LGBT+ Vacations: Discover the VACAYA Difference

Table Of Content

• Before AIDS, gay artist Rex drew hot men on the prowl — then he disappeared
• You’re Free to Be You!
• Parties of All Kinds
• A Republican mom and her transgender son open up about unconditional love and acceptance
• BearCruise.com The most trusted name in gay travel.
• Stop taking pictures of gay men hooking up in bars & shaming them online

At Izumi Sushi, you’ll indulge in a four-course meal that includes one starter, two mains, and one dessert. Do you think the confusion was die in part to Covid - I didn't book any cruise the last 2 years because of covid - I never knew what the outcome would be - the worst getting sick. Vacaya is great with upfront communication but appeared to be lost and confused once the cruise began. I tested positive for Covid a day after the cruise and I wore a mask everywhere except eating AND I didn't go to any of the parties. My husband didn't test positive and we were in the stateroom without masks and spent most of the cruise together.

Before AIDS, gay artist Rex drew hot men on the prowl — then he disappeared

Traverse the majestic Endicott Arm Fjord, a nature lover’s paradise adorned with icy-blue glaciers and rugged cliffs. Witness the grandeur of Dawes Glacier, its icy façade reflecting the untamed wilderness that surrounds it. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Ketchikan, where Native American totem poles stand tall against the backdrop of lush forests. Cap off your journey with a full day in the quaint and historic Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, where the elegance of Butchart Gardens and the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel await your exploration. This uniquely crafted and exclusive itinerary promises an unforgettable and diverse travel experience, marking a milestone in accessible luxury exploration with VACAYA. On land or onboard, your safety is our top concern.

You’re Free to Be You!

The cruise holiday that's too exciting to leave – even for Caribbean beaches - inews

The cruise holiday that's too exciting to leave – even for Caribbean beaches.

Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Or sample your way from Italy to India with dishes like traditional chicken marsala, savory pork vindaloo, tangy duck à l’orange, and flavorful Caribbean goat curry. Once on the list, we’ll reach out to you in the order your name appears on our waitlist if a room that fits your request becomes available.

Parties of All Kinds

VACAYA’s “Solo Traveling with Ease Program” is perfect for single travelers looking to join in the fun. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. And while Olivia Travel's guests primarily identify as cisgender lesbians and queer women, nonbinary and transgender guests have always been welcome, according to VP of marketing Autumn Nazarian. "So, we love a good party, don't get me wrong, but we also love to wake up and go into port the next day." "If you believe love is love, then you belong on a VACAYA vacation," said Patrick Gunn, the company's co-founder and CMO.

Norovirus is a contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with an infected person or surface and causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. The self-contained, high-traffic nature of a cruise ship makes it susceptible to outbreaks, and on a gay cruise, frequent incidences of person-to-person contact can increase your chances of getting sick. As for activities, the shore excursions in Aruba offered a variety of beach, wildlife, and immersive experiences. In Curaçao, I visited the Dolphin Academy for an up-close animal encounter. It's worth noting that this three-hour experience costs $159 (excluding lunch) and included waiting a considerable amount of time for the 15-minute dolphin show, which may be underwhelming for some. If this sounds like an ideal way to cruise, Vacaya offers a trip tailored to queer travelers and their allies almost every month of the year to places as varied as Brazil, Italy, Africa and Antarctica.

upcoming vacaya cruises & vacations

"We all live in the minority every single day of our lives, and when we create these events, whether they're on a cruise ship or at a resort, we are the majority," he said. That doesn't mean longer-running operators aren't inclusive. Among those, Atlantis is particularly popular among gay men but welcomes women, transgender and nonbinary guests, and "even straight parents," as well, CEO Rich Campbell said in an email. Fenwick has met other gay passengers on mainstream cruises but said the experience isn't the same, "You definitely don't have the (same) freedom to be yourself on a regular cruise."

