Celiac & gluten-free travel
Celiac Travel Agent
I have celiac disease, so I know this isn’t just a dietary preference. You don’t need to explain to me what a dedicated fryer is, or why plain chicken and vegetables for a week isn’t a vacation. You need a celiac travel agent who already knows.
The process
Working With Me
It all starts with a consult call. Every resort and cruise line I recommend understands what celiac actually means but there’s a lot to discuss to make sure a resort or destination is the right fit. How comfortable are you advocating for yourself at a restaurant? Which foods would actually feel like a win on vacation? What about the rest of the resort’s amenities – those matter too.
here’s what you get
- A personalized vacation proposal after our consultation call
- Booking support and full management of your reservation
- Direct communication with the resort or cruise line about your dietary needs
- Help with ground transfers, travel insurance, and excursions
- Celiac-specific tips for your exact resort and destination
- Planning call after final payment to answer questions before you arrive
- No planning fee
Recognized for Celiac Travel Expertise
I don’t just live with celiac, I’ve built a reputation helping other people navigate it while traveling. My work has been featured by organizations that lead the conversation in celiac education and awareness.
As Seen In
Client Stories
Celiac Travel Agent Reviews: Working With Kat
“I would recommend you to anybody with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease. I felt through the whole process that I was in very capable hands. You clearly know the best travel destinations for coeliacs very well. Never ate so much and such good food since my diagnosis, honestly. We also felt like you were available at all times to answer our questions or help us while we were there.”
AT
Val-d’Or, QC
“Had a wonderful vacation thanks to Kat Ward! I was worried about dietary restrictions and our resort not only met but exceeded my expectations. Kat understood our wants and needs and really hit the nail on the head with this booking. She was so helpful leading up to our trip and checked in during and followed up after to ensure we had all our needs met.”
EM
Pelham, ON
“Our travel agent Kat Ward was fantastic. She found us a resort that checked all the boxes, including a place that would handle food allergies and celiac. And when we had a flight cancellation due to weather and the airline was being less than helpful, she was there to advise us outside business hours and help get things back on track.”
TW
Milton, ON
Cruises
Celiac-Friendly Cruises
If you’ve searched for a celiac-friendly cruise, you’ve probably come across a specific company built entirely around the celiac community. That’s a great option for some travelers, but it’s not the only one. You can be gluten free on a cruise with Celiac and I can show you how.
Many cruise lines can accommodate gluten-free and celiac needs. As a celiac travel agent it’s my job to know how each cruise line handles dietary restrictions, who to talk to, when to order, and what to expect. Specialty dining is where things really open up. I don’t just point my clients to what’s safe, I point them to what’s good.
Beach Vacations
Gluten-Free All-Inclusive Vacation Planning
All-inclusives bring their own challenge: multiple restaurants, buffet-style dining, and often a language barrier between you and the kitchen. Most of my clients have already spent hours reading celiac and gluten-free reviews before they even talk to me, and one bad review can send them right back to square one. I know which resorts fall into each category.
And yes, these fries were made in a dedicated fryer. IYKYK…
Disney Destinations
Gluten Free Disney Destination Planning
Disney Destinations are some of the most celiac-friendly in the world, with dedicated processes for handling dietary requests across parks, resorts, and Disney Cruise Line. Wherever you’re headed, the same approach applies: I already know what’s possible, so you’re not the one figuring it out once you arrive.
Disney Destinations were the inspiration for my whole career as a celiac travel agent and they remain a big part of my personal and professional travel.
common questions
Celiac Travel Agent FAQ: Your Gluten-Free Vacation Questions
These are the questions I hear most often as a celiac travel agent. If yours isn’t here, reach out and I’m happy to talk it through.
Can I safely eat gluten-free at an all-inclusive resort?
Yes, but it depends on the resort, not the destination. Some properties have dedicated gluten-free menus and kitchen staff who understand cross-contamination. Others say yes without knowing what you’re actually asking. I know which resorts fall into each category.
Is gluten-free food included at all-inclusive resorts, or does it cost extra?
At most resorts, gluten-free dining is included in your all-inclusive rate the same as any other meal. Some a la carte restaurants charge extra for gluten-free options, but that’s rare. Honestly, this is one of the few times celiac travelers aren’t paying more than everyone else.
Can cruise ships accommodate celiac disease?
Many cruise lines can. Going in informed about how each line handles dietary restrictions, who to talk to, when to order, and what to expect makes a world of difference. Also – I don’t just point my clients to what’s safe, I point them to what’s good.
Can I eat safely from the buffet at an all-inclusive if I have celiac disease?
My advice is no. Buffets involve shared serving utensils and food sitting out where cross-contact is hard to control. I don’t recommend them to my celiac clients, regardless of the resort or cruise line. Some celiac travelers do eat from buffets and manage it without issue. That’s a personal risk decision, not one I’ll tell you is safe just because it’s common.
What cruise line is best for gluten-free travelers?
There isn’t one universal answer, since it depends on your itinerary and what kind of dining experience matters most to you. Some lines are stronger in the Main Dining Room, others shine in specialty dining. Rather than name one line as “the best,” I match clients to the line that fits both their dietary needs and the kind of trip they actually want.
How do I notify a cruise line or resort about my gluten-free diet?
I submit dietary requests as part of the booking process, well before you travel. Before you depart, I’ll guide you through who to talk to on arrival and how communication will work throughout your trip, so you arrive already knowing what to do.
How do I avoid gluten cross-contamination / cross-contact on vacation?
The biggest factor isn’t what you do once you’re there, it’s the decisions made before you book. Choosing a resort or cruise line that already has real systems in place matters more than anything you can manage in the moment. Once you’ve made the right choice upfront, the in-destination part is mostly communication: talking to the chef or dining manager early, asking specific questions instead of general ones, and knowing which restaurants or dishes to avoid.
Which destinations are easiest for gluten-free travel?
I’ve seen excellent celiac accommodations in Mexico and the Caribbean, and I’ve also seen properties in those same regions get it wrong. Europe tends to have stronger general gluten-free awareness at the city level, but not all cities are created equal. A consult call is where this actually gets solved. My expertise is matching what you need to the trip you’re actually booking.
Is it easier to travel gluten-free on a cruise or at an all-inclusive resort?
Cruises tend to offer more consistency, since the same kitchen and staff serve you for the entire trip, and your order can be set up in advance for every meal. All-inclusives can match that, but it depends more heavily on the specific property, since you’re often dealing with multiple restaurants and possibly multiple chefs. Neither is universally easier. It comes down to which resort or which ship, not which category of vacation.
Should I use a celiac travel agent or just book it myself?
You don’t have to, but it changes what you’re able to find out before you book, the level of planning assistance and real-life experience you’ll get (at no added cost).
Anyone can ask a resort if they accommodate gluten-free diets and get a yes. As a celiac travel agent I know who to ask, what questions to ask after that yes, and I know when a yes doesn’t actually mean what you’d hope. If celiac awareness matters to your trip, that difference is worth having on your side before you book, not after you arrive.