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How gay friendly is Holland America?


diablob
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The cruise staff is rarely a problem on any cruise. Passengers and ports are another story. I personally avoid nearly all Caribbean ports besides San Juan and the ABCs. Worst homophobic behavior I've seen was from an Australian guy on a NZ/Oz cruise.

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  • 2 weeks later...
The cruise staff is rarely a problem on any cruise. Passengers and ports are another story. I personally avoid nearly all Caribbean ports besides San Juan and the ABCs. Worst homophobic behavior I've seen was from an Australian guy on a NZ/Oz cruise.

 

I'm doing a 10-night Queensland cruise from Sydney on Princess in early 2019. I'll keep your comment in mind. You'd think the Australians would be fairly progressive, but I keep hearing otherwise.

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I've got several questions and I realize they might all belong in different forums, by will consolidate here.

 

Good time?: My husband will turn 40 next March and I was thinking of celebrating with two week cruise on HAL Oosterdam or Westerdam sailing from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale via various Central American ports and the canal. He has mentioned wanting to go on a cruise and I'd like to do Panama Canal crossing. We live in SD and this sails over his birthday so it's all very convenient. Will 36 and 40 YO gays have fun on this trip or feel weirdly out of place with only straight 75 YOs because it's HAL?

 

Good value?: I have no idea when to buy tickets for this stuff. I look at Vacations To Go...is there a good way to make sure you get a good deal? Time to book? Where to book from?

 

 

Good ship?: It seems that these boats were recently renovated but kind of small. Will these ships provide a good first cruise for my spouse? Is one better than the other?

 

 

To suite or not?: I have been on two cruises previously, both ages ago. First was 7ish days and had oceanview room. Second was 3ish days and had interior room--Will never do that again--horrid. This time thinking the difference between balcony and suite didn't look to be too much $, but is it really nice enough to be worth it?

 

 

I welcome any and all comments on these items and sorry I didn't post this 4 different places.

 

 

Thanks!!

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Some of the HA cruises from San Diego to Ft Lauderdale have a lot of sea days and few port stops. However, I'm taking the Oosterdam from SD to FLL this November since the price is low for a 15 day cruise. I'll let you know what I think after the cruise.

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HAL does indeed attract an older crowd, particularly on its older ships. I'd rethink if I were you. We gave Westerdam (a twin of the ship you are considering) a fair chance and for the first time in a few dozen cruises, we were, frankly, bored. We enjoy older people but I would estimate that on our sailing, less than 20% of the passengers were under 50. If that matters to you, be forewarned.

 

Every sailing is different but we also have had friends who have sailed HAL and had the same impression we did. The positives were comfortable cabins and good main dining room food and the negatives, for us, were very mediocre entertainment and activities.

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I've got several questions and I realize they might all belong in different forums, by will consolidate here.

 

Good time?: My husband will turn 40 next March and I was thinking of celebrating with two week cruise on HAL Oosterdam or Westerdam sailing from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale via various Central American ports and the canal. He has mentioned wanting to go on a cruise and I'd like to do Panama Canal crossing. We live in SD and this sails over his birthday so it's all very convenient. Will 36 and 40 YO gays have fun on this trip or feel weirdly out of place with only straight 75 YOs because it's HAL?

 

Thanks!!

 

Many years ago I decided to take my parents on a Princess Cruises Panama canal cruise from Acapulco to San Juan, PR. Prior to this we had only gone on Summer 7-day Caribbean cruise on RCI which we thoroughly enjoyed. Well, about two months prior to the Panama cruise my mother got sick and she couldn't go and my dad didn't want to leave her, but they encouraged me to go ahead without them. So I flew down to Acapulco and boarded the ship to find out most of passengers were 65+. I was 29 years old. I stuck out like a snore thumb. It was nothing like the Caribbean cruises and I wasn't aware that Panama cruise catered to mostly older people. I was devastated. I was so depressed I considered getting off in Costa Rica and flying home. Well, I was fortunate to sit at a nice dining room table with lovely people who sort of took me under their wing. A retired British couple from California, a 40 something tour leader from a travel agency who was hosting a large group onboard and two older sisters from Orlando Fl who were a complete hoot! I don't think we all laugh so hard. During the cruise I did meet a gay couple in the casino which I ended up hang with in port. I also hooked up with one of the entertainments onboard...I'll say nothing further on that. LOL ;) Going through the Panama Canal is really a bucket list items and the ship and food as I recall were fabulous. Top notch. Moral of the story: It ended up as one of my most memorable cruises. You just need to understand what you are getting yourself into. The longer more exotic cruises tend to catered to a very mature crowd. Yes, you might find a few people your age...but not many. Don't expect a packed disco and by 10-11PM the ship get pretty quiet. But who knows you might end up having a great time. As far as booking a cruise & fares...best to find a good travel agent that specializes in cruises. You can search for authorized HAL travel agents in your area thru HAL's website. Given them a call and see what they say. Doesn't cost you anything. Hope this helps.

