What It Was Really Like Gog on a Gay Cise

Contents:

• THE 8 TOP GAY CIS FOR 2023
• 12 TOP GAY CIS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS 2023 AND 2024
• 11 THGS I LEARNED ON MY 1ST GAY CISE
• THE GAY CISE OF AGE
• OUR GAY CRUISE AND TOUR CALENDAR 2023 AND 2024
• 'GAY SUMMER MP': HOW CIS CREATE SPACE FOR LGBTQ+ TRAVELERS AT SEA
• BT GAY AND LGBT FRIENDLY CIS
• I WENT ON MY FIRST GAY CISE — HERE'S WHAT IT WAS LIKE
• GAY CIS
• WHAT ARE GAY CIS LIKE?
• I WENT ON A 10-DAY CISE WH 4,000 OTHER GAY MEN. I CRIED FOR DAYS AFTER END, AND I N'T WA TO GO BACK.
• GAY CIS FOR SENRS
• ALL GAY CISE CALENDAR:
• YOUR ULTIMATE GAY HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE!
• MY ATLANTIS GAY CISE TRIP – WHAT IT WAS LIKE

THE 8 TOP GAY CIS FOR 2023

The term – a phemism that dat back to the 1950s – was once ed to dite gay social events on daily cise le programs, whout explicly llg out members of the muny on board. As travel on the high seas ntu to bounce back om the COVID-19 panmic, gay and lbian travelers should nsir settg sail on a fun-filled cise vatn as their next planng a cise, vatners should first nsir what their ial sailg looks like.

12 TOP GAY CIS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS 2023 AND 2024

Some cise operators (thk: Atlantis Events and La Demence) are known for their electrifyg, all-night parti, which may be perfect for gay groups of iends. Cisers should also thk about whether they'd like to travel aboard a gay-iendly mastream le, such as Celebry Cis or Virg Voyag, or opt for an all-gay, full-ship charter wh a third-party vatn pany. Of VACAYA's all-gay charters, he says, "For one magil week, our muny gets to be the majory and live life out loud the blissful utopia VACAYA creat on a gay cise.

11 THGS I LEARNED ON MY 1ST GAY CISE

This le gets the stamp of approval om prev LGBTQ cisers, who praise the ships' genr-ntral bathrooms, onboard shows wh rint drag queens and diverse Voyag offers gay-specific sailgs through travel pani like Atlantis Events, but s more mastream erari still offer a welg, clive atmosphere that attracts LGBTQ cisers year-round. Atlantis EventsThe world's largt gay and lbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was found 1991 and wel more than 20, 000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vatns. For s all-gay cis, Atlantis charters megaships om popular l like Royal Caribbean Internatnal and Norwegian Cise Le, so cisers will have a fully immersive board, travelers n enjoy all the perks the megaships have to offer (thk: pools, hot tubs, sports urts and plenty of dg choic), pl special events like drag performanc, motivatnal speakers, LGBTQ movi on mand each b and high-energy circu parti across the ship.

THE GAY CISE OF AGE

"As an LGBTQ ciser, you're lookg for a ship wh lots of entertament, cludg dance parti and events, " says Mars Martez, founr of Men Who Bnch, a Black gay liftyle blog. "One of the bt cise [l] for gay cisg is Atlantis, sce you'll be able to meet hundreds of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship. Cisers will also enjoy performanc by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, pl more typil river cise perks like sightseeg and lavish meals.

Celebry Cis(Courty of Celebry Cis)Celebry Cis sets the scene for an excellent vatn for gay travelers, om s extravagant annual Pri parti to s daily LGBTQ programmg throughout the year. Private travel pani like VACAYA also charter Celebry ships for all-gay voyag throughout the (Getty Imag)Specifilly marketed toward lbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted more than 350, 000 travelers by land and sea over almost five s. The popular cise le equently partners wh Atlantis Events to offer all-gay voyag throughout the year, but even the standard sailgs earn praise.

Outsi of the sailg experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly mted to support the LGBTQ muny throughout the year, and was the first cise le to earn the tle "Gay Traveler Approved" om GayTravel 2023, nsir a Royal Caribbean voyage that sails to gay-iendly statns.

