- Welcome Message and select excerpts of our first year blog
- Our New Blog
- Contact us
- Travel Advice
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Flying-all you need to know before you book your next plane ticket>
- Cruising-planning the perfect cruise>
- Car Travel
- Traveling by bus...in style
- Hotels-Creating the ideal autistic friendly hotel room>
- Packing -101>
- Ask away -Autistic Globetrotting Free advice service>
- Tid bits-travel advice from our readers in 100 words or less
- Autistic Travels' Golden Rules
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Autisticals-a personal view of autistic travel
- US 10 best in
- The 10 best of Boston
- The best 10 of Hilton Head,South Carolina
- The 10 best of New York
- The 10 best of Alaska
- The 10 best of Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- The 10 best of Santa Fe and the surroundings
- The 10 best of Arizone-Grand Canyon
- The 10 best of Colonial Williamsburg,Jamestown and surroundinds
- The 10 best of Washington D.C.
- The 10 best of Las Vegas
- The 10 best of Boston
- International 10 best
- Mini autisticals- the darnest travel stories you'll hear
- The Sleeps-our biased and un biased hotel reviews
- The Eats-Tasty challenges from around the globe
- The Shops-what you can buy next
- Collector's Corner-How did these travel trinkets become a collection
- Recommended products
- Giveaways
- Monthly news roundup
- Interviews
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Q&A with Tal managing director of ALUTEVA-autistic hotel in Israel
- Eva Bronstein-Greenwald-special needs travel agent and founder of We Belong
- Q&A with Trip it's
- Q&A with David Intercontinental Tel Aviv
- Keri Bowers- film producer of 'Normal people scare me'
- Jamie Grover-Autism on the seas
- Peter Shears
- Clive-guide dog extraordinaire
- John Brown of 'Devyn and Dad' -an inspirational adventure across the United States
- Rose Niehaus Olsen Morris inventor of the safety sleeper bed
- Annette White,counselor for Camp Autism
- Colin Brennan-Canada's new singing sensation
- Dennis Debbaudt-autism safety expert
- Gisela Sedlmayer- author of 'Talon'
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Inspirational travel stories by our guest writers
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- Brian R. King-Meltdown at the airport
- Joy's visit to the Aquarium
- Denise Klipsic-An incredible encounter with Princess Tiana
- Tanya Savko- Hope on a river
- Tiffany Robison-Great Wolf Lodge
- Fiona Westner Ramsay -Making-room-for-autism-in-your-canoe
- Laura Shumacher-Traveling with autism: a true story
- Phyllis Fanzo Lombardi-s -Vacation Time with Joey
- Kristina Chew-18 Miles On the Bikes At the Beach
- Jeff Katz-Chicago
- Margaret Ann Franklin's visit to the Great Northern Carousel in Helena Montana
- Claire Sarcone-Chessington the aspie way
- Elaine Hall-Tips for summer vacation
- Steve LHeureux -Autism "Outings" need to be planned and appropriate
- Kelly Green-The Gardens of Gilroy
- Wolfie Blue-Tips I learnt by traveling with my family
- Gluten free Disney cruise experience
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- North,Central and South America-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Alaska Cruise-USA and Canada
- Florida,Orlando-Universal Studios-looking for Harry Potter
- Florida,Orlando-Macy's mini parade in Universal Studios
- Florida-Everglades Park ,Miami,Key West
- Hawaii's big island with a glimpse of Pearl Harbor
- Louisiana,New Orleans-French Quarter,Christmas Parade,Nanchez Steamboat
- Louisiana,New Orleans-in the footsteps of Katrina,Garden district
- Massachussetts-Boston ,New England Coastal towns of NH and Maine
- New York-NYC
- New Mexico-Santa Fe and Bandoliers National Park
- Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
- Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- Canada-Niagara Falls,Montreal,Quebec,Toronto
- Caribbean-Bahamas- the Atlantis resort
- Caribbean-Castaway Cay-Disney's bahamian paradise
- Caribbean-Roatan,Honduras>
- Caribbean-Grand Caymans-Hell,Turtles,Wild Hens and Stingrays>
- Mexico-Cabo San Lucas(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Puerta Vallarta (Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Acapulco and Manzanillo
- Mexico-Mazatlan(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Playa del Carmen's Xcaret eco park>
- Mexico-Tulum and XelHa Eco Park
- Yucatan,Mexico- Chichen Itza,Cozumel's Paradise Beach
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Europe,Asia,Australia and New Zealand,Cruise ships-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Austria-Salzburg
- Belgium-Antwerp ,Brussels
- Canary Islands-Lazarote
- Croatia-the walled town of Dubrovnik
- Denmark-Copenhagen
- France-Normandy's D day beaches>
- France- Cannes,Nice,Eze
- France-Paris
- Finland,Helsinki
- Germany-Munich,Dachau
- Germany-Romantic Road
- Ireland-Dublin
- Ireland -Cork,Blarney,Kinsale>
- N. Ireland-Belfast>
- N. Ireland's Giant Causeway
- N.Ireland-Carrick -a -Rede-rope bridge>
- Italy-Venice,Pompeii,Rome
- Italy-Florence,Messina and Taoramina
- Israel-Jerusalem>