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My husband and I just returned from a HA cruise on the Zuiderdam out of Copenhagen to Norway, Iceland and Scotland. Even though the ship departed from a European port, the passengers were mostly American. The majority of the passengers were middle-aged or seniors. As a traditional style cruise line, I don't think HA appeals to a young crowd looking to party or climb rock walls, which was fine with us. All the passengers we interacted with were very friendly and the fact that we were a male couple traveling and dining together didn't seem to matter to anyone. Every staff member we encountered was friendly and respectful. We did attend one of the LGBT meet ups but only one other person showed up. We checked out the meeting on other nights, but there never seemed to be any other LGBT people in the bar so we didn't stop. We definitely noticed several gay and lesbian couples on the cruise.

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I also heard a comedian on Princess who I thought had gay-themed jokes that weren't funny, were alienating, and that seemed like an easy way to get a laugh from older passengers and those from the less sophisticated regions of the country. One of the statements made -which I heard on more than one cruise in response to various situations that the comedians deemed to be 'gay-ish' was that 'This is the Love Boat and not a ferry (fairy) boat." It was offensive to me and to my partner at that time. My partner's family owned the highest producing travel agency for Princess. We were treated excessively well and never complained about anything except this situation.The response was patronizing and without empathy. i believe things might have changed for better in recent years as the bigoted 'greatest generation' have died off.

Do remember that the "bigoted" greatest generation saved the world from tyranny, so show a little respect! Not all were by any means like that.

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  • 3 weeks later...

HAL is very welcoming to LGBT. I quite enjoy the FOD gatherings, even the times when not so many show up. That HAL is an 80s and up crowd only is a myth I think, although it might apply on the longer cruises. All ages show up at FOD gatherings, but generally few are much older than me (I'm 51). It's unfortunately mostly a boys club: I've only been once where a trans lady was there with her male partner, and once where a lesbian couple joined us. I really don't know why that is; maybe people are shy?

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Have done 17 HAL cruises with my partner. They treat us with the utmost respect. Have been on 3 rsvp on HAL and doing the Atlantis on the Oosterdam. On a regular cruise, a LGBT get together is scheduled every night. I even overhear some bar tenders talking about a wait list to work the RSVP cruise because of the level of income they make on gay charters.

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Hi Wesport, see your on the Atlantis Oosterdam charter too in October. We did the same cruise last year on the Westerdam. Had great time and looking forward to this year... have always been treated great by the crew on HAL on str8 and gay charters. Were from San Francisco area

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hal is awesome with gays based on my experience with gay charters (Atlantis Events). I was on last year's Mexican Riviera Cruise on HAL Westerdam and it was nice. The staff theatre show (themed around Fairy Tales and Halloween) was excellent and they adapted the storyline and words for a gay audience. The first or second number even included a gay couple meeting in the park to some nice song and dance. I am positive it was not the regular show put on for the "non-gay" cruises. It was more than I expected as I also was on the Mexican Riviera Cruise the year before (Norwegian Jewel) and they did not adapt their shows. So HAL doing it was like an extra touch. With as busy as cruise staff can be, they didn't have to do all that. Aside, I think a lot of the staff of cruise ships are generally gay when it comes to males and females (esp. males), and sometimes it might depend on variables like where the crew comes from or where the ship is registered at. On HAL, I got a lot of great attention, they were all happy to help me. They wanted to participate in our poolside events as much as we actually did. A couple staff member males asked me where I got my dog tags (for the dog tag tea dance) because they wanted to be a part of it all too with us. What we do freely on vacation they only envy. Considering the fact that HAL is so great with gay charters, I would have to rate them at above average.

