Gay Charter Trips vs. Booking on your own???

[SakeDad]

After reading several posts that say you've been on RSVP/Atlantis charters and had sub-par food/service/etc...it's hard for me to justify spending so much more $$$ to go with them on a cruise vs booking a regular sailing or tour. It's hard enough for me to get the S/O to even consider a cruise, much less a gay one, without hearing the service seems to actually go down when it's a charter that charges more!

We did go on a Windjammer Barefoot gay charter and loved it! But there were only 60 passengers and the ship/food/ports/crew were all amazing.

We have traveled extensively internationally and 90% of the time do our own bookings and tours (3 Club Meds, 1 South Pacific/Southeast Asia adventure). We did go on a China trip with Toto Tours and again, didn't find much of a reason to "go gay". Yes, we made a couple of nice friends but we could have done that on our own. We also did an Above & Beyond land portion for Sydney's Mardi Gras 12 years ago and the obvious benefits were party tickets and private tours and lodging.

My question is, aside from feeling welcome as a gay person and knowing you are with MANY FOD's, is what is the advantage, if any, for booking such trips vs. booking a scheduled, non-gay cruise? We are a couple for 13 years and have always felt comfortable being anywhere in the world we have gone so I'm curious to hear the answers.

I'd also be curious to hear how many GLBT folks here have traveled exclusively with charters vs traveling on your own?

[emjsea]

I'd been on 4 straight cruises before I went on an Atlantis cruise this past January. Though the straight crusies were all fun and fine, nothing compares to an all gay cruise.

 

I was very skeptical before I went, but my partner talked me into it. He practically had to drag me on the ship. But I wound up having the time of my life and we signed up for next year's cruise while still on the boat.

 

My point it is, the people who have complaints are way more likely to do so and people that enjoy their experiences are less likely to go out of their way to to praise something. That's a fact of life.

 

I'm not a muscled circuit boy, I don't do drugs, I don't cruise while I cruise, and I don't stay up all night dancing, but I loved the Atlantis cruise. There is an element of that there, if you are looking for it, but it's not all that's going on. My experience with Atlantis was 180 degrees from the bad ones I've read about on Cruise Critic. I'm glad I didn't read these boards before going on my Atlantis cruise because I would have gone on with a really negative attitude and probably found the "horrors" that I was expecting (in fact, most of the "horrors" are just people having fun in a different way than you enjoy).

 

I was skeptical about the much higher cost, but it was worth it. From little details like wine waiting in the cabin when we boarded to big things like a slew of good entertainment like you don't find on straight crusies it was worth it. It was worth having no misbehaving children being a nuisance. It was worth not being embarassed by the horrible way the crew are treated on straight cruises by ignoramuses with no manners. It was worth never, ever having to worry about being affectionate with my boyfriend or even having a nice long kiss with him on the deck whenever we were feeling romantic.

[Bill-Squared]

I posted a similar question not long ago, and if you want to check out the threads for additional comments, here's the link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=301391

 

We're going on Pied Piper's post-Thanksgiving cruise (gay group on a "straight" cruise). There are more than 400 registered, so it should be fun! ;)

 

Best to you.

[Treven]

All of my cruises (plus several land vacations) have been with Atlantis. The ship's crew seems to go out of their way to make sure everyone is comfortable; and if there's a problem it's always been not a problem - fixed either by the ship's staff or someone with Atlantis it's self.

 

I'd been told by several crew members that they really look forward to the Atlantis week. It's the one time of the year they're allowed to join in/attend/take part in all of the parties Atlantis throws. The crew members who don't appreciate the lifestyle are always welcome to stay in the crew's quarters during the parties. Quite frankly, though, the crew members who stayed below deck were far outnumbered by those that were at the parties.

[Host Tyler]

Hi Guys,

 

We've been all all three types of cruises;

 

• Gay Group Cruises
  
• Atlantis/RSVP
  
• Traditional cruises perhaps with a small group of friends

While all three offer their own unique benefit, for us the best fit is the Group Cruise or the tradtional cruise with a group of friends. The Group Cruise is really the best of both worlds. Plenty of interesting G&L pax to mingle with and yet, not exclusively gay. I'm certainly not demeaning the all Gay cruise experience, we just feel that the best "value" for our cruise $$, is the Gay Group Cruise.

 

There's always going to be conflict surrounding the all gay cruises....and IMHO, believe this is due to the cost and perhaps the expectation of what this type of cruise has to offer, hasn't been met, or a bad on-board experience, which can certainly happen on ANY cruise (it's just learning to roll with the punches).

 

Ty

[texboy232]

My partner and I have booked an Alaskan cruise on HAL's Westerdam through a gay charter group (gay group on a straight cruise) for a lot of the reasons above.

