Options for packing a lunch for excursion

[jamieann]

On our upcoming cruise we have a private charter scheduled (not through Disney) in Grand Cayman. It goes from 11:15-3:00 so I'm trying to figure out the best option for lunch. I know some people order room service sandwiches to take on excursions with them and that seems like a good option. Will they box it up for you or do they just bring it on a plate and it's up to you to bring sandwich bags, etc.? Are there any other options I should consider instead of just ordering room service?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I do not think they allow food off in that port, when I was there on all my cruises we were told bottled water only.

Most Caribbean ports are like this they do not allow food in.

Food is easy to buy bar Sundays when main shops are closed but you still get snacks.

Your idea is feasible in some European ports of call where rules are relaxed but not the Caribbean.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Food which is not commercially packaged and sealed is generally not allowed off the ship in most ports. Some ports do not even allow packaged foods off. I'm not sure if Grand Cayman is one that allows packaged foods or one that prohibits all food items, but I wouldn't plan on taking room service sandwiches off the ship. Fruit is a definite no-no.

 

[jamieann]

Huh, strange! I thought for sure I had read somewhere that you could take packed lunches from room service. Oh well, guess we'll be eating a big breakfast!

 

[dcassetta]

People have discussed ordering Uncrustables to take off the ship, so that may be what you were thinking of. You certainly wouldn't be able to take any fresh foods off of the boat including fruit or sandwiches from room service. Prepackaged foods, such as Uncrustables , box cereal, granola bars might be possible. Definitely check before you try to do this however. I haven't been the Cayman Islands in five years, so I'm not sure what their current policies are.

 

[sillecruisers]

I'm wondering this same thing about our excursion to Blue Lagoon in Nassau. I am gluten free and vegetarian and for that reason, was hoping I could order something in advance to take off the ship for lunch, since they serve burgers, hot dogs and chicken, and I doubt very much that they have gluten free items.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On our upcoming cruise we have a private charter scheduled (not through Disney) in Grand Cayman. It goes from 11:15-3:00 so I'm trying to figure out the best option for lunch. I know some people order room service sandwiches to take on excursions with them and that seems like a good option. Will they box it up for you or do they just bring it on a plate and it's up to you to bring sandwich bags, etc.? Are there any other options I should consider instead of just ordering room service?

On our cruise last year, the tendering information sheet for Grand Cayman says (in bold print):

Please note: Regulations on agriculture and food; Meat, fruit, sandwiches, dairy products, vegetables, plants and seeds are not allowed on or off of the ship.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

People have discussed ordering Uncrustables to take off the ship, so that may be what you were thinking of. You certainly wouldn't be able to take any fresh foods off of the boat including fruit or sandwiches from room service. Prepackaged foods, such as Uncrustables , box cereal, granola bars might be possible. Definitely check before you try to do this however. I haven't been the Cayman Islands in five years, so I'm not sure what their current policies are.

Cayman was a no no, they made many announcements to that affect, in fact they said only sealed bottled water that was it, been here a number of times, always the same.

Europe you can take food off.

 

[sambycat]

typically, we would plan a late/large breakfast and eat food if need be at the port or excursion or what have you and plan for that. if allowed, we usually have some pre-packaged nuts or bars of some sort as a snack. if we were doing an excursion the hours you mentioned, thats what we would do? typically there is so much food onboard i'm shocked when i actually get hungry! but most excursions, if longer that a couple hours do provide (not necessarily include) a refreshment opportunity and you just need to plan or budget fr that.

i think i've read the uncrushable thing as well, that is potentially an option at some ports and people probably do smuggle ginormous lunches off the boat but typically we know what the hours of excursions are and we just plan around it. i would totally eat a late breakfast that day, maybe even a palo brunch if that applies to all excursion goers. good luck!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

As listed above, you have to be careful about taking foods off the vessel. Some ports like Cayman Islands, as DF pointed out, No foods at all are allowed off . The rules change as well. Best check when onboard.

The fines can run into the thousands.

AKK

 

[Starwind]

I'm wondering this same thing about our excursion to Blue Lagoon in Nassau. I am gluten free and vegetarian and for that reason, was hoping I could order something in advance to take off the ship for lunch, since they serve burgers, hot dogs and chicken, and I doubt very much that they have gluten free items.