- Israel-Masada and the Dead Sea>
- Israel-Tel Aviv>
- Morocco-Casablanca
- New Zealand-Rotarua
- New Zealand-Fjord Park,Dunedin,Christchurch
- New Zealand - Auckland and sheep farm
- The Netherlands-Amsterdam,Delft,The Hague,Rotterdam,Madurodam
- Sweden-Stockholm and the Archipelago
- Russia-St Petersburg's Palaces
- Scotland-Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
- Scotland-Edinburgh>
- Scotland-Inverness>
- Scotland-Loch Lommond,Luss,Sottish sheep show>
- Spain-Barcelona
- Spain-Cadiz and Seville
- Spain-The Alhambra Palace,view of Malaga
- Tasmania-Hobart
- UK-Liverpool and the Beatles>
- UK-London>
- UK-Stonehenge,Bath,Warwick Castle,Stratford on Avon,Oxford
- UK-Guernsey>
- Carnival -Legend
- Aboard the Carnival Legend
- Carnival -Ecstasy
- Carnival- Fascination
- Carnival Spirit
- Celebrity-Century
- Crown Princess>
- Sapphire Princess
- Royal Caribbean-Brilliance of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean-Mariner of the Seas (parades)
- Royal Caribbean- Mariner of the Seas
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Monthly guest's -Travel videos and pictures
- Web sites and blogs we follow
- Face Book discussions
- Guest Book
Cruising with allergies
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/4/8/4448415/1437340.jpg)
One of my readers contacted me this week asking for my tips when traveling with an allergic child on a gluten free casein free diet. As spring break and summer are fast approaching here are some tips to use for your next cruise or all inclusive resort stay.
Planning stage
Contact your company and flag your reservation
All cruise companies in the USA have a special needs department otherwise known as Access.
Carnival-http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/EMB_guest_specials_relations
NCL
-http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=AccessibleCruising
Royal Carribbean-http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/pdf/Accessibility_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Princess
-http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na545&submit=pk
Celebrity
-http://www.celebritycruises.com/whyceleb/heroSingleTxt.do?pagename=your_medical_needs
Make sure you contact them as soon as possible, tag your booking as special needs so they can be aware of your specific circumstances.
Follow up with a detailed e mail or phone call. If you call do write down the representative's name and his/her extension.
Verify with the cruise line whether you can bring any drinks, snacks, prepackaged foods on board for use and if your cabin is or can be equipped with a refrigerator.
Print out a detailed but simple list of allergen foods since everyone is a little different .Make multiple copies to use on board and consider translating into different languages to use on shore excursions.
Get your doctor to write a letter specifying your needs along with the diagnosis and other pertinent information .If you want to bring pre-packed snacks(many countries will not let you bring any open foods ashore) on shore excursions you might have to translate this letter too.
If your autistic globetrotter is young and nonverbal, you might want to check using temporary tattoos to warn his caregivers(kids clubs) about his/her allergies http://www.mypreciouskid.com/temporary-tattoos.html.
Packing stage
Pack the foods and drinks you have cleared with your cruise line .Don't forget snacks for the shore excursions .Two good web sites to look at http://www.minimums.biz/ and http://www.picnic.com/
You might consider bringing at least one (two if the child is young) set of bed sheets, pillow and a thin blanket to avoid any contact allergy from the industrial soap the hotels and cruise lines use.
Bring your own laundry detergent, soap and shampoo to avoid unnecessary complications.
Do not forget the medicines to treat the allergies, including those in time of an actual allergy attack.
Pack everything you need for your allergy traveler in your hand luggage and do not let it out of your sight.
On board
Notify your room cabin attendant of your specific needs, including the fact you do not want your home provided sheets washed with the general load and whether certain detergents should not be used in the cabin while you are occupying it.
Make sure the cabin vent is not directly over the person's bed.
Talk to the Main Dining Room Maître D' and give him/her a copy of the food allergens. Ask for a small table that can be efficiently cleared of gluten products (even crumbs) especially if you have the late seating or any time dining.
If not already suggested by maître d’, ask to speak to the chef and coordinate how you can be accommodated. Most cruise lines will ask you to preorder the GFCF meal a day in advance so make sure you order at least two viable options for your autisticglobetrotter, especially if he/she is nonverbal and young.
Tell the dining room servers which foods to be avoided, and ask for fries or a veggie platter to be ready on your table in case the GFCF food is later than other dishes, so your autistic person will have something to nibble on.
