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Hi all, I would appreciate input about cruising GF.

  1.  HOW SENSITIVE are you, and how much did this sensitivity affect your
good/bad experience?
  2.  For those of you who are very sensitive, like me, how likely are you
to take a 7 day cruise on a cruise line with mixed reviews?

  A group of 50 of my husband's family and their friends are taking a 7 day
cruise on the CARNIVAL Elation, which departs Galveston Dec. 28.  Carnival
has mixed reviews about providing a good GF experience, or even a good
dining experience period.

  I saw a show on travel channel, which showed the galley of this exact
ship.  The kitchen workers were all reaching over each other to load up the
plates.  It was like watching sandwiches made at Subway, everyone touched
al
l the food.  I have also read several travel reviews of the Carnival
ships, some people had rude crew members to deal with, and noncommunicative
or indifferent waiters at times.

  The 2 dining rooms seat 600 each, at two dinner seating times.  This
implies a LOT of rushing with the food!  Also, some in the group are NOT
pleasant traveling companions, (exceedingly demanding and picky), and this
does not bode well for my getting a GF meal from an IRATE waiter.  Eating
dinner separately is not an option, not because it's not possible, but
because we would probably be cut off the family tree, haha.

  I know from past posts that it's important to notify the cruise
line/chef, etc, well in advance of the departure date.  I also know that
this does not always guarantee a good GF experience.  Some have been
assured that supplies will be onboard, only to find that was not so!
Carnival has rec
eived mixed reviews for food, GF and otherwise.  What I
haven't read in any of the posts, is how sensitive the GF traveler was.
This cruise is also during a holiday week, so not sure how that would
affect the crew picking up any GF supplies while in port.  (Just try to
find GF stuff that weekend in your own health food store, you'll know what
I mean!)  Also not sure how it would affect the service of the crew since
New Year's Eve is party time?

  When I have a gluten accident, it affects me for 12 hours.  This time is
spent in the bathroom, or at least in confinement.  I have tried all kinds
of remedies and nothing works.  I also cannot sleep during this 12 hours.
So if I get gluten at dinner at 7pm, I am awake until 7 am the next day!
The thought of being confined to a cabin for 12 hours does NOT sound fun.
Once would be bad but twice would be really horrible!  I am also not
thrilled with
the thought of taking along a lot of GF food on what is
supposed to be a totally carefree vacation.

  My gut instinct (pun intended) is to stay home.  I just wondered how many
of you would do the same?  This issure is not about taking a vacation, I've
traveled a LOT since being GF, and eaten at restaurants enough to know some
places you can trust, and others you can't.  It's the idea of being on an
expensive trip, where you are being served a full week of meals in an
environment you don't trust.

  If this cruise were on a line that had a good reputation for providing
wonderful GF food, I would not hesitate.  I'd prefer the destination to be
Alaska, instead of the tropics, and not on a ship with 2000 people, but
that's another story.

  Your input on the two questions I posted at the beginning would be really
helpful.  Also, any other insights would be appreciated as well.  Thanks t
o
all of you for being here! ~~~ Mary in Michigan (GF for 2 and a half years)

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