. Basically that chicken breast and fish for entrees. No beef options. Dinner was OK and provided the most options on the ship.

3. Day 2 breakfast: Gluten free menu but lots of the items like muffins, etc. they said they could not do or were out of. No meats on the menu but we were able to successfully order bacon and ham this time. Basically, you get scrambled eggs and some bagged croissants that were very good (orange filling). 

4. We were at Ocean Cay on Day 2 and we had bought a deluxe cabana that included lunch. We selected our lunch items on a form at the shore excursions desk. We noted that 2 of us were gluten free and our items needed to be gluten free. The night before they found me in the theater and told me that they cannot provide ANY gluten free food on the island and I should downgrade to the cabana without food. (which I did) 

So we go on the island this day and there is NO gluten free food options on the island. Once we were done we went back on the ship and went to the buffet for lunch. (only thing open) We find an officer so we can get something made for us and are informed that the gluten free kitchen is closed and everyone is on the island and we cannot have ANY food made for us but that he can give us one of those bread rolls in a bag. I told him to make it 2. Feeling like a prisoner at this point with just bread and water. LOL

As I am at the table eating my bread rolls our dedicated gluten free officer comes by and notices me. I mentioned that we got nothing and he said he will see what he can do. About 10 minutes later he showed up with a plate of last night's leftovers. I ate most of it even though some of it was cold.

5. The Divina bar has a box of gluten free snacks underneath the bar. It took awhile after asking many different people to find this out. I was hungry after "lunch" so I stopped by and grabbed 4 of them and it came out to $15.30 (which includes a $2 gratuity for them reaching under the bar, grabbing the box, and you picking out what you want.

6. Day 2 dinner: I was hungry so I ordered the chicken breast which came with carrots and zucchini again as well as another entree with pasta with a seafood sauce. The menu only list fruit plate and cheese plate for dessert but we got our guy to bring us a piece of cake that was mostly whipped cream like.

7. Skipped breakfast Day 3 - Went to buffet for lunch where I had ... can you guess??? Grilled chicken breast, carrots, and no zucchini ... it was steamed broccoli that was cold when it arrived. Had some of my snacks before dinner.

8. Day 3 Dinner: Menu was the same old fish and chicken and a pasta option. I asked if they could grill chicken breast, cut up, add to pasta, and add marinara sauce. They said they could not but could bring pasta with marinara and a grilled chicken breast separate. So I asked them why I cannot get one of the steaks that is on the main menu gluten free. He said he could do one if I out the order in right now and was willing to wait a bit longer. I said yes and told him to bring me another entree too. Steak came later and it was a cheaper cut sirloin but was OK. I was hyena like at this stage any way.

9. Debark day breakfast: Got 2 croissants and asked why I couldn't have omelet instead of scrambled eggs. He said I could have omelet as long as it was mushroom and cheese omelet with no alterations. I said ok and it was just ok when it came.

Frankly, I couldn't wait to get off this ship. It was singularly the worst gluten free experience I've experienced on a ship. Carnival and Norwegian do 10 times better without even trying.

More thoughts:

All bread options were these little rolls in a bag. I had 3 different ones. I liked the 2nd one the best but after getting it once they said they didn't have them anymore.

Apparently iced tea is not a thing on MSC. I could get it a some meals but not others.

There really are no grab and go gluten free options on the ship. They couldn't guarantee any gelato was gluten free at the gelato place.

The staff doesn't have any empathy are seem to care when they tell you no.

There was a special section on the cabana form for listing food allergies. However, if they cannot handle them then why is it even on the form.

We had fully intended on booking an MSC Meraviglia cruise at the future cruise desk before we ever boarded. However, after this experience we did not. I'm not saying that I'm never going on MSC again but it is not likely. Unless I hear some completely opposite reviews of mine in the future on gluten free options I won't be planning any more MSC sailings.

Big Fail for MSC on Gluten Free

Finally, I realize that MSC does not have to accommodate me. I'm the one with celiac disease and I'm the once forced to eat gluten free and it is not up to them to deal with this. (and that's fine) However, the other cruise lines DO accommodate my needs and thus I will spend my money with the cruise lines that do take care of me. 🙂

OH, and there definitely is NO gluten free pizza onboard at anytime but lots of regular pizza options.