If you intend to eat at the Buffet then go and have an early chat with the chef about your autistic globetrotter’s preferences. Ask to double check labels as many products appear GFCF but are no such as salad dressings and pre- mixed sauces.
For those highly allergic, ask the staff about the different dishes and methods of preparation to avoid cross contamination was much as possible. While helping yourself to food in the buffet area substitute the set thongs with a clean fork or ask the staff to bring a clean set from the back .For foods prepared before you such as omelets insist on the cook using a new pan. and utensils. Be extra careful with cross contamination when you eat off the soft ice cream or yogurt machines if cones are offered
..Kids' clubs
Inform the general manager as well as the daily corers what items are forbidden. If possible give your printed food allergens page each day, in case the prior one got misplaced.
Shore Excursions desk
Let them know that you wish to bring food on excursions so it does not become a point of contention and misunderstanding the day of the actual trip when everyone is anxious to go sightseeing and you are perceived as keeping everyone back.
If you or your family member are on a GFCF diet or suffer from allergies, how do you keep healthy and safe while cruising or staying in an all-inclusive resort?
Planning stage
Contact your company and flag your reservation
All cruise companies in the USA have a special needs department otherwise known as Access.
Carnival-http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/EMB_guest_specials_relations
NCL
-http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=AccessibleCruising
Royal Carribbean-http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/pdf/Accessibility_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Princess
-http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na545&submit=pk
Celebrity
-http://www.celebritycruises.com/whyceleb/heroSingleTxt.do?pagename=your_medical_needs
Make sure you contact them as soon as possible, tag your booking as special needs so they can be aware of your specific circumstances.
Follow up with a detailed e mail or phone call. If you call do write down the representative's name and his/her extension.
Verify with the cruise line whether you can bring any drinks, snacks, prepackaged foods on board for use and if your cabin is or can be equipped with a refrigerator.
Print out a detailed but simple list of allergen foods since everyone is a little different .Make multiple copies to use on board and consider translating into different languages to use on shore excursions.
Get your doctor to write a letter specifying your needs along with the diagnosis and other pertinent information .If you want to bring pre-packed snacks(many countries will not let you bring any open foods ashore) on shore excursions you might have to translate this letter too.
If your autistic globetrotter is young and nonverbal, you might want to check using temporary tattoos to warn his caregivers(kids clubs) about his/her allergies http://www.mypreciouskid.com/temporary-tattoos.html.
Packing stage
Pack the foods and drinks you have cleared with your cruise line .Don't forget snacks for the shore excursions .Two good web sites to look at http://www.minimums.biz/ and http://www.picnic.com/
You might consider bringing at least one (two if the child is young) set of bed sheets, pillow and a thin blanket to avoid any contact allergy from the industrial soap the hotels and cruise lines use.
Bring your own laundry detergent, soap and shampoo to avoid unnecessary complications.
Do not forget the medicines to treat the allergies, including those in time of an actual allergy attack.
Pack everything you need for your allergy traveler in your hand luggage and do not let it out of your sight.
On board
Notify your room cabin attendant of your specific needs, including the fact you do not want your home provided sheets washed with the general load and whether certain detergents should not be used in the cabin while you are occupying it.
Make sure the cabin vent is not directly over the person's bed.
Talk to the Main Dining Room Maître D' and give him/her a copy of the food allergens. Ask for a small table that can be efficiently cleared of gluten products (even crumbs) especially if you have the late seating or any time dining.
If not already suggested by maître d’, ask to speak to the chef and coordinate how you can be accommodated. Most cruise lines will ask you to preorder the GFCF meal a day in advance so make sure you order at least two viable options for your autisticglobetrotter, especially if he/she is nonverbal and young.
Tell the dining room servers which foods to be avoided, and ask for fries or a veggie platter to be ready on your table in case the GFCF food is later than other dishes, so your autistic person will have something to nibble on.
If you intend to eat at the Buffet then go and have an early chat with the chef about your autistic globetrotter’s preferences. Ask to double check labels as many products appear GFCF but are no such as salad dressings and pre- mixed sauces.
For those highly allergic, ask the staff about the different dishes and methods of preparation to avoid cross contamination was much as possible. While helping yourself to food in the buffet area substitute the set thongs with a clean fork or ask the staff to bring a clean set from the back .For foods prepared before you such as omelets insist on the cook using a new pan. and utensils. Be extra careful with cross contamination when you eat off the soft ice cream or yogurt machines if cones are offered
..Kids' clubs
Inform the general manager as well as the daily corers what items are forbidden. If possible give your printed food allergens page each day, in case the prior one got misplaced.
Shore Excursions desk
Let them know that you wish to bring food on excursions so it does not become a point of contention and misunderstanding the day of the actual trip when everyone is anxious to go sightseeing and you are perceived as keeping everyone back.
If you or your family member are on a GFCF diet or suffer from allergies, how do you keep healthy and safe while cruising or staying in an all-inclusive resort?