<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Just came back from a cruise on Royal Carribean and the e-mail from E. Yates has promted me to share my experience. I faxed my restrictions to the travel agent who forwarded them onto Royal about three weeks before the trip and she told me to meet with the head of the dining room once I get on board. I took the original fax with me and then some. Went to the kitchen to find no one, then went to the Pursers Desk - they told me he was out (off the ship) where we came in at - for people who didn't have assigned seating for dinner. So, we went back off the ship and he was there. I told him my name and mentioned the fax. Alan (the "Head Waiter") told me they NEVER get the faxes. It is better to mail your requests directly to the Ship (i.e., Royal Carribean Cruise Lines ATTN: Head Waiter of the Nordic Empress) I felt my heart drop. I gave him all the papers I brought. He was aware of Celiac. We discussed what I could eat. Chicken, Fish, Meats & Steamed Veggies. He told me everything would be OK. That evening at dinner, Alan came over to me and said that I would be having grilled chicken with only S&P on it and steamed veggies. I agreed that was great. Everyone got there appetizer, then salad (which was small) and my waiter brought me a BIG salad - that in itself could have been my dinner. THEN, I was served my meal which was delicious (I stayed away from the butter, because I was unfamiliar with the brand name) Alan came over to me to check to see how I was doing and felt that it wasn't enough to eat and he told the waiter to bring me another dinner. EVERY NIGHT I HAD TWO DINNERS BROUGHT TO ME. I felt like a queen. They pampered me soooo much. The next night everyone was eating their dinner and I still hadn't been served - I never questioned a thing - Alan came over to me and told me that he thought he saw something that looked like grain on my plate and he sent it back. When everyone was eating dessert (which they asked me if it was OK to take dessert orders) - I finally got my TWO meals. They were delicious - Salmon. That night at the Midnight Buffet, I saw the Head Chef standing near one of the tables. Having three glasses of Champagne in me already, I went up to him and introduced myself. He already knew who I was and he apologized about the late meals. I could have cared less. I told him because of their concern I have had two wonderful days in St. Thomas and St. Martin and I thanked him several times. The next night, as I was walking to my table - I could see they already had my BIG salad waiting for me - even before anyone else had ordered. Breakfasts were OK - The Buffets you can have fruit, cheese & scrambled eggs. The same goes for the dining room. *** Make sure you eat Breakfast in the Dining Room on the last day - because the other is only a Continental breakfast. I did not make it to breakfast (wasn't paying attention) - and when Alan saw me at Continental Breakfast - he told me to go down and eat in the dining room even though I missed my time slot, so the group that I was with all went down and they took care of everyone of us. Lunches - I had fruit & salad and I had Champagne every night. I think they fed me better than I feed myself. Only being GF for 4 months, I'm still having mistakes - but I didn't have One on the ship. I took a loaf a bread (that got moldy), cans of fruit, peanuts, cracker jacks, energy bars from Miss Robens, crackers and peanut butter - and only ate my food when I was off the ship. Took American Airlines - whom I called twice to make sure they understood what Gluten Free meant. To San Juan, I had scrambled eggs, potatoes, honey dew and a BAGEL !!! (individually wrapped though, so it didn't touch my other food) and on the way home, I had grilled chicken, steamed veggies, honey dew and a MUFFIN !!!!! (again indivdually wrapped) I asked my husband to taste it to see if it tasted GF. He told me the it was too good to be GF ! I'll be writing letters to both American and Royal Carribean. The book "Against the Grain" does not recommend Royal Carribean. I understand that the book was written a few years ago and things do change, but I'm glad I didn't go by just that one recommendation. I highly recommend Royal Carribean Cruise lines (and no, I have no affiliation with them) and don't forget to give exceptional tips to those that have done their job right. Happy Cruising!!! Michelle in MD