Between Meals

Standing at the port in Southampton, looking up at the MSC Poesia, I felt the enormity of everything we had just planned. The ship towered above us against the blue-grey December sky, its rows of balconies stretching endlessly upwards.

This was it. After months of preparation involving research, forms, emails, allergy planning and double-checking, we were finally here!

At that moment, I felt more nervous than excited. Cruises had always felt out of reach for us. On previous holidays there had always been a nearby supermarket, another restaurant option, back-up snacks in the hotel fridge, or a hospital within reach. But this time, we would be on a ship in the middle of the ocean with our 12-year-old son, who lives with severe food allergies.

Although MSC Poesia had an onboard medical centre with doctors and nurses available 24 hours a day, it still felt very different from our previous holidays.

Walking onto the ship felt surreal, with staff greeting us warmly as we made our way up onto the deck.

As we stood together looking back across the Southampton skyline, I couldn’t quite believe we were about to do this. We planned to visit Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France over the next week.

We intentionally chose a European cruise departing from Southampton because it felt like a gentler first step into cruising, and Southampton isn’t that far from where we live. We didn’t need to navigate airports or worry about bringing enough safe food for flights on top of everything else. Staying closer to home made the whole experience feel more manageable.

Before We Boarded: Forms, Emails and Clear Communication

One thing I’ve learned through travelling with food allergies is that clear communication is so important. I would always rather ask one extra question than make assumptions later. Families managing food allergies often become experts in preparation long before they become confident travellers.

Before we sailed, we informed MSC about all of Reuben’s food allergies well in advance. I completed an Accessibility and Medical Requests form detailing everything carefully. The process itself was comforting because it showed how seriously the cruise line took medical needs.

For food allergies, there was a dedicated section in the online form where we could tick top 14 allergens and add further allergens and details if needed. Seeing that level of structure immediately helped me feel more reassured about the trip.

The trickiest part was understanding which information needed to go through cruise.co.uk and which needed to go directly to MSC. I quickly realised it was important not to assume that one conversation covered everything. So I followed up with emails to MSC’s special assistance team, double-checked details and made sure nothing had been missed.

By the time embarkation day arrived, we still felt nervous, but we also felt prepared.

Meeting the Team: Introducing Reuben on the First Day

As soon as we boarded the cruise ship, we headed straight to reception to ask if we could speak to the restaurant manager. The restaurant wasn’t open yet, so we spent some time wandering around the ship first. The kids were excited, exploring the decks and soaking up the atmosphere, but in the back of my mind I was counting down until we could have “the conversation”.

Until the allergy communication was done, I couldn’t fully relax.

At midday, the restaurant opened and we were invited into the dining room to meet the restaurant manager and head waiter.

We carefully listed all of Reuben’s food allergies again and showed them our Equal Eats card. Both the restaurant manager and head waiter listened attentively, asked questions and took detailed notes. We didn’t feel rushed or dismissed.

The restaurant manager explained that MSC’s policy was for guests with food allergies to order all meals directly through the head waiter at each sitting. We were also relieved to learn that all of Reuben’s meals would be prepared in a separate kitchen area.

Hearing there was already a clear process in place immediately reassured us. We weren’t having to convince staff to take food allergies seriously as it felt like they already did.

Dining With Confidence: How MSC Handled Food Allergies On Board

Very quickly, a routine began to form and, with it, our confidence grew.

At every meal, the two head waiters assigned to our family would proactively come to our table at breakfast, lunch and dinner. One waiter looked after us during breakfast and lunch, while another managed our evening meals. The consistency made a huge difference because we never had to repeatedly explain Reuben’s allergies.

Each day, we were handed the following day’s menus so meals could be pre-ordered in advance. This removed so much uncertainty around dining, and allowed us to come into the restaurant with a clear plan.

The staff were also honest about the buffet areas. Due to the risk of cross-contact, we were advised that it would not be safe for Reuben to eat there. On our particular ship, there were no separate allergy-safe buffet stations, so all of his meals were served in the restaurant instead. Rather than feeling restrictive, we actually appreciated the clarity.