 

 

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I have felt that HAL (at least on the Eurodam) has been very accommodating to LGBT passengers. On the two cruises I just did, the staff and crew were awesome, and the Filipino crew, some of which were FoD, were great.

I'm doing another HAL cruise in February, this time on the Rotterdam, so it'll be interesting how this crew is and if I'll enjoy being by myself for 21 days!

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I have been on 26 cruises. Most of the major cruise lines. My friends and I have never been made to feel uncomfortable by staff or by other travelers. We make friends more often with straight people onboard then other LGBT travelers. I have found cruise staff to be very accommodating to the LGBT passengers. My only concern next year is a booking I made on a 24 day cruise on the Koningsdam. I am in my late 50's. I heard this ship is trying to attract a younger demographic. I am hoping it does not feel like a nursing home. My last cruise on HAL was 10 years ago and it was RSVP cruise to Alaska.

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  • 2 months later...

HAL is amazingly welcoming. My husband and I love Holland America. We are on the cusp of 200 days at sea with them, and ONLY sail with them unless family or friends insist we try someone else, usually with less than stellar results. This SEATTLE BASED company has recieved high marks for inclusion, and providing a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBT communtiy. Some guests can be. . . difficult, but you then know who to avoid. ;) and that can happen anywhere.

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HAL is amazingly welcoming. My husband and I love Holland America. We are on the cusp of 200 days at sea with them, and ONLY sail with them unless family or friends insist we try someone else, usually with less than stellar results. This SEATTLE BASED company has recieved high marks for inclusion, and providing a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBT communtiy. Some guests can be. . . difficult, but you then know who to avoid. ;) and that can happen anywhere.

 

Seattle based? I thought Holland America's parent company is the Carnival Group. As in Carnival Cruise Lines and HAL is a subdivision meant to appeal to older money/demographics. :halo:

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My cruise on HAL in Feb 2018 was very nice. We had a butler for part of the cruise and he said he loved the gay cruises. He said the guests are more relaxed, like to interact with the crew, tip well, and that the crew gets to be less formal with the guests. He specifically asked to work some of the events.

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Seattle based? I thought Holland America's parent company is the Carnival Group. As in Carnival Cruise Lines and HAL is a subdivision meant to appeal to older money/demographics. :halo:

 

Yes - but, unlike RCI, Carnival brands have more autonomy. HAL is in Seattle, Princess is in Santa Clarita, California, Carnival is in Miami (I think Seabourn shares the office) and Cunard and P&O share an office in Southampton, England.

 

I also think your characterization of HAL, while not necessarily incorrect, is limited.

 

And HAL is not only very gay-friendly. The well-trained Indonesian and Filipino crew are genuinely friendly, gracious, and wonderful! We leave on a quickie cruise in a month.

Edited by MarkBearSF
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Yes - but, unlike RCI, Carnival brands have more autonomy. HAL is in Seattle, Princess is in Santa Clarita, California, Carnival is in Miami (I think Seabourn shares the office) and Cunard and P&O share an office in Southampton, England.

 

I also think your characterization of HAL, while not necessarily incorrect, is limited.

 

And HAL is not only very gay-friendly. The well-trained Indonesian and Filipino crew are genuinely friendly, gracious, and wonderful! We leave on a quickie cruise in a month.

 

 

 

I agree with you Mark, the crew

Is

Very very well trained, and we have always felt warmth from them. But HAL does trend to older folks, more over 45 50 plus depending on the cruise, so bars don’t tend to be full late at night. HAL one of our most favorite!!!! Princess 2nd.

 

 

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We got married on Oosterdam in May 2013 and have done several cruises since then. We are pretty laid back and not partiers so really enjoy HAL.

 

Crew and officers have always been great and respectful- have never felt uncomfortable.

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Three cruises with HAL and fourth booked. Holland America is just a tad bit above in service, execution and delivery of the CCL product. As a gay couple, on all three of our HAL experiences, there hasn't been a single issue either from staff or fellow travelers. Should you decide to book, there is always a printed schedule of LGBTQ get-to-gethers. Have fun!

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