Gay cruise tips

To help inspire and plan your next LGBTQ+ cruise, we've rounded up tips, the best cruise lines to sail and answers to your most important questions below. I sailed on a one-week gay cruise with tour operator Vacaya. Here are the top things I'd want someone considering or planning their first gay cruise to know. This blog post, “First-Time Gay Cruise Tips: A Beginner’s Guide,” aims to ease your concerns and prepare you for the ultimate cruise experience.

Whether you’re gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, or bi, this guide provides valuable insights to ensure your first cruise sails smoothly and memorably. Read our gay cruises tips for first timers. Learn how to pack, what to do, get safety advice and much more to make the most of your LGBTQ cruise. Explore the best LGBTQ-friendly cruises with our guide, which offers inclusive amenities, top destinations, and tips for the perfect gay cruise adventure.

You've probably heard of gay cruises and wondered how they differ from "traditional" cruises. Are they open to straight people? Is it all about partying? What about the hook-up element? I sailed with tour operator Vacaya in February on a one-week gay cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and heading to the Caribbean via Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection cruise ship.

For context, I'm a white, cisgender, gay man in my mids. I had a lot of questions about what to expect, given this was my second cruise ever and my first one with a queer tour operator. Here are the top things I'd want someone considering or planning their first gay cruise to know. The first thing that struck me about the sailing was that almost everyone was smiling and eager to interact.

As an Australian living in the U. This cruise was like that … on steroids. I would have found it overwhelming if I weren't an extrovert, but since I'm a social butterfly, I was in heaven. Tip: Taking the stairs between levels on the ship is a great way to keep in shape. However, opt for the elevators if you are searching for moments of lighthearted connection.

Waiting for an elevator to arrive at your floor and then jumping in with other guests gives you a quick opportunity for some enjoyable small talk.

atlantis cruise

The rumors are spot on. Gay cruises have tons of parties, sometimes multiple a day. If you're on a weeklong sailing, it's important to pace yourself. Most of the parties on my cruise took place outside by the pool and started at p. The late start gave enough time for passengers to eat dinner, attend an evening show and get dressed in theme. Highlights on my cruise included a Super Bowl party the day we boarded , a traffic light party the gay cruise version of an icebreaker activity, see below and the "She's A Mess" party on the final afternoon where passengers donned one piece from each costume they'd worn throughout the week.

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. It's also a good idea to plan your outfits well in advance — people get really into the party themes. You can find information about theme nights on your tour operator's website. Related: The top gay cruises you don't want to miss.

Going into the cruise, one of my biggest questions was, "Would people be hooking up all over the ship in public places? I can't speak for other sailings, though. However, sexual expression was a prominent feature of the cruise — and I loved it.

I appreciated the three types of lanyards that Vacaya offered upon boarding. One unique feature Vacaya had on this cruise was a late-night "dark room" on the rooftop basketball court. It was very popular. Cruise ships hire crew members from around the world, with many coming from more conservative countries.