How Cruise Lines Handle Dietary Needs

Food allergies and special diets are common on cruise ships, but they aren't stopping travelers from vacationing at sea. That's because cruise lines are well prepared to handle a variety of dietary needs and restrictions and have careful policies on special dietary requirements.

Many people choose to cruise for a ship's dining variety and excellence, and the cruise lines want to make sure every traveler leaves satisfied. Safety and health are a priority.

On cruise ships, food allergies and other dietary needs are not uncommon. On every sailing on Oceania Cruises, for instance, up to 4% of passengers alert the cruise line to their dietary requirements, says Bernhard Klotz, Oceania's vice president of food and beverage, while other guests will carefully select from the many options available on menus.

The most common special diets, Klotz says, include gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and low-sodium, in addition to specific food allergies. There are also requests for kosher or halal meals on some sailings.

Keeping guests safe and satisfied

The key to a successful cruise with a special diet is communication. Cruise lines generally ask guests to alert them to their allergies and dietary requirements at least one month in advance of their sailing, and sometimes before guests make their final deposit. Preprepared kosher or halal meals that need to be sent to the ship from shore may require more notice. The advance communications also allow the ships to procure specific food items, such as gluten-free pasta or dairy-free milk.

Once on board, dining teams connect with guests to make sure the ship is prepared to handle their specific needs; some designate one crew member as the special diet liaison. Travelers with allergies and special diets may receive the following day's menus in advance, so they can preorder meals, allowing chefs to prepare dishes that adhere to their dietary needs. Especially on smaller, upscale, and luxury ship cruise lines, guests with multiple allergies may be able to request their favorite dishes, and onboard chefs will create special off-menu meals that satisfy their dietary needs.

Allergens or items that are gluten-free or vegetarian are also labeled on their regular menus. Cruise lines are also increasingly using technology to assist guests with special dietary needs and provide information - such as Carnival Cruise Line's Menu Mate food ingredient program - to help those with food allergies find appropriate options and know what to avoid. Guests access the information via handheld tablets in dining rooms and at special podiums in buffet areas.

Waiters on cruise ships receive training on how to handle dietary restrictions. "We realize we need to refresh their minds every two months, and this way, we know everyone is properly trained and everyone is aware of how to take care of guests with dietary restrictions," says Oceania's Klotz. In addition, cruise ship galleys either have separate spaces for preparing food for guests with special diets and allergies, or prepare those meals first before production begins on the regular menu items, to avoid cross contamination.

Cruise lines go above and beyond

Vegetarian guests can typically find meat-free options on every menu and buffet on all cruise ships, but some lines go a step further. Virgin Voyages' Razzle Dazzle restaurant leans vegetarian, and Norwegian Cruise Line introduced Planterie, an outlet in the Indulge Food Hall that serves only plant-based dishes, on its latest ship, Norwegian Aqua. P&O Cruises' Arvia has a vegetarian restaurant, Green & Co. SeaDream Yacht Club offers an extensive vegan menu at every meal, and its chefs are known for going the extra mile to fulfill guest requests. Franck Garanger, head of culinary for Explora Journeys, is himself a vegan, and it shows in the line's creative vegan dishes.

Cruise travelers who are strictly kosher need to order preprepared meals in advance. Guests who are less strict will find that lines such as Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises carry uncooked kosher proteins and can prepare dishes with specially reserved pots, pans, and utensils.

Many cruise lines are expanding options for gluten-free cruisers. "Princess Cruises has a strong reputation specifically for gluten-free and celiac travelers," says Sarah Riley, travel advisor and co-founder of Travel Squad Vacations. She also recommends Royal Caribbean for gluten-free families because the line can accommodate off-menu requests, and Virgin Voyages, Regent Seven Seas, and Crystal Cruises because they are able to cook to order. A client of hers came back raving about Crystal's varied gluten-free bread products and pasta, she says.

Riley recommends Holland America Line for diabetic guests seeking sugar-free options and travelers who need low-sodium meals. She adds that Disney Cruise Line is often cited in online communities as a good vacation choice for those with dietary restrictions.

Kriscinda McElroy, a travel advisor with Kidd Travel - Dream Vacations, recommends Celebrity Cruises for gluten-free cruising. "Instead of just ice cream or Jell-O, they often have several cakes or other desserts available," she says.

Having specific dietary needs addressed is paramount for many travelers - and a place where cruise lines shine. Oceania's Klotz tells of one guest who sailed with her son, who has a severe nut allergy. They became repeat cruisers, specifically citing that they felt safe vacationing at sea, he says. "That was the nicest compliment we could have gotten."

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