Quick answer
How to handle gluten-free and allergy needs on a Side boat trip: declare it when you book, bring your own safe snacks as backup, and talk to the crew. We're honest that a shared galley can't be guaranteed allergen-free, with a clear need-vs-action table and FAQs.
Got an allergy or need gluten-free food on a Side boat trip? Tell us when you book so we can pass it to the specific boat, bring a couple of your own safe snacks as a backup, and speak to the crew on the day. We run shared and private boats, so a shared galley cannot be guaranteed fully allergen-free. Browse the boat trips in Side and add your notes.
The short version: declare, back up, ask
We carry guests with coeliac disease, nut allergies, shellfish allergies and other dietary needs on our boats across Side, Manavgat, Antalya, Alanya, Belek and Kemer. The system that works is simple and it hasn't changed: declare your need when you book, back up with a small stash of your own safe food, and ask the crew directly on the tour day. Do those three things and a boat trip needn't be stressful.
We are the operator here — these are our boats and our captains — so we'd rather be straight with you than promise something a galley on the water can't deliver. Read on for exactly how each step works.
Declare it when you book
The single most useful thing you can do is tell us about the allergy at booking. You book online and pay on the tour day, and there's a notes field for exactly this. Whatever you write there — "coeliac, strictly gluten-free", "severe nut allergy", "vegetarian", "halal" — we pass to the specific boat you're joining so the crew know before you step aboard.
What we will not do is invent a menu. We don't publish set dishes per boat or promise a particular gluten-free lunch, because that varies boat to boat and we won't tell you something we can't stand behind. If food is a deciding factor for you, check the individual tour page and message us before you book so there are no surprises.
What to write in the notes
- The exact allergy or diet (say "coeliac" or "gluten-free", not just "no bread").
- How severe it is — a preference reads very differently from an anaphylaxis risk.
- How many people in your group are affected.
- Anything you carry yourself, such as an adrenaline auto-injector.
Bring your own safe snacks as a backup
This is the honest bit. On a Green Canyon lake cruise or a sea trip you're on the water for hours, and a shared galley preparing food for a full boat is not an allergen-free kitchen. Cross-contact is a real risk anywhere gluten, nuts and shellfish are handled in the same space. So we always tell guests with a serious allergy to carry a small backup: a few gluten-free crackers, a safe snack bar, some fruit — enough that you're never dependent on the boat for a safe meal.
You're already told to bring swimwear, a towel, sun cream, a hat and a little cash for drinks, which are usually pay-on-board. Add your own snacks to that list and you've removed the one thing that can go wrong. Cash is worth having anyway if you want to buy sealed, packaged items on board where available.
Ask the crew on the day
When you board, find a crew member and say it out loud: what you're allergic to and how serious it is. The note you left at booking should already be with them, but a face-to-face word means the person handling food knows to check labels, keep your items separate where possible, and point you to what's safe. Our captains and crew deal with this regularly and would far rather you ask twice than assume.
If the answer to "is this safe for me?" is anything less than a clear yes, eat your own backup food. That's not a failure of the trip — it's the sensible call on any shared boat.
Need vs action: a quick reference
Here's the whole approach in one table. Match your situation on the left to what you should do on the right.
| Your need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gluten-free / coeliac | Note it at booking; bring your own gluten-free snacks; confirm ingredients with the crew and treat cross-contact as a risk on a shared boat. |
| Nut allergy | Declare severity clearly; carry any prescribed medication and your auto-injector; bring safe food; tell the crew in person. |
| Shellfish / fish allergy | Flag it at booking (fishing and sea trips may handle fish); rely on your own snacks; ask before eating anything from the galley. |
| Vegetarian / vegan | Add it to your booking notes; check the tour page or message us, as options vary by boat; a backup snack removes any doubt. |
| Halal | State it when you book so we can pass it to the boat; confirm with us rather than assuming a set menu. |
| Severe / life-threatening allergy | Tell us at booking and the crew on the day; carry your own medication; self-cater fully — do not depend on a shared galley for a safe meal. |
Shared boat vs private boat
The type of trip changes how much control you have over food, so it's worth understanding the difference before you pick.
| Factor | Shared boat trip | Private boat / yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Galley | Serving a full boat; shared prep space, so cross-contact is possible | Just your group, so far more control over what comes aboard |
| Flexibility | Note your needs and self-cater as backup | Easier to arrange around your requirements — ask us on request |
| Price | Sea trips from around EUR20–25, Green Canyon around EUR28–54 per person | Per boat, on request |
| Best for | Most guests; just declare, back up and ask | Serious allergies where full control of the galley matters most |
If a genuinely allergen-sensitive day matters to you, a private boat gives you the most control. Tell us what you need and we'll price a private option for your group.
Transfers, timing and what else to bring
Food is only part of the day. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, so keep an eye on that confirmation. Beyond your own snacks, pack swimwear, a towel, sun cream, a hat and a little cash for drinks, which are usually pay-on-board.
One thing worth knowing about the water itself: at Green Canyon you're swimming in cold freshwater, while the sea trips are in warmer salt water. It doesn't affect your diet, but it does affect how long you'll want to stay in. Whichever you choose, our team across the Antalya coast will have your dietary note on file for the boat.
Popular trips and where to add your notes
The same declare–back up–ask approach works on every trip we run, from the Side pirate boat trip to island and dolphin sea trips, disco-yacht nights, fishing and private gulets. Suluada island days sit at roughly EUR42–68 per person, sea trips from around EUR20–25, and Green Canyon from around EUR28–54 — always check the live price on the tour page, as these are starting bands only.
Pick your trip, enter your allergy in the booking notes, and we'll pass it to the specific boat. Have a look at the full range of boat trips in Side and start your booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can you guarantee a fully gluten-free or allergen-free meal on the boat?
No, and we won't pretend otherwise. A shared galley prepares food for a full boat, so cross-contact with gluten, nuts and shellfish is possible. We pass your note to the boat and the crew will help, but for a serious allergy you should bring your own safe food as a backup rather than depend on the galley.
How do I tell you about my allergy or gluten-free need?
Add it to the notes when you book online — the exact allergy, how severe it is, and how many in your group are affected. We pass that to the specific boat. It's also worth messaging us through the tour page beforehand if food is a deciding factor for you, and always mention it again to the crew on the day.
Should I bring my own food and snacks?
If you have a serious allergy or are strictly gluten-free, yes. A small stash — safe crackers, a snack bar, some fruit — means you're never left without a safe option. Bring a little cash too, alongside your swimwear, towel, sun cream and hat, in case you want to buy sealed packaged items on board.
Is a private boat better for allergies than a shared trip?
It can be. On a private boat or yacht it's just your group, so there's far more control over what food comes aboard and less cross-contact risk than a shared galley. If a fully allergen-sensitive day matters, ask us about a private option — pricing is per boat on request.
Do you offer vegetarian, vegan or halal options?
Tell us when you book and we pass it to the boat, but options vary from boat to boat and we won't invent a set menu we can't guarantee. Check the specific tour page or message us to confirm before booking, and bring a backup snack so there's no doubt on the day.
Ready to book with confidence? Choose from our boat trips in Side, add your dietary note at checkout, and we'll get it to your boat before you sail.