Gluten Free on AMA Waterways: Our Experience Traveling With Celiac Disease

If you’ve ever planned a trip with celiac disease, you know that one of the biggest sources of stress isn’t the flights, hotels, or excursions.

It’s the food.

Will there be safe options? Will staff understand cross-contamination? Will every meal require a long conversation?

As someone who travels with a spouse who has celiac disease, these are questions we think about on every trip.

The good news is that after four AMA Waterways cruises for Julia and five for me, AMA remains one of the best travel experiences we’ve found for gluten-free travelers.

Why We Chose AMA Waterways Again

One of the reasons we continue returning to AMA Waterways is because Julia never feels like an afterthought during meals.

We’ve traveled with other cruise lines, stayed at countless hotels, and eaten at restaurants all over the world. While many are willing to accommodate dietary restrictions, AMA consistently goes a step further.

Instead of simply identifying which menu items are naturally gluten free, the culinary team often adapts dishes so Julia can enjoy many of the same meals as everyone else.

That may sound like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference.

No Pre-Ordering Meals

One of the biggest differences we’ve noticed between AMA Waterways and many ocean cruise lines is that Julia doesn’t need to pre-order her meals.

On several ocean cruises, we’ve had experiences where gluten-free guests are required to review menus a day in advance and select meals ahead of time.

While we understand why cruise lines do this, it can make dining feel more restrictive.

On AMA Waterways, that hasn’t been our experience.

Instead, the staff and kitchen are able to make adjustments as needed, creating a dining experience that feels much more relaxed and spontaneous.

Dining Staff That Understand Celiac Disease

During our most recent sailing aboard AmaReina, the dining team did a fantastic job accommodating celiac disease.

One crew member who stood out was Daniel, the maître d’.

Daniel was knowledgeable, helpful, and genuinely enjoyable to interact with throughout the week. Whether he was checking on guests, helping with dining requests, or joking around during meals, he added a lot of energy to the dining experience.

For travelers with celiac disease, having someone like Daniel overseeing the dining room provides an extra level of confidence throughout the cruise.

Daniel was one of the best maître d’s we’ve encountered during our AMA Waterways cruises, but we’ve had positive experiences with dining staff across all of our sailings.

Gluten-Free Meals We Enjoyed

What really sets AMA apart is the variety.

Many places can provide grilled chicken, a salad, or a steak.

Those options are safe, but they aren’t always exciting.

One thing that stands out about AMA Waterways is that Julia is often able to enjoy foods that are normally difficult to find gluten free while traveling, including:

• Gluten-free fish and chips
• Gluten-free schnitzel
• Gluten-free pizza
• Gluten-free pancakes
• Gluten-free bagels

Those aren’t meals we normally expect to find while traveling internationally, which is why they stood out so much.

Instead of feeling limited, Julia was often able to enjoy versions of the same dishes other guests were ordering.

Breakfast Was Easy Too

Breakfast can sometimes be one of the trickiest meals when traveling with celiac disease, but AMA Waterways made it easy.

Almost every morning, Julia enjoyed a gluten-free bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, which quickly became one of her favorite breakfasts onboard.

She was also able to enjoy gluten-free pancakes, something that isn’t always easy to find while traveling.

These may seem like simple breakfast items, but anyone with celiac disease knows that being able to enjoy foods like bagels and pancakes without worrying about gluten is a huge win.

It’s another example of how AMA goes beyond simply providing a few safe options and instead works to create a normal dining experience for gluten-free guests.

Gluten-Free During Cocktail Hour

One of the things that impressed us most actually happened outside the dining room.

On several evenings throughout the cruise, AMA hosted cocktail hour with servers circulating through the lounge offering hors d’oeuvres to guests.

When hors d’oeuvres were being served, the staff would often prepare a separate gluten-free tray for Julia and actively look for her throughout the lounge so she could participate in the experience.

It was a relatively small gesture, but it perfectly illustrated the level of service we’ve come to expect from AMA Waterways.

Not every cocktail hour featured hors d’oeuvres, but on the evenings they were offered, the staff consistently made sure Julia wasn’t left out.

Even Oktoberfest Was Gluten-Free

Our Romantic Danube cruise began with AMA’s Oktoberfest celebration in Vilshofen.

The event featured traditional German food, music, dancing, pretzels, and plenty of beer.

One detail we especially appreciated was that AMA even had gluten-free beer available.

It allowed Julia to enjoy the experience alongside everyone else instead of feeling like she was missing out.

Moments like that are one of the reasons we continue returning to AMA.

Gluten-Free on Excursions

One concern many travelers with celiac disease have is what happens during full-day excursions away from the ship.

During our full-day excursion from Linz to Salzburg, Julia requested a gluten-free bagged lunch since we knew finding a safe meal on our own might be difficult.

AMA Waterways prepared a lunch for her to take on the excursion, which we appreciated.

To be completely honest, it wasn’t the most substantial lunch we’ve ever received. The options were somewhat limited, and it felt a little sparse compared to the meals we were enjoying onboard.

That said, we’d much rather have a cruise line make the effort than simply tell us we’re on our own for the day.

Was it perfect? No.

Was it appreciated? Absolutely.

For us, it was another example of AMA trying to accommodate travelers with celiac disease, even in situations where providing a full meal isn’t always easy.

Late-Night Snacks

Each evening, AMA Waterways offered a late-night snack from around 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The selections changed throughout the cruise and included things like cookies, sliders, pizza bagels, and other hot snacks.

This was one area where the gluten-free options felt a little more limited.

After noticing there typically wasn’t a gluten-free option available, we asked if anything could be prepared for Julia.

The staff was happy to help and arranged a special gluten-free snack for the following evening.

While we appreciated the effort, the gluten-free option was fairly simple and didn’t quite match the variety of the standard late-night offerings available to other guests.

That said, what stood out most was the willingness to accommodate the request.

Throughout our AMA cruises, we’ve consistently found that the staff genuinely wants to help. Even when the solution isn’t perfect, they’re willing to work with guests to find an option that works.

For us, that attitude makes a big difference.

The Chef’s Table

Another highlight onboard is The Chef’s Table.

This specialty venue offers a multi-course tasting menu that typically includes seven or eight courses.

The staff worked closely with Julia to ensure she could safely participate in the experience.

Being able to enjoy a specialty dining experience without constantly worrying about ingredients or cross-contamination makes a huge difference when traveling with celiac disease.

Why AMA Stands Out

After multiple cruises with AMA Waterways, what stands out most isn’t a specific meal or menu item.

It’s consistency.

From the maître d’ to the waitstaff to the chefs, everyone seems to understand that dining is an important part of the travel experience.

Rather than treating celiac disease as an inconvenience, the staff works hard to ensure gluten-free guests can fully participate in that experience.

For us, that’s what makes AMA different.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with celiac disease will probably always require a little extra planning.

However, AMA Waterways has done more than almost any travel company we’ve encountered to remove that stress.

From gluten-free fish and chips and schnitzel to gluten-free bagels, pancakes, special cocktail-hour hors d’oeuvres, gluten-free excursion lunches, and even gluten-free beer at Oktoberfest, AMA has consistently found ways to help Julia enjoy foods that are often difficult to find while traveling.

Not every accommodation was perfect. The excursion lunch could have been a little more substantial, and the late-night gluten-free snack options were fairly limited. Still, what impressed us most was the willingness of the staff to help whenever we had a question or request.

Most importantly, Julia never feels like she’s missing out.

And when you’re traveling with celiac disease, that’s worth a lot.