Cruises catering to LGBT travelers continue to expand, highlighted by the January 2017 debut of what Atlantis Events called the “largest and most extravagant gay cruise in history.” Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was set to carry about 5,400 passengers on an action-packed voyage from Jan. 22–29, 2017. Departing Fort Lauderdale, the ship’s itinerary included stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Labadee, Haiti. With 17 decks, five theaters, 13 restaurants and multiple dance venues, the Allure of the Seas offered a wide range of onboard activities for Atlantis guests.
On a smaller scale, Atlantis introduced a new itinerary from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, scheduled for Feb. 25–March 7, 2017, with three days in port at Rio during Carnival. Atlantis planned ticketed access to samba school parades and a mix of LGBT-focused and general events. The 684-passenger Oceania Regatta was to call at Paraty and Porto Belo, Brazil, and Punta del Este and Montevideo, Uruguay, before arriving in Buenos Aires.
Also joining the growing list of LGBT-friendly departures was Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam, a 2,650-passenger ship making its first LGBT cruise with RSVP Vacations from Feb. 5–12, 2017. Departing Fort Lauderdale, the voyage included stops in Key West; Grand Cayman; Roatán, Honduras; and Cozumel. The RSVP itinerary featured open-air parties and a customizable “YouCreate” party that allowed guests to vote on the event theme.
Olivia, a company that specializes in lesbian travel, offered several new cruises for 2017. One notable itinerary was Majestic Alaska, scheduled for June 25–July 2, 2017, aboard the 1,380-passenger Holland America Line ms Amsterdam, departing from Seattle and including scenic cruising along Stephens Passage and past Hubbard Glacier. Olivia also announced an Iceland sailing from Reykjavík aboard the 212-passenger Star Legend, planned for July 28–Aug. 4, 2017.
Mainstream cruise lines increasingly provide opportunities for LGBT passengers to connect through informal meetups, cocktail hours and social gatherings sometimes promoted under the “Friends of Dorothy” name. Travel specialists such as Pied Piper Travel organize gay group excursions on major cruise ships and arrange events specifically for their clients. RSVP Vacations’ anticipated 2017 departures included an Asia voyage on the Celebrity Millennium in February, a transatlantic crossing aboard Queen Mary 2 in June, and a Rhine River cruise in September.
Overall, the variety of LGBT-friendly cruise options in 2017 ranged from large-scale, festival-style sailings to more intimate, theme-focused voyages. Travelers could choose itineraries based on destinations, onboard entertainment, or community-focused programming, making it easier than ever to find a cruise that matched personal preferences for pace, atmosphere and social opportunities.