Gluten-Free Virgin Voyages

Wondering if you can cruise gluten-free on Virgin Voyages? Let me share my experience with my tips on how to enjoy worry-free dining aboard Virgin Cruise Lines.

Can You Cruise on Virgin if You Are Gluten-Free?

I recently decided to cruise with Virgin Cruise Lines, and I’m glad I did. We sailed on the Valiant Lady. Originally, it was scheduled to depart from Miami and visit the Dominican Republic and Bimini, but instead, we visited Bimini and the Turks. I recommend planning one excursion day and one beach day, regardless of the ports you visit. You can read my tips on how not to be a “Virgin” on Virgin Cruise Lines.

Without a doubt, the biggest attractions of Virgin Cruise Lines were the adults-only atmosphere and the food. I had heard that the vibe was fantastic and the food was divine, but I wondered if that applied to people with dietary restrictions as well. One thing I loved was that every restaurant on the cruise was included in the price, and you could enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at most of them. Plus, you could always grab a gluten-free pizza, which was absolutely amazing.

The one drawback I found with Virgin’s gluten-free dining options was that each location didn’t have a dedicated gluten-free menu. I would have appreciated that more than just seeing a small “GF” symbol next to certain options, or relying on the wait staff to inform me of gluten-free choices. Let’s start with The Galley, since it was always available. I found a wide variety of options there. I could get gluten-free toast, bagels, and muffins, and enjoyed everything from avocado toast to eggs florentine.

I could also grab fruit to go, and there were plenty of omelet choices. They served everything from breakfast soups to chai pudding for dessert.

For lunch, there were also plenty of options. The salad bar was incredible, and there were always great soup selections. Most of the time, we dined at one of the specialty restaurants.

Next, we explored the specialty dining that was included. There were always one or more gluten-free options for every course, except dessert. I wish there had been more dessert choices because this girl loves her sweets! My friend, who doesn’t eat meat or gluten, was also pleased with the majority of our dining experiences.

The only place we didn’t enjoy was The Test Kitchen. We heard they were trying out a new menu, but I think they should go back to the drawing board. The food wasn’t great, and the non-alcoholic drinks were terrible. One tasted like they had poured a jar of green olives into a glass—yuck! I had a floral drink with yogurt in it, and it tasted like vomit. I seriously considered sending it back.

Surprisingly, Extra Virgin turned out to be my favorite, even though it was Italian. I rarely get to enjoy Italian food because of the gluten, but it was absolutely delicious. The Mexican restaurant was a close second, with a wide variety of tasty options.

Here’s where Virgin falls short on gluten-free choices: the sides. I wanted gluten-free bread and crackers to fully enjoy the dishes, and more dessert options at the restaurants. On the beach, I also wished there were more gluten-free choices. For instance, if the only thing making a dish contain gluten is the soy sauce, why not just use a gluten-free soy sauce so more people can enjoy it?

Throughout the trip, I ate both gluten-free and gluten options, depending on what I wanted. My friend, who strictly eats gluten-free, found plenty to eat as well. She follows a vegetable-forward diet, while I’m more of a meat-forward diner. I would have loved it if all their dishes could be easily adapted to meet gluten-free needs, so I wouldn’t miss out on anything. I did have a few gluten meals where the only gluten was in the sauce, as I considered that a trace amount. Personally, I just think gluten makes me feel bloated and tired, though the doctors say I’m not allergic. Maybe it’s just age making me feel more tired!

That said, you can definitely survive—and even thrive—on a Virgin Voyages if you’re gluten-free.

One improvement would be if the app helped identify where to find gluten-free treats. We discovered, near the end of our trip, that there were gluten-free goodies at one of the coffee shops—we had assumed they were full of gluten! We also found some pop-up snacks that were gluten-free. In the end, if you ask, the staff will do their best to accommodate your dietary needs.

Cheers! I hope you enjoy your Virgin cruise. Let me know what your favorite restaurant was and what you ate there!

I used these for every outfit, including my workout tops and bathing suits! I bought the round and the triangle ones.

These were my must-pack items.

5 Tips to Avoid Being a Virgin on Virgin Cruise Lines