is a cruise an option?

[rysmom14]

Hi All!

has anyone taken a cruise and had a good experience with food? we have little ones and would love to go on a Disney Cruise, but I am so worried about giving up control of cooking my son's food. he is only 4 and since he has been diagnosed I have cooked everything for him except for him ordering pasta when we go to a restaurant.  When we travel, I always have a place with a kitchenette if we will be there for a couple nights for at least  microwave to heat up prepackaged meals.

Cruising would be a fun and different option for vacation but i'm not sure that a cruise line would be able to accommodate the food requests.  I know most places now a days are very willing to help people with food allergies, but im wondering how it would go with HFI.

Any input would be helpful!

Thanks so much. 

[ukbill]

I think a good long discussion with the cruse operator is needed .. also Call it Fructosemia not HFI when talking to them.
An "intolerance" is not given anyway near the serious attention our condition requires.
Many "intolerances" such as Gluten or Lactose only produce at worst an upset tum and gut for a few days.. hence no one takes us seriously.

[allison]

Hi rysmom14

I have been on 4 Disney Cruises as an adult with HFI and have always found many good food choices. The buffets have 4-5 kinds of meats, plain rice, and other plain food options. For breakfast they have many made to order options and they make it in front of you. I have also found the staff and crew to be very responsive to altering my food to make my meals safe.

Allison

[rysmom14]

thank you Allison! that is so good to hear! I was hoping that we could make this a vacation option.

Did you do need to plan ahead with the cruise line or do you have any tips?

Thanks so much

[lukesmom]

A cruise is a FANTASTiC option. We cruise several times a year and have chosen this mode of vacationing particularly because of my son’s HFI . We love NCL, Disney, Celebrity, and Carnival. You always inform of the ship ahead of time, and then when you first board you meet with the manager of dining. Daily, They take each order for the next day. On our last cruise, my 14 year old HFIer had his own safe pizza, piles of salmon sashimi, safe chicken fettuccine, special bread baskets, filet, sliced avocado, lobster.... he was in heaven. You will not be disappointed.

[lucky]

Hi all... 😊

I’d like to add to this thread by saying if anyone is interested in going on a cruise, I’d like to recommend a site my family uses (and is well known in our area).

Vacations to go:
www.vacationstogo.com

* It’s a site that lists sales on available cruises.
* It lists embarking/docking ports in many countries.
**Disney cruise ships are also included.

We have made out like bandits on cruise vacays because of the info provided. Mainly, it’s an inventory directory “warehouse” advertising each/all cruise ship deals and leftover availability.

You can start your cruise vacation from many countries.. just type in which port of call you’d like to start and return to.

Just as an example:

Few yrs ago we went on a cruise leaving out of Florida on Carnival cruise for 8 days in the Caribbean. The regular price: $2400 per person. We booked for: $279 per person.

Altho you can upgrade to whatever is of comfort, we chose 2 “interior” cabins (that were side by side -I think some might connect) as we have 5 in our family and needed 2 rooms.

We chose toward the middle of the ship to avoid the feeling of the ship’s movement. And away from any noise.

Because we honestly only slept in the cabin, booking an interior cabin (w/o window) left extra $$ to enjoy tours at each port.

When booking, we spoke to great customer service agents that helped us with any arrangements or concerns. And altho my son is not HFI, at that time... there were plenty foods he could choose from whether from the restaurants or buffets.

* As noted in an earlier post... just make everyone (agents/staff) aware of dietary issues through-out the process.

Here’s where we went 5 yrs ago:

Carnival Freedom (rated: 4.5 / 5 stars)
8 day cruise

Reg: $2400 per person (interior cabin)
Sale: $279 per person (interior cabin)

Florida (port)
-St Martin
-St Kitts
-San Juan (Puerto Rico)
-Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos)
Florida (port)

Our older adult daughters have since also gone themselves a few times. So far... always to Caribbean destinations. And, twice now in the last 2 yrs, have consistently cruised for around $349 per person for 7 day cruises.

Prices like these help when you still have to factor in flying to a port of call. And.. converting to US currency. And... adding tours.

Have a look 😊

www.vacationstogo.com

( it spells out: vacations to go )