Nightone….I am so sorry.  My husband did not have that experience at all with the MDR.  His GF.menu had more choices than mine.  Every night he was offered a beef dish...including prime rib (which never appeared on the regular menu), lamp chops or pork as well as fish and chicken.  We were on the Divina in January and have the Seaview booked for January 2021.  We will be hugely disappointed if the menu onboard in January is what you experienced.  Obviously, something has changed with the MDR  and I wonder why?  I totally agree with you regarding the buffet.  He was told that the only thing he could have was the salad bar and fruit.  I questioned why he couldn't have a slice of beef from the roast they were cutting and they said it had gluten in it.  We have been on every ship from Seabourn to RCCL in the past four years and can truly say the buffet and pastry on Divina were the poorest.  We were also distressed to see that there wasn't toast, waffles or pancakes offered for breakfast.  We only had breakfast in the MDR as it does offer more than the buffet.  My husband had an omelet almost every morning and it was always loaded with everything so I don't understand why they would restrict yours.  I met the Captain and the Hotel Director and mentioned how disappointed we were with the buffet and the lack of pizza.  Both said that MSC was working on providing GF pizza in the future.  

21 hours ago, Nashna said: Nightone….I am so sorry.  My husband did not have that experience at all with the MDR.  His GF.menu had more choices than mine.  Every night he was offered a beef dish...including prime rib (which never appeared on the regular menu), lamp chops or pork as well as fish and chicken.  We were on the Divina in January and have the Seaview booked for January 2021.  We will be hugely disappointed if the menu onboard in January is what you experienced.  Obviously, something has changed with the MDR  and I wonder why?  I totally agree with you regarding the buffet.  He was told that the only thing he could have was the salad bar and fruit.  I questioned why he couldn't have a slice of beef from the roast they were cutting and they said it had gluten in it.  We have been on every ship from Seabourn to RCCL in the past four years and can truly say the buffet and pastry on Divina were the poorest.  We were also distressed to see that there wasn't toast, waffles or pancakes offered for breakfast.  We only had breakfast in the MDR as it does offer more than the buffet.  My husband had an omelet almost every morning and it was always loaded with everything so I don't understand why they would restrict yours.  I met the Captain and the Hotel Director and mentioned how disappointed we were with the buffet and the lack of pizza.  Both said that MSC was working on providing GF pizza in the future.  

Honestly I was pretty disappointed. The other gluten free person in our party was on Seaside in early 2019 and had a great experience. They were also disappointed on Divina and said it wasn't the same. Very sad as the the ships are beautiful and I liked almost everything else on the ship. MSC just isn't for celiac/gluten free cruisers in my opinion. First time ever that I went hungry on a cruise ship. 😞

What I gathered on the Seaside is that they won't tell you anything is GF unless it has been prepared in the GF section of the kitchen and officially certified as GF.  That's different than other lines because MSC is so diligent about GF being an Italian cruise line (other lines present as gluten-friendly but aren't as meticulous).  Once I figured that out, I started making my own decisions.  If you cook, you have a reasonable idea of what is GF and what may be dangerous for you.  On the buffet, I asked the chefs on the line if I didn't know and they were great about helping me.  If it was something they weren't sure about, I stayed away.  I only had 1 problem in the buffet and that was on me because I didn't ask before eating it.  

Not having any GF pizza was a disappointment, but I get plenty of GF pizza normally with the widespread availability of GF and cauliflower crusts now.  I don't get fresh bread or freshly made pasta often, so I was thrilled enough with that to make up for not having pizza.  It sounds like the Divina doesn't serve the fresh GF bread with meals which would be a big disappointment.  While I loved the prepackaged pastries the first few days, they got old toward the end of the cruise.

• 1 year later...

This is all a disappointment to read. I’m really surprised too. We have an Italy trip planned in March (not a cruise) and Italy is VERY celiac friendly. They have way more options than we do here in the US. So it’s shocking to see an Italian ship not GF friendly. For MSC not to have GF pizza is crazy. I honestly would not have bought the cruise if I’d read this. At least it’s just a small 3 nighter.   

My son is not celiac but VERY intolerant. I’m reading you can’t bring food on board. Will they allow you in a case like this?

We are in the Meraviglia next month so I’ll report back. 

3 hours ago, Mirrasis said: My son is not celiac but VERY intolerant. I’m reading you can’t bring food on board. Will they allow you in a case like this?

