goodclicks

Thank you GSPG, it’s appreciated. 
 

I haven’t had too much discrimination at all but must say I was made to feel like an outsider and unwelcome 15 years ago on Ventura. It wasn’t something I was used to on the ships - although the Italian ships had a more old-fashioned attitude, I found. 
 

My boyfriend and a female friend had an upsetting incident on my last Marella cruise from an older male passenger who kept coming up to us and harassing her (she’s young and beautiful) about why she’d want to spend her time with the likes of us, when presumably she should have been spending it him (in his late 60s and when his wife isn’t looking). It was really unpleasant for her and made her feel unsafe and what he’d say about us was just awful. It felt all the more shocking as Marella was otherwise super friendly, relaxed and welcoming to everyone. 

There still is homophobia of the worst kind about too however. Someone I met on a cruise was killed in a homophobic attack in the Pulse Orlando massacre shortly after. 
 

I wouldn’t like to think that because there’s a get-together listed in the daily planner meant anyone felt excluded. It is about allowing like-minded people to find one another, nothing else. 

21 hours ago, GSPG said:

Sorry I have absolutely no animosity towards gays, but why is there a need for this gathering?

I have absolutely no animosity towards solo travellers but why do they feel the need to meet up? 
 

I have absolutely no animosity towards bridge players but why do they feel the need to meet up? 
 

I have absolutely no animosity towards recovering alcoholics but why do they feel the need to meet up? 
 

I have absolutely no animosity towards crafters but why do they feel the need to meet up? 

I have absolutely no animosity towards straight people but why do they feel to meet up in every bar and venue on the ship? 

In my experience someone who says “I have no animosity/problem with X, but… ” usually does.

And yes, other friendly people are welcome to attend the LGBT+ meet ups. I quite often find a few single straight women enjoy the company and feel comfortable and safe in it. 
 

On my only cruise to date on P&O 15 years ago (with a partner) a photographer wouldn’t take our photo together; many crew seemed reluctant to engage with us; the beds were apart despite requesting them together; and on disembarking, the entertainment staff collected the room cards and realised we shared a cabin. As we walked off the gangplank for the last time it was to the sound of “yes, they are together” - and laughter at our expense.

There were no LGBT+ meet ups then, so thank you to the OP for asking this question. 
 

I’ve finally booked to return to P&O in May this year, this time as a solo cruiser with a straight female friend. When I saw this objection by a fellow P&O passenger (and a few supporters) about special interest meet-ups I now wonder if I have made a mistake.  

I’ll be on this one too. Good to see a good following already. It should be a fun one. 

Hi guys - we are onboard aswell! Is there any other chat for this crossing? Its so quite around the Indy cruise! Lets hope its less quite onboard :)

Look forward to it!!! See you all soon!

Eelko & Bernd from Amsterdam

This is perhaps the quietest roll call of any cruise I've been on! The Cruise Mate app is near silent too. No idea why - I don't think it's for the lack of LGBT representation onboard.

I'll be relying on you for updates on the flights at St Maarten. I'm hoping to experience Maho beach for myself after seeing it on YouTube many, many times.

I know of quite a few gay guys from previous cruises who'll be onboard too. The Champagne Bar or R Bar is going to be standing room only!

I've just booked too. I think there'll be many guys onboard, but think cruise critic is falling out of favour in recent years. Looking forward to getting some sun and relaxation.

Can you say which web to fax service? I would l like to get rid of my fax machine.

I used popfax.com. There are several other free to use services. I worried about privacy, but as I'd blacked out my account number I didn't think there was anything too sensitive. I took a screen grab of my broker statement and then added the info required in writing to the .jpg file before uploading it to the fax service. There was an emailed confirmation from popfax but there was no way to accept a fax in return as far as I could see.

Oh that's a shame - I'm travelling on Noordam's transatlantic crossing on the 19th. I'm 37 and the guy I'm travelling with (who I met on Oasis just 4/5 weeks ago!) is 31. It seems we're in almost exactly the same situation.

I share your concerns, mostly about the age of the fellow passengers and whether they may be more conservative.

HAL is totally new to me too. Is there a bar which is more favoured by the guys? And will anyone still be awake on the ship after about 10pm? And where's the door to the crew mess?!

I phoned today and got confirmation that the credit has been applied. The web to fax service obviously worked. I had requested an email confirmation on my fax but, so far, that hasn't arrived.

Do you ever get a confirmation from the fax? It's been a while since I sailed on a CCL Corp cruise line and always used to get an email confirmation. As I've no longer a fax machine (so last century!) I used a web2fax service and am slightly nervous as to whether it actually got there.

