gay cruises europe 2024

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The 9 best gay cruises for 2024 (+ planning tips).

Dance parties, drag queen performances and fun destinations await on these LGBTQ voyages.

The Best Gay Cruises

Courtesy of The Cruise with La Demence

Embark on an all-gay or LGBTQ-friendly cruise for excellent entertainment, food and excursions.

Whether you are looking to hop aboard a Pride Week cruise with a major line or sail away with a smaller company that specializes in LGBTQ voyages, the following cruise operators promise a fun, safe and memorable vacation.

(Note: While many of these cruise lines sail to LGBTQ-friendly ports of call, travelers should research destinations to learn more about cultures, customs and safety in each location and determine what's right for them.)

Virgin Voyages

Atlantis events, brand g vacations, celebrity cruises, royal caribbean international, the cruise with la demence, source journeys.

Gabriel Goldberg | Courtesy of VACAYA

Founded by avid travelers Randle Roper, Patrick Gunn and John Finen, VACAYA bills itself as the first all-LGBT travel company in the full-ship charter/resort buyout sector of the travel industry to launch in more than 25 years.

"[VACAYA] was sparked by our own vacations, where we all had encountered two very different experiences," says Gunn. "The all-gay cruises were liberating, empowering and fun, but limited to a small spectrum of people. And while everyone loves a good time, there's more to a memorable vacation than just parties. Mainstream vacations offered more activities and destinations, and were accessible to a diverse set of people, but didn't always feel like a friendly, judgment-free environment."

As such, VACAYA set out to bring LGBTQ travelers from across the spectrum together in a welcoming, inclusive setting, while offering varied onboard activities and immersive itinerary options. Cruisers will enjoy traveling to ports around the world, in the Caribbean , the Galápagos, Europe , Antarctica and more. You can participate in shipwide events ranging from themed deck parties to performances by LGBTQ entertainers to rejuvenating yoga classes. Note that VACAYA's cruises are for adults only.

Previous cruisers had abundant praise for VACAYA's voyages, highlighting the company's responsiveness when booking and the kindhearted staff, as well as the genuine connections they made with other passengers on board. Many were also impressed by the events and entertainment options throughout their sailings.

In 2024, VACAYA will offer a number of voyages worldwide. The seven-night Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Apex in February will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, with several fun-filled days at sea in addition to stops in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Antigua. In August, VACAYA has a 12-night river cruise in Northern Europe on board Advance by Transcend Cruises; this sailing includes the Amsterdam Pride event. The 11-night Antarctica expedition on Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator in December 2024 is sold out, but you can join the waitlist.

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The Virgin brand has long been known for its celebration of the LGBTQ community, and cruise line Virgin Voyages is no different. The strictly adults-only cruise operator aims to provide a unique experience, with onboard tattoo parlors, impressive live entertainment, and dining options that include more than 20 eateries and menus created by Michelin star chefs. This line gets the stamp of approval from previous LGBTQ cruisers, who praise the ships' gender-neutral bathrooms, diverse staff and onboard shows with resident drag queens.

Virgin Voyages offers gay-specific sailings through travel companies like Atlantis Events, but its more mainstream itineraries still offer a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that attracts LGBTQ cruisers year-round. Virgin hosts a number of events during Pride Month each year, including deck parties and interactive social media campaigns.

"Each June here at Virgin Voyages, we like to go big for Pride Month with larger-than-life events … all monthlong," the cruise line says in a statement on its website. "It's an important time for us – both internally within our crew and for our sailors – to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community; who for so long has had to continually fight for equality and the right to be seen, heard and included."

Virgin Voyages sails to a variety of LGBTQ-friendly countries, including New Zealand, Greece and Spain. In June 2024, consider a seven-night sailing aboard Scarlet Lady departing from Barcelona with stops in Marseille and Cannes in France as well as Spain's Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines for the Money

The world's largest gay and lesbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was founded in 1991 and welcomes more than 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vacations. For its all-gay cruises, Atlantis charters megaships from popular lines like Royal Caribbean International , Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages in addition to smaller vessels with companies like Oceania Cruises so cruisers will have a fully immersive experience.

On board, travelers can enjoy all the perks these ships have to offer (think: pools, hot tubs, sports courts and plenty of dining choices), plus special events like drag performances, motivational speakers, LGBTQ movies on demand in each cabin and high-energy circuit parties across the ship.

"As an LGBTQ cruiser, you're looking for a ship with lots of entertainment, including dance parties and events," says Marcos Martinez, founder of Men Who Brunch, a Black gay lifestyle blog. "One of the best cruise [lines] for gay cruising is Atlantis, since you'll be able to meet hundreds of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship."

Atlantis hosts primarily gay men; women make up about 5% to 10% of bookings, according to the Atlantis website. Previous cruisers said the atmosphere on board was fun, friendly and welcoming, though some noted that the company's customer service could be better, especially when it comes to details about the cruise.

Due to the company's popularity, its three 2024 cruises are already sold out.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

Courtesy of Brand G Vacations

Specializing in all-gay river cruises – and now luxury ocean liners – Brand g Vacations was founded in 2011 and explores destinations all over the world. Chartered river cruises typically welcome between 40 and 200 LGBTQ passengers (and their straight allies), which allows cruisers to get to know one another in a smaller setting. Guests tend to skew more mature (think: 40 and older), and the line attracts both men and women.

Onboard entertainment differs slightly from larger ocean voyages: Expect more cabaret-style entertainment than massive all-night dance parties. Cruisers will also enjoy performances by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, on top of typical river cruise perks like sightseeing and lavish meals. Past guests recommend choosing Brand g if you're looking for a well-planned, relaxed and luxurious experience over a busier, more party-heavy vacation.

Brand g aims to provide a nearly all-inclusive cruise experience , with Mercedes or small van airport transfers, upscale hotel stays prior to embarkation, and unlimited alcoholic beverages as well as meals included in the fare. As such, prices tend to be on the high end. Plus, cruisers can feel good about their trip knowing that Brand g donates to causes in the U.S. and around the world that assist LGBTQ refugees, AIDS organizations, LGBTQ centers and more.

In 2024, Brand g sails through unique waterways around the world, including the Amazon, the Loire, the Danube, the Mekong, and the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The line's small cruise ship charters also take guests to Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Croatia and other European destinations.

Read: The Top River Cruise Lines

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Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises sets the scene for an excellent vacation for gay travelers, from its extravagant annual Pride parties to its daily LGBTQ programming throughout the year. The mainstream line has received numerous awards for its inclusivity, receiving accolades from the Cruizie Awards, TTG Travel Awards and Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards for being one of the best cruise lines for LGBTQ passengers.

LGBTQ cruisers can start their vacations off on a high note with a special welcome party on the first night of their voyage to meet other travelers on board. After night one, there are other social events for gay cruisers to party and hang out together. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises was the first cruise line to legally marry a couple at sea in 2018, and it continues to perform same-sex marriages on its ships.

Past cruisers enjoyed their voyages with Celebrity, noting that the line was welcoming, the food was delicious, and there were plenty of areas to hang out as a group with fellow LGBTQ passengers or other companions throughout the ship.

Although all itineraries are gay-friendly, consider booking a sailing during Pride Month in June for an extra special experience. Onboard entertainment during this month includes guest entertainers, a flag raising ceremony, Celebrity's signature Pride Party at Sea and more. The Italian Riviera & France cruise will depart from Barcelona on June 8, 2024, on the new Celebrity Ascent; this 10-night Mediterranean sailing stops at ports in France, Italy and Malta. Private travel companies like VACAYA also charter Celebrity ships for all-gay voyages throughout the year.

Read: Cruise Packing List: The Top Essentials for Any Cruise

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Specifically marketed toward lesbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted more than 350,000 travelers by land and sea over five decades. Cruisers can choose between river voyages or ocean sailings to destinations around the world. On the lesbian cruises, expect a mix of nostalgic decade-themed dance parties, folk singers, writing workshops, karaoke and other activities. Cruisers can also relax poolside, spend some time in the onboard spa or take it easy in one of the ships' lounges.

Travelers who are looking to connect with others who share similar backgrounds can do so in one of Olivia's specialized programs. There are group and solo traveler meetups, as well as programs like Sisters, which is for LGBTQ women of color; Gen-O, for cruisers 40 and younger; Women in Uniform gatherings, for veterans and those currently in the armed forces; and events for OWLs (which stands for "older, wiser lesbians"). Past cruisers on Olivia's voyages report feeling a true sense of community and belonging on board, resulting in a fun, carefree trip.

In June 2024, set sail with Olivia from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Dublin on Windstar Cruises' Star Legend. Or, visit the islands of Tahiti on the line's Star Breeze in September. Other cruise itineraries include Alaska, the Greek Isles, Mexico and the Panama Canal.

Read: The Best Girls Trip Ideas

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International provides a welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ travelers. The popular cruise line frequently partners with Atlantis Events to offer all-gay voyages throughout the year, but even the standard sailings earn praise.

Highlights of the sailings are the ships' entertainment options (including the Tony Award-winning musical "Mamma Mia!") and attentive staff, according to past cruisers. Itineraries typically include LGBTQ meetups at the beginning of each cruise for gay travelers to meet like-minded passengers. Outside of the sailing experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly committed to supporting the LGBTQ community throughout the year, and it was the first cruise line to earn the title "Gay Traveler Approved" from GayTravel in 2016.

In 2024, consider a Royal Caribbean voyage that sails to gay-friendly destinations. "Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [is] full of gay bars, clubs and gay beaches," says Martinez. Hop aboard Navigator of the Seas in May for a seven-night sailing round-trip from Los Angeles that stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas also hosts a seven-night itinerary throughout the year that calls on Mazatlan, Mexico, as well.

Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of The Cruise With La Demence

According to past cruisers, if you're looking for one of the best party scenes on the open seas, consider an all-gay cruise with La Demence. Powered by a popular gay nightclub in Brussels with the same name, La Demence – French for "the madness" – primarily caters to a European crowd. Most passengers are male, though women are also welcome.

On board, passengers should expect to dance the night away at massive deck parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. The line prides itself on its top-notch DJs, impressive light setup and electric party atmosphere. Previous cruisers had high praise for the itineraries – which exclusively visit gay-friendly locations – as well as the fruity cocktails, themed nights (costumes strongly encouraged) and glamorous entertainment. Enjoy unique events like drag bingo, high heel runs and more.

La Demence sails every summer to European destinations like Greece, Italy and Malta. The 2023 cruise was chartered on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Fares include all food and nonalcoholic beverages, plus access to all parties, shows and the onboard gym.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Source Journeys has been planning luxury vacations for LGBTQ travelers for more than 20 years. The Miami-based company, with the vision of founder and chief executive officer Craig Smith, offers small group land tours and full-charter cruises for like-minded travelers with a focus on giving back to the communities they visit. The company also supports LGBTQ organizations, such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign.

Past guests of their tours say their fellow travelers were as fun and interesting as the destinations. They appreciated the excellent personalized planning for the trips by Smith and his life partner, Rafael Rodriguez.

The company's cruises in 2024 include a seven-night Galápagos sailing in late September on a Relais & Chateau luxury yacht: Ecoventura's new ship, Evolve. The intimate ship accommodates just 20 passengers. Source Journeys is also offering a seven-night river cruise through Burgundy and Provence, France, in June on Avalon Waterways' Avalon Poetry II, as well as a seven-night voyage from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast. This ocean cruise scheduled in August is chartered on Star Clippers' masted sailing ship, Royal Clipper.

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to gay cruising, gone are the days of discreet "Friends of Dorothy" meetups. The term – a euphemism that dates back to the 1950s – was once used to indicate gay social events on daily cruise line programs, without explicitly calling out members of the community on board. It's a far cry from today's LGBTQ cruising industry, which loudly and proudly celebrates passengers from all walks of life.

According to experts, LGBTQ cruising is a market that will only continue to grow. Travelers can take their pick between cruise operators tailored specifically to queer communities and major cruise lines that offer festive Pride celebrations and inclusive onboard entertainment. As travel on the high seas continues to grow in popularity for vacationers, gay and lesbian travelers should consider setting sail on a fun-filled cruise vacation for their next trip.

When planning a cruise, vacationers should first consider what their ideal sailing looks like.

Gay-friendly vs. all-gay sailings: Cruisers should think about whether they'd like to travel aboard a gay-friendly mainstream line – such as Celebrity Cruises or Virgin Voyages – or opt for an all-gay, full-ship charter with a third-party vacation company.

"Each and every LGBTQIAPK person has a different level of comfortability in their 'outness,' " says Patrick Gunn, co-founder and chief marketing officer of LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA. Of VACAYA's all-gay charters, he adds, "For one magical week, our community gets to be the majority and live life out loud in the blissful utopia VACAYA creates on a gay cruise. That single change from being an always-minority to a sudden majority can have a profoundly positive real-world effect on individuals."

• Travel style: Some cruise operators (think: Atlantis Events and La Demence) are known for their electrifying all-night parties, which may be perfect for gay groups of friends. Meanwhile, other companies like VACAYA and Olivia look to provide a more diverse selection of activities, ranging from tea dances (LGBTQ parties that, historically, included tea service) to philanthropic service activities to immersive onshore experiences.
• Ports of call: Some of the most LGBTQ- and gay-friendly destinations for cruises include: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sydney; Barcelona, Spain; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Helsinki; Quebec City; Auckland, New Zealand; Mykonos, Greece; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam; Tel Aviv, Israel; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and San Francisco. Countries that gay travelers may want to avoid include the Maldives, Jamaica, Morocco, Malaysia and Haiti, as homosexuality is illegal in these destinations.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

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Best gay cruises 2024 and 2025: Don't miss these 11 sailings

There's never been a better time to consider a gay cruise. Itineraries include more remote destinations, and more charter companies are offering a wider variety of cruise experiences to meet the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community. Also, the ships chartered are almost uniformly elevated and luxurious.

