Why we don't go on "all gay cruises" anymore

[Boytjie]

I'm always scared someone will run away with my expensive camera. :eek:

 

Pick some that looks as it they would be slower than you. :D

[jasonpinelap]

Hi, I went on an RSVP cruise to Alaska about 3/4 years ago, and I've also sailed on str8 cruises.

 

The main difference between the two (apart from the obvious that one is full of gay people and the other is full of str8), is the price. Gay cruises tend to be a lot more expensive, and there is no opportunity for discounts etc - due to supply and demand.

 

There aren't many gay only cruises - so they can charge more, and don't have lots of travel agents competing with discounts etc.

 

My trip to alaska was amazing - I went with a gay friend and a str8 woman friend - and we all had a wonderful time. I've heard from others that rsvp is less of a 'party' than atlantis, and that this trip, because it wasn't a sunshine destination, attracted an older crowd.

 

There was a good mix of ages, people from around the world and if you wanted to party you could, but the main attraction was Alaska itself.

 

I loved the entertainment, and meeting other gay people in a non-judgemental atmosphere from str8 people - however, gays can be pretty judgemental to each other too !!! I loved how the muscle boys gravitated to each other, as did the 'bears' the 'twinks' etc etc - But all in all, everyone had a great time and mixed together well.

 

I loved the faces of the locals, when the ship docked and all these guys got off the ship !

 

My str8 lady friend was looked after by everyone on board so well too - and she had a blast.

 

The str8 cruises I've been on - both transatlantic crossings were great. Met gay and str8 people on both, and never had a problem - it's just that on both of these - you end up getting questions about your personal life - until you blurt out, i'm gay ! - No need to do that on an rsvp /atlantis cruise.

 

If the gay cruises were cheaper, and if they did more varied destinations, then I'd def. do another.... tho I'm happy with mainstream cruising too.

 

Next cruise is EPIC transatlantic 23/10/11.

 

Let me know if any of you are going to be on there too !

 

Drew :-)

[JetJock_YHZ]

Hi Folks,

 

Here's a picture (sorry it is small) of what happened on the last night of our last cruise (after the gay one on the Eurodam - B2B for us). It speaks for itself... on the Crown Princess (supposedly str8 cruise)... This was much better!

 

Carl and Brett

 

Edited October 22, 2010 by JetJock_YHZ

[jmraggs]

My partner and I (both in our 40's) have always taken straight cruises and have always enjoyed them. We get along great with other passengers and the ship's crew on Royal Caribbean. Gay cruises have never interested us as we like a variety of people to interact with and we aren't into the "speculated" gay party seen on the ships.

 

There have always been gay passengers on every cruise we have been on, some friendly and some not so friendly to talk with, but that can be true with any type of cruise that you're on.

[Ahhh]

I've done a few gay charters, and a few Pied Piper Groups on regular sailings, but mostly regular cruises. I've enjoyed them all and have met many wonderful people (gay and straight) on each of them. Every cruise has been different as far as the mix of people on board. A cruise is what you make it.

 

I was hesitant to do my first charter, thinking I would not fit in. All my myths were dispelled with my first one. I found that there was most every age group (no kids on the ones I've been on) and from most all walks of life, and around the world (like regular ones). One aspect I've enjoyed about them is to see the ship's venues FILLED with happy people enjoying themselves the way that these venues were meant to be enjoyed - FILLED with passengers having a good time! One big difference I have seen in charters is that there are very few people complaining about anything. I think that is one reason the staff and crew enjoy them so much. That attitude permeates the ship. People are smiling and laughing much more.

 

I am OK with charters charging a premium for the special entertainment, sound & lighting, and the special atmosphere that can only be found on a gay charter. I can't understand why port charges are usually around $210 on the gay charters, instead of around $55, like the week prior and the week after, on the mainstream ones. Am I the only who finds this odd?

 

I've never have had a problem with discrimination from guests or crew on any of the mainstream cruises I have been on, and I do ballroom dancing with most of my male cabin mates. Occasionally we get an odd look, but mostly we get praise for being bold and accomplished dancers. I've had numerous men and women come up to me during a cruise and say how great they think it is that we get up and dance. Men have told me that they have never seen two men dance together and applaud our courage, or "It's nice to see two guys having so much fun". Women have commented, "I wish my husband could dance like you" or "Would you dance with me?"

