Is Carnival Gay Friendly

[777mjrseb]

Going on my 6th cruise with Carnival in April. I can't say my partner or myself have ever encountered an issue. Our room steward have always been very accommodating.

[ZipGirl]

Hi All, I admit that I've only read the first and last page of postings here, but is anyone else struck what a difference that seems to have occurred over the 6 years of the first postings to the most recent. My unscientific sampling suggests a decided skewing to the more positive. Still good and bad experiences, but now seems more positive. Seems to mimic the generally shifting attitudes in the country and it is welcome.

 

My partner and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary together on a celebrity cruise this May, and aside from some unpleasant table mates on a HAL cruise, have felt nothing but welcomed by the cruise industry. Of course, on our very first cruise (celebrity) we were booked a table with a very obnoxious, very drunk gay couple (along with another great gay couple and a straight man sailing single), and never was our table family so happy when that couple decided change their seating!

[NeoManicXZ]

I actually noticed that also, during the last 6 years it seems things have gotten better, sign of the times? MY partner and I will be going on our first cruise to celebrate our 3 years in April with Carnival. We are going with two other friends (not a couple but gay) and we're excited. I'm actually the one that worries what everyone else thinks and how they will act to us (i'm also the straightest acting one in our group). But I think it will be a good time =)

[aucruiser1980]

the cruise is not suitable for gay couples yet. the people are still prejudiced towards this phenomenon. that is why the gay people have to face harsh treatment sometimes.

 

From my personal experience, I totally disagree. My partner and I have only had pleasant experiences on all of the cruises that we have sailed. I have never experienced any "harsh treatment" while on a cruise, from the staff or fellow passengers. Maybe we have just been lucky. I am sorry if you may have been treated badly on a cruise, but let's face it.....there are jerks everywhere. But to give the impression that a cruise is not for gay people may scare some people to miss out on maybe having a fabulous time like I did. I can't wait to board the Legend in May!:p

Edited April 2, 2011 by aucruiser1980
mispelled word

[keithm]

the cruise is not suitable for gay couples yet. the people are still prejudiced towards this phenomenon. that is why the gay people have to face harsh treatment sometimes.

We've never had any issues. We have always booked Cunard. I think the only time you'll have any issues(still unlikely)is if you book one of those so called "booze" cruises. They last generally less than 5 days & cater to those who normally can't afford much. I hate saying it, but I've found many of those from lesser means are also less educated & more prejudiced against us. That being said the staff on Cunard & any line are usually gay friendly & will take quick action against offensive pax.

[keithm]

Wrong ... NCL is not a problem. FOD meetings and a lot of fun.

 

Likewide take a trip to Malaysia ... its a great place.

Well my partner's from there & trust me it may be a nice place to visit, but don't get caught in any gay acts..the laws there are typically very strict.

[ZipGirl]

the cruise is not suitable for gay couples yet. the people are still prejudiced towards this phenomenon. that is why the gay people have to face harsh treatment sometimes.

 

I wonder from which perspective this poster is coming from.

[paulypride]

I was on the carnival fascination this past january with friends who wanted to renew their vows....the staff was great....the captain performed a wonderful service and even had the piano player in the atrium stop playing for 15 min as to not distract from the special occasion....it was a wonderful experience

[Erik101]

My first cruise was on the Carnival Glory and we had a blast! We met so many gay couples and along with meeting some straight ones, there was never a dull moment and definitely no problems. Would I do it again? Probably not! I need to see what else is out there! :)

Edited February 12, 2012 by Erik101

[GaNavy]

We had our very 1st cruise with Carnival in 2004' on the Imagination; LOVED it! We had separate beds, told them we were a couple and wanted them attached and no one batted an eye. Fast forward 6 years and I got the biggest surprise. Carnival does not allow same-sex weddings on their ships. :eek:

 

At any rate, we will be getting married on the Norwegian Jewel this July and we are still as happy as can be. We'd still cruise Carnival even though we're not happy with their stand on the issue, but hey... everything in life doesn't make one happy so you move on.

 

Carnival captains are not authorized to marry straight couples, either, so if you wanted the captain to marry you, you just got the same treatment everyone else does.

 

If you wanted to bring your own priest/minister/JP on the ship to marry you, well, surprise, that probably won't work either unless you're docked in a state that allows same-sex marriages.... or unless you get your license in a state that does, and even then the law is unsettled as to the effect of the ceremony itself being performed in a hetero-only jurisdiction.