No longer are gay and lesbian groups and full-ship charters relegated to old, tired vessels. Full-ship gay charters command big business for the cruise industry, and major cruise lines are responding by offering their newest and most exciting ships. Many charter companies will take over the entire ship, bringing aboard their own dance parties, entertainment, activities and hosts to tailor the vacation experience to their audience.

The magic of a gay cruise lies in the shared experience of traveling with your community. Each sailing fosters an environment where you can be yourself. You can choose whether to blend in with the crowd or stand out and be celebrated for your flair.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Bonds often form more quickly and naturally aboard a ship where you're surrounded by your people, especially on full-ship charters where large mixers kick off each sailing.

Expect welcome parties with themes that go beyond just a name tag, whether that's icebreaker games or an opportunity to dress up in a way that signifies where you're from or how you identify. You'll find more openness throughout the ship compared to a traditional nonthemed cruise, especially on the pool deck, as many passengers seek out the experience to expand their social circle.

Don't miss the boat on making lifelong friends during an epic cruise vacation. Here are 11 of the best gay cruises in 2024 and 2025.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all sailings listed had availability at the time of publication. Voyages are subject to sell out without notice.

R Family Vacations' 2024 Summer Cruise

Date: July 7-13, 2024

Join R Family Vacations for a special group sailing on board Celebrity Beyond . While this is not a full-ship charter, R Family will host many exclusive group activities during the sailing, including performances by Broadway belters, an LGBTQ+ comedy show, dance parties, a theater camp and special R Family dinners.

The ship will depart from Fort Lauderdale, with stops in Perfect Day at CocoCay , Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Bimini, Bahamas.

R Family was the first LGBTQ+ family travel company and has been a leader in the LGBTQ+ family travel market for 20 years, creating the opportunity for queer families to connect and share in the joy of travel. The company has since expanded beyond family travel to include adults-only, small-ship sailings.

Rates for the company's summer cruise start at $920.79 per person, including taxes, fees and gratuities.

How to book: Visit R Family's website for pricing and availability, or call 917-522-0985 to book.

Vacaya's Europe River Cruise 2024

Date: Aug. 3-15, 2024

If you're looking for one of the best Pride celebrations in the world, Vacaya's Europe River Cruise 2024 is the place to be. The cruise begins with the ship docked in the heart of Amsterdam for two nights during its celebrated Pride festival. Catch the one-of-a-kind floating Pride parade that snakes its way through the city as you revel in the party atmosphere.

The travel company's Europe River Cruise will bring LGBTQ+ passengers to many ports in the Netherlands and Belgium on a luxury river ship, the newly revamped Advance by Transcend (the former Crystal Mahler).

The 12-night itinerary begins with two nights in Amsterdam, followed by stops at Volendam, Edam, Utrecht, Nijmegen, Kinderdijk, Schoonhoven, Heusden, Rotterdam and Dordrecht in the Netherlands. The journey finishes in Belgium with a stop in Ghent and an overnight in Antwerp. The itinerary finishes in time to make the quick trip down from Antwerp to Brussels for the stunning Flower Carpet Festival.

Rates for available cabins start at $6,997 per person based on double occupancy and do not include port fees, administrative fees or gratuities. Fares do include an open bar and unlimited internet. Only a handful of cabins remain for this summer sailing.

How to book: Check the latest cabin availability and book Vacaya's Europe River Cruise 2024 on Vacaya's website or by calling 718-504-0404.

Source Journeys' Treasures of Venice and Dalmatian Coast

Date: Aug. 17-24, 2024

Source Journeys has been a small-group LGBTQ+ charter company for more than 20 years, hosting a handful of small-ship charters and land-based tours each year. Source prides itself on a shipboard atmosphere of acceptance, where all feel welcome.

Of the company's upcoming trips planned, its summer 2024 Venice and the Dalmatian Coast cruise on Star Clippers' Royal Clipper is a highlight, as it charters the world's largest sailing ship.

The round-trip itinerary from Venice, Italy, includes a stop in Kotor, Montenegro, before hitting up the highlights of Croatia, including Dubrovnik, Zadar, Hvar, the Pakleni Islands and Rovinj.

Pricing for the seven-night cruise starts at $2,899 per person based on double occupancy. The fare does not include port fees, gratuities, or pre- and post-cruise packages.

How to book: Reserve your spot on the Treasures of Venice and the Dalmatian Coast cruise via Source Journeys' website or by calling 305-672-9779.

Related: From Medellin to Taipei: 12 underrated LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations to visit in 2024

Olivia's Majestic Alaska Cruise

Date: Sept. 21-28, 2024

Olivia is the most renowned and popular travel group for lesbians, having hosted more than 300 trips for 350,000-plus women. Among the many trips on the books for the next two years, Olivia will charter its first-ever large-ship Alaska cruise on Holland America 's Eurodam.

Join 2,100 women for a seven-night cruise through Alaska from Seattle. The itinerary includes visits to Juneau, Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. Several renowned guests and performers will also be on board.

The sailing is currently sold out, but you can add yourself to the waitlist. When cabins were still available, pricing started from $1,499 per person based on double occupancy, not including fees and airfare.

How to book: Reserve your spot on Olivia's website or by calling 800-631-6277.

Related: 15 Alaska cruise mistakes you never want to make

Out Adventures' Egypt: Nile River Cruise & Cairo

Date: Nov. 8-17, 2024; March 7-16, 2025; Nov. 7-16, 2025

Check the Great Pyramids of Giza off your bucket list, trace Egypt's queer history while exploring the tomb of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum, and lose yourself in Cairo's bustling bazaars on Out Adventures' nine-night Egypt tour. The trip features three nights in a hotel in Cairo, followed by a four-night Nile River cruise and two additional nights in Cairo before flying home.

You'll sail with a small group of no more than 20 gay men (and their allies and families) with excursions that'll include visits to Luxor Temple, the Royal Tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Abu Simbel temple complex.

Out Adventures has a number of gay charter cruises, some combined with land tours, planned through 2025. The trips focus on groups no larger than 40 to enable a more tight-knit sense of community and connection. Additionally, the small size allows Out Adventures' groups to travel to more exotic, remote destinations.

There are only a few spaces left for the November 2024 sailing, with more availability for the 2025 sailings. Rates for these sailings start at $5,395 per person based on double occupancy, not including taxes, tips and fees.

How to book: Book your spot on the Nile River cruise on the Out Adventures website or by calling 866-360-1152.

Related: 4 things to consider before booking an LGBTQ cruise

GaySail's Gay Nude Cruising in Tahiti

Date: Nov. 16-23, 2024

Anchors aweigh, and off with your clothes! GaySail's nude sailings offer the rare chance to sail au naturel in the safe confines of a private, full-charter catamaran.

GaySail's upcoming Tahiti cruise will take two small catamarans of up to 14 gay men each, for a total of 28. They'll embark on a journey to many of the highlights of the South Pacific, including Bora Bora, Maupiti and Moorea.

GaySail has an impressive lineup of small-ship charters scheduled, including both clothing-optional and all-nude sailings. The charter company predominantly caters to European gay men (its headquarters is in Amsterdam), but men from all around the world are welcome to join.

Pricing for the sailing starts at 2,495 euros (about $2,696) per person, including taxes and fees.

How to book: While the experience of sailing naked will be freeing, the sailing is not free. Book your reservation on the GaySail website or email [email protected] for more details.

Outbound's Rhine River Christmas Market Cruise

Date: Dec. 14-21, 2024

The best part of a winter river cruise is docking in a port that's a few steps away from the warm glow and transfixing scents of a European Christmas market. The best part of booking that cruise with Outbound, a charter company that focuses on LGBTQ+ travelers, is going to those markets with your newfound group of queer friends.

Outbound will take passengers on the Rhine River this December on Emerald Cruises' Emerald Sun. The itinerary begins in the Netherlands and stops in ports in Germany, France and Switzerland, where guests can sample the local warm chestnuts and mulled wine.

A few cabins are still available for the 2024 cruise, with rates starting at $2,997 per person based on double occupancy. Fares do not include port fees and taxes.

How to book: Reserve your spot on the Outbound website or by calling 916-683-1000.

Atlantis' 35th anniversary celebration

Date: Feb. 3-10, 2025

Atlantis is the largest gay cruise charter brand. When it hosts a sailing, the company takes over some of the biggest ships at sea.

To celebrate its 35th year in business, Atlantis is hosting a weeklong Eastern Caribbean voyage on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas . The itinerary, which will take passengers round-trip from Miami, includes calls on San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten; and Labadee , one of Royal Caribbean 's private destinations.

There will also be three days at sea for cruisers to enjoy some relaxation and onboard fun, which includes zip lining, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, an ice skating rink, laser tag and, of course, plenty of jaw-dropping entertainment. (Don't miss the nighttime diving shows at the wake-facing AquaTheater and a roster of signature Atlantis performers in the main theater.)

Prices for this sailing start at $1,299 per person for an inside cabin. If you're cruising alone and would like to be partnered with someone to share costs, Atlantis offers a roommate matching program.

How to book: Visit Atlantis' website , or call 310-859-8800.

Vacaya's Caribbean Cruise 2025

Date: Feb. 22-March 1, 2025

Now in its sixth year of large-scale charter cruises and full resort buyouts, Vacaya is changing its annual winter Caribbean itinerary in 2025. Instead of sailing round-trip from southeast Florida, this year's island getaway will depart from New Orleans. The travel operator will be chartering Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas for a sailing taking place the week prior to Mardi Gras (scheduled for March 4, 2025).

The ship will depart from New Orleans and stop in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Yucatan (Progreso), Mexico, with three days at sea.

Vacaya is the first and only large-scale travel group to openly and outwardly welcome the entire LGBTQIAPK (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, polygamous/polyamorous and kink) community and its allies.

The vibe on board is friendly and easygoing, the entertainment is Broadway-caliber and the nightly parties are more about gay anthems than house beats. The company also features an opportunity to give back on each trip with its ReachOut program, where passengers can volunteer with a local project while in port.

Fares for available cabins on the upcoming Caribbean cruise start at $1,147 per person based on double occupancy, not including port taxes, fees and gratuities.

How to book: Get up-to-the-minute availability on the cabins and their locations for the Caribbean Cruise 2025 on Vacaya's website or by calling 718-504-0404.

Related: 11 things I learned on my first gay cruise

Brand g Vacations' 2025 Amazon Cruise and Machu Picchu Discovery

Date: March 30-April 11, 2025

Join a small group of 40 other LGBTQ+ travelers for Brand g's four-night cruise on the Amazon River on Delfin III, an all-suite ship owned and operated by Delfin Amazon Cruises. The cruise is part of a 13-day luxury vacation package that will capture many highlights of Peru, most notably with a glass-domed train journey to Machu Picchu.

Brand g is known for its intimate, small-ship charters with a focus on all-inclusive luxury. The tour is priced based on the cruise cabin you select and still has availability in the base-rate suites. Trip fares start at $7,699 per person based on double occupancy, not including taxes, tips and fees.

How to book: This sailing is currently sold out, but you can add yourself to the waitlist by visiting the Brand g website or by calling 952-405-9309.

Related: 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly

Brand g's 2025 Norway, Greenland and Iceland cruise

Date: July 31-Aug. 9, 2025

Brand g continues to expand its full-ship charters for LGBTQ+ travelers and their straight allies with its 2025 Norway, Greenland and Iceland cruise. The travel operator will charter Atlas Ocean Voyages ' World Voyager, a luxury expedition ship, as it sails the Arctic waters in the temperate summer months.

The all-inclusive trip includes nearly everything but the guarantee you'll spot a polar bear. You will, however, witness vast and diverse bird colonies on Clavering Island, Greenland.

The nine-night itinerary starts at the top of the world in Longyearbyen in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. Guests will visit additional Svalbard ports including Ny-Alesund and Gashamna, before crossing to Greenland, stopping in Wollaston Foreland/Clavering Island, sailing the Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, and visiting Ittoqqortoormiit and Hurry Inlet, Scoresbysund. The journey ends in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Fares for available cabins on the upcoming Norway, Greenland and Iceland cruise start at $7,999 per person based on double occupancy, not including port taxes, fees and gratuities.

How to book: Check the latest cabin availability and book Brand g's 2025 Norway, Greenland and Iceland on Brand g's website or by calling 952-405-9309.

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If you need assistance, we’re just an email or phone call away. Our V Team vacation planners can be reached via phone at +1.718.504.0404 or through SMS chat here on our website Mon-Fri 10am-4pm ET. Outside of those hours, feel free to send us an email at [email protected] .

Remember… even when our offices are closed, you can book online 24×7 by clicking any of the big pink BOOK NOW buttons for your desired trip. Then, simply follow the prompts. If you already know which trip you’d like to book, start HERE . Over 99% of our guests book using our online reservations system. You’ve got this!

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Vacaya is the first  large-scale adults-only vacation company on earth built for the entire lgbtqiapk community and their straight ally friends.

VACAYA – Gay & LGBT+ Cruises & Resort Vacations Reimagined

VACAYA completely reinvents the all-gay cruise and all-inclusive gay resort concepts by opening up the experience to lesbians, bisexuals, trans persons, queer men/women, those questioning their sexuality, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and polyamorous individuals, as well as gay men who’ve enjoyed the typical gay cruise experience. VACAYA is the only large-scale adults-only vacation company on earth built for the entire LGBTQIAPK community and their straight ally friends. VACAYA offers fun easy vacations with customized itineraries, personalized service, tailored entertainment, welcoming activities, friendly parties, and transformative moments. Shared experiences with like-minded LGBT+ adults and friends give us a new perspective on the world and remind us how lucky we are to be alive. VACAYA charters the entire ship or resort so we have the freedom to express our individuality, make personal connections, celebrate life, rev up, or simply relax… together. Our mission is to fulfill the vacation dreams of all adults who believe “love is love” while giving back to the community and immersing our guests in the cultures and places we visit around the world.