What impressed us most was how consistent the process remained throughout the cruise. When Reuben’s food arrived, the head waiter would stay at the table, double-check everything with us and make sure Reuben had the chance to ask questions himself. They never just placed the plate down and walked away.

Our breakfast head waiter also made sure Reuben was never left with tiny portions. Every morning, enormous plates of omelette, hash browns, tomatoes and fruit would arrive at the table, alongside extra bread rolls and cheese slices, which were useful for day trips. His meals didn’t feel limited or different because of his allergies, they felt just as generous and exciting as everyone else’s.

A particularly memorable moment involved tuna steak at dinner. Tuna is one of Reuben’s favourite foods. One evening, it wasn’t on the restaurant menu but we had spotted it being served upstairs in the buffet area earlier that day. We mentioned it to the head waiter at dinner, and, not long after, a specially prepared tuna steak arrived!

Moments like this meant a lot to us. Food allergies so often involve saying “no”, missing out, or settling for the safest available option. Watching our son not only eat safely, but genuinely enjoy his meals and feel included was something we really appreciated.

After a few meals, we realised we were no longer feeling anxious every time we sat down to eat. We trusted the process, we trusted the staff, and dining in the restaurant became a real pleasure.

Port Days: Planning Ahead So We Could Enjoy Each City

Before we travelled, I bought guide books for every place on our list: Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges and Le Havre. Research has become part of how we travel as a family. Knowing the layout of a city, nearby food options and having a rough plan in place helps take away some of the uncertainty before we even arrive.

Our first stop was Hamburg and we eased ourselves in gently. After all the excitement of boarding the ship and settling into the cruise, Reuben didn’t feel ready to try somewhere completely new straight away. He wanted something familiar and safe that he had eaten many times at home, and we fully supported that decision.

So our first meal ashore was at Subway.

This may not sound particularly adventurous, but it gave us a confidence boost when everything else was new and unfamiliar. The bread options were slightly different to the UK and there were sesame-topped breads to avoid, but because we had been ordering at Subway at home for years, it felt manageable to navigate safely.

Sometimes confidence while travelling with food allergies is not about doing the most exciting thing. It is about knowing when to choose familiarity so you can actually relax and enjoy the experience.

As the week went on, though, our confidence grew.

In Rotterdam, we explored the famous Markthal, the huge horseshoe-shaped food market filled with stalls and colourful artwork across the ceiling. Reuben safely enjoyed fresh cocos balls from Madame Cocos, chips with ketchup from Bram Ladage and even a Goudstroop waffle while we wandered through the market.

Bruges was probably the most emotional food moment of the trip.

One thing Reuben had always wanted to try was a real Belgian waffle. It was one of his food bucket list moments. We visited the popular dessert spot, Laurence, and explained his allergies carefully and handed over our Equal Eats card. Coincidently, the woman serving us also had a shellfish allergy herself and immediately understood.

There were toppings, including nuts, in individual containers at the front of the shop, but they prepared Reuben’s waffle separately at the back and topped it with icing sugar. Watching him standing in the cobbled streets of Bruges, happily eating a Belgian waffle, was a huge moment for us all.

Le Havre brought a completely different kind of memory. The weather was wild, windy and freezing, so instead of searching for food, we ended up huddled inside Café Cocotte drinking hot drinks, and warming up before heading back onwards the ship. Reuben opted for a sealed orange juice which he then poured into a clean glass.

Would We Cruise Again? Yes

Before this trip, cruising had felt like one of those holidays that wouldn’t work for our family. The idea of being in the middle of the ocean while managing severe food allergies felt overwhelming and impossible.

But researching the onboard medical centre, checking the detailed forms, planning carefully for port days and bringing extra medication and snacks from home all helped us feel more prepared.

By the end of the cruise, we were already talking about where we wanted to go next!

We love the idea of a Caribbean cruise. The thought of warmer weather, different islands and even bigger adventures no longer feels so out of reach.

This trip gave us not only a memorable family holiday, but also more travel experience and increased confidence which we can carry into future travels.

Preparation beforehand and clear communication through tools like our Equal Eats cards allowed our family to experience this amazing adventure.