Our Trip ROCKED

As we all know, attitude is half the game. If you start off any trip with a bug up your bottom and think that everyone owes you something...well guess what you will not have fun. We went on this 7 day cruise with a positive attitude. Which by the way is a challange with 3 kids (11,12 and 14) on a gluten free diet plus me, a 42 year old. We knew it would be hard but we wanted to give it a whirl. I was probably the only peson in the history of cruise to pack food. My husabnd, a gluten eater, didn't mind me packing 43 protein bars and instant gf oatmeal:) I understand that cruising= non stop food but I had my kids to worry about and I wanted them to have FUN and not worry about not having something. I am happy to share that that WAS NOT the case at all. It was wonderful. 
We have been to Disney every year since we have been on a gluten free diet and thought that was the only place on earth we could vacation. I am going to venture to say that now we are ruined for all future vacations, that's how wonderful our experience was.

Now our successful vacation can be attributed to the wonderful people we came in contact with and the fact that we were now on the attack but grateful for everything that was provided for us. The first meal my husband and the friends we went with , had stacked their plates and were raveing about the choices they had. My 3 kids and myself stood there ask 1,000 questions and were scared to death to try anything and start our vacation in the bathroom!! But we lucked out! I talked to the hostess on the Lido Deck(Jovanna) and she hooked us up with Daniel the Chef. Then she let the Head Hostess in Truffles, our new BFF, Eva know about our "special needs".

Well, Daniel told us where it would be safe to eat on the Lido. From that day foward Daniel hooked us up daily. Hamburgers, fries specially cooked. pizza with gluten free crusts. You name it we ate it! I seriously think I gained at leat 8 pounds, which is pretty disgusting if you really think about it. But this has been the first time in 8 years that we have been able to dine anywhere and be safe. They went over and beyond and we showed our gratitude daily. Going out of our way to say hi and thank them and tell them how great they were. They honestly would have even done more but we didn't want to always have them going so crazy for us.

Dining at Truffles was unabelievable. There was nothing my kids didn't eat...pancakes, french toast, bread at EVERY MEAL, hashbrowns, dinners and desserts.

I feel so badly if someone has a bad report because I can honestly say nothing bad about the food. Now don't mistake that for thinking that everyone was awesome. We had one waiter in the morning who rubbed me wrong and I simply(as sweet as pie) told the other waiter that he was now going to serve us and the other guy wasn't allowed to come back to our table. We don't need attitude and he can just move along. All was resolved:)

The other key to dining anywhere gluten free, wether it's a cruise or local, you HAVE to know what you can eat and what you can't. You HAVE to know the questions to ask. I think that people who are gluten free and expect to have every single thing gluten free will always be disappointed.

I believe on the other hand that we are the minority. I feel that we are asking for special accomodations, therefore I am extremely grateful when things are prepared for me. I would rather my children and myself not be sick and enjoy the vacation. But on this ship we were able to have our cake and eat it too...literally!