mistereks

Thanks for the info, but my question remains unanswered, so let me clarify it a bit, the finalists sing with a live band, what sort of song choices do the finalist have?

There is a list of about 150 songs to choose from. Two-minute versions of a variety of songs from different eras. From "My Way" to "Stand By Your Man" to "Moondance" to "Poker Face."

I was a finalist on the Emerald Princess very recently, and they now offer far more than 40 songs - there were about 150-200 to choose from. Process seemed fair - "coaches" (though they did no coaching) turned their chairs and singers chose their coach from among those who turned. Most singers had all three chairs turn, though a few had only two chairs turn. After all singers performed, coaches chose from among the 2-3 performers who had selected them as a coach. Then the audience voted. None of my supporters got voting devices, though I doubt it would have helped me - the woman who won got 76% of the vote - and deserved it!

See you at the first LGBT gathering!

I'm with Geoherb - do another cruise. Don't take your money to Putin's fascist state. Even if you don't get off the ship, they make money off port fees that are part of your cruise fare.

Don't support that horrific government. Many other lovely places to cruise.

Yes. I started a thread months ago, never got any response. But there is at least ONE other LGBT couple - my DH and I.

Yes, James and Simon, there ARE other LGBT folks on this cruise. We're coming with a group of at least five gay couples. So you won't be alone!

For one, I would recommend having dinner at Casa Saltshaker. (http://www.casasaltshaker.com) This is a casa cerrada or closed door "restaurant." I put that in quotes because it's not really a really a restaurant, but a private home that hosts a handful of diners each night. The chef is a gay man who worked in several restaurants in New York, went to BA for a visit, fell in love, and stayed. He cooks, his partner assists. You get five (or so) courses, local wines, a cocktail, plus the chance to meet other interesting travelers.

Also, for the trip to Punta Tombo, there is no need to book an overpriced ship's tour - rent a car instead. It's a relatively easy drive, and if you get off the ship early and get your car, you can be communing with the penguins before the hordes arrive.

Also, there is a restaurant in the heart of Buenos Aires called Bistro Dada. The beef is amazing and the bartender was an artist. Each cocktail is constructed by hand with fresh ingredients - the best pisco sour on the trip. And we had several!

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Greetings all!

My husband and I have just booked this cruise, and are very much looking forward to it.

Would love to perhaps make some excursion plans with folks, especially in Phu My.

Let's get this thread started!

Good point-look at how many itineraries call on Jamaica.

I think it is more important for guests not to buy the cruise if they do not agree with the port(s). If enough people do not, the cruiseline would eventually choose other routings.

I totally agree. We won't go to Russia or Jamaica.

True, there is relatively little a boycott of Russian vodka or cruises stopping in St. Pete will do to the Russian economy. But we must do what we can as individuals to call attention to injustice and take our own, individual, tiny steps to placing Russia in a status of pariah nation. That means my dollars, limited though they might be, won't be going to Russia. (Or Jamaica.)

Correct -- an FOD meeting is where you will get a chance to meet other GLBT travelers. Usually happens the second evening of the cruise, and then several times thereafter.

I just want to add my voice to those who say, "Don't go." Don't go. Change your plans. Don't give Jamaica a PENNY of your money. Go see St. Lucia. It's gorgeous. Take a different cruise or a different vacation. Don't go to Jamaica.

If more people start avoiding Jamaica, the cruise lines will go there less and less often, and MAYBE the Jamaicans will wake up and become just a tiny bit more tolerant.

Funny story. :)

 

A year or so ago we were at a Food and Wine Festival party and met some people from Target headquarters. The wife worked for Target and husband came along to see what New York was all about. So there we sitting on a roof deck overlooking the Hudson river chatting when he asked similar questions and we then said we were a couple. He could not believe that he met an actual gay couple for the first time in his life. :D I wonder how he told the story back home to the family and friends.

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall?

My favorite story like that was playing golf with some friends in Palm Springs. One of our foursome cancelled, so the course put a guy in our group. On the way up the first fairway, he and my two friends got into an esoteric discussion about college football and which assistant offensive coordinator was going to make the biggest change to his team's system...blah blah blah. (My one friend has his favorite NFL team's logo tattooed on his calf.)

On the first green, the other guy left a putt way short and muttered, "I'm such a fag!" Then he quickly turned and said, "Sorry. I hope I didn't offend any of you." My other buddy said "Only all three of us." We all laughed and went on with our round. And from that point on, much of the joking from the three of us was how our gayness affected our golf game. And like much male athletic conversation, most of it was pretty rude. "I would have gotten out of the bunker if it wasn't for all the BLANK that I've BLANKED."

Finally, heading down the 18th fairway, the guy asked me, "So...what are you and your wife up to tonight?" I told him, "Remember on the first green? About being gay? We weren't kidding."

And I watched the blood drain from his face. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" he spluttered. "If I offended you guys, I'm totally sorry."

We told him not to worry about it, we all shared in the joke. And it was we who had done all the joking. But I've always wondered how HE tells the story. I wonder if he includes the fact that the three gay guys consistently outdrove him.

I see your point but I am amongst straight folks most of the times and sometimes it is nice to get away from it all and not be the after-school special and having a fun vacation, which should be all about me and not them. :)

Totally understand. One of the most fun things about going to Palm Springs, for instance, is that it is WE who are in the majority. Go to almost any restaurant in town, and probably half or more of the tables are filled with gay people.

That said, I think it's good for our fight for equality for people who don't have gay neighbors (or don't KNOW they have gay neighbors) to get a chance to see and meet us. My husband and I had a great experience on a recent Transatlantic cruise. We'd been playing poker most nights, and making friends with the other players. Then one day, while exploring one of the ports we ran into one of the other players and his wife. The husband asked where I lived and I told them. Then he asked my husband and he told him. "Oh, so you guys live near each other," he said. His wife kind of rolled her eyes and said, "WITH each other, honey. They live WITH each other." This fellow from Tennessee had just assumed that two guys who looked like we do and played poker and golf couldn't possibly be gay. Now he knows. We ended up having dinner with them later in the cruise, and I think we changed their opinion of what it means to be a gay family.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, so I will.

One of the reasons I prefer conventional cruises is because it gives the straight folks a chance to meet more gay couples. If we shut ourselves off in an Atlantis/RSVP ghetto, they don't get to see how many of us there are -- and how much like them we actually are.