soldham

Just back from a 21 day HAL cruise........we had a house sitter move in for the duration but had no expectation he would never leave the house. First time he went away for several hours someone threw a rock through one of the front door window panes and made off with our Apple Studio.

Sounds to me like they would be perfect candidates for HAL. That is our preferred line and we have the same preferences though we are a bit younger.

And IMO - just because someone posts about A bad experience on X cruise line should not indicate to you that cruise lines 'friendliness' towards gay people. ALL cruise lines are friendly to gay people - SOME individuals on those cruise lines may not be.

We went once years ago - no one showed up. We either cruise with our best friends (straight) or alone - we always meet people either way. This past cruise on the Splendor - the meets were for 11:00 each night - that's my Casino time - sorry ;) Actually most nights we would meet some great folks at the lobby bar - both gay and straight couples - all having a blast. I walked by once and didn't see anyone.

 

Don't think it's a Carnival thing - seen the same thing on RCCL and NCL

I agree - we just came back from a 21 day HAL cruise and they had a GLBT meeting every night but not once did we see anyone show up and we certainly met many gay folks on board. We always meet people just fine without these get togethers and, quite honestly, I wonder how relevant they are any longer. Certainly did not strum up any interest on our voyage.......

As I said above it is @25/pp/pday which is alot in my world.......

Pinnacle is $25 per person and Tamarind is $15. I usually go to the Pinnacle once but my personal opinion is that it is not that much better that the main dining. Just a nicer ambiance.

It is but there is quite a bit of variety. Our try a ship that has a Tamarind restaurant. I could (and have) eaten at it many times on a cruise....

We have been cruising on HAL since we were in our 20's and have no complaints. Yes - the quality has dipped a bit but is still very good value.

And we carry a sling backpack as well but never put anything in there we are not willing to lose. In Rome we have seen people cut the sling and run off with the pack into a crowd.

I don't think you should be any more worried than anywhere else. Paris subway, Florence, Rome - these are all places that have a thriving industry of pickpockets. My advice is carry only what is necessary, and put your stuff in a front pocket with a zipper (tighter fit is better) or keep you hand in your pocket and you will be fine.

All this chatter about Barcelona is making me want to go there again. But we are leaving for Boardeaux in 2 weeks to spend a week before heading up to get on a HAL Baltic cruise so I guess it will have to be another time!

You must go and see the Sagrada Família, stroll down La Ramblas at cocktail time and visit the Barri Gotic (gothic quarter.)

I have always found it to be a non-issue on any cruise I have taken thus far. Perhaps I have just been lucky.

 

 

“The whole world is bi-sexual, conditioning, opportunity and environment account finally and mysteriously for our sexual preference”.Gore Vidal

 

Dennis

428 days at sea

36 cruises

 

This quote does not support your quote though I entirely agree with the sentiment.

I have a little quote that may apply..

"Show me a queer hater and I will show you a latent homosexual"

Sexually well adjusted people live and let live.

I feel sorry and pity the angry, Ignorant, hypocrites who hate and are probably trapped in loveless marriages.

The opposite of love is not hate but rather indifference.

 

Dennis

 

I think that may be applicable in a very few cases but the vast majority of anti-gay sentiment is generated (IMO) from the following:

- religious beliefs

- fear

- inaccurate information

- family upbringing

 

I think that assuming every anit-gay person is a latent homosexual is about as accurate as assuming every Hollywood actor that never got married was a closet homosexual. (And once again, IMO, angry anit-gay people don't take to well to being told that the reason they hate us is because they are gay themselves.)

Yes - I think I can appreciate that a bit.

Back in the day we used to go to Saugatuck, Michigan for all the major US holidays and it attracted gay people from Detroit, Chicago, Indy, etc. (Still does I imagine.) The whole town was gay for the better part of the summer.

There was always a large tea dance in the afternoon on the last day and the energy and pride that was generated was phenomenal. And very emotional.

Yes - I see your point and you are likely right. They are pricier locations and longer trips as well so you already have a smaller market to choose from.

And no - that was not meant to be sarcastic at all. Just trying to understand the motivation.

I don't know what you base that on, but having just returned from our sixth RSVP cruise, I can tell you that is about the on board and on land activities! Yes, there are some people that decide to stay on board in some (and maybe all) ports but from what I have experienced RSVP cruisers do a heck of a lot of excursions.

 

We either had excursions booked in every port in Hawaii, or had a rental car and explored on our own.

 

It is amusing to read the (often very wrong) impressions of gay cruises from those who have never been on one. ;)

Just noting that I have yet to see a gay cruise going to Antarctica, or Patagonia, or Greenland, Indonesia, etc, etc. That is what I meant by adventure.

But you are right that I did make an assumption that people would pay premium to go to places that you can see for half the price on a mainstream cruise and assumed it was for the 'onboard experience'. My bad.

We've been on multiple gay cruises in the past. All have been with RSVP. Next year have decided to go on a mainstream cruise and have decided to go with HAL since we really like their ships and size of staterooms. Staff has always been great. We want to be able to vary our itinerary and decided on a transatlantic out of Venice. We realize HAL leans toward an older demographic but thats fine with us since we're not exactly young- in's. Don't really see an issue with the passengers since the majority of our friends are straight couples that we hang out with all the time. I have read comments about how the ship closes up early but I tend to go to bed early anyway which works out well cause than hubby can go to the casino as long as he wants. We definately enjoy many aspects of all gay cruises (holding hands, dancing, an occasional peck on the cheek, etc) and will continue to do them, but am hopeful that we will enjoy our TA just as much. There are so many places we'd like to see that the all gay cruises don't go.

A cruise to us is an adventure more than a vacation (as you can likely tell from our trips log) and gay cruises seem more about 'on the ship' activities than locations (and I am most certainly NOT being judgemental - to each his or her own.) Add to that the added cost for a shorter trip and as much fun as it sounds (and it does) I just do not see it in my future.

Question:

We are looking into a 14 to 24 day Mediterranean cruise in 2011....any suggestions for cruise lines that are gay-friendly but not exclusively gay?

How have folks experience Holland America or NCL? Both have departures that are appealing for us.

We travel almost exclusively on HAL and find it fits us very well. HAL does tend to attract an older crowd but they also attract a more diverse and educated crowd as well which we find very pleasant. We have not had any negative experiences with the clientele or the staff. We have always found people (gay and/or straight) that we can hang with and stay up late with should we desire. And our personal feeling is that we are just a couple like any other so a no special interest cruise (what is a straight cruise anyway?) fits the bill.

What about these little critters? Which live in MOST beds already..

"It is estimated that there are up to 2 million house dust mites living in a mattress and in an average pillow, 10% of its weight is made up of dead skin and dust mites."

I think that many 'ills' are a fact of life for people who like to travel. I am not a germophobe or a slob - just a realist.

I do not believe in using 'antibacterial everything' (did we not learn from our blatant abuse of antibiotics that bugs are quite adaptable) but practice proper hygiene with simple things like soap and water, kleenex, and good sense.

I would not avoid an eating location, sit at dinner just for two (plastic bubble anyone?), nor make any other specific avoidance moves other than the above. To me it is sort of like trying the local food on shore - there IS a chance but life is to short to hide away.....