All-Inclusive Resorts – Staying at a VACAYA Oasis all-inclusive resort delivers a truly relaxing and exhilarating vacation because nearly everything is included for one incredible price. Our resorts offer scores of daytime activities, exclusive nightly entertainment, gourmet restaurants, exquisite turquoise waters, and sun-soaked beaches. But that’s only the beginning. These are places where we come together and feel part of a bigger family. With so much included, all that’s left to do is have fun and enjoy the value! Occasionally, we’ll offer something altogether different with VACAYA Oasis and we’ll be sure to list all that’s included/not included on the trip’s VALUE page.

LGBT+ Cruises – Life on the open water is about savoring the good times, finding beauty in the details, appreciating friends, and discovering new ones. Sailing the seven seas is about leaving the ordinary behind. It’s the moments we spend connecting, laughing, and living life to the fullest. Its possibilities are endless and exciting. Sensual. Life changing. These experiences connect us to each other. They open our minds and unify our rhythm.

This is the spirit of VACAYA. open sea. open mind.

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Gay tours by theme, upcoming gay tours, tailor-made vacations, choose your date, choose your destination, tell us what you want to do, travel with us, some from our travellers, amazing experiences.

Amazing experiences – wine tasting, cooking with the Contessa, bridge climb, delicious dinners and food tours.

The Inca trail was an incredible experience.

I had such a great time with the Group and Ale. Group was super friendly and Ale was amazing, funny and such a fantastic guide and person. The Inca trail was an incredible experience. Overall the trip was great and highly recommended. 

Gus & Justin R

Amazing. Our Guide was very fun and knowledgeable. She made the trip seem seamless and was a great resource of information.

This is a must-do adventure!

The Rwanda Gorilla Trek was easily one of the most beautiful, spectacular, exceptional moments in my life! To be so close to these magnificent creatures was incomprehensible and life-changing. The Golden Monkeys were phenomenal as well. This is a must-do adventure!

It exceeded all expectations

This was my first Out Adventures experience, and it exceeded all expectations. The team, the boat we were on, the places we visited, and the other travelers were all just wonderful. I would highly recommend Out Adventures!

Once in a lifetime adventure

Once in a lifetime adventure everyone should experience, surrounded by a great group of people. Outstanding organization and communication from the Out Adventures representatives so there was nothing I had to worry about once the trip was booked.

Christopher R

Everything was excellent and ran smoothly.

The experience, the accommodations, the people, and the food – Everything was excellent and ran smoothly

Epic, amazing, and a trip I'll remember forever.

Epic, amazing, and a trip I’ll remember forever. Loved, loved loved our guides and camping in the middle of the Serengeti was an experience I will never forget.

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7 Not-to-Miss Gay Cruises in 2024

Have the tides swayed in your favor this year? Feeling down in the doldrums? Caught Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea about what to do? Maybe you aren't onboard with so many sailing metaphors – ok, we'll stop – but one thing is for sure: a new year brings new adventure possibilities on the high seas! One of our favorite travel experiences is a gay cruise and 2024 has got some great ones lined up.  Why not go sailing through idyllic Croatia? Or how about exploring the Caribbean aboard a large cruise ship? Or better yet, join us with Virgin Voyages for an all-inclusive cruise through Greece and our home country Spain.

Only you can choose, all we can do is point you in the right direction. Pick your favorite or pick them all, just don’t miss out!

Gay Group Tour of Greece & Croatia on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists

Join us on our gay group cruise with adult-only LGBTQ+ friendly cruise liners Virgin Voyages. We'll be hosting you ourselves as part of a large group, on an even larger fun-filled adult playground of a boat. Together we'll enjoy group dinners in quirky themed restaurants, an eclectic mix of shore excursions, private events, amazing entertainment, drag shows & more. The cruise is all-inclusive – apart from alcohol and any special treatments you might want to pamper yourself with – so the cruise is also friendly on the wallet. Come with your friends, family, partner(s) or even come alone. In fact, most of our guests are solo travelers so you’ll be in good company. We'll anchor in three countries over seven days – beginning in Athens then porting at Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, Kotor in Montenegro and finally loop back to Corfu and Athens in Greece.  View Greece & Croatia Cruise →

June 16-23, 2024

Gay Group Tour of Spain, France & Italy on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists

Hop aboard the Irresistible Med cruise to see three of Europe’s most beloved countries in just one week! Virgin Voyages isn’t just gay-friendly, they are gay-loving, and they’ve invited us to be your hosts as we set sail from Barcelona in October. We’ll see Toulon – the “crown jewel” of Southern France -, the snow-capped mountains of Marina di Carrara in Italy, hit the party island of Ibiza for a bar crawl and more. No Virgin Voyages cruise is ever the same and they know how to run a fun-filled vessel. Expect group dinners in quirky restaurants, unique shore excursions, private events, late-night parties, eclectic entertainment, drag shows & a host of other surprises besides. Don't forget to pack your red clothes for the infamous Scarlet Party!  View Med Cruise →

October 6-13, 2024

Treasures of Venice Dalmatian Coast Cruise (Source Journeys)

Source Journeys are an LGBTQ+ cruise operator whose cruises effortlessly blend luxury with old school style adventures. Their vessel, The Royal Clipper, is the largest five masted full-rigged sailing ship in the world. August 2024 it sets sail from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast – porting at Kotor, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Hvar, the Pakleni Islands and Rovinj before looping back to Venice. Throughout the all-inclusive cruise you’ll enjoy on shore excursions into ancient old towns, see cascading waterfalls and hidden coves, relax on picture perfect beaches and dine on fine regional food while lubricating your adventure with unlimited free drinks. On board there’s two swimming pools, a spa, a crow’s nest to climb, LGBTQ+ focused entertainment and fun themed parties to keep you entertained when out on the high seas. View Venice Dalmatian Coast Cruise →

August 17 – 24, 2024

LGBTQ+ & Friends Cruise – The Netherlands (VIVA Cruises)

Take a cruise through an understated world of rich history and vibrant culture with VIVA Cruises this March. Set sail from Antwerp – Belgium’s second largest city and foodie paradise – on an all-inclusive five-day LGBTQ+ & Friends River Cruise from Belgium to Holland. Port at Rotterdam – a timeless beauty of a city known for its bold architecture and intriguing museums –  before arriving in Holland's much lauded capital and holiday destination, Amsterdam. There you’ll spend two days traversing the vibrant streets of Amsterdam – visiting the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank’s House, the infamous red light district and more. VIVA cruises' excursions will show you the best the cities have to offer, while fun, quirky and LGBTQ+ focused on board entertainment will keep you partying till the early morning. View European Cruise →

February 28 – March 3, 2024

Croatia Gay Sailing (Pride Sailing)

Pride sailing trips are second to none, we should know because we've been  on this gay sailing trip – multiple times. You can enjoy an island-hopping vacation around the beautiful Croatian coastline with gay guests from around the world and a certified skipper to pilot the boat. You’ll stop at the best gay-friendly locations in the area for you to explore, as well as great beaches for an afternoon dip. You will arrive in port with enough time to explore the island, relax on your private yacht or find a nice cocktail sunset bar. The amazing destinations include the famous island of Vis, Hvar with its buzzing nightlife and fine dining, plus you’ll get the opportunity to party in Split’s bars and clubs. View Croatia Sailing →

Multiple departure dates in June, July, August and September 2024

Greece Gay Sailing (Pride Sailing)

Sail the legendary Greek islands in 2024! Athens is the departure port since it makes booking flights simple with lots of direct options from Europe and abroad. The itinerary from Athens features a variety of islands and mainland ports including Hydra, Spetses, Porto Heli, Ermioni, Poros and Agistri. This group of islands known as the Saronics offers picturesque and energetic stops where you can discover local culture, classical architecture and the best of Greek cuisine, all while enjoying breathtaking islands, ports and local hospitality. It's the side of Greece where sailors gravitate due to its gentle winds and calm seas and is the perfect sailing spot. Add on a few days in Athens before or after the trip to explore the history of this Ancient Greek city. Alternatively, take their Ionian Sea Cruise for a more relaxed 7-day island hopping adventure from Lefkas on the other side of Greece. View Greece Sailing →

Melbourne to Sydney Cruise (Atlantis on Virgin Voyages)

Atlantis cruises are always a bit raunchy and this one is no exception. Come aboard the Resilient Lady for four days of no-holds barred fun, sailing from Melbourne to Sydney with stops at Burnie in Tasmania and Australia's Newcastle along the way. If that ship name sounds familiar, it's because it belongs to adult cruise liners Virgin Voyages, who are lending out their vessel for an all gay cruise that isn't likely to have many virgins aboard! Just as with all Virgin ships, buffets and large dining halls are replaced with quirky international themed restaurants and there are no hidden fees, since gratuity/tips are already included. The entertainment naturally has a gayer twist to it, but Virgin ships always have vibrant shows like drag queen bingo, night-time parties – up on deck or in their own club – and many extra surprises. On land excursions include trips to Australia and Tasmania's iconic beaches, wineries and other treats. It’s the perfect blend of true relaxation and the absolute best Atlantis parties, entertainment, and endless fun for 2,000 guys from around the world. View Atlantis Australia Cruise →

February 7 – 10, 2024

Interested in joining a gay cruise? Check out our Ultimate Guide on Finding the Best Gay Cruise !

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Gay Cruises in Europe: Top Destinations and Tips for an Unforgettable Vacation

Embarking on a gay cruise in Europe can be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. An opportunity to not only explore some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, stunning landscapes, and diverse cultures, but also to make connections and share experiences with like-minded people from the global LGBTQ+ community. 

This article aims to guide you through every aspect of a gay cruise Europe experience, from choosing the right operators to exploring top destinations, and from planning your trip efficiently to maximizing your enjoyment on board.

Understanding Gay Cruises in Europe

If you’re looking for a unique way to explore Europe and connect with other LGBTQ+ individuals, a gay cruise Europe might be the perfect option. These cruises are explicitly tailored to the LGBTQ+ community, providing a safe and welcoming environment where you can be yourself and meet like-minded people.

One of the most significant advantages of a gay cruise Europe is the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in one trip. You’ll be able to explore different cities and countries while enjoying all the amenities and activities available on board the ship. From sunbathing on the deck to dancing the night away at the onboard club, there’s something for everyone on a gay cruise Europe.

Another benefit of a gay cruise Europe is the chance to connect with other LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide. You’ll be able to make new friends, share experiences, and build lasting relationships with people who understand and appreciate your identity.

When choosing a gay cruise Europe, it’s essential to do your research and find a cruise that fits your preferences and interests. Some cruises are more party-oriented, while others focus on cultural experiences and sightseeing. You’ll also want to consider the size of the ship, the itinerary, and the onboard amenities to ensure you have the best possible experience.

The Major Players: Top European Gay Cruise Operators

When it comes to gay cruise Europe, there are a few significant players that stand out. These operators offer a range of packages, services, and entertainment options to suit different tastes and preferences. Here are three of the top European gay cruise operators:

Atlas is a well-established operator offering gay cruises in Europe for over a decade. The company has a reputation for providing high-quality services and entertainment, focusing on creating a fun and inclusive atmosphere for all guests. Atlas offers a range of routes and packages, from Mediterranean cruises to Baltic Sea adventures. On board, you can expect top-notch amenities, including fine dining, spa services, and exciting nightlife.

2. Brand g Euro River Cruise

Brand g Euro River Cruise is a newer player in the European gay cruise scene, but it has quickly made a name for itself with its innovative approach to cruising. The company specializes in river cruises, which offer a unique way to explore Europe’s waterways and cities. Brand g Euro River Cruise is known for its attention to detail and personalized service, focusing on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests. The company allows a range of packages and routes, including cruises along the Danube, Rhine, and Seine rivers.

3. La Demence Cr uise

La Demence Cruise is one of the most popular gay cruise operators in Europe, with a reputation for throwing some of the wildest parties at sea. The company offers a range of cruises, from Mediterranean adventures to Caribbean escapes, all focusing on non-stop entertainment and fun. On board, you can expect world-class DJs, themed parties, and plenty of opportunities to let loose and enjoy yourself. La Demence Cruise is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for a wild and unforgettable experience, this is the operator.

If you’re looking for a gay cruise Europe, these three operators are among the best in the business. Each offers a unique experience, with different routes, packages, and entertainment options to suit other preferences. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious river cruise or a wild party at sea, an operator can provide the experience you’re looking for.

Detailed Look at Key Gay Cruise Destinations in Europe

Gay-friendly european ports of call.

Regarding gay-friendly ports of call in Europe, several destinations stand out. One of the most popular is Ibiza, Spain, known for its vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. The island is home to several gay bars and clubs and a thriving LGBTQ community.

Another popular destination for gay cruises in Europe is Mykonos, Greece. This picturesque island in the Aegean Sea is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lively gay scene. The town of Mykonos is home to several gay bars and clubs and several gay-friendly hotels and resorts.

Cannes, France, is another popular port of call for gay cruises in Europe. This charming coastal town is famous for its film festival, but it’s also a great place to explore on foot, with its narrow streets, colorful buildings, and bustling markets. There are several gay-friendly bars and restaurants in Cannes and several LGBTQ+ events throughout the year.

Exploring Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations

If you’re looking to explore some off-the-beaten-path destinations on your gay cruise in Europe, consider several options. One is Dubrovnik, Croatia, known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and beautiful beaches. The city is also home to several gay-friendly bars and clubs and several LGBTQ+ events throughout the year.

Another off-the-beaten-path destination to consider is Kotor, Montenegro. This charming coastal town is nestled at the foot of a mountain range and is known for its beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, and relaxed atmosphere. While there aren’t many gay-specific venues in Kotor, the town generally welcomes LGBTQ travelers.

Features of an Ideal Gay Cruise

When planning a gay cruise Europe, you want to choose a cruise with the best features for an unforgettable experience. Here are some features to look out for:

1. On-Board LGBTQ+ Events

An ideal gay cruise Europe should offer a range of onboard events that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. This could include drag shows, cabaret performances, and themed parties. Look for a cruise that has a diverse range of events that cater to different interests and preferences.

Parties are an essential part of any gay cruise Europe experience. Look for a cruise that offers a range of parties, including pool parties, dance parties, and themed parties. A great party should have a lively atmosphere, great music, and plenty of opportunities to socialize and meet new people.

3. Diversity

Diversity is an essential aspect of any gay cruise Europe. Look for a cruise that offers a diverse range of passengers, including people from different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. This will ensure you can meet people from all walks of life and make new friends.

4. Inclusivity

Inclusivity is another essential feature of an ideal gay cruise Europe. Look for a cruise that is welcoming to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This will ensure that anybody feels comfortable and included on the cruise.

Overall, an ideal gay cruise Europe should offer a range of onboard events, parties, diversity, and inclusivity. By choosing a cruise that provides these features, you can ensure that you have an unforgettable experience and make new friends from all over the world.

Practical Tips When Planning Your European Gay Cruise 

If you’re planning a gay cruise in Europe, there are a few practical tips you should keep in mind to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Time to Cruise

The best time to go on a gay cruise in Europe is during the summer months, from June to September. This is when the weather is warm and sunny, and most cruise lines offer their itineraries during this time.

Packing Tips

When packing for your gay European cruise, bring plenty of sunscreens, swimwear, and comfortable clothing for daytime activities. For evening events, consider packing some dressier outfits. Also, remember to pack any necessary medications and travel documents.

When booking your gay cruise in Europe, it’s crucial to choose a reputable cruise line that caters to the LGBTQ+ community. Research different cruise lines and read reviews from previous passengers to find the right fit for you.

Budget Considerations

Gay cruises in Europe can vary in price depending on the itinerary, cruise line, and time of year. Make sure to set a budget and stick to it. Consider booking early to take advantage of early-bird discounts, and look for package deals that include airfare and other perks.

While Europe is generally a safe destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, taking precautions is still important. Avoid public displays of affection in countries where diversity is not widely accepted, and be aware of your surroundings when exploring new destinations.

Cruise travel insurance is a must-have for any traveler hitting the high seas. Discover why you need this valuable coverage and how it can benefit you.

Before embarking on your gay cruise in Europe, consult your doctor and get any necessary vaccinations or medications. Packaging a basic first-aid kit for minor injuries and illnesses is also a good idea.

Considering these practical tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable gay cruise in Europe.

A gay cruise in Europe is an unforgettable adventure, filled with stunning sights, great parties, and friendly people. It’s the perfect way to see new places and meet fellow travelers from the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re a fan of history, culture, or just love to be on the sea, a gay cruise offers something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for a vacation of a lifetime! Happy cruising!

Christian Petzold is a successful touristic entrepreneur, experiential traveller and round-the-world backpacker. He holds an academic degree in tourism management.

His touristic expertise has been covered in radio, newspaper and television.

Read more on him here…

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Istanbul to Athens Cruise

See it all next summer on the most exotically thrilling all-gay cruise that Atlantis has ever offered! Sail from magical Istanbul to vibrant Athens on the newly re-imagined Oceania Riviera as we visit the Pyramids of Egypt, explore the melting pot of Cyprus, the island playground of Mykonos and the historical majesty of Crete. In seven magical nights you’ll discover new worlds while surrounded by great friends with spectacular cuisine and Oceania’s legendary service. All with more included than ever before!

Immerse yourself in a sensual journey through the best of the Mediterranean that takes you from dynamic Istanbul to fascinating Cyprus, the wonders of Egypt, our favorite Greek Island of Mykonos, the historic beauty of Crete and the ancient splendors of Athens. Enjoy sumptuous cuisine in five novel and sophisticated restaurants, served in casual elegance with no extra charges. Let Atlantis entertain you throughout with our stellar signature performers, friendly hosts, and a few perfectly timed parties. It’s the ultimate combination of exploration and entertainment – luxuriously delivered in every way.

Cruise Itinerary

Istanbul, Turkey

Depart 4:00 pm

Wonderful Day At Sea

Limassol, Cyprus

Arrive 11:30 am - Depart 5:00 pm

Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt

Arrive 9:00 am - Depart 12:00 am

Amazing Day at Sea

Chania, Crete

Arrive 8:00 am - Depart 8:00 pm

Mykonos, Greece

Arrive 8:00 am - Depart 11:00 pm

Athens, Greece

Arrive 7:00 am -

Itinerary subject to port berthing confirmation

In addition to being the cultural and financial center of Turkey, Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents. There are more exciting restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than exquisite Ottoman mosques, although Istanbul's history and exotic culture are present everywhere. Spend a day strolling through the Grand Bazaar, explore the famous Blue Mosque, or wander through the majestic Topkapi Palace, with its gardens, libraries and 400-room harem. 

Enjoy a relaxing day in the sun with friends, old and new. Visit the Aquamar Spa to recharge your body, mind and spirit.

A busy commercial port and thriving vacation resort, Limassol is the perfect introduction to Cypriot history, cuisine, and culture.

The city is within easy reach of the pine-clad Troodos Mountains, which form a rugged spine along the center of the island, and lies at the heart of the wine-growing area. Both make a perfect day trip. Antiquities, natural wonders, and some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean are within easy reach, too.

What’s most captivating about Limassol, and Cyprus itself, is the contrasts you’ll find. Within minutes of leaving the city, you’re plunged into rolling landscapes of vineyards, snow-capped mountains, sun-dappled forest, and sleepy wine-growing villages where time appears to have stood still.

Egypt's coastal jewel, the city of Alexandria brings ancient history and modern together as our gateway to Cairo and the pyramids of Giza. Spend the day enjoying the historic sights and delicious cuisine of Alexandria or journey to the larger more bustling Cairo and nearby Giza to experience the Egyptian Museum and the awe inspiring Great Pyramids and Sphinx, standing as testaments to Egypt’s grandeur and mystique.

In Alexandria itself you’ll marvel at the iconic Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a beacon of knowledge and cultural exchange. Explore the historic Citadel of Qaitbay, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Indulge in the vibrant atmosphere of the Corniche, lined with cafes and promenades, or immerse yourself in the city's rich heritage at the Alexandria National Museum.

Hang out by the pool with new friends or get pampered in the spa. This day is all about relaxing!

At the westernmost edge of Crete, you’ll step into the alluring city of Chania, where a captivating medieval town meets sun-kissed beaches in one of the most unspoiled landscapes in Greece.

Stroll along Venetian Harbor, filled with vibrant tavernas, cafes, and charming shops. With an iconic lighthouse surrounded by Venetian, Turkish, traditional and modern architecture, it’s easy to understand why many find Chania to be Greece’s most picturesque small town.

For a little adventure, climb to top of Firkas Fortress for panoramic vistas of the azure Mediterranean Sea. Or head further afield for some of the most iconic historical sights in Crete.

Blue domed churches dot the landscape and flowers cascade down white walled houses.  But who are we kidding, you’re here for the famous beaches and vibrant nightlife that make Mykonos one of the hottest gay destinations in the world.  We’re staying until 11 PM, so enjoy!

The thriving metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities will impress even the most well-traveled. There’s truly no place like it on earth. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafés, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy. Summertime brings out a vibrant nightlife scene, replete with plenty of gay and gay-friendly options to enjoy.

Atlantis does not recommend flights before 10am.

Set sail from fascinating and vibrant Istanbul on a journey unlike anything Atlantis has ever crafted. Our first-ever visit to Cyprus is the perfect introduction to this incredible island hosting a melting pot of cultures and historical treasures. The pyramids of Egypt need no introduction, but nothing can prepare you for their awesome majesty and impact. Our extended stay gives you plenty of time to visit both the pyramids of Giza and get a taste of vibrant Alexandria – Egypt’s jewel on the Mediterranean.

After a relaxing day at sea we’ll arrive in Chania, a captivating gem nestled on the western coast of Crete. With its enchanting blend of Venetian charm, rich history, and stunning natural beauty, Chania offers a truly unforgettable experience. Explore its narrow cobbled streets lined with colorful shops, indulge in delicious Greek cuisine at waterfront tavernas, and soak up the Mediterranean sun on its pristine beaches.

Finally, we’ll spend a magnificent day on the island playground of Mykonos where serene beaches meet a sizzling gay-friendly scene that never stops. Enjoy an epic Greek beach day, join a sunset ritual, and spend some time wandering the maze-like streets of the main town’s picturesque harbor. We’re staying until 11 pm so you have time to do it all before heading back to Athens!

Pure Indulgence Onboard

The luxurious mid-size Oceania Riviera is your home for this extraordinary journey, recently re-imagined With 1200 guests she’s the perfect size for our intimate voyage yet filled with features found on much larger ships. You’ll discover a masterpiece of contemporary casual elegance and design, from the sparkling Grand Staircase to the

stunningly modern suites. Eight tantalizing restaurants offer an unmatched variety of culinary delights, while nine welcoming bars and lounges provide the perfect spot to recap each day’s explorations.

Take a splash in the large heated pool or three inviting whirlpools. Spacious teak decks create the perfect setting for soaking up the sunshine or joining us for a festive poolside t-dance or two.

At the end of each brilliant day, there’s no better way to wind down than at the Aquamar Spa, where signature treatments abound and a state-of-the-art fitness center makes it easy to keep moving.

The Finest Cuisine at Sea. All Included.

Eight open seating restaurants offer some of the finest dining at sea, each with a distinctive experience – and all included with no surcharges. Thrill to creations in the sumptuous Grand Dining Room or enjoy the cozy elegance of Polo Grill’s classic steakhouse. Enjoy authentic Italian at Toscana or be dazzled by classic French at Jacques. Contemporary Asian cuisine at Red Ginger never fails to impress and of course there’s almost always a relaxing informal meal at the indulgent Terrace Cafe.

Learn a new skill at the unique Culinary Center featuring the only hands-on cooking school at sea, with a range of enriching classes by master chefs. Options abound, and of course there’s never a dress code or assigned seating on Atlantis cruises. We’ll make sure you get to try them all, with friends old and new.

Legendary Entertainment for a Remarkable Journey

The stars come out in our spacious theater, featuring Atlantis signature entertainers from our community and beyond. Late a night, our cabaret stars, drag queens, and specialty performers will thrill you in the intimate Horizons lounge on the top deck. Try your luck in the intimate casino or meet friends over drinks and music at our classic Atlantis piano bar.

While most of this cruise is about exploration, relaxation, and friendship, it’s an Atlantis cruise after all, so you can look forward to some invitingly friendly parties. It’s a unique part of the world and we’ll dazzle you with the perfect t-dances and a few magical nights under the stars. All designed to entertain, not exhaust!

More Included Than Ever

Explore more than ever in style next summer. Intimate, original, and unique in every way, yet with all the fun you’ve come to expect from our vacations. We’re adding in more this year with a free House Beverage Package and free WiFi included! There’s no better value in all-gay vacations.

Our initial rates are lower than Oceania’s published fares, and we’re offering them for a limited time to our valuable Alumni first. Join us on this remarkable journey in the company of great friends as we return to Oceania for another once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

Oceania Riviera

Your Ultimate Guide to The Best Gay Cruises in 2024!

Hey there, fellow adventurers!

Are you ready to set sail on an extraordinary journey filled with fun, sun, and endless memories in 2024? Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser looking for your next unforgettable journey or a first-timer eager to dip your toes into the vibrant world of gay cruising, you’ve come to the right place. Our calendar is packed with all the essential information you need to plan your dream vacation. From the sun-soaked beaches of Asia to the enchanting coastlines of the Mediterranean, discover a world where inclusivity and fun reign supreme. Dive into our guide, find your perfect cruise, and get ready to create memories that will last a lifetime. Welcome aboard the 2024 Gay Cruises – where every moment is a celebration of love, freedom, and unforgettable experiences!

Brussels to Amsterdam Riverboat Cruise (Mar 25 to Apr 1, 2024)

(women only).

Olivia Travel’s Brussels to Amsterdam Riverboat Cruise offers an exceptional journey tailored for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women , embarking on a voyage filled with cultural richness, scenic beauty, and an inclusive atmosphere. Scheduled from March 25 to April 1, 2024, this cruise navigates through the heart of Belgium and the Netherlands, connecting iconic cities and picturesque towns including Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Middelburg/Veere, Kinderdijk/Rotterdam, Zaandam/Haarlem, and culminating in Amsterdam.

For further details and to book your journey, check the official Olivia Travel website.

Amsterdam to Switzerland Riverboat Cruise (Apr 2 to Apr 9, 2024)

Olivia Travel’s Amsterdam to Switzerland Riverboat Cruise, scheduled for April 2 to April 9, 2024, offers an exquisite journey along one of Europe’s most legendary rivers, the Rhine. This cruise promises a captivating experience, starting from the LGBTQ+ friendly city of Amsterdam and concluding in the picturesque Basel, Switzerland. This journey is not just a cruise; it’s a deep dive into the heart of Western Europe, touching upon Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland, offering a blend of cultural, historical, and scenic delights.

 San Diego to Mexico Cruise (Apr 13 to Apr 20, 2024)

Olivia Travel’s San Diego to Mexico Cruise, happening from April 13 to April 20, 2024, offers an exclusive journey along the Mexican Riviera, embarking from San Diego and visiting stunning locations like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas before returning to San Diego. This cruise is a vibrant celebration of “Women Who Rock Our World,” featuring a line-up of star-studded entertainment, including the headliner and legend Lily Tomlin, alongside music, comedy, DJ deck parties, and more, under the sunny skies and scenic vistas of Mexico’s west coast.

Image Credit: Olivia Travel

Amazon cruise & machu picchu discovery (apr 14 to apr 26, 2024).

The Brand G Vacations Amazon Cruise & Machu Picchu Discovery, happening from April 14 to April 26, 2024, offers an all-inclusive Peruvian adventure. Highlights include exploring Lima, a luxury Amazon River cruise aboard the Delfin III, visiting the Manatee Rescue Center, and touring Machu Picchu. Inclusions cover accommodations, meals, guided tours, domestic flights, and more, ensuring a comprehensive experience of Peru’s natural and cultural treasures

For further details and to book your journey, check the Brand G Vacations official website.