You can bring packaged prepared food onboard (such as crackers and dry snacks or power bars).  You cannot bring any fruit, veggies, meats, or anything that would need to be "prepared."

Make sure you fill out the medical declaration in advance and let them know that you will want the GF menus.  

Norwegian Cruiser 73

I have just returned from a cruise in the MSC Yacht Club onboard the MSC Grandiosa in the Mediterranean Sea. They have a dedicated GF kitchen onboard and this kitchen make all the gluten free food onboard. They have  GF menus in the YC restaurant and MDR's. The food was good to very good, no complaints at all. Delicious GF pasta too. The problem is the buffet restaurant. There is no allergy marking of the food so you have to know your stuff if you are going to eat there. No GF pizza. However, I did order GF pizza from the butler in the Yacht Club and it was very good. It was made in the GF kitchen. So it's available onboard, at least on the Grandiosa. They are really very serious about cross contamination. They don't want you to be sick. We also got great GF bread for breakfast, both in the cabin and in the restaurant. No freshly baked cakes or pastries though, that was very disappointing. But you always have the Gelato. Here are some photos of the GF meals that was offered in the Yacht Club Restaurant. They should be similar in the MDR's as it's the same kitchen. I also recommend dining in the speciality restaurant Butcher's Cut. Delicious food and plenty of GF options. A good idea is to have a chat with the Maitre'd/restaurant manager on the embarkation day. They will do everything for you, so you can enjoy your cruise without worrying about being sick of the food. Have a great GF cruise. 

Here is a GF menu from the Elegant (formal) evening on the MSC Grandiosa. 

8 hours ago, Mirrasis said: This is all a disappointment to read. I’m really surprised too. We have an Italy trip planned in March (not a cruise) and Italy is VERY celiac friendly. They have way more options than we do here in the US. So it’s shocking to see an Italian ship not GF friendly. For MSC not to have GF pizza is crazy. I honestly would not have bought the cruise if I’d read this. At least it’s just a small 3 nighter.    My son is not celiac but VERY intolerant. I’m reading you can’t bring food on board. Will they allow you in a case like this?   We are in the Meraviglia next month so I’ll report back. 

Please note that my original post was from January 2020...just before Covid hit.  The officiers that I spoke with all said that GF pizza was something they were working on.  Two years can make a big difference.  I would only pay attention to the latest posts. 

Thank you everyone!

MSC was the best GF experience I've had including Royal and Celebrity. Warm bread plus GF pasta or risotto every night? I was in heaven. In the buffet, I asked the server how an item was prepared. If they couldn't tell me, they found someone who could. I was generally able to eat the rotating fish or chicken dish each day along with a potato or rice plus veggies. My only complaints were pizza (sounds like this may have changed) and dessert. The same cakes were served multiple nights. But with gelato available, I didn't suffer. 

How about room service? Will they bring anything GF?

.We were in the Yacht Club, so I don't know about the rest of the ship.  We ordered cheese and crackers and our butler brought us six boxes of very good GF crackers as he was afraid that he might not be able to find them again and wanted to be sure that we had enough for the rest of the cruise.  

• 2 months later...

Cruise12347

@Norwegian Cruiser 73 are you able share some more photos of the gluten free menus please from your trip on MSC Grandiosa please? Where sailing soon and love to see more examples of the kind items available. Slightly worried as to what will be available and if it’ll be repetitive!

Is it the same GF menu for dinner each night of a cruise or does it change?   

Have you got photos of the lunch GF menu? Does that changr or is the same everyday?

Have you got a photo of the GF breakfast menu too please.

Thanks for your help

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MOBILITY, MEDICAL AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

MSC Cruises and its staff have always been attentive to the needs of their guests, and constantly strive to offer the best possible service, meeting international accessibility standards.

For information on the assistance provided on board and at our port terminals, please consult the sections below.

You can also find information related to special needs in the General Booking Conditions , the Conditions of Carriage  and in the FAQ  section.

Informing us on any mobility, medical and dietary requirements

Guests can inform MSC Cruises of any special requirements by filling in the relevant form ( Special Needs Form available online and at all accredited travel agencies. Please email the completed form to [email protected] . This information should preferably be provided at the time of booking, or, no fewer than 45 days before departure. This allows us time to provide the best possible service for our guests, which depends on the facilities and resources on board each ship. If we are notified after this deadline we will do everything in our power to provide the services requested, but this may not be possible at such short notice. Guests will only be prevented from booking or embarking in exceptional circumstances, and only in the event of a serious or urgent threat to the safety of the guests or the crew. All personal data provided by guests will be treated in a manner that fully conforms to our privacy policy. For further information on the services offered on board, on how to inform us of any special needs or other requirements not expressly mentioned in this section, please get in touch with your travel agent.

