For most families, a cruise is about relaxation and indulgence. For Maureen Basye, a family cruise with her 4-year-old son was a wake-up call. Her son struggled to find safe food on board, and while no one got sick, the stress of constantly worrying about meals made it hard for her family to fully enjoy the vacation. Maureen knew gluten-free families deserved better—that’s when the idea for Celiac Cruise was born.
In 2022, Maureen co-founded the Celiac Cruise with travel expert Connie Saunders to alleviate the “food burden” faced by gluten-free travelers. Every dining experience is carefully crafted, every staff member (even the kids’ club team!) is trained on celiac safety, and every meal is served with peace of mind.
Along the way, Maureen has navigated her family’s health journey—her son’s diagnosis, her husband’s celiac, and her own struggles with Hashimoto’s—all while building a business from scratch.
In this episode, we dive into:
- Maureen’s personal story and how a family vacation inspired Celiac Cruise
- The challenges of starting a gluten-free travel business from scratch—right before COVID
- How she teamed with Royal Caribbean to launch her first cruise
- How she continuously refines the experience to make Celiac Cruise even more valuable to travelers
- Where Celiac Cruise is sailing next—and Maureen’s favorite destination 🌍
From an inspired mom moment to a worldwide movement, Maureen’s story is about creating not just safe food, but safe spaces where gluten-free families can relax, connect, and celebrate together.
Listen to the full episode on Gluten Free Unwrapped wherever you get your podcasts.
About Maureen Basye and Celiac Cruise
- Visit celiaccruise.com
- Instagram: @celiaccruise
- Facebook: @celiaccruise
About the Host
Jenny Finke is the host of Gluten Free Unwrapped. She’s a longtime blogger at Good For You Gluten Free and founder of the popular gluten-free subscription boxes, Love Me Gluten Free.
You can follow Jenny on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree or subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.
You can snag a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com and follow on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) or Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).
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