 

I feel the best of both worlds is the Post Thanksgiving cruise with Pied Piper. To me, you get that same sense of fun and happiness that you feel on a charter. People smile, make eye contact, and say hello. There is a sense of camaraderie that is hard to explain. Plus, you are not paying a premium for the experience. That particular sailing is priced at regular cruise rates (which is typically a bargain time of year to be cruising)!

 

The gay charter is a unique and fun experience, but to me, it is not the only way to have an enjoyable and rewarding cruise.

 

David

[BostonBud]

I was surprised that not too many people who have done the gay charters have commented so I would throw in my two cents.

 

I did an alternative cruise (what I like to call the non-gay charters) once on Carnival years ago and hated it. When my husband and I thought about doing a cruise together we decided on Atlantis however, no one we knew had been on one and we heard all the rumors but we figured we try it.

 

Well, that was 6 cruises ago and we were hooked, although I doubt we would ever find ourselves on one of the other cruises. Our reasons are the same as much of the other people who do Atlantis or RSVP. No children, everyone is on the same vacation (unlike your typical cruise where there are reunions and family gatherings, etc...) the other cruisers are very friendly and there is little complaining. yeah, it costs more but it is definitely worth it especially if you don't get a lot of vacation time a year. Because on the Atlantis cruises they have open seating you can meet new people every night. We've met some really nice guys on the ships who we have stayed in touch with.

 

We are out in all facets of our lives so PDA is never an issue with us but we do live in a str8 world and it's nice being in the majority for a change. We sometimes have to educate people about how normal gay people are on a daily basis so it's nice to also take a vacation from that too.

[brink7377]

My wife and I have only sailed "straight" cruises. We've seen other gay couples, nodded, maybe chatted, but usually don't make it a point to chat unless they do. We don't travel to meet other gay couples or singles, we travel to meet a disverse group. We've always shown our love for one another ...appropriately...on our cruises w/RCCL.

The reason we do not sail with gay cruises? We don't find the ambiance, entertainment, and partying lifestyle suits us.

[Boytjie]

I can't understand why port charges are usually around $210 on the gay charters, instead of around $55, like the week prior and the week after, on the mainstream ones. Am I the only who finds this odd?

 

I have not noticed that. Sometimes the charters include the hotel service charges (e.g. $11 pp/pd) in that amount - could that explain it? Also, some charters have different itineraries from specifically for the charter.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Boytjie

[jmraggs]

My wife and I have only sailed "straight" cruises. We've seen other gay couples, nodded, maybe chatted, but usually don't make it a point to chat unless they do. We don't travel to meet other gay couples or singles, we travel to meet a disverse group. We've always shown our love for one another ...appropriately...on our cruises w/RCCL.

The reason we do not sail with gay cruises? We don't find the ambiance, entertainment, and partying lifestyle suits us.

 

Same here!

[YoungRestlessOne]

I've done a few gay charters, and a few Pied Piper Groups on regular sailings, but mostly regular cruises. I've enjoyed them all and have met many wonderful people (gay and straight) on each of them. Every cruise has been different as far as the mix of people on board. A cruise is what you make it.

 

I was hesitant to do my first charter, thinking I would not fit in. All my myths were dispelled with my first one. I found that there was most every age group (no kids on the ones I've been on) and from most all walks of life, and around the world (like regular ones). One aspect I've enjoyed about them is to see the ship's venues FILLED with happy people enjoying themselves the way that these venues were meant to be enjoyed - FILLED with passengers having a good time! One big difference I have seen in charters is that there are very few people complaining about anything. I think that is one reason the staff and crew enjoy them so much. That attitude permeates the ship. People are smiling and laughing much more.

 

I am OK with charters charging a premium for the special entertainment, sound & lighting, and the special atmosphere that can only be found on a gay charter. I can't understand why port charges are usually around $210 on the gay charters, instead of around $55, like the week prior and the week after, on the mainstream ones. Am I the only who finds this odd?

 

I've never have had a problem with discrimination from guests or crew on any of the mainstream cruises I have been on, and I do ballroom dancing with most of my male cabin mates. Occasionally we get an odd look, but mostly we get praise for being bold and accomplished dancers. I've had numerous men and women come up to me during a cruise and say how great they think it is that we get up and dance. Men have told me that they have never seen two men dance together and applaud our courage, or "It's nice to see two guys having so much fun". Women have commented, "I wish my husband could dance like you" or "Would you dance with me?"