 

1. We didn't want a 7 day circuit party when we wanted to see the beauty of Alaska,

 

2. We still wanted to meet some FODs and be able to have a group of people we could feel comfortable with,

 

3. If we found the group of FODs to be "too much" for us, we knew that we could have some space to retreat into, and

 

4. We found a company that was actually offering a substantial discount (up to $1,000 per person) off what our straight friends would be paying for the very same cruise at the very same time while giving us some special planned events, excursions just for FODs, and gay entertainment options.

 

Seemed like the best alternative all the way around for us.

[Brooklyn Pistol]

I'm a little confused my the initial post on this subject. SakeDad mentioned going on a an all-gay cruise but after reading some posts about subpar food/ service.....

 

I'm sorry but I think you may have been focusing too much on the negtive aspects mentioned on a few posts. My take on it is that most posts are overwhelmingly in favor of these cruises and have positive remarks. Sometimes we may make a comparison about something like food/service for notes to see if others experienced the same on board, but that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy the ship/parties/itinerary, etc. Please disregard comments made by some people who say "I don't need an all-gay experience" and "there's no need to be ripped off by gay charter cruise companies" because if you haven't tried it, YOU CAN'T KNOCK IT. And I'm sick and tired of hearing those people talk about floating bathhouses! That comment is so old and untrue. I believe that most of us have had a fabulous (it's the only word that works here) time that can't be matched in any other cruise situation. And those are the messages I've focused on. And we may pay more because we GET more. If you want the 25 cent vacation that's fine; my memories will be of the dollar trip I took with my partner of 26 years. Not a snob -- that's my 2 cents.....

 

Joe

[Suite Travels]

First of all we are not snob's by any means. We started on the value cruises and yes they were the most memorable. Then we started moving up to other lines. Once you move up you will never go back.

 

All that being said, we have two very close friends who have taken "Gay Cruises" and loved them until they started cruising with us. They told us there was no comparison. They felt just as comfortable cruising RSSC or Crystal hands down. We don't need circuit parties or special events. If there happens to be a FOD party we will probably attend. If I were single perhaps I might consider a Gay cruise in hopes of meeting someone...but I live in Ft. Lauderdale and have many venues available to me. So for me it would not make sense spending 150% single supplement.

 

We are in our 40's and we both have worked very hard to afford the likes of Crystal, RSSC and would love to try Seabourn. We have Never encountered a gay issue on either line. Also, we have alway met several gay guests on these lines and have made long lasting friends with many of them.

 

We are glad there are Gay charters and that venue does appeal to some. We just have our favorite cruise lines and for the most part it is where we go not who we go with.

[texboy232]

I actually would consider myself to be a snob when it comes to travel in that I want something very nice and upscale.

 

I would be careful throwing around the word "discount" in a demeaning way...if you want to pay $1,000 per person more for the exact same SUITE on a very nice ship I would actually call that stupid.

 

It all comes down to preference. You say that you get what you pay for, I say the same. I just would rather pay for something other than what you would. You want to take an RCCL version of the White Party or Southern Decadence...go nuts. I choose not to.

[etoile]

I have done one RSVP and one "regular" (Celebrity). I would say that the gay cruise is definitely interesting - quite different from a straight cruise. I think it's worth trying once if you can afford it, just for the experience, but I'm not sure it's worth paying double the cost. Maybe a little more, but not double.

[emjsea]

It's amusing how people who have never been on one of the gay-charters keep insisting to everyone else that's it's a White Party/Circuit Party 24/7 when those of us who have actually been on the cruise have said it's not. I suspect these are the same sort of people that don't go to Pride events or complain the whole time because of the "decadent" activities of a few (those that drink more than you are lushes, those that have sex more than you are promiscuous, those that stay up later than you are party-animals. Give me a break).

 

Anyway, from what I've seen, someone asks a question about gay charters vs. open cruising and it's only the anti-gay charter folks (most of whom have never been on one) who get so passionate (evangelical) about how horrible, horrible those nasty gay charters are. I especially love the the ones that insist it's perfectly ok to only hug and kiss your boyfriend back in your closet. Sorry, I mean stateroom. :D

 

Finally, I'd just like to suggest that those thinking about doing a gay cruise to take advice from those of us that have actually been on one.

[ORDPLATAA]

We are doing our 1st Charter on the Atlantis June 4th Alaska trip. We sailed on the Zuiderdam last June and, while we enjoyed the cruise experience (great dining/unpack once to see several different ports/fun activities onboard), my partner and I did feel a little uncomfortable being "ourselves". We saw people get up and move to the other side of the Crow's Nest when we held hands as we looked out of the window and got some curious looks when we held hands walking on deck. We decided to give the charter concept a try, but I have to say, their marketing makes it appear as though you need to have to buff body to be part of "the group". Don't get me wrong - I know it's just a marketing piece but it's just seems a little stereotypical (and a little off-putting as I reach my 40's!). I'll just be cautiously optomistic and plan for a great trip no matter what.

