Thread: NCL and Peanut Allergy

Hi All,

I am new to this board, but not new to cruising. However, our only experience has been with Disney (9 times). This year, we have decided to branch out and selected NCL because of their Freestyle Cruising concept. We are looking forward to exploring a new ship (the Jewel) and new ports. Our only concern is how NCL handles food allergies.

Our son (13 at the time of the cruise) is severely allergic to peanuts. In all honesty, Disney did an amazing job with his allergy, which is one of the reasons we kept going back. On the Jewel, we need to determine whether peanut oil is used in any of the ship's restaurants. This would include the casual buffets, the main dining rooms and the extra tariff locations.

In addition, we need to determine what types of precautions are in place to ensure his food is not subject to cross contamination. For example, are there lists of items which are not made on the ship whose labels indicate a risk of cross contaminants? Assuming they don't use peanut oil, are there nut products fried in the same vats as french fries or other fried foods? Will there be head servers in each dining facility (including the buffets) who can guide us through which foods are free of nuts or cross contamination risks? What room service selections are free of nuts and cross contamination risk?

I am hoping someone on this board has experience with NCL's ability to handle allergies.

Thanks so much. . . .and let me know if I can offer any guidance on Disney. LOL!!!!

Piper G.

Firstly, let me welcome you to Cruise Line Fans.

Secondly, I can't answer your question from experience. I do not have any food allergies, so I don't think about the topic.

Let me contact a couple of Food & Beverage Directors (on ship) that I know and see if I can get a definitive answer for you. Right now, I would assume that peanut oil is probably not used for general cooking due to the prevalence of peanut allergies.

Give me a little time to get some information.

If you have any other NCL question please come on over to the NCL boards and we can steer you in the right direction.

PE

Wow, thanks so much. We greatly appreciate your efforts.

Are the NCL links within this site? I definitely want to make sure we get to the right place. Assuming we can get past this allergy issue, the entire family is excited about what NCL has to offer us!

Thanks again!

Here you go............http://www.cruiselinefans.com/norwegian-cruise-line/

Originally Posted by Piperg

Wow, thanks so much. We greatly appreciate your efforts.

Are the NCL links within this site? I definitely want to make sure we get to the right place. Assuming we can get past this allergy issue, the entire family is excited about what NCL has to offer us!

Thanks again!

Sue gave you the link, so come on over and see if we can make an NCL'er out of you. I have a little experience with NCL and can answer most of your questions. And if I can't answer them directly I am pretty sure I can find the answer.

PE

I hope you get good news on this. I understand about food allergies being a concern: on my last cruise, I had served myself some stir fry in the buffet on the Island Princess but didn't notice until I sat down that there was little pieces of shrimp in it and I'm very allergic to it. I wrote a comment on the end of the cruise comment card that there needs to be better labeling of items in the buffet (not just "stir fry").

Make sure to pass along to NCL on their questionaire any crew members who help you out.

Here is the information I received pertaining to peanut oil.

It is used in the preparation of some Asian food and also may be in some cookies that are not baked on the ship.

If you contact NCL with your requests they will add information to your reservation that will let the ship know that you special requests. They will work with you to prepare foods that you can eat that do not contain peanut oil.

PE

Thanks so much! We are really looking forward to our cruise. Only 330 more days. LOL!