 

I feel the best of both worlds is the Post Thanksgiving cruise with Pied Piper. To me, you get that same sense of fun and happiness that you feel on a charter. People smile, make eye contact, and say hello. There is a sense of camaraderie that is hard to explain. Plus, you are not paying a premium for the experience. That particular sailing is priced at regular cruise rates (which is typically a bargain time of year to be cruising)!

 

The gay charter is a unique and fun experience, but to me, it is not the only way to have an enjoyable and rewarding cruise.

 

David

 

Hi, David. Just wondered if you could elaborate a bit on your various experiences with the Pied Piper travel agency. What kind of special parties or excursions did they offer? How large were the gay groups that were booked on your sailings? Which itineraries did you do? I'm looking at several cruises advertised on the Pied Piper website, and I'm trying to determine whether to book through them or not.

 

Chad in Columbus, Ohio

[MightySailinMan]

Our first gay cruise is coming up in 2 weeks (RSVP Hawaii). We've always been somewhat apprehensive about them as we generally don't fit into the "scene", when there is a "scene". Nobody like us shows up in the promotional videos. We're not the party types or into costumes. We were talked into going with some friends who may not have another opportunity, so we'll see how it goes.

 

We have been just ourselves on several other cruises and always have met people with more interests in common than the bulk of our gay friends. We'd miss out on too much life if we confined ourselves to a single community. However I am looking forward to holding hands and smooching out on the public decks for a change. :)

 

 

Glad you are comng Join us at the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet on the Pride of America (See RSVP Board on the cruise) Gay Cruises are like everything else in life, WHAT you make it

[Boytjie]

Hi, David. Just wondered if you could elaborate a bit on your various experiences with the Pied Piper travel agency. What kind of special parties or excursions did they offer? How large were the gay groups that were booked on your sailings? Which itineraries did you do? I'm looking at several cruises advertised on the Pied Piper website, and I'm trying to determine whether to book through them or not.

 

Chad in Columbus, Ohio

 

Pied Piper groups can vary from just a few to in the hunderds (Post Thansgiving Caribbean cruise). There were about 35 of us on the QM2 4-night Labor Day cruise in 2009.

 

Pied Piper provides escorts for the group - depending on the size of the group. In our case it was the owner and one more. We were assinged tables as a group so did not get intermingled with other passengers. There was one PP cocktail party IIRC, a group lunch at Todd English and a private kitchen tour.

 

You had to have booked through Pied Piper to participate in any of the Pied Piper events on the ship (a cruise line restriction) so non-group members could not attend the cocktail party, kitchen tour etc.

 

There was only one port of call (St. John, NB) and there was a private Pied Piper excursion offered which included a bus tour of the city and a ride in the rapids of the Reversing Falls (lots of fun!).

 

Pied Piper charges the same rates as the cruise line so you might as well book through them and enjoy the extra benefits. We paid extra for the lunch in Todd Englich and the excursion (like anyone else on the cruise would)

 

We mingled with other gays and lesbians at the FOD meetings and socialized with others over cocktails in the Commodore Club and the disco

[desirod]

Question:

We are looking into a 14 to 24 day Mediterranean cruise in 2011....any suggestions for cruise lines that are gay-friendly but not exclusively gay?

How have folks experience Holland America or NCL? Both have departures that are appealing for us.

 

Pied Piper and Aquafest would be the first places to look.

They run partial ship gay charters anywhere from 20-900 people on a particular cruise. It is the best of both worlds of an all gay cruise and a mainstream cruise.

 

I have never taken an all gay cruise and do not plan to. Something about the shtetl-ghetto mentality.

 

The Queen Mary 2 has a large gay following, everywhere you turn there are gay people.

 

On the mainstream cruises we take there are the friends of Dorothy parties where all the gay people meet. If one runs into a European gay person/couple they do not know the code. Please tell them, and then they attend. We befriended a few on our last Galaxy and Summit cruises. Oceania is also very gay friendly.

 

On a mainstream cruise ask the CD for a Friends of Dorothy party and the oblige. My first Oceania cruise 25 attended out of 350 passengers including 3 supportive heteros.

 

We are taking the Oceania Regatta Jan 12 2010 Mayan Mystique cruise

Edited October 27, 2010 by desirod
content

[YoungRestlessOne]

Pied Piper groups can vary from just a few to in the hunderds (Post Thansgiving Caribbean cruise). There were about 35 of us on the QM2 4-night Labor Day cruise in 2009.

 

Pied Piper provides escorts for the group - depending on the size of the group. In our case it was the owner and one more. We were assinged tables as a group so did not get intermingled with other passengers. There was one PP cocktail party IIRC, a group lunch at Todd English and a private kitchen tour.

