Gay cruises and resort vacations are the most visible and popular of gay

vacations, covering a wide range of travel opportunities that can be divided

into two basic categories:

1) Big "Gay Environment" vacations, where a gay or lesbian tour company

takes over an entire cruise ship or land resort for a week and re-packages

the experience as an exclusively gay/lesbian environment.

2) Smaller gay groups aboard mainstream cruise departures or at

mainstream resorts.

Both kinds of vacations offer unique benefits that build upon the intrinsic

appeal of a cruise or resort vacation. "Gay Environment" vacations are

trips that take over a whole cruise ship or resort, and create a truly unique

environment. More important than the destinations they travel to is the all-

gay environment these companies create.

With customized entertainment and activities enjoyed in the company

of 100 - 3,500 other gay men and/or women, these vacations are really

special. For many people it's a dream come true. For others, the thought of

"being stuck on a boat with 2,000 queens" is a nightmare. The reality of

these vacations is that they are enormously popular, and even people with

strong reservations about going usually end up having a great time.

Being in an idyllic environment with hundreds of other gay people is

exciting and liberating in a way that ordinary vacations can't be. Three main

tour operators --- Atlantis Events, Olivia Cruises and Resorts, and RSVP ---

are the primary purveyors of these kinds of vacations. Each has their own

particular style and strengths.

Some of the big circuit events, most notably the White Party and Dinah

Shore weekends in Palm Springs, create similar environments by using

designated host hotels that become virtually exclusively gay or lesbian for

the weekend. But these party-focused weekends don't offer the same

breadth of experiences, entertainment, or relaxation that you'll find on a

cruise or resort vacation offered by one of the big three tour operators.

Choose correctly among these three operators, and you're practically

guaranteed to have a good time. If you're thinking this doesn't sound like

something you'd enjoy, definitely read on. Many of us had the same

apprehensions, misconceptions, and concerns, and needed some

convincing to take the plunge and try a gay vacation. We're really glad

we did, and hope our enthusiasm helps you to do the same.

Why Go Away?

Everyone goes on vacation to have a good time, relax, explore, indulge,

and escape. Gay vacations address these desires with many of the same

elements as straight ones: beautiful beaches, room service, exotic

destinations, and so on. But people who go on gay vacations cite five

overriding reasons to go on a gay trip.

1) For the Camaraderie and Comfort

This is the most compelling part of an all-gay experience, and the hardest

one to describe. There's a shared spirit on these vacations that is almost

mystical in its power. Many find the experience almost transcendental,

which is why these vacations enjoy such a high repeat customer ratio;

at a minimum, it's hard not to feel really relaxed and comfortable.

2) For the Gay Entertainment and Activity

Gay vacations tend to feature gay activities. Although many vacation

activities don't have gay-specific versions, many do. Dancing, pool games,

cabaret entertainment, costume parties -- even bingo are never as much

fun on a straight vacation.

3) To Meet Other Gay People

Romance aside, meeting new people and making new friends are popular

attractions of a vacation. Choosing a gay vacation ensures that you'll have

something major in common with your fellow vacationers.

4) To Escape the Straight World

People who feel oppressed by the straightness of their everyday world

enjoy the liberation of a gay environment. Vacationing in a world where gay

people are the majority helps relieve the stress of living and/or working

in a straight environment.

5) To Get Laid

Even in the straight world, meeting new friends for romantic encounters

ranks high on the list of vacation choice motivations for many travelers.

If you're looking for a romantic encounter, it's not hard to find one,

especially on large trips. But don't go expecting a weeklong orgy.

And if you're not looking for lust, don't worry about it lurking all around you.

The general atmosphere on these trips may occasionally be sexually

charged, but it's rarely sexual.

