The 2003 ( and some 2004 ) schedules and itineraries for the major gay/lesbian cruise companies are out and available. The three main cruise companies, RSVP, Atlantis, and Olivia as always have a spectacular line-up. For 2003, there are not only cruises on big ocean liners, but also a number of offerings aboard smaller, more intimate ships. And the gay/lesbian cruise itineraries have expanded beyond Alaska and the Caribbean to include more exotic destinations.
RSVP's 2003 Line-Up
RSVP, the oldest gay cruise operator in the industry, is offering two luxury steamship cruises to the Caribbean in 2003:
The first, a 7-day Mardi Gras Caribbean Cruise from March 1 to 8 is sold out and the wait list is closed. A testament to the popularity of RSVP Cruises.
The second is a 7-day ¡Qué Rico! Caribbean Cruise ( pronounced Kay Rico ) . RSVP promotes it as Spanish for "how rich, how tasty, how sexy, how hot." This cruise, from Feb. 22 to March 1, 2003, is aboard the 1,848-passenger ms Zuiderdam, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale.
RSVP is also offering two cruises with more unusual itineraries. The first is a Thailand cruise from March 11 to 25, 2003, aboard the 170-passenger Star Flyer, a four-masted tall sailing ship. It leaves Phuket to stop at little islands along the Thai coast and also makes two stops in Malaysia.
The second unusual cruise is a real departure from the ordinary. It is a 7-day land tour and cruise aboard the luxury river barge, ms Amadeus Symphony from Budapest to Prague, departing Sept. 13. The cruise goes up the beautiful blue Danube River through Hungary, into Austria and Bavaria, and finally through a canal that joins the Danube with the Rhine. A reverse cruise down the Danube from Prague to Budapest departs Sept. 18.
RSVP brings aboard its own entertainers and other staff and organizes a variety of shipboard activities, dances, and theme parties. The large RSVP cruises mainly attract men, but women are also welcome. For women who enjoy the company of gay men, it's a wonderful experience. Women who might find this uncomfortable should choose Olivia instead.
Olivia Cruises
Olivia, the premier cruise line for lesbians and their women friends, is offering seven cruises in 2003: Alaska, French Riviera, two to Tahiti, and three to the Caribbean Olivia has also announced a Mexican Riviera cruise for 2004. Like RSVP, Olivia brings aboard its own entertainment.
Olivia entertainment promises to be the star of the 30th Anniversary Caribbean Cruise, round trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, San Juan, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay aboard the Maasdam. There are two departures, Jan. 12 to19 and Jan. 19 to 26, 2003. But both of these popular cruises are wait-list only.
Olivia's Alaska Discovery Cruise departs May 18 to 25, 2003, aboard the Veendam. The ship leaves from Vancouver and travels through the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Anchorage.
One of the most romantic places to go is Tahiti in the South Pacific. And this Olivia cruise promises plenty of romance with a ship full of women. The ship is the computerized, luxury sailing vessel, the Windstar Windsong. Choose from two sailings: Aug. 1 to 8 or Aug. 8 to15, 2003.
Another romantic Olivia offering is a cruise from Nice to Rome ( or the vicinity of Rome ) , along the Mediterranean Riviera. Seeing the crisp white sails of the luxurious sailing ship Windstar Windsurf against a deep blue sky is like a Mediterranean dream come true. The dates: Oct. 5 to 12, 2003.
The 2003 offerings end with a Leeward Islands Caribbean Sailing Adventure from Barbados to St. Barts, Nevis, and Bequia ( a truly remarkable island accessible only by sea ) , returning to Barbados aboard the new SPV Royal Clipper. The dates are Nov. 22 to 29, 2003.
Olivia's 2004 season starts Jan. 16 to 23, 2004, with a Mexican Riviera cruise from and returning to San Diego aboard the Ms Statendam. Too early to think about? Well, consider that the 2003 January cruises are already sold out.
Atlantis Gay Cruises
Atlantis is the relatively new kid on the block, compared with RSVP or Olivia. But Atlantis has established itself as a major player on the gay/lesbian cruise scene. Atlantis began with cruises to the Caribbean. But the company has branched out a bit since then. In September 2002, Atlantis offered a Barcelona-Rome-Ibiza Cruise.
So far its 2003 offerings focus on the Caribbean.
Dawn Caribbean Cruise: The World's Largest All Gay Cruise. Again.
Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, 2003. Aboard the new Norwegian Dawn Jan. 25- Feb. 1, 2003.
A Western Caribbean & Mexico Cruise departs Jan. 25 from Miami with stops at Costa Maya, Mexico, Cozumel, Key West, and Great Stirrup Cay ( NCL's Private Island ) .
The next departure, from San Juan, March 9 to16, 2003, is billed as Atlantis' Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Norwegian Sky from San Juan with stops n St. Thomas, St. Marteen, St. Kitts, Dominica, and St. Lucia.
Pied Piper Groups and the QM2
Not all gay cruise operators charter an entire ship. Pied Piper has been successfully operating groups aboard ships for a good number of years and has established a reputation for delivering a quality cruise product. There are several groups scheduled aboard the Coral Princess I ( Jan. 13, 2003 ) , Celebrity's Infinity ( April 3, 2003 ) . And the QE2 to Bermuda ( May 2003 ) . But the real cache of Pied Piper this season is the inaugural voyages of the Queen Mary 2. This latest in Cunard's line-up of legendary ocean liners begins sailing in January 2004. Pied Piper will be conducting all-gay groups on sailings in all months in 2004 except February and November. There is also a special 2-day Canada-New England cruise Sept. 29-30, 2004.
Other cruise options
For those who love cabaret, Chicago's own Gentry is sponsoring a Cabaret Cruise Group aboard Carnival out of New York City in summer 2003. Guests will spend a pre-cruise night at the legendary Algonquin Hotel ( think Dorothy Parker ) and enjoy New York cabaret before boarding for the cruise.
Many gays or lesbians feel very comfortable on, or even prefer, straight cruises. Celebrity Cruises was one of the first to seek out gay/lesbian travelers. Many others, including Carnival, have followed. Those who do not mind the company of straights can watch for some real cruise bargains. Some of the best opportunities come when a company is repositioning a ship from one part of the world to another. Here's a great example:
Cruise for 10 days from Honolulu around the Hawaiian Islands in September on Vision of the Seas then cross the Pacific to Mexico at prices starting from $799 ( not including air, taxes, or port charges ) . What a deal, especially if you can use Frequent Flyer miles to Hawaii. And there are more cruise deals out there.
Cruising is among the best of all travel options. The ship is your hotel, restaurant, and transportation...your ticket to anywhere in the world.
Your travel writer: Cynthia A. Marquard is co-owner, with Ted Lally, of Aqua Terra travel, Inc. ( formerly Hemingway and Envoy Travel agencies ) , located at 1640 N. Wells St., Chicago IL 60614. Cynthia or Ted can be reached at 312-787-2400 or 1-800-44-ENVOY. Visit Aqua Terra's Web page at: www.aquaterratravel.com .