Second, if taking a cruise definitely interests you, next you’ll need to decide if you prefer a gay cruise or a mainstream cruise. VACAYA was founded and created by a small group of tourism and travel industry executives with more than 100 years of combined experience in entertainment, hospitality and travel. In fact, the core team of VACAYA spent many years working at Atlantis and RSVP before deciding the starting a new company with a different vision and offering. Anticipating the demand at the bars, Vacaya created a bar ticket program to expedite all drink transactions. Each paper ticket bought in advance cost $7.67 and could be used for drinks up to $9 at all restaurants and bars throughout the ship. For drinks above $9, the ship would bill you the difference on your SeaPass card.

Passengers are noticeably friendlier and more eager to get to know each other than on a typical cruise, and relationships grew organically throughout our voyage. Vacaya creates many opportunities to mingle, and it feels like gay summer camp, bringing everyone together to share stories, dance and celebrate life. Imagine a cruise ship filled with fun-loving passengers who believe "love is love," no matter who you are.

How cruises make space for LGBTQ+ travelers on the high seas - USA TODAY

How cruises make space for LGBTQ+ travelers on the high seas.

Posted: Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Stop taking pictures of gay men hooking up in bars & shaming them online

My most unpleasant memories from this cruise included gathering the energy to make my way from my cabin to the buffet to eat something, anything, that would fill me up before my whole world came crashing down again. Picture the wedding dress-fitting scene from "Bridesmaids." I was Kristen Wiig desperately trying to pretend she was enjoying her almonds — all in front of hundreds of other gay men. One evening, I sat behind a black trans woman and a plus-size, white cisgender woman in a wheelchair to watch a show in the ship's auditorium. When drag queen Alyssa Edwards began lip-syncing on stage to "This Is Me" from "The Greatest Showman," they reached out to hold hands as they sang along. These are the moments Vacaya hopes to deliver to more queer travelers in the future. In my opinion, the cruise was too heavily skewed to a specific demographic.

On half of the days on a weeklong cruise, you'll dress up for a "V-Dance," a Vacaya spin on the traditional afternoon T-Dance, popular in gay vacation spots like Fire Island and Provincetown. Vacaya's port stops on Caribbean cruises tend to be back to back. Don't overdo it — pick and choose which places you really want to explore and feel free to skip a port or two for more relaxation on the ship. First, you need to decide whether taking a cruise, in general, is something you want to do. Not everyone likes cruising due to the nature of the experience, but many do.

On cruising with queer people, Williams says “it always feels like family,” noting she had just lunched with Mapa and the gay NPR host Ari Shapiro on VACAYA. Shapiro performed a cabaret set with Cumming several nights earlier. ◾ Brand g Vacations will operate a Prague and Danube River itinerary – with two days in the Czech Republic city pre-cruise – from Aug. 12 through 21. Cabins on Amadeus River Cruises' Amadeus Silver III start at $4,499 per person based on double occupancy, according to Brand g's website. For Roper's part, he said the kinds of sailings VACAYA aims to offer shift the dynamic LGBTQ+ people experience elsewhere, even if only for a week or two at a time. On a March cruise that visited Panama, Colombia and more, passenger ages ranged from 21 to 91, according to co-founder and CEO Randle Roper.

One activity that struck me as a great initiative was a makeup class aimed at trans and gender-non-conforming guests, part of the operator's effort to increase inclusion on its cruises. You'll begin your day with a stroll to the breakfast buffet, already busy with hundreds of (mostly gay male) passengers fueling up and chatting about the previous night's happenings. Just east of Italy sits an unspoiled coastline and amazing bright blue waters. Here are 7 reasons why you should add Croatia to your gay travel bucket list.

It’s also a great way to help honor your Social Contract with VACAYA. FIND THE PERFECT HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOMEYou’ve chosen to embark on a magical journey with VACAYA and Royal Caribbean. No matter which of our 1,074 staterooms or suites you choose, you’ll enjoy your comfy accommodations. The vintage décor at R Bar creates the perfect atmosphere to order a classic old fashioned or gimlet, but you should definitely also try one of the signature cocktails on the menu. Those who prefer their drinks on the fruity side will love the Purple Haze, made with Bacardi 8 rum, Blue Curacao and Pernod, and shaken with pineapple juice, passion fruit puree, and a splash of grenadine.