Gay Groups on Straight Cruises

The Gay-ish Alternative to All-Gay Cruises
Gay groups on mainstream cruises are quite different from full-ship gay cruises. Instead of taking over a whole ship, gay groups have ranged from six to 250 passengers, aboard ships that might hold up to 3,000 passengers. They don't offer the complete gay experience, although they can make it easy for you to make new friends, find compatible dining companions, and enjoy the camaraderie of group travel on a variety of cruise experiences. The shipboard experience is rarely differentiated much from the standard on-board experience, but most gay group cruises offer a few special events, like cocktail parties or visits to the crew disco on the QE2, that you wouldn't get as an individual on that sailing.

Gay groups offer a much broader range of cruise experiences than the all-gay cruises. While all-gay cruises offer just a limited number of departures and a narrow range of ship types and experiences, gay groups cover a broad cross-section of cruise opportunities. You'll find more interesting ships and more unusual itineraries than those on all-gay cruises.

Although gay group cruises and all-gay cruises may seem similar in many respects, they really are very different experiences. Some people clearly enjoy one kind of experience and not the other, but many people, especially cruise enthusiasts, enjoy both kinds of vacations.

Think about what you're looking for on any given vacation, and investigate accordingly. If shipboard amenities and exotic ports of call hold the greatest interest to you, gay group cruise vacations serve them up in abundance. If the gay-specific entertainment and social opportunities are most intriguing, consider an all-gay cruise or at least make sure you're in a big group.

What You Can Expect on an All-Gay Vacation

Most first-time gay vacationers are surprised by the sheer comfort and pleasure of escaping a heterosexual environment. Probably because most are pretty comfortable in a heterosexual vacation environment, they don't expect the almost giddy joy of being in a gay one. It's a little like your first experience at a gay pride parade, a march on Washington, or even a gay bar: The rush of discovering there are so many other people like you is reawakened. Combine that with the feeling of pure escape that you might have felt at summer camp (that is, if you really liked summer camp), and you begin to understand how a gay vacation can be such an extraordinary break from your everyday world, and why so many people come back to these vacations over and over.

Now, if visions of pride parades and summer camp make you a bit queasy, relax. There are some campy, silly, and extroverted aspects to these vacations, but there are also lots of refined, relaxed, and even serious aspects too. From costume parties to financial planning seminars and almost everything in between, you can participate in group activities almost all day and night, or you can just relax by the pool or beach, or enjoy a romantic dinner for two. It's easy to strike your own personal balance of activity, combining the elements that appeal to you into one great vacation.

Romance is far from guaranteed, but you won't find a better setting to rekindle an old relationship, or start a new one (of the LTR or one-night-only variety). Unless you're a curmudgeon, you can certainly expect to make at least a few new friends. You'll probably have the opportunity to try something new, like the flying trapeze on some Atlantis trips, and enjoy something familiar, like Bingo on most RSVP trips, but with a fun and funny gay twist.

Most all-gay vacations use moderately priced cruise ships and resorts. You can expect a range of quality comparable to the range from a Holiday Inn to a Hyatt hotel. As for the food, the range spans the Sizzler to Houston's gamut. There has been a trend towards newer and better ships in the last five years, so you may sometimes be pleasantly surprised by more deluxe accommodations and more gourmet food. While these are important considerations when choosing a mainstream vacation, they aren't the big draw on gay vacations. Plan on them being adequate, and not a big concern while you're enjoying the entertainment, activities, and camaraderie. If you are accustomed to more deluxe accoutrements, book a larger cabin or suite, and consider making advance reservations to enjoy a great meal or two during a shore excursion off the ship or outside the resort.

Many first-time gay vacationers worry about the mix of people on a given trip. Don't worry. With 300 to 2,500 people on board, there's always a good mix of couples and singles, older travelers and younger ones, returning guests and first time vacationers. And the extra staff that companies like Atlantis, Olivia, and RSVP bring along ensure that everyone gets to participate and mingle as much as they'd like, and that there's always someone available to answer questions about activities or help solve unforeseen problems.

Theme nights and parties are a major fun opportunity for many passengers, and it's worth asking about these events prior to departure. There are usually a couple of wardrobe opportunities that you might want to prepare for. That said, those who aren't into dressing up could get by with what they can fit in a small carry-on bag.