How cruises make space for LGBTQ+ travelers on the high seas

Table Of Content

• IS THIS YOUR FIRST GAY CRUISE?
• Alaska Cruise 2025
• Watch the 'Drag Race' season 16 finalists react to the winning queen's crowning
• Many people don't explore the ports
• Sizzling Nights to Rev Up and Celebrate
• Taylor Swift is tortured & Willow Smith has big feelings on this New Music Friday
• Discover endless fun at The Pride Store: Games & electronics for all ages

In addition to chartering entire ships, IGLTA has members that host groups on nonspecialty sailings too. If you want to go on a gay cruise, I'd suggest booking early to secure your place and take advantage of early bird discounts. With growing demand, I hope to see an increase in the number and type of sailings offered, giving queer travelers more themed cruise options.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST GAY CRUISE?

More laid back than our big-ship cruises, VACAYA’s irresistible Resorts & Tours offer the perfect getaway for those seeking fun, relaxation, adventure, and romance. Whether you’re looking to zip line through tree canopies or lounge by an incredible pool, you’ll find it here as you create friendships and memories that’ll last a lifetime. From the raucous cheers of the sail-away party to the rousing beats on the late-night pool deck dance floor, there's a celebration at every turn on a Vacaya sailing. The pool deck parties are the highlights of nights at sea, as the ship transforms into a haven for fun-spirited partygoers who understand how to make the most of a theme. Come prepared with your best threads, though dressing up is certainly not a requirement.

Alaska Cruise 2025

Sailing into uncharted territories in the gay cruise scene, Vacaya created a safe public space for sex called "The Red Light District." Set on the top deck basketball court from 10 p.m. Nightly, the space was the first of its kind in gay cruising, offering passengers and voyeurs the chance to flaunt their kinks consensually in the open air. Pre-Paid Gratuities are 175 USD per person for guests in Suites and 145 USD for all other stateroom categories. Embark on an unprecedented and exclusive adventure with VACAYA, as we present a groundbreaking itinerary that showcases the unparalleled beauty of Alaska and the captivating charm of Canada. Delve into the extraordinary as you cruise through the mesmerizing Stephen’s Passage, where the meeting of towering mountains and pristine waters creates a landscape both awe-inspiring and serene. Be sure to save time in Juneau to take a helicopter ride to visit an authentic Alaskan Dog Sled Camp and experience the thrill of a ride!

Watch the 'Drag Race' season 16 finalists react to the winning queen's crowning

Rooms designated as “Feel the Beat” Rooms are on the deck directly below the dance floor. These are perfect for anyone who tends to stay at our parties until the last beat drops. While we work tirelessly to craft the perfect itinerary for each trip, it’s always subject to change based on weather, sea, and myriad other conditions. Ultimately, each Bliss vacation is what you make it – totally yours to define.

VACAYA is “the first large-scale adults-only vacation company on earth built for the entire LGBTQIAPK community and their straight ally friends,” as its website describes. ◾ Olivia is operating a Sept. 21-28, 2024, sailing to Alaska. The sailing, on Holland America Line's Eurodam ship, will visit Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka and more, according to the company's website. Available rooms start at $1,299 per person based on double occupancy. ◾ VACAYA will sail a Caribbean cruise from Feb. 17-24, 2024, aboard Celebrity Apex. The cruise will stop in Puerto Rico, Antigua and more, and available rooms start at $2,297 per person based on double occupancy, according to the company's website.

Many people don't explore the ports

The company's clientele is predominantly gay men, but 20% of the sailing's guests were women. Those principles of inclusion guide what guests experience during their trip. VACAYA recently began giving out pronoun pins to help guests and staff use each other's preferred pronouns (the company also provides diversity and inclusion training to resort and cruise line partners). The options were also more limited and siloed, with cruises aimed primarily at gay men or lesbians, he added. Over the past decade or so, though, the industry has made an increased effort be inclusive, and somenew cruise operators targeting a diverse clientele have entered the market. Jon Fenwick went on his first gay cruise in 2008 with Atlantis Events after some friends talked him into it.

Sizzling Nights to Rev Up and Celebrate

Vacaya Luxe will focus on intimate, luxury cruising, launching this December with a series of European River cruises on Emerald Destiny and an Icelandic cruise on the soon-to-launch Le Jacques Cartier from Ponant Cruises. Vacaya Oasis is the third component of the Vacaya brand, encompassing full buyouts of five-star luxury resorts. Here are the top reasons any fun-seeking LGBT+ vacationers should consider a Vacaya cruise.

