GOOD TO KNOW: www.carnival.com/
Specialties:  Buffet, dining room, specialty restaurants, quick service
Gluten-free: Preorder for dining room, various items and some locations
Other: Gluten-free beer available
Note: Fill in the special dietary needs section when preregistering online and the info will be tagged to you in the dining room via your room number

I recently took a 7-day cruise through the eastern Caribbean on the Carnival Breeze - my first sailing with Carnival and also the longest cruise I've taken. The Breeze offers a wide variety of dining  options ranging from a large buffet with rotating hot items, salad bar and desserts to Guy's Burger Joint and fine dining in the Sapphire dining room. Overall, the food gets a solid B for variety and taste but Carnival loses points with regard to gluten-free options, labeling, staff knowledge, and a general lack of give a damn for guests with dietary needs. I get the feeling that Carnival WANTS to be good at accommodating dietary restrictions, they just fall short. 

GOOD TO KNOW: http://bit.ly/1Tv3GT1
Specialties: buffet, dining room, specialty dining (additional charge), fast food (additional charge)
Gluten-free: excellent menu in the dining room, no labeling at the buffet
Other: room service is available at no extra charge ​

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I'll earn a bit of money from the sale to save for my next gluten-free adventure.

Three women, one cruise ship, and five days of dancing equals one crazy girls trip on the first ever Zumba Cruise. In January, Mindy, Teri and I boarded Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas amped for tropical temperatures, exotic ports of call (Haiti and Jamaica), and the promise of food, fun, and sun.
 Food is a big deal on cruises. There's a lot of it, it's readily available, and with a few exceptions, it's included in the cost of the cruise. Prior to our trip, I was uneasy about dining on the ship. Would they have anything gluten-free? Could I trust the kitchen staff to take appropriate care in preparing my food? I had visions of being stuck on a floating resort, wasting away and hangry while surrounded by the most enticing gluten-filled food known to humankind. Food allergies and intolerances are becoming more prevalent and many companies -- including cruise lines -- are doing their best to accommodate high maintenance eaters. Royal Caribbean is no exception. Here's what I found onboard: