Eating gluten free on Marella Explorer 2

Thomson Cruises was my first cruise line (specifically, the Island Escape) and since going on their newer ships I’ve become quite the Marella convert. This British based cruise line is pretty perfect for first time cruisers, especially if you’re familiar with TUI holidays, and the newer ships are gorgeous! I’ve recently taken two trips on Marella Explorer 2 – on a Tropical Delights Caribbean cruise and one of the first post-Covid British Isles cruises. Here’s how I got on eating gluten free on Marella Explorer 2.

“Included” Restaurants on Marella Explorer 2

The Market Place

This is the standard cruise ship buffet – the great thing about Marella Cruises is that gluten free options are always marked on the labels above (although caution should always be taken for cross contamination) – I found it perfectly easy to eat here – there wasn’t a gluten free area as such other than for afternoon tea. There’s a station for paninis and pizza slices in The Market Place but they weren’t able to offer gluten free options unfortunately.

Nonna’s

I spent several lunchtimes in Nonna’s, a casual, super chilled Italian eatery on Deck 11, by the pool area. This venue lets you make your own pasta creations – you simply choose your sauce and fillings and it is made for you – gluten free spaghetti is available and all the sauce and topping options are gluten free.

For “normals” there are slices of pizza which you can help yourself to, although if you are gluten free they will make you your own gluten free pizza with gluten free dough! I missed out on this on my first cruise but confirmed recently it’s good gluten free pizza!

Snack Shack

The Snack Shack is THAT place you’ve seen all over instagram (by the way, are you following mine?) – brightly coloured beach huts for seats and oversized deckchairs. There’s a hot food station with burgers and hot dogs (no gluten free options here other than fries, and those are sometimes marked gf and sometimes not!) but more importantly there’s a “Grab & Go” fridge with snack boxes like salads and mezze platters as well as fruit salads – there’s pretty much always something gluten free to grab here. I recommend the Asian Beef Salad – so yummy!

The Beach Cove

NOTE: The lunchtime option here wasn’t available on my post covid cruise – I’m not sure if this is on it’s way back eventually!

This venue by the pool side is a casual venue in the day with food included in your cruise prices – it’s separated from the pool side by glass curtains, with swinging benches helping to give it an al fresco feel (although having an unfortunate greenhouse effect in hot weather). At lunchtime you can find a gluten free carvery here, along with a salad bar.

During the evening the Beach Cove becomes a paid speciality restaurant (costing you about £12) with a barbecue-theme, offering options like chicken wings, ribs and sliders. I haven’t tried this venue out yet – one for the future!

Latitude 53

Latitude 53 is the MDR, or main dining room, of Marella Explorer 2 – it spans over 2 decks with huge floor-to-ceiling windows giving you an amazing wake view – check out these views I enjoyed one morning over breakfast!

You can expect breakfast, lunch and dinner services in Latitude 53, with waiter service. The menus are displayed on a screen outside the door, perfect for finding out what’s available later on. The menus always have gluten free options marked, as well as options that can be made gluten free on request. If you see there’s something on the menu for the evening that you fancy that isn’t marked as gluten free however, ask a restaurant manager if this can be adapted for your needs – I’ve never had a problem doing this. I do tend to order gluten free meals in advance on some other cruise lines, however I found it super easy and convenient to just order from the menu on our cruise – there was always plenty to choose from!

Vista

You’ll find Vista on the first floor of Latitude 53. Come evening, it transforms into a contemporary Italian restaurant. This is one of my favourite place to eat on board!

Of course the food is great on Marella Explorer 2, but what about the drinks? Check out my blog post on Marella Cruises All-Inclusive Drinks Package Upgrades.

Extra charge dining areas

The Dining Club

The Dining Club is the ‘fine dining’ restaurant onboard Marella Explorer 2. I’ve written in another blog post about the gluten free Musical Afternoon Tea we enjoyed on a sea day, but we also booked this venue for our formal night treat.

I enjoyed a beautiful meal of seared scallops, served with champagne butter and coral foam, sauteed lobster, morel and chicken mousse served with rissole potatoes and sabayon, finished off with a little bit of chocolatey heaven!

This place was definitely made for foodies with some VERY rich flavours! Meat fans will love the look of the cateubriand, which is carved at your tableside (although served to you already sliced up during post-Covid cruises).

Surf & Turf Steakhouse

This place does what it says on the tin, specialising in all things meat and seafood. This was one I was desperate to try and it didn’t dissapoint!

Kora La

Kora La is Marella Cruises pan-Asian restaurant – although I didn’t eat here on Marella Explorer 2 I’ve eaten at various other Kora La’s including on Marella Celebration.

Have you eaten gluten free on Marella Cruises? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below, or come say hi on my socials!

Check out my other gluten free cruise reviews!

• Eating gluten free on Marella Explorer 2
• Eating Gluten Free Afternoon Tea at Marella Cruises’ Great Musical Afternoon Tea
• A gluten free guide to Scarlet Lady’s restaurants (Virgin Voyages Menus)
• A first glimpse of gluten free treats on Virgin Voyages
• Eating gluten free on CMV Magellan (Ship no longer in service)