OUR GAY CRUISE AND TOUR CALENDAR 2023 AND 2024

]The Cise Wh La Demence(Courty of The Cise wh La Demence)Acrdg to past cisers, if you're lookg for one of the bt party scen on the open seas, nsir an all-gay cise wh La Demence.

'GAY SUMMER MP': HOW CIS CREATE SPACE FOR LGBTQ+ TRAVELERS AT SEA

Prev cisers had high praise for the erari – which exclively vis gay-iendly lotns – as well as the uy cktails, themed nights (stum strongly enuraged), glamouro entertament, and unique events like drag bgo and high heel Demence sails every summer to statns like Rome; Athens and Mykonos, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and more. Whether you jo onboard for a vatn, your honeymoon, or even your weddg, you'll see why we're the bt cise le for gay, lbian and all LGBTQ+ guts. You know what you don't want: a floatg bathhoe, a large cise ship wh nothg but gay men, and to feel lost or left out—pecially if you're not that outgog.

For s, the thought of an LGBTQ+ cise brought to md one thg: a mega ship full of shirtls gay men — mostly cis, whe, buff and tanned — plyg the waters of the Caribbean to seemgly endls club mic. Variety Cis is focg on the Seychell for an October LGBTQ+ cise (which is cheekily emed as “straight iendly”) bee the island natn is one of very few Ai that has passed laws to actively protect lbian, gay and bisexual employe om discrimatn the workplace. (S) - An MIM Signature Collectn Cise GroupJULY 202311-Night Cise to Ireland and Iceland, July 13 to 24, 2023 Gay Group CiseJo on the Celebry Silhouette as we part Southampton, England and sail to Cork, Ireland, Kirkwall, Stland, Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight), Akureyri, Iceland, Seydisfjordur, Iceland and endg Southampton, England.

BT GAY AND LGBT FRIENDLY CIS

7-Night Basel to Amsterdam Cise, July 29 to Augt 5, 2023All Gay CiseCome along wh as we cise on a private charter of the Avalon Panorama. We start our trip Basel, Swzerland and vis France, Germany and Holland culmatg Amsterdam to vis their yearly Pri, wh s signature Canal Boat Para to experience why this is tly the most extraordary Pri Celebratn the 202312-Night Transatlantic Cise to Greenland & Iceland, Augt 6 to 18, 2023 Gay Group CiseCome along wh on the Celebry Summ as we part Cape Liberty, New Jersey and sail to Halifax, Nova Stia, St. 7-Night Cise to Alaska, Augt 11 to 18, 2023 Gay Group CiseJo on the Celebry Solstice as we part Seattle and travel to Ketchikan, Alaska, Tracy Arm Fjord, June, Alaska, Skagway, Alaska, Victoria, Brish Columbia and returng to Seattle, Washgton.

I WENT ON MY FIRST GAY CISE — HERE'S WHAT IT WAS LIKE

SEPTEMBER 202312-Night Wtern Mederranean Cise, September 14 to 26, 2023 Gay Group CiseCome along wh on the Celebry Apex, as we part om Amsterdam, Netherlands and vis La Rochelle, France, Lisbon, Portugal (overnight), Cadiz, Spa, Cartagena, Spa, Palma Mallor, Spa, Valletta, Malta and endg Piras (Athens), Greece. OCTOBER 202310-Nights Cise to the Holy Land, October 16 to 26, 2023 Gay Group CiseJo on the Celebry Apex as we part om Piras (Athens), Greece and ntue to Haifa, Israel, Ashdod, (Jesalem), Israel (overnight), Alexandria, Egypt (overnight), Kadasi (Ephud), Turkey and endg Piras (Athens), Greece.

12-Night Mekong River Cise to Vietnam and Cambodia, October 17 to 29, 2023 All Gay River CiseJo MIM Travel and Source Journeys as we sail on a full charter of the R/V Mekong Prcs. 14-Nights Transatlantic Cise, October 19 to November 2, 2023 Gay Group CiseCome wh on the Celebry Reflectn as we part om Barcelona, Spa, Visg Provence (Marseill), France, Palma Mallori, Spa, Cartagena, Spa, Gibraltar followed by six days at sea and arrivg Kg's Wharf, Bermuda, and after two more days arrivg Fort Lrdale, Florida.

