- December 20, 2024
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When Maureen Basye’s husband and son were diagnosed with celiac disease, she saw firsthand the challenges people with the disease face while traveling, especially with the risk of cross-contamination and limited safe food options.
Basye remembers thinking to herself: We can’t be the only ones.
She was right.
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, one in 100 people worldwide has celiac disease. Celiac disease affects an estimated three million Americans, and about 60 to 70% of Americans with celiac disease are not diagnosed and suffering.
It was kismet when Basye met Winter Garden resident Connie Saunders, founder and CEO of Total Travel and Events Inc., in line for a cruise in 2018 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The pair became instant friends, and Saunders calls their chance meeting a “God thing.”
Together, Basye and Saunders have created Celiac Cruise, which provides a gluten-free cruise vacation experience paired with an educational, cohesive community of togetherness for guests.
Celiac Cruise offers sailings around the world in partnership with Royal Caribbean International, AMAWaterways and Oceania Cruises.
“I’m a mom, and I needed to respond,” Basye said. “I wanted to create an experience where people could travel confidently knowing their dietary needs are understood and fully met. To do this, we needed to identify a path forward that combined safe dining with an opportunity to connect with others who share the same challenges. In our hearts, Connie and I knew we could create something truly special and empowering.”
WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
Saunders has lived in Winter Garden since 2009.
She began booking travel and events in the 1980s when she oversaw and planned regional meetings in the corporate sector. In 2004, she went full-time into building her own travel business.
Basye currently lives in Leesburg, Virginia, with her husband, Geoff, and their three children: Patrick, Peter and Margaret.
She worked in hospitals helping adults and children with speech, swallowing and feeding challenges before starting a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy practice specializing in autism and feeding disorders.
After numerous diagnoses of celiac disease in her immediate family, she identified the limitations of awareness of celiac disease in the travel industry and made the transition from speech pathologist to celiac travel consultant.
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.
When people with celiac disease eat gluten — a protein found in wheat, rye and barley — their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.
Celiac disease is hereditary. People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease — parent, child or sibling — have a one in 10 risk of developing celiac disease.
Celiac disease can develop at any age after people start consuming gluten. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional health problems.
Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. Ingesting small amounts of gluten, such as crumbs from a cutting board or toaster, can trigger small-intestine damage.
A FREEING EXPERIENCE
Basye decided to start Celiac Cruise because her family always enjoyed traveling, even when her children were babies.
This led Basye and Saunders to Royal Caribbean. The pair said a cruise fit the model for their idea because of the ability of the crew and culinary staff to create a truly safe and controlled kitchen galley on many of the ships.
“We can’t say enough about what amazing partners Royal Caribbean and AMAWaterways have become,” Basye said. “They truly care about our cause and have shown an unwavering commitment to providing our guests with a safe and world-class experience while in their care.”
It took Basye and Saunders two years of hard work to pull together their dream.
The first Celiac Cruise took place in 2020 with 512 guests. The second cruise set sail in 2022 with more than 700 guests.
To date, the pair has organized 14 Celiac Cruises.
Basye said witnessing the impact of Celiac Cruise has been incredibly rewarding.
“Seeing families enjoy their vacations without worry, meeting others who understand their struggles and watching children, including my own, freely enjoy meals with their peers — it’s humbling,” she said. “These experiences show us that we’re not just providing a service; we’re helping create lifelong memories and building a supportive community for those who often feel isolated because of their dietary restrictions.”
Saunders agreed and said the word she would use to explain the impact the cruises have had on families with celiac disease would be “freeing.”
“Our guests get to feel normal for a week,” she said. “They don’t have to worry or overthink about what they’re eating. It’s been a life-changing experience for so many people.”
‘WE’RE ALL CALLED TO DO SOMETHING’
Basye would like people to understand how important safe food environments are for those with celiac disease.
“It’s not about being picky; it’s about staying healthy and feeling included,” she said. “By raising awareness, we can help make more spaces, especially in travel, safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Representatives from the Celiac Disease Foundation come on many of the Celiac Cruises to help provide education and resources for individuals and families. The cruises also feature guests, such as professionals, dietitians and doctors who come and speak to provide education and updates on celiac disease.
The Celiac Disease Foundation is a leading global patient advocacy organization committed to accelerating diagnosis, treatments and a cure for celiac disease. The organization’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the millions of individuals around the world affected by the disease through strategic investments in research, advocacy and education.
Other partners and beneficiaries for Celiac Cruise include Schär Gluten-Free, WOW Baking Company and Holidaily Brewing Company, a company committed to crafting exceptional-tasting gluten-free beer.
On the cruises, Basye and Saunders also put together fundraisers, such as walks, lunches and beer tastings, to help raise money for those dealing with food insecurity.
“Gluten-free foods are typically more expensive, and research shows that if a family is food insecure and doesn’t have a lot of money, they will buy gluten-containing food,” Saunders said. “When forced to eat or not eat, they will buy and consume gluten-containing foods because they feel like there’s no other choice as to what they can afford.”
Celiac Cruise has helped to sponsor about 700 families struggling with food insecurity for a year through combined efforts.
The next planned Celiac Cruise will take place in October on the Danube River in Europe.
Saunders’ favorite part about the cruises is watching the guests bond and hearing them share their stories with the hope of helping others.
“We’re all called to do something,” Saunders said. “I feel like I’m called to help people experience the most incredible trip they could ever have. Our whole staff is that way, and we are so blessed to have a team that wants to serve and help people experience the beautiful Earth that we live on.”
The pair’s goal for the future of Celiac Cruise is to travel the world and expand opportunities in travel for those with celiac disease.
“Celiac Cruise is more than just a vacation — it’s a movement to make travel more accessible and worry-free for those with celiac disease,” Basye said. “We’re passionate about creating unforgettable experiences where people can focus on enjoying their time with loved ones, not their dietary restrictions. We’re growing this community, and we welcome everyone who wants to be part of this journey to safer, gluten-free travel.”
