Excuse me..Whats the deal with "all gay" cruises

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by MDDCFlyer

That is, as they say, depends. In 2010 Rich was burnt badly as Atlantis went to far to fast in the face of declining economy. In honesty, as those deals were made probably 1 to 2 years in advance it was hard to predict. That said, the Asia cruises where not sold out, nor I believe the Med cruises.

There is a long discussion on that topic is some other trends. Sadly, the audience is pretty much captive. I don't think Atlantis or RSVP are doing enough outreach. It is mostly word of mouth that people learn about the cruises. And while this is the best sort of publicity you ran into problems when you are trying to do too many cruises at one time.

In the end, I keep seeing the same faces on those cruise (which I welcome and love seeing old friends). But there is a limit (both time and money) on how many of those one can go on (despite wanting to be on all of them of course). With limited amount of captive audience, with the budgetary constrains there is a number after which it would become economically none-viable to offer more cruises.

The problem with varying the itinerary is the moment you stray away from the classic Caribbean or Mexican Riviera cruise the cost goes up. To go to the southern Caribbean you need a cruise longer than 7 days (or leave out of PR). The exotic destination are expensive to get to and stay at. All of that would effect the people that want and can afford to go. We try to go 3-4 times a year - but could not afford to go 3-4 times a year to an exotic destination.

I said it before, the approach I would take is to dedicate RSVP to the exotic destinations, and have Atlantis do the mainstream. However there are too many connotation concerning both companies that idea might be a none-starter.

some of us aren't intersted in the carib and mexican ones because of having been there already. i would be tempted if the cruise went somewhere interesting.

[mavis2222]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

some of us aren't intersted in the carib and mexican ones because of having been there already. i would be tempted if the cruise went somewhere interesting.

Thats when i take advantage of the ship when most of the people are off of it while in port.. Less crowded.

[MDDCFlyer]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

some of us aren't intersted in the carib and mexican ones because of having been there already. i would be tempted if the cruise went somewhere interesting.

The reality is that those are the cruises we go on for the cruise experience with Atlantis, not because of the destination. More often than not, we never actually go ashore on those cruises (been there, done that).

It is all depends on what you are looking for. If your main attraction is the destination, the gay charter is not going to work for you. There will not be enough exotic destination that would allow the charter to break even on a regular basis. This is just a fact of life.

[rucrazy]

Originally Posted by MDDCFlyer

It is all depends on what you are looking for. If your main attraction is the destination, the gay charter is not going to work for you.

won't it be nice when the day comes that that IS the case....Lets us believe!

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by MDDCFlyer

The reality is that those are the cruises we go on for the cruise experience with Atlantis, not because of the destination. More often than not, we never actually go ashore on those cruises (been there, done that).

It is all depends on what you are looking for. If your main attraction is the destination, the gay charter is not going to work for you. There will not be enough exotic destination that would allow the charter to break even on a regular basis. This is just a fact of life.

that was the point of an earlier post i made and the subject of this thread. anything the shipboard experience offers, i can get in my own city - without going to the expense of a cruise.

[Boytjie]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

that was the point of an earlier post i made and the subject of this thread. anything the shipboard experience offers, i can get in my own city - without going to the expense of a cruise.

Living in a big city myself, I have to say the gay charter experience is not like anything I have experienced in the city.

Perhaps with everyone on the ship being outside their usual environment makes them a lot friendlier.

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by Boytjie

Living in a big city myself, I have to say the gay charter experience is not like anything I have experienced in the city.

Perhaps with everyone on the ship being outside their usual environment makes them a lot friendlier.

or maybe it is just where you live. new yorkers aren't known for being warm and fuzzy. i've had a great time there, still.

come to pittsburgh sometime. very friendly people. we were ranked as the 'flirtiest city in the country' for a reason: http://www.timesonline.com/news/loca...d5651d193.html

[Boytjie]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

or maybe it is just where you live. new yorkers aren't known for being warm and fuzzy. i've had a great time there, still.

come to pittsburgh sometime. very friendly people. we were ranked as the 'flirtiest city in the country' for a reason: http://www.timesonline.com/news/loca...d5651d193.html

Been there, but no banana. Maybe you have encountered tourists and not real New Yorkers.

