With regards to gay cruising, gone are the times of discreet “Friends of Dorothy” meetups. The term – a euphemism that dates back to the Nineteen Fifties – was once used to point gay social events on every day cruise line programs, without explicitly calling out members of the community on board. It is a far cry from today’s LGBTQ cruising industry, which loudly and proudly celebrates passengers from all walks of life.
In keeping with experts, LGBTQ cruising is a market that may only proceed to grow. Travelers can take their pick between cruise operators tailored specifically to the queer community or hop aboard some major cruise lines that supply festive Pride celebrations and inclusive onboard entertainment. As travel on the high seas continues to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, gay and lesbian travelers should consider setting sail on a fun-filled cruise vacation as their next trip.
When planning a cruise, vacationers should first consider what their ideal sailing looks like. Some cruise operators (think: Atlantis Events and La Demence) are known for his or her electrifying, all-night parties, which could also be perfect for gay groups of friends. Meanwhile, other corporations like VACAYA and Olivia look to offer a more diverse choice of activities, starting from “T-dances” (LGBTQ parties that, historically, included tea service) to writing classes to immersive on-shore experiences.
Cruisers must also take into consideration whether or not they’d prefer to travel aboard a gay-friendly mainstream line, akin to Celebrity Cruises or Virgin Voyages, or go for an all-gay, full-ship charter with a third-party vacation company.
“Every LGBTQIAPK person has a unique level of comfortability of their ‘outness,’ ” says Patrick Gunn, co-founder and chief marketing officer of LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA. Of VACAYA’s all-gay charters, he says, “For one magical week, our community gets to be the bulk and live life out loud within the blissful utopia VACAYA creates on a gay cruise. That single change from being an always-minority to a sudden majority can have a profoundly positive real-world effect on individuals.”
Whether you need to hop aboard a Pride Week cruise with a significant line or sail away with a smaller company that focuses on LGBTQ voyages, the next cruise operators promise a fun, protected and memorable vacation. (Note: While lots of these cruise lines sail to LGBTQ-friendly ports of call, travelers should research destinations to learn more about cultures, customs and safety in each location and determine what’s right for them.)
VACAYA
(Courtesy of VACAYA)
Founded by avid travelers Randle Roper, Patrick Gunn and John Finen, VACAYA bills itself as the primary all-LGBT travel company within the full-ship charter/resort buyout sector of the travel industry to launch in greater than 25 years.
“[VACAYA] was sparked by our own vacations, where all of us had encountered two very different experiences,” says Gunn. “The all-gay cruises were liberating, empowering, and fun, but limited to a small spectrum of individuals. And while everyone loves a very good time, there’s more to a memorable vacation than simply parties. Mainstream vacations offered more activities and destinations, and were accessible to a various set of individuals, but didn’t all the time feel like a friendly, judgment-free environment.”
As such, VACAYA got down to bring LGBTQ travelers from across the spectrum together in a welcoming, inclusive setting, while offering varied onboard activities and immersive itinerary options. Cruisers will enjoy traveling to ports all over the world (including the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, Antarctica and more) and participating in shipwide events, starting from themed deck parties to performances by LGBTQ entertainers to rejuvenating yoga classes.
Previous cruisers had abundant praise for VACAYA’s voyages, highlighting the corporate’s responsiveness when booking and kindhearted staff, in addition to the real connections they made with other passengers on board. Many were also impressed by the events and entertainment options throughout their sailings.
Virgin Voyages
(Courtesy of Virgin Voyages)
The Virgin brand has long been known for its celebration of the LGBTQ community, and newcomer cruise line Virgin Voyages isn’t any different. The strictly adults-only cruise operator goals to offer a novel experience, with onboard tattoo parlors, impressive live entertainment and dining options that may make foodies’ mouths water. This line gets the stamp of approval from previous LGBTQ cruisers, who praise the ships’ gender-neutral bathrooms, onboard shows with resident drag queens and diverse staff.
Virgin Voyages offers gay-specific sailings through travel corporations like Atlantis Events, but its more mainstream itineraries still offer a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that pulls LGBTQ cruisers year-round. It also hosts a lot of events during Pride Month every year, including deck parties and interactive social media campaigns.
“Each June here at Virgin Voyages, we prefer to go big for Pride Month with larger-than-life events … all month long,” the cruise line says in an announcement on its website. “It’s a very important time for us – each internally inside our crew and for our sailors – to honor and rejoice the LGBTQ community; who for thus long has had to repeatedly fight for equality and the correct to be seen, heard, and included.”
Virgin Voyages sails to a wide range of LGBTQ-friendly countries, including Latest Zealand, Greece and France. In August 2023, consider a seven-night sailing aboard Resilient Lady (Virgin’s newest cruise ship debuting in May 2023) through Athens, Santorini and Mykonos, Greece, with special musical guests and LGBTQ comedians.
Atlantis Events
The world’s largest gay and lesbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was founded in 1991 and welcomes greater than 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vacations. For its all-gay cruises, Atlantis charters megaships from popular lines like Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line, so cruisers may have a totally immersive experience.
On board, travelers can enjoy all of the perks these megaships need to offer (think: pools, hot tubs, sports courts and many dining decisions), plus special events like drag performances, motivational speakers, LGBTQ movies on demand in each cabin and high-energy circuit parties across the ship.
“As an LGBTQ cruiser, you are on the lookout for a ship with a number of entertainment, including dance parties and events,” says Marcos Martinez, founding father of Men Who Brunch, a Black gay lifestyle blog. “Among the finest cruise [lines] for gay cruising is Atlantis, since you may have the opportunity to fulfill lots of of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship.” Atlantis hosts primarily gay men; women make up about 5% to 10% of bookings, based on the Atlantis website. Previous cruisers said the atmosphere on board was fun, friendly and welcoming, though some noted that the booking process may very well be higher organized.