Portugal Douro River Cruise (May 8 to May 15, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Portugal Douro River Cruise is an enchanting journey through the heart of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes along the Douro River, known as the “River of Gold.” This river cruise promises an unforgettable adventure through the Douro Valley, showcasing sloping vineyards, quaint sleepy villages, and the rich heritage of the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. From Porto to Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Régua, Pocinho, Barca d’Alva/Salamanca, to Caldas de Aregos/Amarante, you are invited to immerse yourself in the timeless treasures and traditions of Portugal, including its famous wine culture, mouth-watering cuisine, and the vibrant sounds of Fado music​​.

Bordeaux & The Loire Valley Gay Cruise ( May 22 to May 29, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Bordeaux and The Loire Valley Gay Cruise is a captivating journey set for May 22 to May 29, 2024. This exclusive experience offers an immersive exploration of two of France’s most picturesque regions, renowned for their historic castles, sweeping vineyards, and rich cultural heritage. The cruise promises an all-LGBTQ+, all-inclusive adventure that combines the luxury of river cruising with the excitement of discovering the heart and soul of French culture and history.

Columbia River Cruise (Jun 2 to Jun 10, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Columbia River Gay Cruise features an all-LGBTQ+, full-ship charter experience, exploring the natural beauty and historical significance of the Columbia River. Highlights include guided excursions at each port, showcasing the unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural sites along the river. The cruise package includes one excursion per port, with dining and entertainment on board.

Norway & Iceland Luxury Exploration (Jun 18 to Jun 26, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Norway and Iceland Luxury Exploration is scheduled for June 18 to June 26, 2024. This luxury cruise includes highlights such as exceptional culinary experiences, unlimited premium beverages, personalized in-room bar service, 1 GB of Wi-Fi per guest, luxe-adventure shore excursions, and airport transfers. Entertainment features talented performers like Ann Hampton Callaway and Effie Passero. Not included are international flights, pre/post stays, spa treatments, optional excursions, cruise port charges, and pre-paid gratuities.

Edinburgh to Dublin Luxury Cruise (Jun 27 to Jul 5, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Edinburgh to Dublin Luxury Cruise is set for June 27 to July 5, 2024. This journey spans from Edinburgh’s castles to Dublin’s pubs, traversing through scenic landscapes and historical landmarks across Scotland and Ireland. Highlights include visits to Invergordon, Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, Ullapool, Tobermory, Portrush, and Douglas, ending in Dublin. Inclusions feature accommodations on the Windstar Star Legend, all onboard meals, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities, Olivia’s signature entertainment, and personalized assistance throughout.

Istanbul to Athens Gay Cruise (Jul 17 to Jul 24, 2024)

The Atlantis Events Istanbul to Athens Gay Cruise is set for July 17 to 24, 2024, aboard the luxurious Oceania Riviera. This exotic journey showcases Egypt’s pyramids, Israel’s treasures, Cyprus’s culture, and Mykonos’s beauty. Designed for 1200 guests, the cruise promises an unforgettable experience with Atlantis’ thrilling performers and Oceania’s renowned food and service.

For further details and to book your journey, check the official Atlantis Events website.

Europe River Cruise (Aug 3 to Aug 15, 2024)

The VACAYA Europe River Cruise, happening from August 3 to August 15, 2024,  features a 12-night journey on the Advance by Transcend, covering two major events: Amsterdam Pride and Belgium’s Flower Carpet Festival. The cruise offers luxurious accommodations, unlimited beverages, delicious food, and signature entertainment. It promises world-class luxury and unforgettable experiences.

For further details and to book your journey, check Vacaya’s official website.

Image Credit: Vacaya

Dutch & belgian delights river cruise (aug 5 to aug 12, 2024).

The Brand G Vacations ‘ Dutch & Belgian Delights River Cruise is a luxurious, all-LGBTQ+, 7-night cruise that explores the picturesque waterways of Holland and Belgium. The cruise is scheduled to take place from August 5th to August 12th, 2024. This all-inclusive journey offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of these two countries from the comfort of the deluxe riverboat, Amadeus Star.

Key highlights of this cruise include accommodations, onboard meals (with beer, wine, and select spirits included), entertainment aboard the ship, and shore excursions.

Venice, Croatia & Sicily Luxury Gay Cruise (Aug 14 to Aug 23, 2024) 

The Brand G Vacations Venice, Croatia, and Sicily Luxury Gay Cruise is a 10-day all-LGBTQ+ luxury cruise taking place from August 14 to August 23, 2024. This cruise promises an exclusive and immersive journey along the Adriatic coast, visiting stunning locations from Venice, Italy, to Malta, with stops in beautiful Adriatic gems like Rovinj, Sibenik, Dubrovnik in Croatia, and a day at sea towards Gallipoli and Sicily.

Onboard, guests can expect luxurious accommodations and a variety of social spaces and lounges, including the Après Sea & Bar, Atlas Lounge, The Dome Observation Lounge, Zephyr Lounge, and the 7-AFT Pool Bar. Dining options are world-class, offering five choices onboard with globally inspired gourmet cuisine. Health and wellness facilities include a fitness studio, SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE, a jogging track, and a pool with hot tubs and a sun deck.

Burgundy & Provence River Cruise (Aug 27 to Sep 3, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Burgundy & Provence Riverboat Cruise is scheduled for August 27 to September 3, 2024. This culinary journey through France includes stops in Lyon, Tain L’Hermitage/Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles, and Port-Saint-Louis. The cruise offers a variety of experiences such as culinary walks, cooking classes, kayak excursions, wine tastings, painting workshops, and bike rides, alongside classic sightseeing and relaxation activities. Inclusions feature all meals onboard, unlimited beverages, complimentary wifi, bicycles for shore use, and entertainment, among others.

Prague & Danube River Cruise (Aug 27 to Sep 5, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Prague & Danube River Cruise is a luxurious all-LGBTQ+ journey set for August 27 to September 5, 2024. It combines a 2-night hotel stay in Prague with a 7-night river cruise. Highlights include guided tours in Prague, scenic sailing through the Wachau Valley, visits to historical sites like Melk Abbey and Matthias Church, and explorations of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. The package includes almost everything from airport transfers, all onboard meals, and beverages, daily excursions, to signature entertainment. Optional tours to Salzburg and a bike tour are also available.

Portugal & Douro River Cruise (Sep 20 to Sep 29, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Portugal & Douro River Cruise is set for September 20 to September 29, 2024. This luxurious journey combines classic elegance with modern amenities aboard a five-star, fully-air-conditioned river cruiser designed to navigate the Douro’s locks. Accommodating just 126 guests, it promises a unique and memorable experience with a generous guest-to-crew ratio ensuring first-class personal service. From Lisbon to Porto, the cruise includes airport transfers, hotel stays, all onboard meals and beverages, daily excursions, and pre-paid gratuities.

Majestic Alaska Cruise (Sep 21 to Sep 28, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Majestic Alaska Cruise is set for September 21 to September 28, 2024. This journey embarks from Seattle, WA, and includes stops in Juneau, Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, AK, and Victoria, BC, before returning to Seattle. Highlights include exploring Alaska’s pristine wildlife, scenic cruising, and a range of exciting adventures and excursions. The cruise offers accommodations on Holland America’s ms Eurodam, all meals, gratuities, Olivia’s signature entertainment, and personalized assistance throughout.

Málaga, Morocco, and the Canary Islands Gay Cruise (Oct 7 to Oct 14, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations Málaga, Morocco, and the Canary Islands Gay Cruise is scheduled for October 7 to October 14, 2024. This luxury cruise, aboard the World Navigator, combines modern amenities with classic elegance. Highlights include all-inclusive dining, onboard entertainment, and excursions exploring the rich cultures and scenic landscapes of Southern Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands.

Athens to Tel Aviv Gay Cruise (Oct 9 to Oct 16, 2024)

The Spartacus Athens to Tel Aviv Gay Cruise, happening from October 9 to October 16, 2024, offers an exciting journey across the Aegean to Israel, with stops in Mykonos, Cyprus, and possibly Alexandria as an alternative to Tel Aviv. The cruise promises a mix of vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and cultural exploration aboard the Vasco da Gama, featuring less than 1,000 travelers for an intimate experience. Highlights include themed parties, a variety of entertainment options, and the chance to explore the historic and lively cities along the route.

For further details and to book your journey, check the  Spartacus official website.

India & The Ganges River Cruise (Oct 15 to Oct 28, 2024)

The Brand G Vacations India & The Ganges River Cruise, happening from October 15 to October 28, 2024, invites you on an all-LGBTQ+, inclusive journey through India’s Golden Triangle and the Lower Ganges River. The trip includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cruising along the Ganges, and exploring cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Agra, with a focus on cultural and historical highlights such as the Taj Mahal. Accommodations range from luxurious hotels in New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, and aboard the all-suite Ganges Voyager. Inclusions cover nearly everything from your arrival until departure, including meals, flights within India, and cultural experiences​

Greek Isles Luxury Cruise (Oct 19 to Oct 26, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Greek Isles Luxury Cruise is scheduled for October 19 to October 26, 2024, offering a 7-night journey beginning and ending in Athens. Destinations include Athens (Piraeus), Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Mykonos, and back to Athens. Inclusions cover accommodations on the Azamara Pursuit, all meals (with charges for specialty restaurants), select standard spirits, international beers and wines, gratuities, Olivia entertainment, and more.

Halloween San Diego to Mexico Gay Cruise (Oct 26 to Nov 2, 2024)

The Atlantis Events Halloween San Diego to Mexico Gay Cruise is scheduled for October 26 to November 2, 2024. This exciting event will take you from San Diego to Mexico’s beautiful beaches including Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan on the Holland America Line MS Koningsdam. You can look forward to an epic week of outrageous parties, sizzling entertainment, and nonstop fun with 2500 guys from around the world. It’s highlighted as Atlantis’s LGBTQ+ friendliest cruise of the year, with great fares starting from just $779.

Image Credit: Atlantis Events

Vietnam & cambodia mekong river cruise (oct 31 to nov 12, 2024).

The Brand G Vacations Vietnam & Cambodia Mekong River Cruise is set for October 31 to November 12, 2024. This 13-day, all-inclusive LGBTQ+ journey features a luxurious cruise along the Mekong River, exploring the rich cultures of Cambodia and Vietnam. Highlights include visits to Angkor Wat, traditional Buddhist water blessings, and tours of Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Accommodations include deluxe hotels in Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, and aboard the all-suite Mekong Jewel. Inclusions cover nearly everything from arrival to departure, including meals, beverages, shore excursions, and hotel stays​

Christmas Markets on the Danube Cruise (Dec 8 to Dec 15, 2024)

The Olivia Travel Christmas Markets on the Danube Cruise is scheduled for December 8 to December 15, 2024. This journey starts in Vienna and includes stops in Melk, Grein, Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg. Highlights feature sightseeing tours in each city, accommodations on the Avalon View, all onboard meals with local cuisine options, and Olivia’s signature entertainment. Inclusions also cover wifi, complimentary bicycles, walking sticks, and gratuities for ship staff and tour guides.

As we moor to the quay, reflecting on these Gay cruises brings a sense of excitement and belonging. They are all about having fun, making new friends, and enjoying amazing places in a super welcoming vibe. Whether it’s sailing through beautiful rivers or exploring exotic places, they make sure everyone feels right at home. Each journey is designed to celebrate diversity, foster the LGBTQ+ community, and create unforgettable memories in a safe and inclusive atmosphere.

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The 9 Best Gay Cruises for 2024 (+ Planning Tips)

W hether you are looking to hop aboard a Pride Week cruise with a major line or sail away with a smaller company that specializes in LGBTQ voyages, the following cruise operators promise a fun, safe and memorable vacation.

(Note: While many of these cruise lines sail to LGBTQ-friendly ports of call, travelers should research destinations to learn more about cultures, customs and safety in each location and determine what's right for them.)

Category Navigation Box Enhancement : Table of Contents - Travel - Best Gay Cruises

Founded by avid travelers Randle Roper, Patrick Gunn and John Finen, VACAYA bills itself as the first all-LGBT travel company in the full-ship charter/resort buyout sector of the travel industry to launch in more than 25 years.

"[VACAYA] was sparked by our own vacations, where we all had encountered two very different experiences," says Gunn. "The all-gay cruises were liberating, empowering and fun, but limited to a small spectrum of people. And while everyone loves a good time, there's more to a memorable vacation than just parties. Mainstream vacations offered more activities and destinations, and were accessible to a diverse set of people, but didn't always feel like a friendly, judgment-free environment."

As such, VACAYA set out to bring LGBTQ travelers from across the spectrum together in a welcoming, inclusive setting, while offering varied onboard activities and immersive itinerary options. Cruisers will enjoy traveling to ports around the world, in the Caribbean , the Galápagos, Europe , Antarctica and more. You can participate in shipwide events ranging from themed deck parties to performances by LGBTQ entertainers to rejuvenating yoga classes. Note that VACAYA's cruises are for adults only.

Previous cruisers had abundant praise for VACAYA's voyages, highlighting the company's responsiveness when booking and the kindhearted staff, as well as the genuine connections they made with other passengers on board. Many were also impressed by the events and entertainment options throughout their sailings.

In 2024, VACAYA will offer a number of voyages worldwide. The seven-night Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Apex in February will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, with several fun-filled days at sea in addition to stops in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Antigua. In August, VACAYA has a 12-night river cruise in Northern Europe on board Advance by Transcend Cruises; this sailing includes the Amsterdam Pride event. The 11-night Antarctica expedition on Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator in December 2024 is sold out, but you can join the waitlist.

Virgin Voyages

The Virgin brand has long been known for its celebration of the LGBTQ community, and cruise line Virgin Voyages is no different. The strictly adults-only cruise operator aims to provide a unique experience, with onboard tattoo parlors, impressive live entertainment, and dining options that include more than 20 eateries and menus created by Michelin star chefs. This line gets the stamp of approval from previous LGBTQ cruisers, who praise the ships' gender-neutral bathrooms, diverse staff and onboard shows with resident drag queens.

Virgin Voyages offers gay-specific sailings through travel companies like Atlantis Events, but its more mainstream itineraries still offer a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that attracts LGBTQ cruisers year-round. Virgin hosts a number of events during Pride Month each year, including deck parties and interactive social media campaigns.