Taylor Swift is tortured & Willow Smith has big feelings on this New Music Friday

Room descriptions and sizing have been provided to us by Royal Caribbean. Room sizes and layouts may vary slightly within the same category. For rooms with a capacity greater than 2, the additional bedding is a combination of sofa beds and/or upper berths.

Vacaya schedules its marquee activities for when the ship is sailing. Looking back on my cruise, I would do it again as a solo traveler. In fact, a few friends and I have already discussed the possibility of booking Vacaya's fifth-anniversary Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Reflection, scheduled for February 2023. Celebrity's safety protocols and Vacaya's attention to detail, transparency, and inclusive vibe and strategy are all reasons why I was able to enjoy my first gay cruise and return home COVID-free.

The 46-year-old enjoyed the trip so much that he made it a tradition of it, taking at least one LGBTQ+ cruise annually most years since. The voyage was Moss' first trip with theLGBTQ travel company VACAYA and their first cruise since sailing with Disney Cruise Line as a child. If you enjoy your first cruise, it's worth keeping your eyes out for any early bird discounts for future sailings the line may offer during the final couple of days you are on board. Vacaya has a return rate of more than 70%, which is even more notable given it has only been around for five years. (This was its fifth birthday celebration.) People talk with their feet — and their wallets.

Caribbean Calling: VACAYA's Record-Breaking Return to LGBTQ Travel EDGE United States - EDGE Media Network

Caribbean Calling: VACAYA's Record-Breaking Return to LGBTQ Travel EDGE United States.

Posted: Wed, 14 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Once you are in port, it's just like a regular cruise with traditional onshore excursions, such as snorkeling, ATV riding and walking tours. Or you may decide to explore on your own, just like I did when I visited the Cayman Islands National Museum, a short five-minute walk from the port in Grand Cayman. If you're hungover and/or desiring some serenity, grab your plate and head to the outdoor deck at the back of the ship to enjoy fresh air and beautiful ocean views while you dine. Bringing the energy and ensuring all things ran according to plan, the Vacaya staff (known as the Vacayans) were a well-orchestrated team of friendly guides. Identifiable in their pink shirts, the Vacayans went out of their way to get to know everyone onboard.

This means the ship upholds strict health and safety measures. This reinforced protection is designed to guarantee onboard conditions, sanitary protocols, and daily monitoring (guests, equipment, and ships). For your added safety and peace of mind, doctors and nurses are present on every ship. Experience delicious, globally-inspired cuisine with our always-included onboard dining that offers true culinary adventure. Whether you prefer a sophisticated three-course meal amid an ambience of casual elegance, indulgent barbecue favorites poolside, or quick and easy on-the-go snacks to grab before your adventures, it’s always included. Pre-Paid Gratuities are 168 USD per person for guests in Suites, and 137 USD for all other stateroom categories.

With its iconic attractions, such as the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Pike Place Market along the stunning, steel-gray waterfront, you’ll be spoiled with endless things to do here. Since we sail away at 3pm, you’ll have hours to enjoy the incredible Pacific Northwest scenery as we journey northward. In the mood for deli classics that knock it out of the park?

Head to Park Café, where you’ll find quick bites to please every palate. And don’t miss the legendary Royal Kümmelweck roast beef sandwich — it’s a guest favorite (and a rite of passage for cruising foodies). The menu at Park Café offers something for everyone during breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Come here for deli classics, like soups and sandwiches, plus sweet treats and a stellar breakfast spread. Brilliance’s stunning nine-story central atrium is surrounded by glass, and elevators face the outside, giving you endless ocean views throughout the ship.

In either case, it doesn't make me want to spend lots of extra $$$ just to sail with the gays. I'll stick to regular cruises and make my own "gay nights". VACAYA is among those new companies catering to a diverse audience, with an emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as straight allies. The company, which also offers land-based vacations, launched its first trips in 2019. We believe in a traveler’s right to actually plan their vacation, so we’ll release our trips well over a year in advance and you’ll know party themes and entertainment many months before we ever set sail. We strive to provide you with all the tools you’ll need to have a great time.