GAY CIS

NOVEMBER 202310-Night Ain Safari and Tour, November 22 to December 2, 2023 All Gay Group TourCome along on an Ain adventure that will take to Victoria Falls, a private game rerve to see the "Big Five", Elephant, Leopard, Ln, Cape Buffalo and Rhos and many more speci. 8-Night Post Thanksgivg Cise, November 25 to December 3, 2023Gay Group CiseJo this popular cise on the Celebry Reflectn as we Leave om Fort Lrdale, Florida and vis San Juan, Puerto Ri, Charlotte Amalie, St.

DECEMBER 20237-Nights Main Voyage to Eastern Caribbean, December 3 to 10, 2023 Gay Group CiseJo on this special main voyage on the Celebry Ascent to the Caribbean. 7-Night Wtbound Transatlantic Cise, December 15 to 22, 2023 Gay Group CiseCome along wh on the magnificent Queen Mary 2, as we part Southampton, England for a 7 day crossg to New York Cy. 12-Night Caribbean Cise, December 22, 2023 to January 3, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo our Caribbean Holiday Cise as we leave New York Cy on the Queen Mary 2.

JANUARY 202412-Night Atralia & New Zealand Cise, January 13 to 25, 2024 Gay Group CiseCome along to the world downunr as we sail on the Celebry Edge om Sydney, Atralia. FEBRUARY 202412-Night South Ameri & R Carnival Cise, Febary 6 to 18, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo on the Azamara Qut as we travel om Buenos Air, Argenta and visg the ports of Montevio, Uguay (overnight), two days at sea, then to the fabulo Carnival R Janeiro, where we spend 3 days, then two more days at sea before reachg Punta l Este, Uguay and endg Buenos Air, Argenta, where we spend one addnal night on the ship. 11-Night Southern Caribbean Cise, Febary 19 to March 1, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo on the new Celebry Beyond as we part Fort Lrdale and vis ports of Gee Town, Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Colombia, Oranjtad, Aba, Willemstad, Curao, and Falmouth, Jamai before headg back to Fort Lrdale, Florida.

WHAT ARE GAY CIS LIKE?

The cise also clus four full days at 202412-Night South Ameri, Patagonia, Argenta Cise, March 2 to 14, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo as we travel on the Celebry Edge om Buenos Air, Argenta on March 2, 2024, visg the ports of Montevio, Uguay, Punta l Este, Uguay, Puerto Madryn, Argenta, Cisg Cape Horn, Chile, Usuaia, Argenta, Cisg the Stra of Magellan, two more days at sea and endg Valparaiso, Chile on March 14, 2024. We start our journey Sgapore on March 23, 2024 and vis Penang, Malaysia, Langkawi, Malaysia, Phet, Thailand and after two days at sea we reach Colombo, Sri Lanka, then after four more days at sea, we arrive Doha, Uned Arab Emirat followed by an overnight Dubai on April 7, 2024MAY 202413-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Crossg, May 2 to 15, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo on this eastbound transatlantic crossg on the Celebry Apex.

I WENT ON A 10-DAY CISE WH 4,000 OTHER GAY MEN. I CRIED FOR DAYS AFTER END, AND I N'T WA TO GO BACK.

We then ntue for three more days at sea before reachg Cork Ireland, then Portland, Dover, UK, then Bssels (Zeebgge), Belgium, before endg our Atlantic crossg on May 15, 2024 Southampton, England7-Night Wtern Europe Main Voyage, May 3 to 10, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo on the newt Cunard ocean le, Queen Anne, as we part Southampton, England on May 3, 2024 on her Main Voyage. On May 31 we part betiful Bermuda on our way back to Cape Liberty, NJ, where we will arrive on June 2, 2024(S) 7-Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Cise, July 28 to Augt 4, 2024Gay Group CiseJo MIM Travel on our 20th Anniversary Cise to Alaska, the last ontier. We cise the Insi Passage and go through the Icy Stra Pot and then cise through the imprsive Hubbard Glacier, then stop June, the pal cy of Alaska, then to Ketchikan as we ntue our Insi Passage cise and endg Vanuver, CanadaNOVEMBER 20247-Night Post Thanksgivg Cise, November 30 to December 7, 2024 Gay Group CiseJo on the Celebry Apex as we part om Fort Lrdale on November 30, 2024 for a seven day Eastern Caribbean cise.