 

You had to have booked through Pied Piper to participate in any of the Pied Piper events on the ship (a cruise line restriction) so non-group members could not attend the cocktail party, kitchen tour etc.

 

There was only one port of call (St. John, NB) and there was a private Pied Piper excursion offered which included a bus tour of the city and a ride in the rapids of the Reversing Falls (lots of fun!).

 

Pied Piper charges the same rates as the cruise line so you might as well book through them and enjoy the extra benefits. We paid extra for the lunch in Todd Englich and the excursion (like anyone else on the cruise would)

 

We mingled with other gays and lesbians at the FOD meetings and socialized with others over cocktails in the Commodore Club and the disco

 

Thanks, Peter. It's nice to get feedback from someone who has booked through Pied Piper before. It definitely sounds like it's worth doing. I'm going to keep this in mind for a future cruise. They have some pretty nice itineraries advertised on their website, particularly that Australia/NZ cruise in January 2012. Of course, my hubby has already said that the next time Atlantis offers the Rio/Carnavale itinerary again, we are booking that one. Who am I to say no? :)

[Ahhh]

Hi, David. Just wondered if you could elaborate a bit on your various experiences with the Pied Piper travel agency. What kind of special parties or excursions did they offer? How large were the gay groups that were booked on your sailings? Which itineraries did you do? I'm looking at several cruises advertised on the Pied Piper website, and I'm trying to determine whether to book through them or not.

 

Chad in Columbus, Ohio

 

Hi Chad

 

I have been on 5 cruises with PP. The first one was in 2005 (a 10 day Mexico sailing out of SF) and there were about 65 in our group. It was a lot of fun as it became a close group on a smaller ship (Celebrity Mercury). We all had dinner in the dining room every night and shared stories of our adventures during the day. PP aranged shore excursions in some of the ports and had hosts who would escort us on them, which is typical of all their group cruises.

 

My second was a 14 day Hawaii cruise (Celebrity Summit), out of LA, and there were around 120 in that group. Again it was a fun group of men and women (you don't have to be gay to be part of the PP group). There were a few who were on the Mercury the previous year so I knew a couple of guests in that group. There were special parties exclusively for our group while on the ship and hosted excursions you could book with PP, as a group.

 

The next was the Radiance in November 2006. It was their Post Thanksgiving cruise in the Caribbean, which happens to be there most popular. I believe there were around 450/500 on that sailing and it was lot of fun. It was a different experience as far as becoming a close group as there were so many in the guests. They had parties for us numerous nights, and again, shore excursions.

 

In 2007 I did another 14 day Hawaii cruise (Celebrity Infinity) with them, and this time the group was around 65 as compared to 120 in 2006. This particular group was unusual in that both my cabin mate and I did not feel much of a connection with very many guests in the group. Even one of the Hosts for that sailing said it was a particularly unfriendly group. (You never know who is going to book with PP, but I've always met some interesting and fun people). They even had a private excursion to a clothing optional beach :eek:.

 

My last cruise with PP was the Post Thanksgiving cruise in 2007 on the Jewel of the Seas. There were over 900 of us on that voyage! It really felt like a gay cruise in some respects. I knew many guests from past voyages with PP so it felt very familiar and comfortable. PP has a loyal clientele I believe.

 

On that voyage we had a Welcome Aboard Party with open bar from 7:30 - 8:30; A couple of Singles Mixers the following night; A special evening of entertainment with Bruce Villanch in the main theater (just for our group); A late night pool party with free drinks another night; An 11 pm movie night in the main theater ("Grease" - sing along, with costumes encouraged); Newlywed Game Show in the main theater on the last night. All these events were exclusively for the PP group. You could do as much or as little as you wanted with the group - including dining with the group in the section of the Dining Room set aside for us. The Martini Bar was very popular before both Early, and Late Dining, and the Disco was very popular late at night with us and all the party people who were on the ship too!

 

Although there were a few non PP guests (some families) who ended their voyage in the first port (Key West), most everybody who remained felt envious of how much fun our group was having and wanted to be a part of the PP group. PP also put together shore excursions as a group which made for some fun trips ashore. This particular voyage had 10 hosts I believe, but typically there are 1-4 hosts, depending on the size of the group.