[Erik101]

Originally Posted by MDDCFlyer

The reality is that those are the cruises we go on for the cruise experience with Atlantis, not because of the destination. More often than not, we never actually go ashore on those cruises (been there, done that).

It is all depends on what you are looking for. If your main attraction is the destination, the gay charter is not going to work for you. There will not be enough exotic destination that would allow the charter to break even on a regular basis. This is just a fact of life.

Thanks for pointing this out and makes a lot of sense! After speaking about the subject with my partner, we have come to realize that should we decide to go on a gay cruise, then it will be about the onboard experience and the destination is secondary. Otherwise, if destination is important then we'll stick with the mainstream lines; hence, our Celebrity cruise next year to the Mediterranean which we are looking forward to. Whatever happens, we will go with an open mind and have fun!

Also, thanks to everyone else who responded to the "cons" of gay cruising. When I was in my mid-twenties, I went to my first and only circuit party. I gotta tell you….it was the most uncomfortable place and position that I have ever been in. Lots of good looking, shirtless and sweaty men dancing, having a good time....and HIGH. These guys were using drugs like Fun Dips from 7-Eleven and they were using it freely on the dance floor. I'm glad that I never got into that kind of mess and proud to have never touched the stuff!

Fast forward 10 years later…..I thought about taking a gay cruise for a while and then I saw a photo of the cruisers on the Allure at the Aqua Theater. So what do you think came to my mind? You guessed it….a circuit party! And immediately, I was turned off because I did not want to be reminded of an uncomfortable past experience. I equated that every gay cruise is like this and I thought, "Why the hell would I want to go on this type of vacation?" But what I've learned from these boards is that I don't have to be on that floor when cruising and I can choose to do what I want to do. So thanks again to those of you who have given testimonials that not everyone on a gay cruise is a party boy! My partner and I define a good time as conversation with great friends over cocktails. Add a piano bar and it's even better! We're very glad to know that gay cruises can offer our choice of entertainment.

[Boytjie]

I speak only for RSVP cruises: the parties are nothing like a circuit party

[COMBOY]

Originally Posted by Erik101

Thanks for pointing this out and makes a lot of sense! After speaking about the subject with my partner, we have come to realize that should we decide to go on a gay cruise, then it will be about the onboard experience and the destination is secondary. Otherwise, if destination is important then we'll stick with the mainstream lines; hence, our Celebrity cruise next year to the Mediterranean which we are looking forward to. Whatever happens, we will go with an open mind and have fun!

Also, thanks to everyone else who responded to the "cons" of gay cruising. When I was in my mid-twenties, I went to my first and only circuit party. I gotta tell you….it was the most uncomfortable place and position that I have ever been in. Lots of good looking, shirtless and sweaty men dancing, having a good time....and HIGH. These guys were using drugs like Fun Dips from 7-Eleven and they were using it freely on the dance floor. I'm glad that I never got into that kind of mess and proud to have never touched the stuff!

Fast forward 10 years later…..I thought about taking a gay cruise for a while and then I saw a photo of the cruisers on the Allure at the Aqua Theater. So what do you think came to my mind? You guessed it….a circuit party! And immediately, I was turned off because I did not want to be reminded of an uncomfortable past experience. I equated that every gay cruise is like this and I thought, "Why the hell would I want to go on this type of vacation?" But what I've learned from these boards is that I don't have to be on that floor when cruising and I can choose to do what I want to do. So thanks again to those of you who have given testimonials that not everyone on a gay cruise is a party boy! My partner and I define a good time as conversation with great friends over cocktails. Add a piano bar and it's even better! We're very glad to know that gay cruises can offer our choice of entertainment.

