<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Thanks to everyone for their information and personal experiences. I will be 
sure to share my experience if I decide to go. Too bad we can't get a large 
celiac group to go....power to the masses!
Summary 1:
I went to Alaska on Holland America. I called them prior to the start of mytrip, 
they were very cordial and hospitable. I had gf breads and muffinsevery meal. 
I had desserts that looked like everyone else's if not better.My entrees were 
as appealing to look at and as delicious as every member ofthe trip. It was a 
delightful trip, the first one after being diagnosed andI never had any side 
effects, I had a biopsy shortly thereafter as a followup to my diagnoses and 
there was absolutely no damage to my villi. I thinkyou will be safe traveling 
with them. Have a wonderful trip.
*****
I've traveled with them several times.  Just see your dining room supervisor 
upon arrival.  Trust me...they're ready for you.  And that includes not only 
dinner in the dining room, but pasta, pizza, etc. on the buffet line.  You need 
to make some arrangements, but they have GF pastas, etc, displayed right up 
there with the regular stuff.  Have your travel agent call the line as far ahead 
as you can and they'll send you a form to pre-select how many pancakes, 
muffins, toasts, etc. you anticipate eating that week so they can include you 
in the amount for the usual several folks who are GF per cruise.
****
I had one great and one horrible experience with HAL. I went 3 weeks after I 
was diagnosed on the Maasdam. I had no time to preplan. It was a great 
experience. I had GF bread, sauces, cake etc. Always had Knicknick English 
muffins for breakfast.Everyone was wonderful. 
Two years later I sent in the diet form months before we sailed. We sailed on 
the Statendam. The servers were rude, had no idea what I was talking about. 
They did things like bringing a salad with croutons and then going to the 
serving station and taking them off and trying to reserve the salad. 
During "Baked Alaska" night, I was told that was the only dessert they served. 
The servers were rude every morning when I requested bread/ muffins with 
breakfast. They were willing to make the most god awful mealy pancakes you 
ever tasted. They kept telling me I had to pre-order to get GF food and I kept 
telling them I had. 
So I say it absolutely depends on the boat. I am going this summer on the 
new Eurodam. I have already talked to HAL, faxed my form and will continue 
to follow up. The rest of both cruises was great. Loved the boat, the shore 
excursions etc. But I do want to be able to eat. 
*****
I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Holland America.  On my only cruise attempt I found 
that even though gluten free food was brought aboard, the kitchen staff don't 
have a clear idea of the need for diligence and often added condiments to the 
table that were definitely not gluten free.  Also the times when the dining 
rooms were closed, the staff at the buffet area weren't too aware of what 
gluten free meant. Oh, just remembered, the day I boarded, the food taken on 
at the port hadn't yet been unpacked, so meal #1 wasn't  too good.  But the 
very worst was that I got "the bug" and was quarantined to my room and 
believe me, the room service staff a)didn't speak English & b) had no 
information from the dining room staff about my need for gluten free dry toast 
and gluten free broth.  I got $ back from Holland America & have no plans to 
take any cruise in the near or far future.

*****
I, too, am planning a cruise with Holland America and would appreciate it if 
you could summarize your findings. My travel agent sent me a "Gluten Free 
Request Form" which once filled out will be forwarded to Holland America. The 
choices on this sheet include, muffins, pasta, desserts, pizza, etc. Sounds 
good!

Visit the Celiac Web Page at Http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html
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