It'll be wherever Suzie Q is! I'd imagine Vintages post dinner but I'm sure someone will get it posted on the bulletin board by reception.

Try this link. I don't think it can be done from the iPhone/iPad app so you may need to copy and paste.

https://secure.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ccEntry.do?wuc=GBR

Hello monkeyknuckles. Good nickname. hehe

I don't think for a minute it'll be as quiet on board as it is on this thread. There seems to be a few of us now so there should be a nice wee crowd in the evenings if people wish to meet up.

Sagrada Familia is so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. I think I will probably revisit La Pedera and Casa Batilo this trip as my hotel is within walking distance. I love the Gaudi.

Hello Scott, Mark and Doug. I'm sure the relaxing sea days will be very conducive to some enjoyable evenings with the friends of Dorothy. I'm looking forward to catching up with many familiar characters and meeting a few new ones too.

LloydGregory: if you take the tram to the old capital would you object if I tagged along too? It sounds like something I'd like to do and it's not a part of Tenerife that I've seen yet, I think. Don't worry - you don't need to answer now. I'm sure we'll meet along with the other FODs. ;-)

It's gone quiet. Is everyone cruising already? Who all here is also on the Facebook page?

Can anyone tell me what the must-see sights are in NO? Is there something that has to be done or is it more about just being there and soaking up the unique atmosphere of the city?

I love trams. I'll have to look into that trip. I much prefer shooting off and exploring myself. I had thought about a trip up Mount Teide again but apparently now you need to get permission for the town hall to go to the top. Time is probably too tight to do it all in a day. A trip up there provided fantastic child good memories so it would have been nice to revisit 28 years on.

Cadiz old town is pretty but not very big from memory. The old town is very walkable from the port. It's windy!

I love Celebrity's Millennium class and RCCL's Jewel class more than the larger ships. I love how they face outward to the sea, feel connected to it, rather than the Voyager's inward looking design. I'll spend hours happily staring at the ocean on your crossing, I'm sure.

I believe in the refit they've taken away the Sea View Cafe however. That was a favourite spot for lunch for me. It'll be interesting to see what other changes the refit has brought.

I have a run-of-house (gty) room at the 4 Points. I'm hoping it's a courtyard room and then I'll have the benefit of the central location but hopefully with enough quiet to be able to sleep. I'm a country boy and used to complete silence, so it may be necessary!

Have you heard of the Axel in Barcelona? It always surprises me how many gay guys haven't when it's the original and one of the largest gay hotels in the world. Maybe I should say "Hetero friendly" as their tagline reads. There were some delightfully confused old American pensioners checking in alongside me the last time I was there. hehe.

I think Serenade had her Champagne Bar replaced by Vintages in the refurb... maybe it'll be the replacement venue?

Hi Steve and Dave. Thanks for the New Orleans tips. I'm flying home Sunday morning so sadly will miss the Country Club Sunday Brunch. It sounded like a nice, relaxed way to pass the day. Might try Saturday the afternoon instead if I've seen what I want to of NO by then. I think I may have mucked up with the hotel - not knowing the scale of the city I chose the Four Points Sheraton French Quarter to be central, but now, reading a little more I see it's right on Bourbon Street and directly above rowdy nightlife - now I hope to be out and about a bit later myself - but I do want some sleep! I've been advised Maurigny is the better area to stay in - but I'm not sure I want a more isolated B&B when i'm there myself.

Is anyone else staying at the Axel in Barcelona beforehand?

Does anyone have any plans for the ports? I'm hoping to see Seville from Cadiz, so could be looking to tag along on a private tour if anyone has anything organised. Tenerife is a beautiful island so a tour there would be nice to refresh my childhood memories of it. Suggestions are welcome for the Bahamas too.

More than anything I'm just looking forward to the company and the relaxation and some sunbathing once we head a bit further south.

Welcome, guys. This thread is a little quiet however I KNOW that the cruise, and especially the Champagne Bar, won't be!

This thread is really quiet. If I didn't already know of so many on board I'd have been worried this was going to be a quiet cruise!

Booked today too. I'm looking for suggestions on where to stay and what to see in New Orleans. If anyone has any suggestions they will be gratefully accepted.

Lovely, thank you Germany boy. :p Hopefully he doesn't take his guns on board too.

Who's going to be brave and post the first example picture of speedos on the lido deck?

And anything the love of your life likes to see you in!!!

Again within reason! haha