Cabin Facilities

Accessible cabins, fitted out especially for guests with disabilities and/or reduced mobility, are available on every ship in the fleet. Guests requiring an accessible cabin can request it at the time of booking.

The accessible cabins are larger and offer more space for movement than regular cabins, and come with extra facilities and equipment to meet special needs.

Check the facilities available on your preferred ship: MSC Armonia , MSC Bellissima , MSC Divina , MSC Euribia ,  MSC Fantasia ,  MSC Grandiosa, MSC Lirica , MSC Magnifica , MSC Meraviglia , MSC Musica , MSC Opera , MSC Orchestra , MSC Poesia , MSC Preziosa , MSC Seashore ,  MSC Seaside , MSC Seaview , MSC Sinfonia , MSC Splendida , MSC Virtuosa , MSC World Europa .

Reduced Mobility

All decks, public areas and tenders are designed to be as accessible as possible for guests with reduced mobility. There might be ports or tender services you may not access with a mobility device. In addition, there are varying numbers of specially fitted-out cabins available on each ship in the fleet. For safety reasons, guests requiring assistance may be requested to travel with a carer, depending on the specific route.

Wheelchairs are available on board our ships, for the use of guests during embarkation and disembarkation only, or in case of emergency. Guests that require constant use of a wheelchair or any other form of support must bring their own equipment with them. It is the responsibility of the guest to check with the relevant producers/suppliers that this equipment is safe to take on board and use on a cruise ship, and to organize both its delivery to the departure terminal in good time for embarkation, and its collection at the end of the cruise.

For detailed information on the ports of call and excursions suitable for passengers who experience mobility problems, read the relevant pages in this section, and once on board check the accuracy of the information provided.

Visual Impairments

MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia have Braille signs in public areas, in lifts and at the entrance to the cabins; all the ships have deck indicators in the lifts and fully accessible public areas, decks and tenders. For their safety, and depending on their level of disability, guests may be requested to travel with a carer or guide dog.

For detailed information on accessible shore excursions, read the relevant pages in this section, and once on board check the accuracy of the information provided.

Hearing Impairments

Passengers with partial hearing disabilities can travel alone, only if they request the installation of a TDD System kit in their cabin. This kit, available in limited numbers on all ships, includes light and vibrating devices, a text phone and an analogue alarm clock.

Service Animals

Suitably trained and certified guide dogs are allowed on board all ships, assuming that they are in a good state of health and possess all necessary documents for entering the foreign countries visited during the cruise.

The guest is personally responsible (with the aid of the carer if applicable) for the custody, feeding and general care of the animal during the whole stay on board.

Guests undergoing peritoneal dialysis treatment can travel as normal, bringing with them all medicines and equipment that may be required during the cruise.

Equipment and machinery for haemodialysis treatment will only be carried on board by specialized independent companies on certain routes. For further information on this service, please contact your travel agent or our contact center.

Children with Special Needs

Children with special needs have normal access to all on-board services and facilities. Although the entertainment staff do not offer a childcare service, they are trained to provide a wide range of entertainment aimed specifically at children.

All children, including those with special needs, are assigned to a certain entertainment area depending on their age. If necessary, children or young people with special needs can be placed with a lower age group (with the agreement of their parents), or they can take part in specific activities, together with their parents if required.

Special Diets

We can accommodate most special dietary requirements in our main restaurants where there is a greater degree of control over the production and service of special meals. We cannot guarantee no cross-contamination at the buffet. MSC Cruises holds a certification for its food safety management system in accordance with ISO 22000 standard requirements. MSC Cruises offers gluten-free menus (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the main restaurants on most of its ships. On MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica guests can find only a limited selection of pre-packaged gluten-free snacks such as, biscuits, croissants, sponge cakes and muffins. Please check availability when booking. Guests with food intolerances and/or allergies must inform MSC Cruises of their needs via the Special Needs Form and, once on board, confirm their requirements at Reception-Guest Service and/or with the Maître d’hôtel.