"Each June here at Virgin Voyages, we like to go big for Pride Month with larger-than-life events … all monthlong," the cruise line says in a statement on its website. "It's an important time for us – both internally within our crew and for our sailors – to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community; who for so long has had to continually fight for equality and the right to be seen, heard and included."

Virgin Voyages sails to a variety of LGBTQ-friendly countries, including New Zealand, Greece and Spain. In June 2024, consider a seven-night sailing aboard Scarlet Lady departing from Barcelona with stops in Marseille and Cannes in France as well as Spain's Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines for the Money

Atlantis Events

The world's largest gay and lesbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was founded in 1991 and welcomes more than 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vacations. For its all-gay cruises, Atlantis charters megaships from popular lines like Royal Caribbean International , Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages in addition to smaller vessels with companies like Oceania Cruises so cruisers will have a fully immersive experience.

On board, travelers can enjoy all the perks these ships have to offer (think: pools, hot tubs, sports courts and plenty of dining choices), plus special events like drag performances, motivational speakers, LGBTQ movies on demand in each cabin and high-energy circuit parties across the ship.

"As an LGBTQ cruiser, you're looking for a ship with lots of entertainment, including dance parties and events," says Marcos Martinez, founder of Men Who Brunch, a Black gay lifestyle blog. "One of the best cruise [lines] for gay cruising is Atlantis, since you'll be able to meet hundreds of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship."

Atlantis hosts primarily gay men; women make up about 5% to 10% of bookings, according to the Atlantis website. Previous cruisers said the atmosphere on board was fun, friendly and welcoming, though some noted that the company's customer service could be better, especially when it comes to details about the cruise.

Due to the company's popularity, its three 2024 cruises are already sold out.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

Brand g Vacations

Specializing in all-gay river cruises – and now luxury ocean liners – Brand g Vacations was founded in 2011 and explores destinations all over the world. Chartered river cruises typically welcome between 40 and 200 LGBTQ passengers (and their straight allies), which allows cruisers to get to know one another in a smaller setting. Guests tend to skew more mature (think: 40 and older), and the line attracts both men and women.

Onboard entertainment differs slightly from larger ocean voyages: Expect more cabaret-style entertainment than massive all-night dance parties. Cruisers will also enjoy performances by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, on top of typical river cruise perks like sightseeing and lavish meals. Past guests recommend choosing Brand g if you're looking for a well-planned, relaxed and luxurious experience over a busier, more party-heavy vacation.

Brand g aims to provide a nearly all-inclusive cruise experience , with Mercedes or small van airport transfers, upscale hotel stays prior to embarkation, and unlimited alcoholic beverages as well as meals included in the fare. As such, prices tend to be on the high end. Plus, cruisers can feel good about their trip knowing that Brand g donates to causes in the U.S. and around the world that assist LGBTQ refugees, AIDS organizations, LGBTQ centers and more.

In 2024, Brand g sails through unique waterways around the world, including the Amazon, the Loire, the Danube, the Mekong, and the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The line's small cruise ship charters also take guests to Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Croatia and other European destinations.

Read: The Top River Cruise Lines

360 Kiosk Email : Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises sets the scene for an excellent vacation for gay travelers, from its extravagant annual Pride parties to its daily LGBTQ programming throughout the year. The mainstream line has received numerous awards for its inclusivity, receiving accolades from the Cruizie Awards, TTG Travel Awards and Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards for being one of the best cruise lines for LGBTQ passengers.

LGBTQ cruisers can start their vacations off on a high note with a special welcome party on the first night of their voyage to meet other travelers on board. After night one, there are other social events for gay cruisers to party and hang out together. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises was the first cruise line to legally marry a couple at sea in 2018, and it continues to perform same-sex marriages on its ships.

Past cruisers enjoyed their voyages with Celebrity, noting that the line was welcoming, the food was delicious, and there were plenty of areas to hang out as a group with fellow LGBTQ passengers or other companions throughout the ship.

Although all itineraries are gay-friendly, consider booking a sailing during Pride Month in June for an extra special experience. Onboard entertainment during this month includes guest entertainers, a flag raising ceremony, Celebrity's signature Pride Party at Sea and more. The Italian Riviera & France cruise will depart from Barcelona on June 8, 2024, on the new Celebrity Ascent; this 10-night Mediterranean sailing stops at ports in France, Italy and Malta. Private travel companies like VACAYA also charter Celebrity ships for all-gay voyages throughout the year.

Read: Cruise Packing List: The Top Essentials for Any Cruise

Specifically marketed toward lesbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted more than 350,000 travelers by land and sea over five decades. Cruisers can choose between river voyages or ocean sailings to destinations around the world. On the lesbian cruises, expect a mix of nostalgic decade-themed dance parties, folk singers, writing workshops, karaoke and other activities. Cruisers can also relax poolside, spend some time in the onboard spa or take it easy in one of the ships' lounges.

Travelers who are looking to connect with others who share similar backgrounds can do so in one of Olivia's specialized programs. There are group and solo traveler meetups, as well as programs like Sisters, which is for LGBTQ women of color; Gen-O, for cruisers 40 and younger; Women in Uniform gatherings, for veterans and those currently in the armed forces; and events for OWLs (which stands for "older, wiser lesbians"). Past cruisers on Olivia's voyages report feeling a true sense of community and belonging on board, resulting in a fun, carefree trip.

In June 2024, set sail with Olivia from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Dublin on Windstar Cruises' Star Legend. Or, visit the islands of Tahiti on the line's Star Breeze in September. Other cruise itineraries include Alaska, the Greek Isles, Mexico and the Panama Canal.

Read: The Best Girls Trip Ideas

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International provides a welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ travelers. The popular cruise line frequently partners with Atlantis Events to offer all-gay voyages throughout the year, but even the standard sailings earn praise.

Highlights of the sailings are the ships' entertainment options (including the Tony Award-winning musical "Mamma Mia!") and attentive staff, according to past cruisers. Itineraries typically include LGBTQ meetups at the beginning of each cruise for gay travelers to meet like-minded passengers. Outside of the sailing experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly committed to supporting the LGBTQ community throughout the year, and it was the first cruise line to earn the title "Gay Traveler Approved" from GayTravel in 2016.

In 2024, consider a Royal Caribbean voyage that sails to gay-friendly destinations. "Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [is] full of gay bars, clubs and gay beaches," says Martinez. Hop aboard Navigator of the Seas in May for a seven-night sailing round-trip from Los Angeles that stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas also hosts a seven-night itinerary throughout the year that calls on Mazatlan, Mexico, as well.

Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

The Cruise With La Demence

According to past cruisers, if you're looking for one of the best party scenes on the open seas, consider an all-gay cruise with La Demence. Powered by a popular gay nightclub in Brussels with the same name, La Demence – French for "the madness" – primarily caters to a European crowd. Most passengers are male, though women are also welcome.

On board, passengers should expect to dance the night away at massive deck parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. The line prides itself on its top-notch DJs, impressive light setup and electric party atmosphere. Previous cruisers had high praise for the itineraries – which exclusively visit gay-friendly locations – as well as the fruity cocktails, themed nights (costumes strongly encouraged) and glamorous entertainment. Enjoy unique events like drag bingo, high heel runs and more.

La Demence sails every summer to European destinations like Greece, Italy and Malta. The 2023 cruise was chartered on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Fares include all food and nonalcoholic beverages, plus access to all parties, shows and the onboard gym.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Source Journeys

Source Journeys has been planning luxury vacations for LGBTQ travelers for more than 20 years. The Miami-based company, with the vision of founder and chief executive officer Craig Smith, offers small group land tours and full-charter cruises for like-minded travelers with a focus on giving back to the communities they visit. The company also supports LGBTQ organizations, such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign.

Past guests of their tours say their fellow travelers were as fun and interesting as the destinations. They appreciated the excellent personalized planning for the trips by Smith and his life partner, Rafael Rodriguez.

The company's cruises in 2024 include a seven-night Galápagos sailing in late September on a Relais & Chateau luxury yacht: Ecoventura's new ship, Evolve. The intimate ship accommodates just 20 passengers. Source Journeys is also offering a seven-night river cruise through Burgundy and Provence, France, in June on Avalon Waterways' Avalon Poetry II, as well as a seven-night voyage from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast. This ocean cruise scheduled in August is chartered on Star Clippers' masted sailing ship, Royal Clipper.

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Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

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VACAYA: Amsterdam Pride Europe River Cruise 2024

Dates: august. 3–15, 2024 transcend: advance departure city: amsterdam, netherlands disembark city: antwerp, belgium.

VACAYA  does this special river cruise.  For the Brussels Carpet Flower Festival.  You start off in one of the world’s gayest cities  Amsterdam .  Your ship is 2 nights 3 days docked for pride.  Sail the River to 9 stops in the Netherlands and Belgium . Your last stop overnight in Antwerp . This ship was previously a Crystal. This all inclusive River Cruise. It includes free flow spirits, wine, beer and non alcoholic beverages throughout the cruise.  Plus most excursions. With 104 guests. You really connect with your fellow passengers. Pre and Post add ons available to make the trip even longer.

From $6997 per person

From $6997 per person Contact us for Prices

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2024 dutch & belgian delights river cruise, aug 5 - , aug 12, 2024.

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An all-inclusive LGBT+, 7 - night deluxe riverboat cruise featuring the idyllic waterways of Holland and Belgium.

2024 tuscany, treats and treasures, aug 6 - , aug 14, 2024, as part of our luxury land collection, we are pleased to offer this brand new customized tour of tuscany, italy, including pisa, lucca, cinque terre, florence, chianti region, parma and ending in venice., 2024 venice, croatia and sicily luxury cruise, aug 14 - , aug 23, 2024.

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10-day all LGBT+ luxury cruise from Venice, Italy along the Adriatic coast to Rovinj, Sibenik and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Albania with a day at sea as you sail towards Gallipoli and Sicily, finishing in Malta.

2024 prague & danube river cruise, aug 27 - , sep 5, 2024, an all-inclusive, 7-night deluxe danube riverboat cruise aboard the brand-new, high-tech amadeus nova, plus 2 deluxe pre-cruise nights in prague., 2024 portugal & the douro river, sep 20 - , sep 29, 2024, an all-inclusive, 7-night deluxe douro riverboat cruise featuring 2 pre-cruise nights in lisbon., 2024 andalucía – land of the moors and more, oct 1 - , oct 7, 2024, customized tour of andalucía, spain, including seville, ronda, granada and sacramento and many more andalusian top destinations, epic sites and historical gems., 2024 nepal & bhutan exploration, oct 5 - , oct 15, 2024, immerse yourself in the natural beauty and culture of two beautiful himalayan kingdoms in one magical lgbt+ tour of nepal and bhutan., 2024 málaga, morocco and the canary islands cruise, oct 7 - , oct 14, 2024, 8-day cruise from málaga, spain, through the strait of gibraltar to morocco and ending in the canary islands, 2024 india & the ganges river cruise, oct 15 - , oct 28, 2024, we invite you to join brand g vacations for an all-lgbt+, inclusive and guaranteed full ship charter journey as we explore the splendors of india's golden triangle and cruise the lower ganges river., 2024 vietnam & cambodia mekong river cruise, oct 31 - , nov 12, 2024, an all-inclusive, 13-day journey exploring the highlights of cambodia and vietnam, cruising the mighty mekong river., 2024 journey into africa, safari & tour, nov 14 - , nov 24, 2024, 11-day african adventure including victoria falls, safari, cape town and the surrounding wine country, 2025 enchanting cuba, jan 22 - , jan 29, 2025, 8-day customized tour of cuba including havana, santa clara, cienfuegos and trinidad, 2025 highlights of new zealand land tour, feb 3 - , feb 16, 2025, 14-day lgbt+ luxury tour of new zealand's pristine landscapes, with its majestic peaks, scenic fjords, white-sand beaches and cosmopolitan delights., 2025 enchanting cuba ii, feb 5 - , feb 12, 2025, 8-day customized tour of cuba including havana, santa clara, cienfuegos and trinidad, 2025 australia, tasmania and sydney mardi gras, feb 16 - , mar 3, 2025.

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14-day LGBT+ luxury tour of Australia's Southeast highlights, including Tasmania and Sydney Mardi Gras.