 

I encourage you to book with them as you have nothing to loose. Their group rates are very competitive with what you can find online and in some cases, if the cruise line discounts a cruise, so does PP by either (don't quote me) a refund, upgrade, or cabin credit. You can do as much as you want with the group, or as little. It's a great way of meeting people with common interests. Hope this helps. David

[Ahhh]

Question:

We are looking into a 14 to 24 day Mediterranean cruise in 2011....any suggestions for cruise lines that are gay-friendly but not exclusively gay?

How have folks experience Holland America or NCL? Both have departures that are appealing for us.

 

My only word of caution has nothing to do with gay friendly. I've heard that HAL's longer voyages attract an older clientele. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but if you are looking for nightlife or late night entertainment, the sidewalks roll up early on the longer HAL voyages ;). Then again, a Mediteranean cruise could be very port intensive. You may find, after a long day of sight seeing, that you only have energy to eat and go to bed...just a thought or two. I have enjoyed my cruises on NCL, but have only been on charters on HAL, so I am not too familiar with their regular voyages or service.

[YoungRestlessOne]

Well, David, you've convinced me that we need to give Pied Piper a try at some point. All your voyages and experiences with them sound nothing short of stellar. Is there a particular reason the post-Thanksgiving cruise is so popular? Just the time of year maybe? I wonder if they always do the Caribbean for that one.

 

Thanks again for the information, and have fun on your next cruise. We can't wait to leave for Hawaii in the morning!

 

Chad

[02143]

Well, David, you've convinced me that we need to give Pied Piper a try at some point. All your voyages and experiences with them sound nothing short of stellar. Is there a particular reason the post-Thanksgiving cruise is so popular? Just the time of year maybe? I wonder if they always do the Caribbean for that one.

 

Low price, right duration for working people (7 days), south Florida departure ports, basic Caribbean itinerary means it suits the largest number of people. I think only Alaska 7-day cruises are as inexpensive, and not everyone wants to go on a cool-weather cruise or fly to the west coast. We found Pied Piper because we were looking for a basic 7-day Caribbean like this, and then kept coming back because it's a good repeat experience. It is always in the Caribbean but they've varied the ship, line (RCCL vs. Celebrity), and itinerary (western vs. eastern) over the years.

Edited October 27, 2010 by 02143

[toras]

Hi Chad

 

I have been on 5 cruises with PP.

You can do as much as you want with the group, or as little.

 

Thanks David. We are a rather private couple and don't party, just prefer to have some family around but not hang out all the time. So we if do as little as possible with the PP group, would we be regarded as too snooty?

[Ahhh]

Thanks David. We are a rather private couple and don't party, just prefer to have some family around but not hang out all the time. So we if do as little as possible with the PP group, would we be regarded as too snooty?

 

If you do as little as possible, you'll be doing nothing with the group, as that is everybody's option (some book with the group just to get a low price early on). If you do minimal with the group, I would not worry, or think you would be regarded as snooty.

[Kenito]

I have never done the gay cruises... perhaps one day, but not motivated to spend the money yet. I'm sure I'd have a good time.

 

For the past two years, we have put together a gay group on a mainstream Carnival cruise. Since several of our group live full or part-time in Baja, we call ourselves the BajaBoyz, put magnets on our doors and do our best to make new friends! We start real early and allow everyone to make payments along the way; doing that, we have been able to invite some of our Mexican friends, and it makes for a good mix of people. Many of our group would never go on a gay cruise, nor could afford to go on one.

 

Variety is the spice of life, no? ;)

 

As a group on a mainstream cruise, we have never had anything but a good time. When my boyfriend goes to the casino after dinner and I to the the showroom, we give each other a little kiss, and while none of us are motivated to walk down the hall hand-in-hand, we often hug or lean on each other for comfort or to comfort. We have never had a problem... not even a sideways glance. I have a humorous story... but a different post for that!

 

I'm sure that no one who sees even a part of our group together doubts that we are a group of gay men, and it works just fine for all concerned. Because most of us don't have any kids, we go when school is in session, so we don't give the families anything to fret about. Although there was a confused expression or two when they walked into a Sunday Episcopal Mass officiated by one of our group!

 

I organize gay shore excursions... and I make it clear to the vendors that it will be a group of gay men. I invite them that if they have gay employees we would want them to handle our visit. In Mexico, we have found a very accepting environment. We are a respectful bunch, friendly, and care about those who serve us. We represent well!

 

With a little research, I have found gay owned businesses in many ports of call and we do our best to patronize them... there is one little neighborhood bar in Acapulco that may never be the same after our two hour whirlwind tour stop!

