Vacations Blog

Whatever your gay vacation style, sailing off on a gay cruise could be just the thing to experience something a little bit different. Many operators arrange these cruises now, with most focus being on two main types.

The first of these is the gay environment cruise,, where a liner is chartered for the sole use of a gay crowd.

These can be excellent if you just want to get away from the mainstream and just be yourself. And with tailored entertainment, cabarets and activities, you certainly won’t have too much time for soaking up the sun.

Some of these cruises can be huge affairs in themselves, often attracting huge DJs to  take the parties by storm. With groups of up to 3000 being entertained on board this  is an excellent way to enjoy you first gay cruise.

If, however you want to have a little more of an actual vacation, though allowing you to meet and relax with other gays and lesbians, a gay group cruise will be more to your liking. Taking place as part of a mainstream cruise, these are quieter but no less enjoyable.

As would be expected, the entertainment offered is targeted to a straighter, more mainstream clientele. Increasingly though, some nights in certain bars and restaurants are specifically tailored to the gay scene, and there is always the time onshore to arrange events.

Being a part of a mainstream cruise, many people prefer this approach, as things may get, well, a little too gay on a gay environment cruise. At least here, you can have the joys of both.

There are other types of gay cruise available, and new and more outrageous ideas coming online all the time. Your choice is not easy, and that is before you decide which islands or coasts to cruise around!

Most travelers do not worry too much about whether they will be welcomed at traditional travel destinations. Generally, places tourists frequent usually want to attract anyone who is willing to pay for the available products or services. However, for sexual minorities, including gay men, some locations range from an absence of an open arms greeting to outright hostility. Consequently, some gay travel destination are more welcoming than others.

In Europe for example, both Berlin and Prague have long traditions of enthusiastically welcoming gay visitors. Germany and the Czech Republic may be more socially conservative than, say, Sweden, but the capital cities of both nations have large gay populations and pockets in which gay men can openly hold hands or exchange a loving kiss without experiencing so much as a surprised look. Prague has been gay friendly since even before the fall of the iron curtain.

Most of Latin America is a different story. The tradition of machismo is prevalent. Generally gay men should abide by the customs of the community in order to assure their personal safety. In other words, just because you see straight people behaving a certain way, don’t assume that a gay couple could follow course. Of course sexual minorities are at least as prevalent in Latin America as in any other part of the world, but it is assumed that the minorities will demonstrate considerable discretion. However, in locations that rely economically upon tourists, like in Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, the conventions of western Europe are more likely to appear, given the international nature of the temporary population. Mexico City is gay friendly to tourists only in certain areas of the city, despite being much more cosmopolitan in other ways.

The United States is definitely a mixed situation. In general, the two coasts are more accepting of gay men than the central portions of the nation. The North is much more welcoming than the old South. Urban areas tend to be more progressive the rural regions. Places frequented by the young are typically most accepting of all; young Americans do not understand what business sexual orientation is of anyone other than the people directly affected. Still there are exceptions to all of those “rules.”

America’s most popular gay friendly vacation destinations and retirement areas include Palm Springs in California and Key West and South Beach (Miami) in Florida.

The world is diverse, and there are still places where gay men are persecuted. To maximize your enjoyment of your destination, understand the local customs and culture.