 

Were you planning on getting your license somewhere that same-sex marriages are legal and then having someone other than the captain officiate at your ceremony?

Edited February 13, 2012 by GaNavy

[Carnival_Brides]

Carnival will now marry same-sex couples on their ships if they're docked in cities where it is legal (New York, Boston, Seattle, etc). They will also now allow same-sex couples to book "wedding" packages and have a symbolic ceremony, but you have to have some form of legal documentation that you married or have a civil union/domestic partnership.

My partner and I are getting our license and doing a quickie ceremony in November and then having our "wedding" while the Pride is at sea in January with our families.

[F27TW]

On my one trip with Carnival, I had a drink thrown at my head and called queer, you be the judge.

 

John

 

By who? And how were you acting when it happened ?

[Cornus]

By who? And how were you acting when it happened ?

 

I suspect that you won't get an answer since that post was made almost eight years ago! June 20th, 2004, 07:27 PM :rolleyes:

[F27TW]

I suspect that you won't get an answer since that post was made almost eight years ago! June 20th, 2004, 07:27 PM :rolleyes:

 

so what ? that was more of a statement than anything else.

[keithm]

By who? And how were you acting when it happened ?

I've never seen any issues on Cunard. I know it's an old post, but boy if that happened to us, that buttwipe would be tossed over the side!!

[Lipz]

Carnival captains are not authorized to marry straight couples, either, so if you wanted the captain to marry you, you just got the same treatment everyone else does.

 

If you wanted to bring your own priest/minister/JP on the ship to marry you, well, surprise, that probably won't work either unless you're docked in a state that allows same-sex marriages.... or unless you get your license in a state that does, and even then the law is unsettled as to the effect of the ceremony itself being performed in a hetero-only jurisdiction.

 

Were you planning on getting your license somewhere that same-sex marriages are legal and then having someone other than the captain officiate at your ceremony?

 

We didn't want or need the captain to marry us. We planned on bringing our own officiant so that we could personalize our ceremony. Which we did end up doing on the Norwegian Jewel. Carnival, at the time was not even open to doing commitment ceremonies with same-sex couples.

 

Since it was not legal in NY at the time that we inquired (2010) our expectation was to just have a commitment ceremony on a Carnival ship since at the time it was our favorite cruise line. It just so happened that a month before we were set to have our commitment ceremony on the Jewel it became legal in New York State. So on the day it became legal we went to the county clerk's office and got our license. It was such an historic day and a great celebration that we didn't even mind the loooooonnnngg line!

 

It was also a great feeling when our officiant said the words 'married' during our ceremony. Had it not become legal she wouldn't have been able to include those words even though after 12 years together we felt just as married as anyone else!

 

Carnival will now marry same-sex couples on their ships if they're docked in cities where it is legal (New York, Boston, Seattle, etc). They will also now allow same-sex couples to book "wedding" packages and have a symbolic ceremony, but you have to have some form of legal documentation that you married or have a civil union/domestic partnership.

 

My partner and I are getting our license and doing a quickie ceremony in November and then having our "wedding" while the Pride is at sea in January with our families.

 

 

When I heard that Carnival was now accepting of it, I was thrilled. To late for us of course, but a nice milestone. We were planning in 2010 and it was a very different story then. We were truly disappointed, but everything happens for a reason and it just wasn't meant to be. What was meant to be was our magnificent wedding on the Norwegian Jewel! (see my review below)

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

[Carnival_Brides]

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

 

 

Thanks! We read your reviews and perused your website when we decided to get married on a cruise and the information we found has been super helpful! We are currently booked for an embarkation wedding pending what happens in Maryland's General Assembly this month (it just has to pass the House since they have the votes in the Senate and the Governor is a huge supporter!). If it doesn't pass or goes to referendum than we are going to go the at sea vow renewal route that I talked about in the previous post since we refuse to pay the 6% sales tax they'll charge us.

[tiggerman101]

I have my 15th Carnival cruise coming up (10 with my partner) and have never had an issue. We usually become pretty active in the roll calls as well. We have met many wonderful people throughout of travels with the cruise line. I don't think our sexuality has ever been an issue. At the least, it has never been openly discouraged. That goes for the other cruise lines we have been on as well (NCL and Royal). My partner loves Carnival because the whole experience is very laid back.

