Gay Cruises

Why Not Mainstream Voyages?

Many people question why gay individuals would need a group cruise rather than simply joining a mainstream vessel without drawing attention to their social and sexual preferences. Indeed, many gay people do cruise on standard voyages without special treatment, either because they prefer to keep their preferences private, or they simple aren’t interested in the gay atmosphere aboard a specialized sailing.

On the other hand, gay cruises do offer the most prominent benefit of any group cruise: the opportunity to meet and mingle with people who share your interests and beliefs. Whether it is a literature-themed cruise, an extensive family reunion, or a gay-oriented cruise, groups can request exclusive events to help their members get to know one another. Gay group cruises may also offer specialized entertainment, shore tours, or unique itineraries to meet the associated passengers’ interests and make it a wonderful vacation experience.

Booking Gay Cruises

There are two types of gay voyages: those that use chartered ships and those that reserve blocks of cabins on amenable cruise lines. In either case, most arrangements are made by specialized travel agencies experienced with both group travel and the requests made by gay vacationers. The most prominent agencies that coordinate with the cruise industry are:

• Atlantis Events, Inc.
• Olivia Cruises and Resorts – This company deals primarily with lesbian-oriented travel.
• RSVP Vacations
• Friends of Dorothy Travel
• R Family Vacations – Founded by Rosie O’Donnell, this agency caters to gay families.
• Pied Piper Travel

If the agency charters an entire ship – from small vessels to large mainstream ships from popular lines – the cruise may cost significantly more than group cruises on standard vessels. With a chartered cruise, however, passengers are assured of an entire cruise of like-minded passengers, rather than one group among thousands of travelers. Specialized agencies also frequently supplement standard entertainment with guest performers favored by the gay community, making the voyage even more appropriate for the group’s interests.

In general, gay group cruises – particularly complete charters – sell out quickly, and interested passengers should plan to reserve their cabin approximately six months in advance.

Gay-Friendly Cruise Lines

When arranging cruises for gay passengers, travel agencies strive to work with cruise lines known for their welcoming atmosphere and exceptional tolerance. Most mainstream lines require their crews to undergo sensitivity training, and prejudicial incidents are fairly rare. At the same time, cruise lines that cater more to families with young children such as Disney, as well as river cruise lines that host primarily older, more conservative passengers, are less likely to be willing to offer events and special consideration to gay groups.

Cruise lines are termed “gay-friendly” not only for their personable atmosphere, but also for the range of activities they offer to allow passengers to mingle and the variety of ports they visit that have large gay communities. The most gay-friendly cruise lines include:

Choose the best cruise for your activities.

• Princess Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruises
• Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Holland America Cruise Line
• Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruises
• Windstar Cruises

Events and Activities

Gay cruises often include specialized cocktail parties early in the voyage for passengers to get to know one another, as well as a variety of additional activities throughout the cruise. Prominent gay entertainers may be booked for the voyage, and dance parties are frequent evening events. Shore excursions may be arranged to visit gay communities in ports of call, and onboard seminars concerning gay issues may also be offered. Friends of Dorothy parties for single gay passengers can also be arranged on non-group cruises, though it is at the cruise director’s discretion.

If the cruise is simply a group on a larger, mainstream ship, gay travelers should note that straight passengers may show up at different events out of curiosity, though rarely do any negative incidents result from such encounters.

Preferred Itineraries for Gay Cruises

Like all cruise passengers, gay travelers are interested in lively, exciting ports of call, though there are several types of itineraries that call more frequently on destinations with large gay communities. Mediterranean cruises are a popular summer choice, while the most favored Caribbean destinations are Key West, Aruba, Curacao, and Martinique, making southern and eastern voyages the most popular.

No matter which ports the ship visits, gay passengers must be aware of different nations’ cultural beliefs and their level of tolerance toward homosexuality. Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Turkey in particular can be quite intolerant, even to the point of forbidding gay group cruises to visit. If the cruise does include these destinations on its itinerary, gay passengers should respect local customs and strive to avoid sparking negative reactions.

When Intolerance Surfaces

When intolerance does surface, passengers have several options. If a crew member is involved, the incident should be reported to the purser’s desk for appropriate action (which will usually be taken swiftly, since most cruise lines pride themselves on exceptional service). If the problem involves other passengers, security or crew members should be informed. In the dining room, if the conflicts are between dining companions at the same table, passengers can request a new seating assignment. Generally, however, such incidents are rare.

Cruise vacations are about relaxing and being yourself, and gay cruises are the perfect opportunity for homosexual singles, couples, and families to enjoy the benefits and luxuries of world-class travel with a group of like-minded individuals without fear of intolerant, prejudicial behavior.