In early 2023, consider booking a visit through Atlantis Events on the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas, which departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and visits Aruba, Curacao and the cruise line’s private spot in Labadee, Haiti. Or, hop aboard the brand-new Norwegian Prima, which makes stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and other locales.
Brand g Vacations
(Courtesy of Brand G Vacations)
Specializing in all-LGBT+ river cruises and land tours – and expanding to luxury ocean liners in 2023 – Brand g Vacations was founded in 2011 and explores destinations all around the world. The land tours and chartered river cruises typically welcome between 40 and 200 LGBT+ passengers (and straight allies), which allows cruisers to get to know each other in a smaller setting. Guests are inclined to skew more mature (think: 40 and older), and the road attracts each men and girls.
Onboard entertainment differs barely from larger ocean voyages; expect more cabaret-style entertainment than massive all-night dance parties. Cruisers may also enjoy performances by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, plus more typical river cruise perks like sightseeing and lavish meals. Past guests recommend selecting Brand g in the event you’re on the lookout for a more relaxed, luxurious experience over a busier, party-heavy vacation.
Brand g goals to offer a near all-inclusive experience, with Mercedes van airport transfers, upscale hotel stays prior to embarkation and unlimited alcoholic beverages included within the fare. As such, prices are inclined to be on the high end. Plus, cruisers can be ok with their trip knowing that Brand g partners with LGBTQ organizations just like the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In 2023, Brand g sails through unique waterways all over the world, including the Amazon, the Seine, the Rhine, the Danube and more.
Celebrity Cruises
(Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)
Celebrity Cruises sets the scene for a superb vacation for gay travelers, from its extravagant annual Pride parties to its every day LGBTQ programming all year long. The mainstream line has received quite a few awards for its inclusiveness, receiving accolades from the Cruizie Awards and Travvy Awards for being the perfect cruise line for LGBTQ+ passengers.
LGBTQ cruisers can start their vacations off on a high note with a special welcome party on the primary night of their voyage, where they’ll meet other queer travelers on board. After night one, there are other social events for gay cruisers to party and hang around together. Moreover, Celebrity was the primary cruise line to legally marry a pair at sea in 2018, and it continues to perform same-sex marriages on its ships.
Past cruisers enjoyed their voyages with Celebrity, noting that the road was welcoming, the food was delicious and there have been loads of areas to hang around as a bunch with fellow LGBTQ passengers or other companions throughout the ship.
Although all itineraries are gay-friendly, consider booking a Pride Party at Sea sailing (which takes place each June) for an out of the ordinary experience. The fifth annual Pride celebration cruise departs June 10, 2023, and can welcome LGBTQ travelers of all ages and backgrounds aboard the Celebrity Edge for a seven-night Mediterranean sailing through ports like Barcelona, Valencia and Ibiza, Spain; Rome and Florence, Italy; and more. Entertainment includes drag queen performances, queer DJs and more. Private travel corporations like VACAYA also charter Celebrity ships for all-gay voyages all year long.
Olivia
(Getty Images)
Specifically marketed toward lesbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted greater than 350,000 travelers by land and sea over almost five many years. Cruisers can choose from river voyages or ocean sailings to destinations all over the world. On the lesbian cruises, expect a combination of nostalgic decade-themed dance parties, folk singers, writing workshops, karaoke and more. Cruisers can even calm down poolside, spend a while within the onboard spa or take it easy in considered one of the ships’ lounges.
Travelers who need to connect with others who share similar backgrounds can accomplish that in considered one of Olivia’s specialized programs. There are group cruise and solo traveler meetups, in addition to the Sisters at Sea program for LGBTQ women of color; the Gen-O and Friends program for cruisers 40 and younger; Women in Uniform gatherings for veterans and people currently within the armed forces; and OWLs (which stands for “older, wiser lesbians”) events. Past cruisers on Olivia’s voyages report feeling a real sense of community and belonging on board, leading to a fun, carefree trip.
Royal Caribbean International
(Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)
A member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, Royal Caribbean International provides a welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ travelers. The favored cruise line incessantly partners with Atlantis Events to supply all-gay voyages all year long, but even the usual sailings earn praise.
Highlights include the ships’ entertainment options (including a Celine Dion tribute show) and attentive staff, based on past cruisers. Itineraries typically feature LGBTQ meetups in the beginning of every cruise for gay travelers to fulfill likeminded passengers. Outside of the sailing experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly committed to support the LGBTQ community all year long, and it was the primary cruise line to earn the title “Gay Traveler Approved” from GayTravel in 2016.
[Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.]
The Cruise With La Demence
In keeping with past cruisers, in the event you’re on the lookout for top-of-the-line party scenes on the open seas, consider an all-gay cruise with La Demence. Powered by a preferred gay nightclub in Brussels with the identical name, La Demence – French for “the madness” – primarily caters to a European crowd. Most passengers are male, though women are also welcome.
On board, passengers should expect to bounce the night away at massive deck parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. The road prides itself on its top-notch DJs, impressive light setup and electric party atmosphere. Previous cruisers had high praise for the itineraries – which exclusively visit gay-friendly locations – in addition to the fruity cocktails, themed nights (costumes strongly encouraged), glamourous entertainment, and unique events like drag bingo and high heel runs.
La Demence sails every summer to destinations like Rome; Athens and Mykonos, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and more. The road’s 2023 cruise is slated for July 9 to 16. Past voyages have been chartered on ships like Regal Princess. Fares include all food, nonalcoholic beverages and access to all parties, shows and the onboard gym.