Your right. You can't equate a gay cruise as a circuit parties. They are completely different venues. The "themed" dance parties are usually (weather permitting) up on deck around the pool and start around 11PM and go until 5AM or so. If that's not your things then there is late night cabaret, comedians, movies, piano sing along and other stuff. Now, there are usually 3 afternoon T-dance from 4-6PM. I like these the best because it's light outside, you can see people and it's just a more light fun atmosphere vs the hard core late night thumb, thumb, thumb. I like both events; however, the late night dances are dark, sometimes wind and/or hot/humid and very crowded. But whatever the case the demographics of those on gay cruises vs those that go to circuit parties are quite different as you have more couples and more mature guys on the cruises. So do guys that go to circuit parties go on gay cruise? - probably yes. Do guys do drugs on gay cruise - sure; however, I've never seen it openly done. They do have security closely watching the parties. On one of my Atlantis Mexico cruise a guy died of a drug overdose. Very sad, but that's the exception and certainly not the rule. So a bunch of shirtless guys dancing on cruise ship as part of cruise vacations is not a circuit party. Circuit parties were large dance events in major cities as AIDS fundraiser although I think today they are more just dance events. I went to the one in Palm Springs several years ago just to see all the hoopla and I really wasn't too impressed. It was just a large dance event at the convention center. Been there; done that. I still like the gay cruise though.

[MDDCFlyer]

Originally Posted by Erik101

Also, thanks to everyone else who responded to the "cons" of gay cruising. When I was in my mid-twenties, I went to my first and only circuit party. I gotta tell you….it was the most uncomfortable place and position that I have ever been in. Lots of good looking, shirtless and sweaty men dancing, having a good time....and HIGH. These guys were using drugs like Fun Dips from 7-Eleven and they were using it freely on the dance floor. I'm glad that I never got into that kind of mess and proud to have never touched the stuff!

Fast forward 10 years later…..I thought about taking a gay cruise for a while and then I saw a photo of the cruisers on the Allure at the Aqua Theater. So what do you think came to my mind? You guessed it….a circuit party! And immediately, I was turned off because I did not want to be reminded of an uncomfortable past experience. I equated that every gay cruise is like this and I thought, "Why the hell would I want to go on this type of vacation?" But what I've learned from these boards is that I don't have to be on that floor when cruising and I can choose to do what I want to do. So thanks again to those of you who have given testimonials that not everyone on a gay cruise is a party boy! My partner and I define a good time as conversation with great friends over cocktails. Add a piano bar and it's even better! We're very glad to know that gay cruises can offer our choice of entertainment.

This is one point where you see a marked difference between Atlantis and RSVP. RSVP is a little more laid back and easy going. Some people on the Atlantis cruises go for the party. I have never seen drugs used on RSVP cruise, but have seen them on Atlantis (not only the overdoses which seems to happen on many cruises; I will never forgot coming to the cabin one nigh on our first cruise and someone mixing what ever he was just outside in the hallway, asking if we want some - no thank you). It is something that everyone hate to talk about but is present. To be fair, I would guess it is present on a straight party cruse as well.

We are not big party people at all. We go to the T-dance (as others said, it is just nice to be outside and mingle). At the night party we usually show up for a little while and then retreat to the comfort of the piano bar with our favorite performers.

You can make the cruise whatever you want it to be. That what we tell everyone and it is very true. I never let other people actions effect my enjoyment from the vacation.

[MDDCFlyer]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

that was the point of an earlier post i made and the subject of this thread. anything the shipboard experience offers, i can get in my own city - without going to the expense of a cruise.

I doubt that in any city you are with the same group of 2000 people 24/7 for a week.

I doubt that in any city you can just leave work behind for a week and just forget the "real world."

I doubt that in any city you can move from the piano bar, to the show, to the party, to grabbing something to eat, all in less 5 minute walk from one another.

I doubt that in any city you can get gay themed activities for a week in the morning, afternoon, night and evening.

The combination of all those is what makes the gay cruise experience what it is. Only after being on one, one can understand the experience. It is nothing like living the gay life in a big city.