[pauleydm]

We have only been on Carnival Cruises and have never had any issue on board.

[JamieB21]

Atlantis Events have chartered the Carnival Splendor for its first Halloween cruise this October 28-November 4.

[Emmydot]

My partner and I just had our ceremony on the Carnival Destiny and it was AMAZING.

Since this was not a legally binding "marriage", we had to do our civil union ceremony before hand and then book the "Renewal of Vows" ceremony (which was perfectly fine because it was almost the EXACT same thing as a wedding for about half of the price). After booking, we exchanged emails many times with the wedding planners through carnival and they were always very prompt in answering our questions. One of the biggest downsides was that, because the captian performs the ceremony, we were not sure of the date/time until we got on the cruise ship so that was a bit unnerving HOWEVER...

Once we got on the ship, we were immediately put in touch with the special events coordinator, Jalena. She sat down with us for probably an hour the first day, asked us when we wanted the ceremony and showed us the different locations available. She then met with us several more times to make sure everything was in order. She was also there during the entire ceremony and reception to make sure everything went smoothly.

We also hired a "host" (I think his name was Bonz) to make the announcements during the reception. We were able to make a CD of the music we wanted to play during the ceremony and then a second CD we wanted played during the reception. Bonz was also OUTSTANDING and was such a great host.

The reception (an add-on but SO worth it) was beautiful. We had a one-hour cash bar and a one-hour open bar with finger foods. The food spread was so beautiful and had some awesome food like sushi.

I really cannot stress enough how awesome the crew was to us. Even though Carnival the company does not do same-sex marriages or civil unions, they certainly went out of their way to make this feel like a wedding instead of a "renewal of vows" ceremony. I couldn't have asked for anything better :)

[Carnival_Brides]

My partner and I just had our ceremony on the Carnival Destiny and it was AMAZING...

Even though Carnival the company does not do same-sex marriages or civil unions, they certainly went out of their way to make this feel like a wedding instead of a "renewal of vows" ceremony. I couldn't have asked for anything better :)

 

I'm so glad you posted this--My partner and I are getting married on the Pride in Baltimore (twelve days after SSM becomes legal in Maryland, assuming the referendum doesn't pass). We haven't had the best time with our Carnival coordinator (she keeps calling my fiancee the groom), so it's nice to know that the shipboard staff is fantastic.

[SAABTURBO]

We have never had a problem on the 7 Carnival ships we have been on. In the Grand Cayman a few years ago we did the Stingray City Excursion and the excursion was mostly a Harley Davidson Club and about 10 retired women that wanted a girls day away from the husbands. On the way back from the Excursion the retired ladies asked if we were together/partners and we told them yes. They asked how long we have been together and that if we had a camera that they would take a pic of us. A few of the Harley club members heard us talking and started to chant kiss kiss kiss so we did. When we got back on the ship and ran into the Harley club in the casino they all bought us 3 or 4 rounds of drinks. I guess what I am saying is never judge a book by its cover you might be pleasantly surprised.:)

[fredspaw]

Thank you all for posting. My partner and I have only cruised with RSVP:), but find them a little more expensive. With the downturn in the economy:mad: have been unable to vacation with them for years. We both turn 50 this year and wanted to get away so we are on Carnival Liberty in May. More than half the price of RSVP for a suite:D If economy continues to return we may go back to RSVP or even try Atlantis (we did enjoy), but want options. Your posts make me feel a little more comfortable with our decision as a gay couple. Any suggestions for a 20th Anniversary Cruise nexr year?

Edited March 16, 2012 by fredspaw
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[GaNavy]

We didn't want or need the captain to marry us. We planned on bringing our own officiant so that we could personalize our ceremony. Which we did end up doing on the Norwegian Jewel. Carnival, at the time was not even open to doing commitment ceremonies with same-sex couples.

 

Since it was not legal in NY at the time that we inquired (2010) our expectation was to just have a commitment ceremony on a Carnival ship since at the time it was our favorite cruise line. It just so happened that a month before we were set to have our commitment ceremony on the Jewel it became legal in New York State. So on the day it became legal we went to the county clerk's office and got our license. It was such an historic day and a great celebration that we didn't even mind the loooooonnnngg line!

 

It was also a great feeling when our officiant said the words 'married' during our ceremony. Had it not become legal she wouldn't have been able to include those words even though after 12 years together we felt just as married as anyone else!

 

Fabulous!! Congratulations and best wishes.