Both jumped at a chance for Moss' girliend to be somewhere "culturally entirely queer"bee she had not had as much experience socializg LGBTQ+ more: Bt travel suranceFor some LGBTQ+ travelers, gay cis have offered a kd of haven on the seas. While early cis tered primarily to gay men and lbians, the market has grown recent years, wh more optns aimed at a more diverse array of queer travelers.

Where people uld be together wh members of their muny and get away and be ee om fai or work, you know, be out, bee the world was so different the '80s, " John Tanzella, print and CEO of the Internatnal Gay & Lbian Travel Associatn, sailgs were a tougher sell back then, though.

GAY CIS FOR SENRS

"It was probably really hard to get a cise le to take a gay group ( the early days), " Tanzella some s, ships rryg LGBTQ+ passengers were turned away om ports, he add. 'I jt want to see more of ':The importance of seeg people like you while travelgJon Fenwick went on his first gay cise 2008 wh Atlantis Events after some iends talked him to . "You fely see a lot of the same fac om trip to trip, and a lot of people would go on the same on every year jt to have a rnn, or sometim we ll gay summer mp, " said Fenwick, a ernment rmatn technology specialist based Arlgton, optns were also more limed and siloed, wh cis aimed primarily at gay men or lbians, he add.

Fenwick has met other gay passengers on mastream cis but said the experience isn't the same, "You fely don't have the (same) eedom to be yourself on a regular cise. Among those, Atlantis is particularly popular among gay men but wel women, transgenr and nonbary guts, and "even straight parents, " as well, CEO Rich Campbell said an while Olivia Travel's guts primarily intify as cisgenr lbians and queer women, nonbary and transgenr guts have always been wele, acrdg to VP of marketg Autumn Roper's part, he said the kds of sailgs VACAYA aims to offer shift the dynamic LGBTQ+ people experience elsewhere, even if only for a week or two at a time. I've always been secure about my weight, and if the marketg strategy for an LGBTQ+ cise, vatn, or tour pany don't clu me or make me feel seen — as a chubby Black gay man — I avoid .

ALL GAY CISE CALENDAR:

But when I was offered the opportuny to sail wh Vaya, I asked a few iends about their gay cise experienc — specifilly, about the pany's chartered sailgs and rort vatns. I met several people, cludg Ken, who drove 12 hours om Chattanooga, Tennsee, to go on his first gay cise; Eric and his partner, Jason, om Taa, Washgton, who chatted about how they met, Jason's "g out" story, and his amible divorce om his ex-wife; and Osr, a passenger om L.

YOUR ULTIMATE GAY HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE!

I disvered that a gay cise allows to be fully ourselv a rpectful environment, rng wh old iends om prev cis and cultivatg new iendships that go beyond our seven-day journey.

MY ATLANTIS GAY CISE TRIP – WHAT IT WAS LIKE

Celebry's safety protols and Vaya's attentn to tail, transparency, and clive vibe and strategy are all reasons why I was able to enjoy my first gay cise and return home COVID-ee. Whether you opt for lmer seas on a smaller vsel, or the stormy waters of a bigger party boat, you're guaranteed a good time on a gay cise. You'll be surround by like-md LGBTQ+ shipmat, and a crew whose jobs are centered around providg the bt – and gayt – experience possible.

Travel alone – most gay cise pani offer a b match program where they will assign you a roommate, so you don’t have to pay for the full price of a two-person room if you’re travelg alone. The ncept of LGBT-specific travel started the ’70s and was pneered by Hans Ebensten, who began takg gay men on tours raftg through the Grand Canyon as well as to Carnival R Janeiro.

The ncept of a gay cise was the perfect environment bee the ship self was isolated on the ocean and all the atten uld be pletely themselv whout fear of judgment or harassment. The first all gay cis were started by RSVP 1987, followed by the other pneers Atlantis Events (1991) and Olivia, who started offerg lbian cis 1990.