Kosher meals (pre-packaged breakfast, lunch and dinner) may be available on board for an additional charge of €25/$30 pp/day. Kosher meals can be consumed in the main restaurants and must be booked at least 30 days before ship’s departure. Halal products (beef, lamb and poultry) may be available on board following former request of the guest at least two months before departure. Vegetarian and Vegan -friendly dishes are incorporated into our main restaurant menus and buffet restaurant culinary offer.

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MSC Cruises

Gluten-Free Travel With Me

  Travel stories and reviews from a gluten free traveller

MSC Cruises

Msc virtuosa staycation cruise 28/05/21.

Welcome to my first ever blog post!! And what a way to start, with a review of my four night cruise onboard the brand new MSC Virtuosa. The Virtuosa was originally slated to launch in September, but thanks to the pandemic (the gift that just keeps on giving!), she wasn’t able to do her first passenger sailing until the 20th May 2021. Along with numerous other cruise lines, MSC launched a summer full of UK staycation (or maybe seacation!) cruises, and the Virtuosa was the very first ship to set sail. At full capacity, the Virtuosa can hold well over 6000 passengers however for our cruise, thanks to government guidelines and the protocols that all of the cruise lines have to operate under in relation to COVID-19, it was limited to a maximum of 1000 passengers. We thought that this was an excellent time to try out a brand new ship without it being too busy.

Runways and Byways

Ultimate Guide to a Gluten-Free Cruise Experience

The popularization of the gluten-free diet in Hollywood has prompted food companies and restaurants to offer gluten-free options. However, many companies fail to recognize that being gluten-free is not always a dietary choice but the result of an allergy or an autoimmune disease. This often leads to lazy practices in the restaurant and food service industry and ultimately cross-contamination. Cruise lines, catering to millions of people worldwide, are just one of the many business operations that must accommodate gluten-free patrons. As someone on a strict gluten-free diet, I have had good, bad, and ugly gluten-free cruise experiences. In this article, I will be comparing the gluten-free offerings and “allergy-safe” practices on major cruise lines: MSC, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean.

Note: This post will be updated to include more cruise lines as I continue my travels.

Table of Contents

The Gluten-Free Diet: Explained

Let’s first define some of the gluten-free jargon, being that they will be used frequently in this article. Please note that these definitions come from my years of experience, but they are not from a dictionary.

Gluten-free : a general term used currently to display food as safe for persons with Celiac disease (see next definition). It does not guarantee the environment in which it was handled and/or made was gluten-free–friendly.

Celiac Disease : an autoimmune genetic disorder in which the “diseased” is unable to consume products containing wheat, rye, barley, and gluten without having some reaction. To learn more about Celiac disease, click here .

Cross-contamination: To explain this term, I will use the example of cooking pasta. If the chefs are cooking large amounts in a restaurant, they may reuse the water that had just been used for a prior batch. Even though the pasta may be labeled as gluten-free, the chefs should not put the gluten-free pasta in the same water that the regular pasta was just cooked in, as it will become contaminated. Another example is a person in the buffet line using tongs to grab a piece of bread (gluten) and then using that same set of tongs on a gluten-free product. A gluten-sensitive person can then use those tongs and cross-contaminate their food.

My Gluten-Free Cruise Experiences

Now that the above terms have been quickly defined, I can go into what my experience was like on each of the cruise lines (in no preferential order). I will particularly speak about the buffet, quick service areas, and the sit-down restaurants.

Gluten-Free on MSC Cruises

Buffet : Upon request, they prepared me a gluten-free meal. Gluten-free breads were also available upon request. There was no specific gluten-free section.  

Quick Service : I have no experience with the quick service options.

Sit-Down Restaurant : The staff was extremely attentive and took the allergy request seriously. I had my own allergy-friendly menu, waiter, and a plethora of gluten-free food choices. They even served all of the gluten-free products with separate utensils, so I did not have to worry about cross-contamination. 

As a side note, the restaurant also offered gluten-free meals to carry out on excursions. These meals were available upon request by the wait staff.

Gluten-Free on Carnival Cruises

Buffet : No gluten-free options unless requested. 

Quick Service : I only found one sandwich stand with gluten-free options, and there was major cross-contamination (surfaces and serving tools made contact with both gluten-free and regular bread).

Sit-Down Restaurant : Gluten-free options were available each night. The gluten-free dessert was really good. 