2025 kenya luxury safari with optional rwanda gorilla trekking, feb 20 - , mar 2, 2025, 11-day lgbt+ luxury kenyan safari with optional rwanda gorilla trekking., 2025 amazon cruise & machu picchu discovery, mar 30 - , apr 11, 2025, 13-day peruvian adventure including an amazon river cruise and culminating with a comprehensive machu picchu experience., 2025 enchanting egypt, mar 31 - , a 12-day journey beginning in cairo and culminating with a spectacular nile river cruise with an optional add-on to jordan., 2025 japan – land of the rising sun, may 18 - , may 30, 2025, customized tour of japan, including tokyo, hiroshima and kyoto and many more japan top destinations, epic sites and off-the-beaten-track hidden gems., 2025 belgium, england, ireland and scotland luxury cruise, jun 6 - , jun 17, 2025, 11-night cruise from antwerp, belgium, taking in picturesque stops in england, ireland and scotland., 2025 burgundy & provence river cruise, jun 17 - , jun 25, 2025, an all-inclusive, 7-night deluxe riverboat cruise through burgundy and provence aboard the amadeus provence, plus 1 deluxe pre-cruise night in lyon., 2025 castles of the rhine river cruise, jul 7 - , jul 16, 2025, an all-inclusive lgbt+ 7-night deluxe rhine riverboat cruise featuring 2 pre-cruise nights in switzerland's cultural capital basel., 2025 norway, greenland and iceland, jul 31 - , aug 9, 2025, embark on the ultimate 10-day arctic adventure with our cruise from longyearbyen to reykjavik this once-in-a-lifetime journey promises awe-inspiring landscapes and unforgettable cultural encounters, culminating in the vibrant energy of reykjavik., 2025 mongolia exploration, aug 9 - , aug 19, 2025, 11-day lgbt+ exploration of asia's last untamed frontier, mongolia., 2025 scotland uncovered, aug 12 - , aug 24, 2025, 5* inclusive, 13-day journey, uncovering scotland featuring stays in inverness, loch lomond, st andrews and edinburgh and featuring trips to glasgow and stirling., 2025 galápagos expedition cruise, aug 28 - , sep 7, 2025, all-inclusive, all-lgbt+ 11-day adventure beginning in quito, the capital of ecuador, including a 7-night luxury cruise in the galapagos, ending back on the mainland, in ecuador's largest city guayaquil., 2025 prague & danube river cruise, sep 3 - , sep 12, 2025, an all-inclusive, 7-night deluxe danube riverboat cruise aboard the high-tech amadeus nova, plus 2 deluxe pre-cruise nights in prague., 2025 dublin to lisbon luxury cruise, sep 22 - , oct 2, 2025, all inclusive, all lgbt+ 11-day cruise from dublin, ireland to the united kingdom, with stops in france and spain, followed by a day at sea before exploring portugal, ending lisbon., 2025 andalucía – land of the moors and more, oct 3 - , oct 11, 2025, 9 - day customized 5* luxury tour of andalusia in the south of spain and including seville, cordoba,  ronda, cadiz, granada, malaga and mijas, 2025 vietnam & cambodia mekong river cruise, oct 8 - , oct 20, 2025, 2025 thailand discovery, oct 24 - , nov 3, 2025, 11-day lgbt+ exploration of thailand: bangkok, chiang mai and phuket, 2025 eastern & oriental express (group) – essence of malaysia, nov 3 - , nov 7, 2025, a luxury, 5-day journey through malaysia, featuring eastern & oriental express from singapore., 2025 journey into africa, nov 10 - , nov 21, 2025, 12-day african adventure including safari, victoria falls, cape town and the surrounding wine country, 2026 vietnam & cambodia mekong river cruise, dec 31 - , jan 12, 2026, 2026 taste of colombia, feb 6 - , feb 15, 2026, 10-day lgbt+ luxury tour including colombia's best highlights to see, taste, and do in the 3 major cities of bogota, cartagena and medellin..

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Some of you have already had the pleasure of traveling with Jeremy Brooks, Brand g’s newest reservations agent and trip host (and his fabulous husband,

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Big LGBT+ ocean cruises can be a blast – there are tons of hot people to get to know biblically, big, all-night dance parties, and

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OUR GAY CRUISE AND TOUR CALENDAR 2024 AND 2025

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(S) 7-Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Cruise, July 28 to August 4, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Join MIM Travel on our 20th Anniversary Cruise to Alaska, the last frontier. We sail on the Celebrity Solstice departing from Vancouver, Canada. We cruise the Inside Passage and go through the Icy Strait Point and then cruise through the impressive Hubbard Glacier, then stop in Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, then to Ketchikan as we continue our Inside Passage cruise and ending in Vancouver, Canada

AUGUST 2024

9-Night Greek Isles, Italy and Turkey Cruise, August 6 to 15, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Join us on the beautiful MSC Splendida as we visit the Greek Isles, Italy and Turkey. Our cruise begins in Istanbul, Turkey and after a day at sea we arrive in Corfu, Greece, then continue to Bari, Italy, Trieste, Italy and then another day at sea. We then visit the port of Katakolon, Greece, Piraeus (Athens), Greece, Kusadasi, Turkey and the cruise ends in Istanbul, Turkey

7-Night Alaska Cruise, August 16 to 23, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Come along with our gay cruise group on the Celebrity Edge, as we sail from Seattle to Alaska. We depart Seattle on August 16 and after a day at sea we reach Ketchikan, Alaska, followed by Juneau, Alaska, then we cruise the Inside Passage and after another day at sea we reach the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia in Canada while arriving back in Seattle on August 23, 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024

7-Night Mediterranean Cruise, September 6 to 13, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Join our LGBTQ group on the largest and newest ship in the MSC fleet, the World Europa. We depart Barcelona, Spain and visit the ports of Provence (Marseilles), France then continue to Genoa (Portofino) Italy, then to Naples, Italy, Messina, Italy and Valletta, Malta and after a full day at sea we arrive back in Barcelona, Spain

OCTOBER 2024

7-Night Halloween San Diego to Mexico Cruise, October 26 to November 2, 2024

All Gay Cruise Come along with Atlantis Events on the biggest party in the West. Our all LGBTQ+ Halloween party cruise departs from San Diego, California and after a fun day at sea we reach Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and then continue to the gay capital of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, departing in the early morning and continue to Mazatlan, Mexico. After two more exciting days at sea celebrating Halloween we return to San Diego, California.

NOVEMBER 2024

7-Night Post Thanksgiving Cruise, November 30 to December 7, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Join us on the Celebrity Apex as we depart from Fort Lauderdale on November 30, 2024 for a seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise. After departing Ft Lauderdale and two days at sea, we reach Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and after one more day at sea we return to Fort Lauderdale on December 7, 2024

DECEMBER 2024

7-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise, December 14 to 21, 2024

Gay Group Cruise Join our LGBTQ cruise group on the magnificent Ocean Liner, Cunard's Queen Mary 2, as we cross the Atlantic Ocean from Southampton, UK to New York City.

13-Night Christmas and New Year's Cruise, December 21 to January 3, 2025

Gay Group Cruise Join our LGBTQ cruise group and celebrate the holidays in the Caribbean. Our cruise is on the magnificent Queen Mary 2 and we depart from New York City and after four days at sea we arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, then Roseau, Dominica, Castries, St. Lucia, Bridgetown, Barbados and then after four more days at sea, we arrive back in New York City.

JANUARY 2025

12-Night Australia and New Zealand Cruise, January 10 to 22, 2025

Gay Group Cruise Join us as we travel with our LGBTQ group on the Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth to Australia and New Zealand. We depart from Sydney, Australia and after two days at sea we sail through the Queen Charlotte Sound, then on to New Plymouth, Wellington and Napier, New Zealand and then to the Bay of Islands and after two more days at sea, we return to Sydney, Australia.

FEBRUARY 2025

14-Night Caribbean Cruise, February 16 to March 2, 2025

Gay Group Cruise Join us as we travel with our gay group on the MSC Seaside to the Caribbean. We visit the MSC's Ocean Cay and the ports of Cozumel, Mexico, Belize City, Costa Maya, Mexico, Miami, Florida, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Miami, Florida The cruise also includes four fun days at sea.

14-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise, March 14 to 28, 2025

Gay Group Cruise Join our LGBTQ Cruise Group on the beautiful Cunard Line's Queen Victoria on our eastbound transatlantic cruise. We leave Fort Lauderdale, Florida, then to Port Canaveral and after two days at sea we dock at King's Wharf, Bermuda, then after five days at sea we reach Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal. We continue for three more days at sea before reaching our final destination of Southampton, UK

Coming Soon

14-Night British Isles Cruise, May 18 to June 1, 2025

Gay Group Cruise Join our LGBTQ cruise group on the newest Cunard ship, Queen Anne through the British Isles. We leave from Southampton, UK and after a day at sea we arrive at Newhaven (for Edinburgh), Scotland, Invergordon, Scotland, day at sea, then Stornoway, Scotland, Isle of Mull Scenic Cruising, Greenock, Scotland, two more days at sea, then Liverpool, England, Dublin and Cobh, Ireland and after one more day at sea we arrive back in Southampton, UK

NOVEMBER 2025

11-Night Journey into Africa, November 10 to 21, 2025

All Gay Tour Join us on this all LGBTQ 12 day tour to Southern Africa. Our journey begins in Capetown, the Mother City and we spend 4 nights at the luxurious Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. We visit Table Mountain with time at leisure allowing you to take various optional tours and end our day at a wine estate. There are tours to the Cape Peninsula and to see the penguins at Boulders Beach. We also include a full day tour of the Cape Winelands in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Our tour includes a flight to Skukuza to the 5-star Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge for 4 nights and a number of game drives. We continue by air to Victoria Falls with three nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Helicopter ride and a dinner cruise on the Zambezi River are also included.

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Europe Gay & Lesbian Cruises Reviews

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Sail Date: July 2024

Review for a Norwegian Fjords Cruise on Anthem of the Seas

It’s a large ship full of gimmicks. Maiden voyage was in 2015, and it shows. In desperate need of updating. Don’t bother with the spa experience. The steam room is falling apart, the walls and ceiling literally coming down. This is also charged as an extra 130 dollar experience for the week. On voyager class , a proper sauna was included for free. Many of the lockers in the men’s changing room are ... Read More

Review for a Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruise on Celebrity Equinox

This is our second Celebrity Cruise and we have two further ones booked. But beware - there are some pitfalls within a Celebrity Cruise. The Good: Great staff, lovely cabins, good destinations, good variety of menus in “free” dining, facilities on board excellent. The Bad : No self service laundry facilities and the cruise ship charges ! The tours are really expensive. The specialty dining is ... Read More

Review for a Europe - British Isles & Western Cruise on Ventura

Had read previous reviews about Norovirus but had hoped they had finally got rid of it. The first worrying sign was that our cabins weren't ready until 3.45pm. The library was also closed. Now for the drinks. I ordered a Pernod and lemonade. They don't have it on the ship so I ordered a Southern Comfort. Surprise surprise they don't sell that either. So water it was! Went to the Waterside buffet ... Read More

Our first ever cruise and will definitely be our last the food was not even the standard of a harvester and the best way to describe the whole experience was Jeremy Kyle on water we were kept awake every night by people in neighbouring cabins on the balcony shouting and playing music at 3am.The buffet was chaos and even the booked restaurants were not much better the food arrives literally 2-5 ... Read More

Review for a Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruise on Norwegian Epic

When you watch on youtube they show you all things working and when you're on the ship totaly different water slides only one can be used due the other two are not safe to be used due work in progress on the chimneys, workers grinding,chipping + lots of dirt particles coming from the chimney. Bowling always getting stuck, one of the lines they told us its been over 1 year not working. Regarding ... Read More

Traveled with children

Review for a Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Celebrity Infinity

Ok to start. The pros: Intinerary (ports of call) Staff (friendly) Price Embarking and disembarking The cons: Older ship (2001) Small cabins (ocean view) Food quality Expensive drinks /drink packages Food availability between lunch -dinner Entertainment Some of the ports of call Beverage variety Bartending staff Mykonos,Santorini, Thessaloniki were ... Read More

Review for a Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Explorer of the Seas

So, short version. Cruise itself, staff, amenities, activities, food on this ship was excellent. Our family of 5 in two staterooms very much enjoyed the ports of call, and all the options that this ship offered. It was also not too big, but not too small, so it was the right fit for us on a body of water (Adriatic Sea) that was very calm and had appealing ports of call (Santorini, Athens, Bar ... Read More

Review for a Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruise on Celebrity Constellation

We booked the highest level suite available when we signed up. Celebrity plays up the "Retreat" status as if it means something. Turns out that a suite and Retreat mean nothing. Everything is an upcharge, and the ship nickel and dimes you for everything at every turn. Nothing is included -- laundry, gratuities, special drinks, special restaurants, meaningful wifi, and everything else is ... Read More

Review for a Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Costa Fortuna

A. We boarded Costa Fortuna on Friday 7/5 at Athens. This worked best with our schedule. In the first 24 hours. I Spent over 3 hours in line (along with 700 Euros) to get our internet going. They only have one person with limited hours attending the Internet Point on level 3. So far internet has been choppy and unreliable. Although we have paid for all devices, they keep getting booted off. B. ... Read More

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Caledonian Sky to Sail in Europe for Travelmarvel

• July 18, 2024

The Caledonian Sky is scheduled to sail in Europe in 2025 after being withdrawn from the fleet of Captain Cook Cruises Fiji .

According to a report from Luxury Australian Travel Trade E-News (Latte), the 114-guest ship will be operated by Travelmarvel, a brand of the APT Travel Group, which is the company that owns the vessel.

The brandwill offer itineraries to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic onboard the vessel, with cruises  set to take place between April and October 2025.

Focusing on the region’s story and culture, the sailings are said to feature an experienced cruise director and an onboard team, in addition to expert local guides.

The program features a series of eight- to 15-night itineraries to destinations in the Greek Islands, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Canary Islands and Madeira departing from ports in Greece, Italy, Turkey and Spain.

“Thanks to its boutique size, the MS Caledonian Sky allows you to access smaller ports and dock right in the heart of a city or town,” said David Cox, CEO of Travelmarvel.

“With the ship’s shallow draft, we are able to slip away from the pack, into remote coastal towns or shallow waters,” he told Latte while also highlighting longer stays that allow guests to “explore after other tourists have left for the day.”

Originally built for Renaissance Cruises in the early 1990s, the Caledonian Sky was acquired by APT Travel Group in mid-2021.

After offering itineraries in the Kimberley and other regions of Australia, the expedition vessel was chartered to Captain Cook Cruises Fiji in 2023 .

Replacing the Reef Endeavour, the Caledonian Sky kicked off a schedule of exploration cruises to remote regions of Fiji last November.

The operation, however, proved to be short-lived as Captain Cook announced plans to withdraw the vessel from its fleet in November 2024 .

In the past, the Caledonian Sky also spent time sailing for the United Kingdom-based travel operator, Noble Caledonia.

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EuroGames: Europe's largest LGBTQ+ multi-sport competition kicks off

The EuroGames will host 4,000 athletes from 50 countries across a wide variety of sporting disciplines.

Europe’s biggest LGBTQ+ sporting event started with an opening ceremony at Vienna’s Karlsplatz square on Wednesday.

The EuroGames will see 4,000 athletes from 50 nations compete in 31 different sports ranging from tennis and badminton to football and roller derby.

This year is the first time Austria has hosted the games.

Thomas Nobis, who is organising the tennis tournament, has praised the event for its inclusivity.

“It’s important for the community, that we can meet in a safe space. We are feeling good here, we feel secure. But at the same time we are open to all people who want to participate, watch and who are supporting us and maybe haven’t met the community up close until now,” he said.