 

Not everyone wants to go to the effort that we do, but we have a pretty good "gay cruise" without gay entertainment, etc. Atlantis Lite... We have fun, and have set a plan to cruise every 12 to 18 months. We are up to 36 guys so far and still booking... plus all the gay straglers on the cruise end up joining us. While over half of us are retired or semi-retired, the other half cover all ages... we will even have some 20's and 30's with us this year.

 

So you can have a gay old time and not be on a gay cruise. "Mainstream" cruises work just fine.

Edited October 29, 2010 by Kenito

[soldham]

Question:

We are looking into a 14 to 24 day Mediterranean cruise in 2011....any suggestions for cruise lines that are gay-friendly but not exclusively gay?

How have folks experience Holland America or NCL? Both have departures that are appealing for us.

 

 

We travel almost exclusively on HAL and find it fits us very well. HAL does tend to attract an older crowd but they also attract a more diverse and educated crowd as well which we find very pleasant. We have not had any negative experiences with the clientele or the staff. We have always found people (gay and/or straight) that we can hang with and stay up late with should we desire. And our personal feeling is that we are just a couple like any other so a no special interest cruise (what is a straight cruise anyway?) fits the bill.

[MightySailinMan]

My wife and I have only sailed "straight" cruises. We've seen other gay couples, nodded, maybe chatted, but usually don't make it a point to chat unless they do. We don't travel to meet other gay couples or singles, we travel to meet a disverse group. We've always shown our love for one another ...appropriately...on our cruises w/RCCL.

The reason we do not sail with gay cruises? We don't find the ambiance, entertainment, and partying lifestyle suits us.

 

 

Not to single you out, for you are one of many on here who have ONLY traveled on straight cruises because you don't like the atmopshere etc of an all gay cruise. UH since you have ONLY been on straight cruises IE NEVER on a gay one...how do you know? Sounds both judgemental and closed minded.

I will say it again, over and over...Gay Cruise; like everythng in life, are what YOU make them

 

Here is a shocker for you...My Hubby and I do not drink much, he not at all and me very limted, no drugs, never sleep around, don't do all night disco parties, but we have a great time on Gay and Straight Cruises. We are not partiers

Edited October 29, 2010 by MightySailinMan

[Kenito]

Not to single you out, for you are one of many on here who have ONLY traveled on straight cruises because you don't like the atmopshere etc of an all gay cruise. UH since you have ONLY been on straight cruises IE NEVER on a gay one...how do you know? Sounds both judgemental and closed minded. I will say it again, over and over...Gay Cruise; like everythng in life, are what YOU make them

Here is a shocker for you...My Hubby and I do not drink much, he not at all and me very limted, no drugs, never sleep around, don't do all night disco parties, but we have a great time on Gay and Straight Cruises. We are not partiers

 

"Sounds both judgemental and closed minded." Harsh words....

Not to single you out, but... "Hello pot? Kettle calling." They were not saying anything bad about gay cruises... they said they didn't think it was their thing. Sorry but, your calling them out on this adds nothing to the conversation. If they don't want to have sex with a man to decide they are lesbian, that's their right too. I don't have to eat a plate of squid tartar to form an opinion I don't want it for dinner.

Just saying.... Peace out. :)

[rnmikey]

We travel almost exclusively on HAL and find it fits us very well. HAL does tend to attract an older crowd but they also attract a more diverse and educated crowd as well which we find very pleasant. We have not had any negative experiences with the clientele or the staff. We have always found people (gay and/or straight) that we can hang with and stay up late with should we desire. And our personal feeling is that we are just a couple like any other so a no special interest cruise (what is a straight cruise anyway?) fits the bill.

 

We've been on multiple gay cruises in the past. All have been with RSVP. Next year have decided to go on a mainstream cruise and have decided to go with HAL since we really like their ships and size of staterooms. Staff has always been great. We want to be able to vary our itinerary and decided on a transatlantic out of Venice. We realize HAL leans toward an older demographic but thats fine with us since we're not exactly young- in's. Don't really see an issue with the passengers since the majority of our friends are straight couples that we hang out with all the time. I have read comments about how the ship closes up early but I tend to go to bed early anyway which works out well cause than hubby can go to the casino as long as he wants. We definately enjoy many aspects of all gay cruises (holding hands, dancing, an occasional peck on the cheek, etc) and will continue to do them, but am hopeful that we will enjoy our TA just as much. There are so many places we'd like to see that the all gay cruises don't go.