CrusingJoe

I was on P&O Ventura for a 2 night mini cruise from Southampton - Zebrugge a few weeks back, the sauna/steam arrangement hasn't changed since my last post #380. Although this time the steam was hot & the awful smell of drains that plagued the facility last time had been sorted. The facilities on all of my visits were clean & usually quite busy with great mix of friendly guys to chat to & swap cruise experiences with.

 

Looking forward to sailing on Navigator of the Seas in May.

You will love the Navigator, friendly and at times can get hot, enjoy

On the Navigator great steam/sauna,

very busy 4 to 5.

As others have suggested, with some amount of work, you can usually put together a sympatico table following some meet-ups in the LGBT gatherings. On the other hand, we once had a lovely experience on RCL where the cruise coordinators apparently read our beads and placed us at a table with 2 other guys plus a two TV stars from Buenos Aires and two cool straight people from Vancouver BC. This was the dinner table from heaven, and we had a great time together and followed dinner with dancing in the disco. Caution, this is not guaranteed!

Wished I was at your table.

On this ship 17th September fir 11 days, I have previously been on his ship but cannot remember what spa facilities are like, can anyone assist?

I think all princess ship are the same.

Thanks for your post, because I always forget that RCI refuses to put an LGBT gathering in the daily. Gay people can get married, but they can't get their gathering published on Royal Caribbean. That really annoys me.

 

That said, "Friends of Dorothy" has gone the way of the dodo, at least on NCL and HAL. They both list a daily LGBT Gathering or Get Together.

 

I hope you have a nice time on Epic. I love that ship. I sailed her last October, and not only was the LGBT Gathering posted in the Freestyle Daily, but the event was hosted the first few evenings. That was nice. I think we even got a bottle of bubbly, or two.

 

Cheers. :)

We just sailed RCL Vision in January and they posted the LGBT in the Compass every day of the 21 days we were on. The turn out was next to nothing. This is the first time we have see it posted on Royal in years. Maybe things are changing.

Thanks, my young teen kept bugging me about him going but I told him that as it was in a bar he couldn't go anyway. He was more looking for a social support group.

He's on a ship, anyone can go to the bars, just can't have alcohol. It's still a social event.

Ironically I have noticed the posts on THIS board have gone way down from a couple of years ago. Not sure if something happened or we are just more accepted in society and no longer need special boards or meetings to have a great time cruising. :) I will be on Princess for the 1st time next month to Mexico from LA so we will see how it compares.

I have noticed the same thing. We just got off the Vision for a 11 and 12 day cruise and the FOD was scheduled for 1030PM nightly, and never saw anyone there, even thought we met many GLBT members on the ship and had a few conversations with them at other venues. Yes we have become accepted.

Yes that's true . We are going on Freedom in Feb 16 . I guess that's still the same set up as IOTS use to be ?

Yes it is, enjoy.

Around 4pm is quite busy

I sometimes go in the morning first thing ☺

Of all the cruises you have taken which one's did not offer FREE steam & sauna?

When does everyone visit the sauna/steam room? Best time for most or least people. Enjoy sitting around with the guys to relax.:)

I find anytime between 2 and 5PM daily.

Ha thanks for that

was not sure as I seen a post recently saying they paid?

 

will be sailing from Barcelona :D

I know off the subject, but....You will love Barcelona, very small 9 block area where the bars are. Friendly but small neighborhood venues. If you have time take the train to Sitges Beach about a 45 minute ride. google it.

Enjoy

Hi

 

Any one recently been on Brilliance of the sea to know if the Men's Sauna / steam room is still free and in the men's changing rooms ?

 

Cheers

Yes it is, good as ever, just like all the Radiance class ships. Home port has a lot to do with who is on the ships.

Wow, that's disappointing! We were on Explorer last year in November, a 9-night cruise, and more than a third of the passengers were over 70, and yet Quest was well attended. Bigger crowd to pull from, though.

 

We're looking at some longer cruises on Serenade in January 2017, which would usually draw an older crowd. Might be something to think about, though I probably wouldn't discount a particular cruise just because there might be no Quest.

This was the first time in twelve cruises sailing the Serenade or any cruise we have been on that Quest was canceled. It was held in the Safari Club as always. I believe Bobby Brown was over extended and did not want to fit it in to his schedule. Royal has been taken a lot of their entertainment from other venues of the ships to build up the entertainment in the Centrum.