Gluten-Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises

Buffet : There was a specific gluten-free section with new options each day; I particularly liked the dessert area. It was clearly marked and separated from the rest of the food to minimize cross-contamination. To my knowledge, they did not prepare allergy-friendly meals upon request, which, unfortunately, raises the risk for cross-contamination a bit. 

Quick Service : The pizza quick service had gluten-free options. However, I was unable to see the surface used to prepare and cook the food, and it is unknown if the staff changed their gloves. I did not get sick, but cross-contamination is a possibility here.

Sit-Down Restaurant : Gluten-free options were provided upon request. 

Conclusion: My Experience Being Gluten-Free at Sea

I was pleasantly surprised by the gluten-free options on each of the ships. I feel MSC Cruises had the best sit-down restaurant experience; the service team was on top of their game, and the chefs were always creative while showing safe practices. Royal Caribbean had the best buffet because the gluten-free section was in a different spot than other foods, thus minimizing the cross-contamination that comes with this type of service. They also had the best quick service options (I loved the pizza). Carnival came out on top with the best dessert offerings; their signature Warm Chocolate Melting Cake was served gluten-free upon request.

Overall, I have had very good gluten-free cruise experiences. However, it may vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing. The gluten-free world is always changing. I would love to hear about your experiences; contact me or let me know in the comments below!

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• MSC Cruises

Gluten free on MSC

By CruzanKris , July 22, 2017 in MSC Cruises

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My husband is gluten sensitive and the food options for him are always amazing on RCCL. We have two upcoming cruises with MSC and would like to know if MSC has a lot of GF options.

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I'm also interested. We've only recently found out that DH is gluten sensitive. It will be risotto but no pasta or pizza for him, something he's still coming to terms with.

It would already be great if MSC had gluten free bread.

Ive read somewhere that msc has a designated gluten free area in the buffet and also a gluten free area in the kitchens so that there is no contamination. Im traveling with my sister next year on seaview and she's also gluten free so hopefully someone else can confirm [emoji4]

I'd like to know as well as we've had mixed experiences on other lines.

MSC has a gluten-free menu and bread. On the Divina now and my daughters friend who is our guest has a gluten sensitivity. She can order from the special menu and then a separate waiter, maybe a head waiter or someone specifically assigned for dietary needs, takes her order and brings out her meal, separate from the rest of us so it is not mixed up. She's 17 and a picky eater so has mostly had the gluten-free pasta, which she liked, and grilled chicken and vegetables… I took a picture of the gluten-free menu the other night I will try to post it but I'm on the ship in San Juan right now so if I can't do it I will wait until I'm home! On a sidenote, she said she was pleased the other night when she went to the buffet and asked about gluten-free dish and the chef made her something special, I think it was grilled chicken but they were very accommodating! Only been to the buffet for breakfast and lunch but it seems that there are some gluten-free options although it would be best to ask…

Thank you so very much for posting the menu. Much appreciated!!

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Italy is very accommodating for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. In fact, the government offers monthly subsidies for those who need to eat gluten-free.

Both of our children have CD and had no problems eating on MSC or Costa. I would say that MSC's GF food is more mass-produced, whereas on Costa the chef made our son whatever he wanted in GF form.

I've mentioned this elsewhere: on MSC, my daughter's GF pasta once came out piping hot in some areas and frozen in others, a pretty clear indication that it had been microwaved. But, overall, both cruise lines really tried their best.

cruiseguyinorl

Just wanted to add that the Divina Bar on Deck 5 midship has a large selection of gluten free beers if anyone is a drinker.

Very helpful thread

The gluten free bread on the Divination was like eating regular bread, the best we've had on any cruise line, and the pasta was good.

Also they will prepare a box lunch to take off the ship that is gluten free.

[emoji1303] our 17 year old guest didn't complain either and or 17-year-old daughter, her friend, ordered the gluten-free pasta one night and enjoyed it (Pasta with bolognese sauce was not on the regular menu)

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Home » 10 Best Cruise Lines for Gluten Free Food

10 Best Cruise Lines for Gluten Free Food

Last updated on March 7th, 2024 at 01:23 pm

A quick background…

A Gluten-free diet excludes the protein gluten, which includes the exclusion of wheat, rye, and barley. The diet has been known to aid people who are diagnosed with celiac disease in managing its symptoms.