If it is a Disney excursion, you can contact DCL special services and ask if Blue Lagoon can accommodate your dietary needs. We did this with our Atlantis excursion on our first DCL cruise -- DCL made arrangements with Atlantis for them to accommodate my food allergies for our included lunch; Disney gave me instructions on where to go, and I had a great meal (though it took a while...).

If you are booking with Blue Lagoon directly, contact them directly and ask. Worst case they will tell you they cannot accommodate you, but you may well be surprised and find out they can.

We are considering doing an excursion (through Disney) at Blue Lagoon during our December cruise and will be going through DCL to see if they can accommodate our food allergies, and if not, to get specific info on what if any foods we can bring off the ship (i.e. commercially packaged foods).

SW

 

[PrincessTrisha]

If you think you will absolutely have to have a lunch and will be somewhere that food will not be available (like on a boat or catamaran), why not bring a couple of those tuna packets/pop-top can of tuna or a small jar of peanut butter, some sealed crackers, welch's fruit snacks, packaged cookies, stuff like that (you could also grab a few of the bags of Lays chips from Flo's Café) - you could basically pack a small picnic lunch from home and not have to worry about the regulations of bringing fresh food off the ship (or being stuck with dry cereal for lunch!).

 

["Got Disney"]

no food...not even an Apple.....I told them that my DH was a diabetic and they said he was not allowed to take any food off the ship...so if you do be sure to well....not show it....

 

[DahliaRW]

Would you have time before your excursion to grab something on the island to bring with you? One of you could get off early and cab it to a grocery store.

 

[C6PT7]

On our upcoming cruise we have a private charter scheduled (not through Disney) in Grand Cayman. It goes from 11:15-3:00 so I'm trying to figure out the best option for lunch. I know some people order room service sandwiches to take on excursions with them and that seems like a good option. Will they box it up for you or do they just bring it on a plate and it's up to you to bring sandwich bags, etc.? Are there any other options I should consider instead of just ordering room service?

Contact your excursion provider and ask them for advice. they may be able to recommend some where close to the excursion, where they buy lunch or be able to provide it for you?

 

[outtabux]

Last Feb we had an excursion that was the same way in Grand Cayman. (Sting Ray City) We brought zip lock bags with us from home and took pastries from the breakfast buffet, small boxes of dry cereal, and ordered the uncrustables through room service. (Make sure to tell them not to warm them) I'm not sure why, but they never checked our bags when we got off the tender boat. The day before we were in Cozumel and they were searching bags and there was a giant trash can full of food people were trying to take off the ship, but nothing like that in Cayman.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Last Feb we had an excursion that was the same way in Grand Cayman. (Sting Ray City) We brought zip lock bags with us from home and took pastries from the breakfast buffet, small boxes of dry cereal, and ordered the uncrustables through room service. (Make sure to tell them not to warm them) I'm not sure why, but they never checked our bags when we got off the tender boat. The day before we were in Cozumel and they were searching bags and there was a giant trash can full of food people were trying to take off the ship, but nothing like that in Cayman.

You were lucky. There can be checks for food at any port. And the fines can be huge.

A little responsibility goes a long way. We are guests in these other countries. We should abide by their laws.

 

[outtabux]

You were lucky. There can be checks for food at any port. And the fines can be huge.

A little responsibility goes a long way. We are guests in these other countries. We should abide by their laws.

 

[outtabux]

According to the "Official Rules" posted by PrincessShmoo in an earlier post, I don't think I brought anything ileagal off the boat. Pastries, dry cereal and Uncrustables don't fall into any of those categories.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

According to the "Official Rules" posted by PrincessShmoo in an earlier post, I don't think I brought anything ileagal off the boat. Pastries, dry cereal and Uncrustables don't fall into any of those categories.

Please note: Regulations on agriculture and food; Meat, fruit, sandwiches, dairy products, vegetables, plants and seeds are not allowed on or off of the ship.

I would say, since the prohibited items includes "sandwiches" both the Uncrustables and, most likely, the pastries would also not be allowed. A little common sense goes a long way.