Girls’ trip (we missed my cousin Angie this time, so my husband Cameron graciously stepped in): Kathleen, Cameron, Kahla, and me, Shannon. We set sail on Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, ready for sunshine, laughs, and (for me) the ultimate test: gluten-free cruising.
If you’ve ever traveled with celiac disease or follow a gluten-free diet, you know the drill. Every meal can feel like a game of “Is it safe, or will I regret this later?” Spoiler alert: I lived to tell the tale and eat dessert too!
Buffet Confusion and Small Victories 🍽️
The buffet had a small gluten-free section, and the dessert section also had a few GF options available. Great start, right? Well… the gluten-free section within the buffet was on a U-shaped section, which looked like the entire area was gluten-free. Thankfully, my Celiac senses tingled, and I asked. Turns out, only one side was safe.
Lesson learned: always ask questions, even when the sign says “gluten-free.”
Tides Dining Room: My Gluten-Free Heroes 🌟
The Tides Dining Room on Decks 4 and 5 deserves a standing ovation and maybe a gluten-free cookie bouquet. From night one, our dream team of servers (Aldren, Donald, and Rajeev) treated my gluten allergy with total care.
Each night I enjoyed a Caesar salad (no croutons, of course), warm gluten-free bread, and dishes that made me feel like I was dining at a five-star restaurant instead of dodging wheat.
My favorites for the week:
🥇 Mushroom arancini (crispy, creamy, and totally safe)
🍝 Spaghetti bolognese
🥩 Prime rib
🍍 Pineapple upside-down cake
🧀 And the cheese plate minus the smoked cheeses and that fig thing that looked way fancier than it tasted.
The Spinach Artichoke Saga (and Why Donald Deserves a Medal) 🥇
One night I asked about the spinach and artichoke dip, and Donald didn’t just say “no” and move on. He actually went back, talked to the head chef, and returned to explain that since the chips weren’t made onboard, they couldn’t guarantee they were gluten-free.
Did I get the dip? No.
Did I feel seen, heard, and safe? Absolutely.
Shout-out to Royal Caribbean for having staff who genuinely care and take the extra step. It makes a huge difference when you’re traveling with celiac disease.
Perfect Day at CocoCay = Perfect Gluten-Free Snacking 🍪
My favorite part of any Royal Caribbean cruise is always the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Snack Shack is a gluten-free dream come true.
I grabbed my go-to burger with a gluten-free bun (actually tasty, not cardboard-like), a crisp Greek salad, and the real treasure…the gluten-free cookies! Not the ones sitting out near the toppings (those are not safe). If you ask, they’ll bring out a wrapped Udi’s cookie, usually chocolate chip or snickerdoodle. And if you know me, you know I’m a snickerdoodle girl through and through.
Fun fact: my husband Cameron, who doesn’t even have celiac, loves them too. That’s how you know they’re good.
Pre-Order Like a Pro 📝
Each evening, I got to pre-order my dinner for the next night, which is a total game-changer for gluten-free travelers. Rajeev told me they could make almost anything I wanted, so of course I tested that theory.
The highlights?
🍄 Mushroom arancini (I could eat this every day)
🍤 Coconut shrimp (crispy perfection and something I almost never get to enjoy gluten-free)
I honestly felt spoiled in the best way possible.
Final Thoughts: Smooth Sailing for the Gluten-Free Traveler 🌊
If you’re gluten-free and thinking about cruising, Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas gets a big thumbs-up from me. Between the attentive staff, safe dining options, and the chance to enjoy dessert every night, it was a worry-free (and wheat-free) weekend of fun.
Want to see all the gluten-free goodness in action? Check out the video below for a look at my favorite meals from our Jewel of the Seas cruise!
👉 Read more about our full trip on Travel Wives where we share the behind-the-scenes of our cruise adventure and all the laughs that came with it.