Gay icon Conchita Wurst of Eurovision fame headlined the event, welcoming the participants to Vienna.

The EuroGames were first held in 1992 in the Hague. Different cities have hosted the event since then.

Vienna has donated €150,000 to the cause as well as providing free access to many sporting venues.

For more information, watch the video above.

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J.D. Vance once compared Trump to Hitler. Now they are running mates

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Thomson Reuters

Washington-based correspondent covering campaigns and Congress. Previously posted in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago, Chile, and has reported extensively throughout Latin America. Co-winner of the 2021 Reuters Journalist of the Year Award in the business coverage category for a series on corruption and fraud in the oil industry. He was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College.

Helen Coster is a U.S. Presidential Election Correspondent at Reuters, where she writes a mix of spot news, enterprise and analysis stories, with a focus on the Republican Party and conservative media. Prior to 2024 she covered the media industry for Reuters, and was also a Senior Editor on Reuters’ Commentary team. A graduate of Princeton University, she has reported from six countries, including Pakistan, India, and Greece.

US-bound Air India plane makes emergency landing in Russia

An Air India airplane flying from Delhi to San Francisco made an emergency landing in Russia after the crew detected a potential issue in the cargo hold area, the airline said on Friday, its second such incident on the route in just over a year.

Wall Street’s record hot streak just hit a wall

NEW YORK — Wall Street’s record-breaking rally is running into a wall Wednesday, as worries about potentially worsening trade tensions with China hit stocks of chip companies. That’s dragging indexes to their worst day in months, but conditions may be less discouraging underneath the surface.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.3% a day after it set an all-time high for the 38th time this year. The Nasdaq composite slumped 2.6% and was on track for its worst day since 2022, also weighed by losses for such  market heavyweights  as  Nvidia  and Apple .

But more stocks in the S&P 500 were still rising than falling, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was adding 234 points, or 0.6%, to its record set a day earlier, as of 3:20 p.m. Eastern time.

The mix offers a continuation of a recent trend that market watchers have called encouraging, one where more stocks are rising rather than just a handful of overpowering elites. The smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 are coming off a big five-day winning streak on hopes that  interest rates are about to get easier  and the  U.S. economy  will avoid a recession, though the index fell 0.8% Thursday to give back some of those gains.

The market’s spotlight was squarely on chip companies, which tumbled after a report from Bloomberg News said President Joe Biden is considering the most severe trade restrictions available if companies like the Netherlands’  ASML  and Japan’s Tokyo Electron continue to ship advanced semiconductor technology to China. The U.S. government has  blocked Chinese access  to advanced chips and the equipment to make them, citing security concerns, and urged its allies to follow suit.

ASML saw its stock trading in the United States drop 12.7% even though it reported sales for the spring that came in at the high end of its forecasted range. Shares of Tokyo Electron, meanwhile, dropped 7.5% in Tokyo to cull its gain for the year to 32.2%.

Another major chip company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., sank after former President Donald Trump criticized the self-governed island claimed by Beijing, which the U.S. is obligated by treaty to defend if it is attacked.

“Taiwan should pay us for defense,” Trump said according to a transcript of an interview published by Bloomberg. “Taiwan took our chip business from us, I mean, how stupid are we?” he said.

TSMC’s stock trading in the United States dropped 7.3%.

Reverberations reached chip stocks around the world, including big U.S. players that have been some of Wall Street’s biggest stars this year amid a  frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology . Nvidia fell 6.1% after soaring 155.2% this year through the day before.

Advanced Micro Devices fell 8.8%, and Broadcom dropped 7%.

Big Tech stocks’ movements have an outsized effect on indexes like the S&P 500, which give more weight to companies of bigger size. That was a boon in recent years, when a small group of companies known as “the Magnificent Seven” was able to soar almost regardless of what the overall economy and interest rates were doing. That helped mask weakness underneath the surface as the economy struggled through high interest rates meant to  snuff out inflation .

Now, though, some critics call those Magnificent Seven stocks too expensive, and investors are creeping back into unloved areas of the market. The economy has remained remarkably resilient so far, with the job market remaining solid, and investors widely expect the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates in September because  inflation has slowed .

“Markets cannot continue indefinitely higher on the backs of just a handful of stocks,” said JJ Kinahan, CEO of IG North America.

Johnson & Johnson, whose stock had been down for the year so far, jumped 3.7% after topping analysts’ forecasts for profit in the latest quarter. It was one of the largest reasons the Dow Jones Industrial Average was able to rise despite falls for each of the Magnificent Seven stocks: Alphabet , Amazon , Apple, Meta Platforms , Microsoft , Nvidia and Tesla .

U.S. Bancorp , which has also lagged the rest of the market this year, rallied 4.4% after topping analysts’ forecasts for profit and revenue.

On the losing side of Wall Street was  Five Below , a retailer targeting teens and tweens with products priced at $5 or below. It tumbled 24.3% after its CEO, Joel Anderson, stepped down from his job and from the board. It also gave a profit forecast for the second quarter that fell short of analysts’ expectations.

Spirit Airlines lost 11.4% after the discount carrier cut its forecast for revenue in the second quarter. It said it’s making fewer dollars than expected from fees outside of tickets.

In the bond market, the 10-year Treasury yield dipped to 4.15% from 4.16% late Tuesday.

In stock markets abroad, London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.3% after  data showed  the inflation rate remained steady at the Bank of England’s 2% target in June. Indexes were mixed elsewhere across Europe and Asia.

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Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School

Seventh and eighth graders in Malvern, Pa., impersonating their teachers posted disparaging, lewd, racist and homophobic videos in the first known mass attack of its kind in the U.S.

By Natasha Singer

Natasha Singer, who covers technology in schools, reported from Malvern, Pa. She welcomes reader tips at nytimes.com/tips .

In February, Patrice Motz, a veteran Spanish teacher at Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pa., was warned by another teacher that trouble was brewing.

Some eighth graders at her public school had set up fake TikTok accounts impersonating teachers. Ms. Motz, who had never used TikTok, created an account.

She found a fake profile for @patrice.motz, which had posted a real photo of her at the beach with her husband and their young children. “Do you like to touch kids?” a text in Spanish over the family vacation photo asked. “Answer: Sí.”

In the days that followed, some 20 educators — about one quarter of the school’s faculty — discovered they were victims of fake teacher accounts rife with pedophilia innuendo, racist memes, homophobia and made-up sexual hookups among teachers. Hundreds of students soon viewed, followed or commented on the fraudulent accounts.

In the aftermath, the school district briefly suspended several students, teachers said. The principal during one lunch period chastised the eighth-grade class for its behavior.

The biggest fallout has been for teachers like Ms. Motz, who said she felt “kicked in the stomach” that students would so casually savage teachers’ families. The online harassment has left some teachers worried that social media platforms are helping to stunt the growth of empathy in students. Some teachers are now hesitant to call out pupils who act up in class. Others said it had been challenging to keep teaching.

“It was so deflating,” said Ms. Motz, who has taught at the school, in a wealthy Philadelphia suburb, for 14 years. “I can’t believe I still get up and do this every day.”

The Great Valley incident is the first known group TikTok attack of its kind by middle schoolers on their teachers in the United States. It’s a significant escalation in how middle and high school students impersonate, troll and harass educators on social media. Before this year, students largely impersonated one teacher or principal at a time.

The middle schoolers’ attack also reflects broader concerns in schools about how students’ use, and abuse, of popular online tools is intruding on the classroom. Some states and districts have recently restricted or banned student cellphone use in schools, in part to limit peer harassment and cyberbullying on Instagram, Snap, TikTok and other apps.

Now social media has helped normalize anonymous aggressive posts and memes, leading some children to weaponize them against adults.

“We didn’t have to deal with teacher-targeting at this scale before,” said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the largest U.S. teachers’ union. “It’s not only demoralizing. It could push educators to question, ‘Why would I continue in this profession if students are doing this?’”

In a statement, the Great Valley School District said it had taken steps to address “22 fictitious TikTok accounts” impersonating teachers at the middle school. It described the incident as “a gross misuse of social media that profoundly impacted our staff.”

Last month, two female students at the school publicly posted an “apology” video on a TikTok account using the name of a seventh-grade teacher as a handle. The pair, who did not disclose their names, described the impostor videos as a joke and said teachers had blown the situation out of proportion.

“We never meant for it to get this far, obviously,” one of the students said in the video. “I never wanted to get suspended.”

“Move on. Learn to joke,” the other student said about a teacher. “I am 13 years old,” she added, using an expletive for emphasis, “and you’re like 40 going on 50.”

In an email to The New York Times, one of the students said that the fake teacher accounts were intended as obvious jokes, but that some students had taken the impersonations too far.

A TikTok spokeswoman said the platform’s guidelines prohibit misleading behavior, including accounts that pose as real people without disclosing that they are parodies or fan accounts. TikTok said a U.S.-based security team validated ID information — such as driver’s licenses — in impersonation cases and then deleted the data.

Great Valley Middle School, known locally as a close-knit community, serves about 1,100 students in a modern brick complex surrounded by a sea of bright green sports fields.

The impostor TikToks disrupted the school’s equilibrium, according to interviews with seven Great Valley teachers, four of whom requested anonymity for privacy reasons. Some teachers already used Instagram or Facebook but not TikTok.

The morning after Ms. Motz, the Spanish teacher, discovered her impersonator, the disparaging TikToks were already an open secret among students.

“There was this undercurrent conversation throughout the hallway,” said Shawn Whitelock, a longtime social studies teacher. “I noticed a group of students holding a cellphone up in front of a teacher and saying, ‘TikTok.’”

Students took images from the school’s website, copied family photos that teachers had posted in their classrooms and found others online. They made memes by cropping, cutting and pasting photos, then superimposing text.

The low-tech “cheapfake” images differ from recent incidents in schools where students used artificial intelligence apps to generate real-looking, digitally altered images known as “deepfakes.”

While some of the Great Valley teacher impostor posts seemed jokey and benign — like “Memorize your states, students!” — other posts were sexualized. One fake teacher account posted a collaged photo with the heads of two male teachers pasted onto a man and woman partially naked in bed.

Fake teacher accounts also followed and hit on other fake teachers.

“It very much became a distraction,” Bettina Scibilia, an eighth-grade English teacher who has worked at the school for 19 years, said of the TikToks.

Students also targeted Mr. Whitelock, who was the faculty adviser for the school’s student council for years.

A fake @shawn.whitelock account posted a photo of Mr. Whitelock standing in a church during his wedding, with his wife mostly cropped out. The caption named a member of the school’s student council, implying the teacher had wed him instead. “I’m gonna touch you,” the impostor later commented.

“ I spent 27 years building a reputation as a teacher who is dedicated to the profession of teaching,” Mr. Whitelock said in an interview. “An impersonator assassinated my character — and slandered me and my family in the process.”

Mrs. Scibilia said a student had already posted a graphic death threat against her on TikTok earlier in the school year, which she reported to the police. The teacher impersonations increased her concern.

“Many of my students spend hours and hours and hours on TikTok, and I think it’s just desensitized them to the fact that we’re real people,” she said. “They didn’t feel what a violation this was to create these accounts and impersonate us and mock our children and mock what we love.”

A few days after learning of the videos, Edward Souders, the principal of Great Valley Middle School, emailed the parents of eighth graders, describing the impostor accounts as portraying “our teachers in a disrespectful manner.”

The school also held an eighth-grade assembly on responsible technology use.

But the school district said it had limited options to respond. Courts generally protect students’ rights to off-campus free speech, including parodying or disparaging educators online — unless the students’ posts threaten others or disrupt school.

“While we wish we could do more to hold students accountable, we are legally limited in what action we can take when students communicate off campus during nonschool hours on personal devices,” Daniel Goffredo, the district’s superintendent, said in a statement.

The district said it couldn’t comment on any disciplinary actions, to protect student privacy.

In mid-March, Nikki Salvatico, president of the Great Valley Education Association, a teachers’ union, warned the school board that the TikToks were disrupting the school’s “safe educational environment.”

“We need the message that this type of behavior is unacceptable,” Ms. Salvatico said at a school board meeting on March 18.

The next day, Dr. Souders sent another email to parents. Some posts contained “offensive content,” he wrote, adding: “I am optimistic that by addressing it together, we can prevent it from happening again.”

While a few accounts disappeared — including those using the names of Ms. Motz, Mr. Whitelock and Mrs. Scibilia — others popped up. In May, a second TikTok account impersonating Mrs. Scibilia posted several new videos mocking her.

She and other Great Valley educators said they had reported the impostor accounts to TikTok, but had not heard back. But several teachers, who felt the videos had violated their privacy, said they did not provide TikTok with a personal ID to verify their identities.

On Wednesday, TikTok removed the account impersonating Mrs. Scibilia and three other fake Great Valley teacher accounts flagged by a reporter.

Mrs. Scibilia and other teachers are still processing the incident. Some teachers have stopped posing for and posting photographs, lest students misuse the images. Experts said this type of abuse could harm teachers’ mental health and reputations.

“That would be traumatizing to anyone,” said Susan D. McMahon , a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago and chair of the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Violence Against Educators. She added that verbal student aggression against teachers was increasing.

Now teachers like Mrs. Scibilia and Ms. Motz are pushing schools to educate students on how to use tech responsibly — and bolster policies to better protect teachers.

In the Great Valley students’ “apology” on TikTok last month, the two girls said they planned to post new videos. This time, they said, they would make the posts private so teachers couldn’t find them.

“We’re back, and we’ll be posting again,” one said. “And we are going to private all the videos at the beginning of next school year,” she added, “’cause then they can’t do anything.”

On Friday, after a Times reporter asked the school district to notify parents about this article, the students deleted the “apology” video and removed the teacher’s handle from their account. They also added a disclaimer: “Guys, we’re not acting as our teachers anymore that’s in the past !!”

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business and society. She is currently reporting on the far-reaching ways that tech companies and their tools are reshaping public schools, higher education and job opportunities. More about Natasha Singer