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Our family cruised on RC Independence of the Seas over the Christmas holiday. Our child has a food allergy, so this post is to provide information for others with food allergies considering a cruise.
Main points:
--We had no allergic reactions and generally felt we were in control of the situation. We felt we did take a few risks, especially at the Windjammer.
--We received inconsistent and in some cases, contradictory information from the cruise line.
--There were restrictions though they were manageable.
Issues:
--we contacted the cruise line including asking if the child care team can administer an epi-pen. They said yes. However, upon on on-board registration at the adventure camp, we were told that in case of a reaction their procedure was to call us first. That could be a problem if we're on the other side of the boat- an allergic reaction is an emergency situation!
--the staff was helpful but seemed untrained in how to respond to basic questions. The dining room was fine, especially since they saw us every day. Sorrento's pizza shop, Windjammer, and deck staff were not clear on what was in the food or what to do when we asked about ingredients. Contrast to Disneyworld where there is a procedure even at snack bars.
There were some good examples of excellent service by staff who made the extra effort, especially in the main dining room. We also brought our own snacks plus ice cream cones for the soft serve machine.
My family did enjoy the cruise, especially the rock wall and pool. The Adventure Camp was great - my daughter loved the shows they performed and the staff was excellent. I thought the food was average with breakfast at the main dining room and vegetarian dishes as highlights.
I hope others who are seeking information on cruising with food allergies find this review helpful.
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