This form of diet has become widely popular among people who aren’t diagnosed with a gluten-related medical condition. It has been claimed that going through this nutritional regime improves health, aids in weight loss, and increases energy, although more research is still needed.

People who adhere to gluten-free diets ( like Keto for example ) and who would like to go on a cruise have to go through the extra burden of meal planning, restaurant research, and preparing packed food and items from their kitchens.

There is good news for those people as all cruise lines, without exception, now offer gluten-free meals.

All a prospective cruiser has to do is to make the request in advance and give the cruise line notification prior to their sail date.  Notifying a cruise line of an incoming gluten-free cruiser (or cruisers, as is more usually the case) gives them ample time to order larger quantities of gluten-free ingredients.

This allows the cruise line plenty of time to lay in the amounts necessary and ensure that all requests are met.

For those who are interested in taking a gluten-free cruise, we have listed below 10 of the best cruise lines for gluten-free food.

1. Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean menu is incredibly helpful for those who are trying to avoid gluten. Amazingly, every night they provide at least one (on most occasions several) gluten-free appetizer, a main dish, and dessert. They offer gluten-free sandwiches, pastries, and pizzas from separate cooking areas to avoid cross-contamination.

Be sure to contact your travel advisor, Certified Vacation Planner, or the cruise line directly and request that the gluten-free remark be noted in your reservation details.

If your reservation is made online through royalcaribbean.com, add your request to the “update personal information.” section.

To cover all your bases, you may also send an email request to [email protected] ; be sure to include in your e-mail the guests’ names, booking number, ship name, and sail date, then your email will receive an automated response.

If you want to experience the ultimate in a gluten-free vacation cruise, Royal Caribbean and AMAWaterways have partnered to offer Celiac Cruise . Offering cruises around the world, this offers a worry-free experience.

Traveling can be a challenging undertaking that can make staying at home the best, but not the most fun, option.

Now the whole family can experience new places and make lasting memories without the anxiety that accompanies menu options that may or may not be truly gluten-free. You can explore places like the Caribbean, Greece, Alaska, the Danube River and Amsterdam.

AUTHOR NOTES (2023)

In 2019 we were seated with a guest who was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease. She communicated clearly with the waiter and the assistant at each meal. Each interaction was respectful and they went above and beyond to provide a safe dining experience.

However, recently we were made aware that Royal Caribbean’s new menu as of January 2023, isn’t offering Gluten-Free options as freely as it did in the past. Long-time cruisers who sailed RCL for over 20 years have not been happy with the Gluten-Free options.

2. Carnival Cruise Line

Since Carnival has a large fleet of ships and is noted for being a famous commercial cruise line, they are adequately stocked all the time for gluten-free cruisers.

Without exception, all of Carnival’s cruise ships serve gluten-free bread, different kinds of pasta, pizzas, and desserts.  They also have a well-known restaurant called Guy’s Burger Joints, where you can get bun less burgers and French fries as gluten-free options.

In the Main Dining Room, the evening meal will have a “featured gluten-free” menu that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. In the past, although Carnival offered gluten-free options, the icons and notes on the menus were not consistent. 

The dedicated gluten-free menus will take the guesswork out of ordering. Just make sure to ask your waiter for the menu. Carnival also offers Menu Mate, which is a food ingredient program that helps accommodate guests that have food allergies.

Staff enters dietary restrictions into a software program that sorts through all options and displays those items which are allergen-free for the guest. You can find a Menu Mate tablet on display near the Lido buffet stations. 

Gluten-free beer is also available onboard Carnival’s cruise ships, and if you request ahead of time, the chefs can bake you a gluten-free cake.

3. Cunard Line

A cruise line committed to providing deluxe accommodations on the seas, the Cunard team oversees dietary specifications in a professional manner.

All of the ships in the line employ specialist head waiters and chefs to manage special dietary requests, and they’ll coordinate with you about the options available.

Gluten-free breads are available throughout meal times, and sauces are whipped up separately to meet dietary requirements. On top of this, gluten-free kinds of pasta, biscuits, cookies, and cereals are provided throughout the cruise.

To ensure you receive gluten-free service aboard your Cunard cruise, you are required to inform your operator at the time of booking and confirm the request at the purser’s desk when you board the ship.

4. Holland America Cruises

They made dining for cruisers with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivities more convenient by marking food items without gluten with the symbol of wheat next to their descriptions. Customers can also request gluten-free buns in their Dive-In burgers.

For your special dietary needs that require assistance, you may contact Holland America Cruises Ship Services at least three weeks prior to your departure at 1–800–541–1576.

5. Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian offers a handful of gluten-free options onboard as part of their regular menu, including pre-packaged cookies & toast. But with advanced notice, they can prepare gluten-free pastries, pasta, and even pancakes.

Gluten-free dessert options include ice cream, souffle, and creme brulee. Always coordinate with your head waiter, and Norwegian Cruise Line will pull out all the stops whenever possible.

6. Princess Cruises

They offer a variety of gluten-free products such as bread, cereal, spaghetti, and macaroni. They have created a special gluten-free mix that they use to make cookies, cakes, muffins, pancakes, and pizza crust. Princess Cruise will accommodate guests with any special dietary needs.

Like any other cruise line, it is crucial to notify them in advance, at least 35 to 65 days in writing, depending on the particular cruise you’ll be booking.

Another perk of booking a balcony cabin or above, by giving them a head’s up, you can order a deluxe balcony breakfast or dinner (for a fee,) and they will include items such as gluten-free muffins, French toast, pancakes or kinds of pasta.

7. Disney Cruises

Disney theme parks have earned a successful reputation when it comes to accommodating special dietary needs, and Disney cruises did not fall far from the tree.

Simply make a note of your gluten intolerance or any other nutritional restrictions when booking your trip.

Onboard Disney Cruises, they sell their famous gluten-free popcorn, grab one and take it to the cabin for a snack.

During breakfast, you will not be limited with their pastry spread such as muffins, toast & pancakes. To keep up with their awesomeness, they also prepare gluten-free donuts. You can wrap up your dinner with gluten-free desserts.

8. Seabourn Cruise Line

Famous for providing luxurious cruises, Seabourn Cruise Lines guarantees your gluten-free needs are met by arranging a variety of gluten-free pastries, and even breadsticks.

All menu items are provided with a clear gluten-free label. Chefs are fully equipped to make any menu item as long as requests are made in advance.  You can specify your gluten-free needs on Seabourn’s pre-cruise online portal prior to cruising.

9. Azamara Cruises

Though Azamara is a small cruise line, they can provide the necessary accommodations for gluten-free cruisers.  Specify your gluten-free orders the night before, they can make pancakes, waffles, and other items.

You can enjoy gluten-free dinners, particularly in their 2 specialty restaurants, Aqualina and Prime C. They offer a choice of whole-grain dinner rolls, hamburger & hot dog buns, various gluten-free pasta, risotto, rice noodles, some soups, gluten-free soy sauce, pancakes, waffles, plain bagels, muffins & cookies.

If you are planning to book a suite, expect the butler to drop by with coffee and tea along with the most delicious gluten-free scones, jelly, and whipped cream

10. Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line

A luxury cruise line, Regent Seven Seas goes above and beyond in making a gluten-free alternative for almost any item on the menu.  In addition to all the gluten-free staples such as bread and various kinds of pasta, Regent goes the extra mile in ensuring that you don’t miss out on delicious dishes.

For instance, at Regent’s Chocoholics high-tea service, offer an entire gluten-free menu, consisting of finger sandwiches and gluten-free desserts such as meringue and fruit tart.

Additionally, MSC Cruise Lines

Another cruise line that caters to its passengers gluten free needs, is MSC. MSC has partnered with the Italian Celiac Association to create an extensive gluten-free menu.

These options are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at all of the restaurants onboard the Preziosa, Fantasia, Orchestra, Poesia, Musica, Splendida, Magnifica and Divina. 

MSC follows strict regulations when preparing their gluten-free menus onboard, and all gluten-free products are stored in designated areas and one kitchen on each ship is reserved exclusively for the preparation of gluten-free dishes. 

Head over to Adventures of a Gluten Free Globetrekker , which is a gluten free travel blog. On this website, there are posted MSC’s gluten free breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.  There are also gluten-free lunches that you can get packed for shore days. 

Communication is Key to a Successful Gluten-Free Cruise

Cruise lines are very good about going above and beyond when it comes to meeting the requirements of guests with special needs .

The most important element in the success of a cruise with a Gluten-Free diet is communication. Communicate with the cruise line and your wait staff. Always be kind, courteous, and respectful and you will be sure to have a great gluten-free cruise!

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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