Of course if you are content, more power to you. But without trying you'll never really know.

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by MDDCFlyer

I doubt that in any city you are with the same group of 2000 people 24/7 for a week.

I doubt that in any city you can just leave work behind for a week and just forget the "real world."

I doubt that in any city you can move from the piano bar, to the show, to the party, to grabbing something to eat, all in less 5 minute walk from one another.

I doubt that in any city you can get gay themed activities for a week in the morning, afternoon, night and evening.

The combination of all those is what makes the gay cruise experience what it is. Only after being on one, one can understand the experience. It is nothing like living the gay life in a big city.

Of course if you are content, more power to you. But without trying you'll never really know.

i can do all those on a regular cruise without paying the premium and get to see interesting places along the way. i can do almost all those right here at home. in one block, i have 3 gay bars (drag, dance, loungey) and 2 restaurants. several performing arts venues and many more resturants in a 3 block radius. go a few more blocks and they are a few more bars offering strippers, dance, hard-drinking and leather motifs. quite a few more eateries, too.

everything is gay-themed? is breakfast gay-themed? hmmmm. can't imagine.

doubt i will ever book an atlantis or rsvp. i travel to see the world. the itineraries being offered by atlantis and rsvp right now are snoozers and too-short in length. fwiw, i did watch some videos - just looks like a week long tea dance. fine it that is what you want, but it is not what i want.

[TX_Atlantis_Cruiser]

I can do all those on a regular cruise without paying the premium and get to see interesting places along the way.

Unfortunately, you are not getting the same, or even remotely equivalent, experience on a "regular" cruise. The RSVP/Atlantis cruises have no children, have less than two dozen women typically, have relatively top-notch entertainment of ALL kinds not some third-rate performer hired by the cruiseline to fill time, and generally have VERY happy crew members bending over backwards to please you because they are being treated far better than on the "regular" cruises.

After spending years on cc, I KNOW for a fact that your experience on a "regular" cruise is nothing like my experience on a gay charter.

To each his own, but please don't diminish the very real difference between "regular" cruises and gay charters just because you can't justify paying the higher price for a gay-oriented shipboard experience. And as far as "interesting places" go, my Atlantis Baltic cruise a month ago was by far the most interesting vacation I have ever taken.

[TX_Atlantis_Cruiser]

For those of you basing your opinion on gay charters on the youtube videos of the dances and parties, please consider that these only represent a tiny portion of a gay cruise. For instance, if I was to form an opinion on mainstream cruises based on what I have read on cc over the years, here is what I would expect (and why I would likely not take one of these cruises):
-- teens running wild at all hours of the night terrorizing other passengers and even raping
-- drunken fights over something as minor as saving seats in the theater with some passengers being disembarked in the middle of the cruise
-- chairhogs who terrorize anyone that challenges them by blowing smoke in their faces and sitting on the bottom of their lounge chairs
-- pools filled to the brim with children and children running around even in the "adults only" area
-- inedible food, horrible service, dishonest cabin stewards, having to smuggle booze onboard because drink prices are too high, etc.

Granted, IF I was ever kidnapped and dragged onto a mainstream cruise, I likely wouldn't see much, if any of this. The Internet is a great tool for research, BUT keep in mind that you're likely not going to see the good aspects of any cruise simply because the bad stuff makes for better viewing.

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by TX_Atlantis_Cruiser

Unfortunately, you are not getting the same, or even remotely equivalent, experience on a "regular" cruise. The RSVP/Atlantis cruises have no children, have less than two dozen women typically, have relatively top-notch entertainment of ALL kinds not some third-rate performer hired by the cruiseline to fill time, and generally have VERY happy crew members bending over backwards to please you because they are being treated far better than on the "regular" cruises.

After spending years on cc, I KNOW for a fact that your experience on a "regular" cruise is nothing like my experience on a gay charter.