Just off the Serenade and the Quest was canceled. Bobby Brown the CD said he canceled it because the passengers to to old and on the cruise before it was not well attended. I was on both cruises, went on the first cruise and it was well attended.

Grandeur in January to the Bahamas

Grandeur is a smaller ship and the Bahamas is a great cruise for relaxing. I'm sure you will find a ship that size going to the Bahamas not to have a lot of kids, therefore the passengers should be very progressive, enjoy. Just don't be bashful, what goes on, on the Grandeur stays on the Grandeur.;)

Is the Royal Caribbean game the quest gay friendly? Or should I plan on skipping it?

Gay friendly, yes. RCL is gay friendly. Don't miss the quest, always one of the best part of our cruise. What ship are you sailing on?

I appreciate all the comments.

I must admit I am old school when it comes to a cruise style, but times change and I need to try.

I will admit I prefer small ships which are becoming a dying breed. Big ships provide choices but the masses of people and lines are a big negative for me. So mixing lines and ships looks like the path for me.

Per these frank responses I have decided to give Carnival a try, even if its way out in 2017. I booked a 6 day cruise on the new Vista.....and will go to see the ship since it is not a Farcus interior. I hope to look at this as a fun trip rather than a "posh" experience.....and enjoy it for what its is. If the food is sub standard I'll book the steak house each might.......yes I am a proud carnivore.

Right now I am counting down the days till I sail on Wind Star's Wind Surf. My hope is the Wind Surf will be a very elegant and social experience. Having sailed on Wind Song years ago as well as all three Star Clipper sailing vessels has be very excited to be on a small class of ship.

Back On carnival....I have a question. Some of the ships have an adult area as will the Vista......is there a charge to use the adult area?

Thanks for all the comments....hope to read more, both the good , the bad and the ugly:rolleyes:

I believe if you want to use the steam and sauna will have to pay.

Really? I thought it was up past 150. Are you sure you picked the right one? :)

Yes that what it showed when I signed up. We are on her the week before and there are only 42 that signed up. We will see.;)

You go to the Roll Calls forum here on CC, the one for Royal Caribbean. When you click that, right near the top there are links to several things including "register for...". You will need your booking number along with name and such. It is really easy once you find the link. It is there before you click on a particular ship for the roll call.

Thank you for you help. We are all registered. It showed 91 cruiser have registered so far.

I just registered for the RCCL CC Meet & Mingle. I hope that doesn't conflict with any Aquafest activity. We also book a couple of shore excursions and printed our luggage tags. So most of the really important things are done. October 25 will be here before you know it.

I'd like to register for the Meet & Mingle, where can I find it and how do I do it? Thanks.

Joe

We have sailed on most of the cruise lines and find Carnival as all the other are subjective. Good and bad. We find it all depends on the time of year your are sailing, port your sailing from, the length of the cruise and the size of the ship. That being said we fine all to be very gay friendly and have enjoyed each one for what it is.

You're in the right place to discuss anything related to cruising and the world of the GLBT community! Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

Off the subject, maybe we know each other? I'm from Merrimac.;)

Max - I think it has to change because word on Wilton Drive is that B Bar closed in August. It's too bad the location didn't survive the name change but the place really needed a re-do. Not sure where the bear crowd is hanging out now. But since I'm moving back to Fort Lauderdale at the end of the month I'm sure I will find out :)

Moving back to FLL, great. Have you heard Scandals maybe moving to 26th Street? Maybe AF will meet there.

Joe. Wow. We are finally on the same cruise. It's been like 25 years since we've seen each other? I don't think AF has used royal much before? So may not be so many upper level cruisers. I think they will have a pre cruise bar picked out and at least that will be open to everyone.

 

I will be at the cruise critic meet n greet and there's a very active roll call on the main board.

I was thinking the same thing, it's been years. Your making me feel old.:eek: If your on the other AF boards and they are going to stop by a Ft Lauderdale bar the night before the cruise please let me know so we can be their. We will be in town for the week before the cruise. We have never cruised with AF only with PP a few times.

My partner and I will be on this cruise, booked 18 months ago with our TA. Glad AF will be on her. I recognize you Matt from other posting here on CC. Hope we can meet on the cruise at the LGBT get together or maybe if anyone will be planning a meet and great at one of the bars in Ft Lauderdale the night before the cruise. Scandals would be a good place.

I’m wondering how may D, D+ & P from the group will be in the CL. I too have never meet Mario and hope he is one this cruise.

Looking forward to a great cruise experience!

Joe & Jim

Massachusetts