What Your Need To Know For Taking A Gay-Friendly Cruise

Planning a vacation ? Jackie has got your back and here are her advice.

It’s probably no surprise that gay tourism is valued to be more than 50 billion Euros in the EU, given that LGBTQ travellers, along with their families, are a growing target market for the travel industry. Increasingly, holiday destinations, resorts, travel groups and cruise lines are offering offering gay-friendly options. In combination with progressive laws and equality around the world, major cruise lines are providing gay-friendly cruise adventures so you can fully immerse yourself onboard. Whether you choose a cruise for LGBTQ-only, gay singles, standard cruise accommodating gay and lesbian travellers, or want to experience must-see destinations for older LGBTQ travellers, desirable attractions are in abundance in the modern cruising world. Provided you do your research, you’ll end up having the time of your life amongst a great crowd who love to party.

Why choose a cruise?

The stereotypical image of your typical cruise guest has long vanished to be replaced with a colourful array of people, and almost all liners have a variety of gay-friendly cruises to choose from. Additionally, companies aim for all passengers to feel safe at all times, and most cruise lines prohibit discrimination which are based on sexual preferences. If you’re already in a relationship or travelling solo, there should be plenty of fun, games and opportunities to meet other like-minded gay travellers, even when the cruise is not specifically dedicated to LGBTQ cruisers. Popularity has grown for companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line or Celebrity Cruises, who sponsor or partner up with LGBTQ travel associations who promote safe, LGBTQ tourism worldwide.

What to expect on your cruise

Whatever type of cruise you decide to embark on – from exploring picturesque destinations, to taking in the views of rugged coastlines, to choosing to spend the majority of your time on ship taking advantage of all the amenities – you’re bound to experience diversity and adventures while holidaying. Additionally, many cruise lines cater for special themed LGBTQ events, celebrations and parties, such as Mardi Gras, Pride or Underwater, even when passengers are not exclusive to the LGBT community, so it pays to be prepared in order to arrive onboard with costume for the occasion.

Where to go?

While it might be easier to find a cruise line that fits in with your interests and social life, choosing one with a variety of LGBTQ-friendly destinations might not always be so simple. No matter what type of cruise suits your needs, make sure that the ports are gay-friendly and you’re aware of any laws and restrictions beforehand, so you arrive knowing what to expect. Despite this, most LGBTQ-specific cruises will generally choose destinations that suit the needs of cruisers, and will incorporate exclusive shore excursions for gay travellers into a holiday itinerary.

This wave of positive attitude has opened up a range of cruise types which equates to a lot of fun and a memorable holiday, where you’ll be welcomed with open arms from both crew and passengers.