To each his own, but please don't diminish the very real difference between "regular" cruises and gay charters just because you can't justify paying the higher price for a gay-oriented shipboard experience. And as far as "interesting places" go, my Atlantis Baltic cruise a month ago was by far the most interesting vacation I have ever taken.

i don't see any 'regular' cruises in your signature...

[TX_Atlantis_Cruiser]

i don't see any 'regular' cruises in your signature...

While my knowledge of mainstream cruises is not first-hand, it is through extensive reading of cruisecritic and other cruise-oriented web sites, comments from Atlantis entertainers and staff such as Jim David and Matt Yee who also perform on "regular" cruises, and many conversations with gay guys who have traveled on mainstream cruises including my traveling buddy on my recent Atlantis Baltic cruise who has sworn off of all other types of cruising now that he has seen the dark side . . .

The experiences between mainstream cruises and gay charters CANNOT be the same as the demographics of the passengers are completely different especially the GENDER of the passengers and the settings for the performances and parties are not at all comparable as Atlantis and RSVP both change the pool deck into a party space as well as less noticeable, but still different changes to lounges and bar spaces to accommodate a different type of performance than is usually held there. No scooters and walkers on Atlantis, no children and pretty much no one under 21, and even Atlantis' own cruise director instead of the cruiseline's CD.

It's apples and kumquats no matter how you want to look at it.

[CtheW0rld]

Originally Posted by TX_Atlantis_Cruiser

While my knowledge of mainstream cruises is not first-hand, it is through extensive reading of cruisecritic and other cruise-oriented web sites, comments from Atlantis entertainers and staff such as Jim David and Matt Yee who also perform on "regular" cruises, and many conversations with gay guys who have traveled on mainstream cruises including my traveling buddy on my recent Atlantis Baltic cruise who has sworn off of all other types of cruising now that he has seen the dark side . . .

The experiences between mainstream cruises and gay charters CANNOT be the same as the demographics of the passengers are completely different especially the GENDER of the passengers and the settings for the performances and parties are not at all comparable as Atlantis and RSVP both change the pool deck into a party space as well as less noticeable, but still different changes to lounges and bar spaces to accommodate a different type of performance than is usually held there. No scooters and walkers on Atlantis, no children and pretty much no one under 21, and even Atlantis' own cruise director instead of the cruiseline's CD.

It's apples and kumquats no matter how you want to look at it.

hearsay evidence is not admissable. LOL. do you work for atlantis?

[Boytjie]

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

everything is gay-themed? is breakfast gay-themed? hmmmm. can't imagine.

Todd did not say everything is gay themed.

doubt i will ever book an atlantis or rsvp. i travel to see the world. the itineraries being offered by atlantis and rsvp right now are snoozers and too-short in length. fwiw, i did watch some videos - just looks like a week long tea dance. fine it that is what you want, but it is not what i want.

Originally Posted by CtheW0rld

i don't see any 'regular' cruises in your signature...

I don't see any 'gay charters' in your signature.

This haggling back and forth is not going to change your mind or of those of us that like gay charters. Different strokes for different folks. When asked about gay charters those of us that have done gay charters are just trying to give our side of the story vs. the often distorted view people who have never been on a gay charter may have.

Gay charters are not for everyone; if you don't like it or the concept, don't do it.

I have done one regular cruise and it was NOTHING like a gay charter. Was it enjoyable and would I do it again? Yes, but for different reasons.

The 2013 RSVP Caribbean cruise had an itinerary change from Mardi Gras in New Orleans to Carnival in Curacao - the same itinerary we did in 2010. I was very disappointed in not going to New Orleans with RSVP. I experienced Mardi Gras a few years ago and spending a week there cannot compare to a 16-hour port stop from a cruise ship, but I think \it would have been a different experience. I am still going on the RSVP cruise next February: it's hitting warm weather after months of winter in the Northeast; we always have a blast on a RSVP cruise, and we will be be spending a week with many friends on board.

I doubt that RSVP will do a Panama Canal cruise anytime soon, so I may just do a regular cruise to experience that. You see, a gay charter is not just about being on a ship and exploring the world, it is that and more - for me.