 

The real issue for me when it comes to the charter -vs- individual bookings is not so much the price but the timing of the departures. There are a few group and charter trips I would love to do, but the timing just doesn't have the flexibility I need to join up. I don't mind paying for a great experience, but finding the dates we want at the price we want in the atmosphere we want can be a bit challenging! Depending our experience in June, we may decide to go with an established group (Pied Piper or AquaFest) and see if we get the atmosphere we want at a slightly more affordable rate. There seems to be a greater variety to choose from - in terms of venue, price point, and departure dates.

[etoile]

I agree with you, Michael. I had such an amazing time on the RSVP trip I was on. I usually describe it as "living at the heart of Pride 24/7 for a week." I think RSVP has less of a circuit-party-type reputation than Atlantis does, but it was still really amazing. I am so glad I got to experience it. I would hope that everyone who shuns gay charters would give it a try at least once, because to be in a floating gay habitat is just amazing. I guess living in the Castro might be similar, but I don't think there's any place on earth quite like a ship full of gay people.

[SakeDad]

I forgot to mention, we did do a gay charter on the Windjammer Barefoot Mandalay. Hubby always said he didn't want to be stuck on a boat with a bunch of drunk queens he didn't like, but by the end of the week he was ready to book another one! It was a wonderful trip. Unfortunately from Vegas it took 16 hours to get to St Lucia. So for us it's easier to get to Tahiti and Windjammer doesn't go there.:cool: But that was also a small ship with only 60 passengers, so I'm not sure how a large ship with 3,000 would be.

I do take the advice here from those that have actually been on the trips vs. those that haven't. I already have my pre-conceived ideas as someone who hasn't gone so that's why I posed the question, to hear from those who have. I also appreciate the reasons everyone gives for either going or not. Makes me know there are others out there with the same questions.

I think I'm leaning more towards a small group charter on a mainstream cruise vs. a full group on a trip. I like what someone said about being able to meet all types on the trip.

Anyway, keep posting, I've gotten alot out of this!:D

Thanks

[Suite Travels]

For us it is just a matter of that we live in a very gay friendly city and we support all the gay venues. Our gym is gay our restaurants are gay owned and we have many gay friends as well as straight.

 

For us, we prefer a cruise where we are not trapped with 3,000 gay men or women for that matter. As I have said before to each their own. We do not travel on mass market lines anymore because we have worked our arses off to afford more upscale lines. We started cruising on lines that were affordable when we did not have a pot to piss in. Some of you will try a six star line one day and you will know what we are talking about.

 

We absolutely support Gay Pride and attend the celebrations here in FLL. When we vacation we like being among mainstream people for a change. And yes I have held and kissed my SO on Crystal and RSSC. We don't hide in our cabin like closet cases as one poster inferred.

[emjsea]

"And yes I have held and kissed my SO on Crystal and RSSC. We don't hide in our cabin like closet cases as one poster inferred."

 

Sorry about that Suite_Travels, I was going by another statement you made...

 

"As far as showing affection is concerned; we have been together 8yrs and we show our affection on our balcony and in the privacy of our state room. We are not a fan of str8 or gay men and women deep throating each other in public. Our saying is "Take it home." Do I need to dance with him on the cruise? Not really, we enjoy dancing with the single ladies who enjoy our company and then begin to tell us they have a gay son or daughter.:eek: "

 

So, uh, which is it?;)

[Suite Travels]

A quiet stroll on deck or a sail away we have given each other a kiss in view of others. Anything more than that of course is behind closed doors and not the closet just like anybody else.:D

[gfromftlaud]

Another Ft lauderdale perspective. My partner, of 15 years, and I were on the Atlantis Anniversary cruise two weeks ago. It was our first Atlantis/gay charter experience, after having sailed on 3 previous traditional cruises.

 

Yes, I danced all night long...often until the sun rose. My partner would often be in bed by 1 or 2 after a night in the casino. No different than on our previous "straight" cruises.

 

The point, I guess, is this....a cruise, gay charter or traditional, is what you make of it.

 

Is the food better or worse on a Gay charter?...No. The food is dependent on the cruiseline upon which the charter is booked. The food aboard Infinity was great(with the exception of the buffet) which has nothing to do with Atlantis.

 

Anyway, I encourage anyone to atleast try a gay charter. I didn't think I would like it either, however, I was blown away by the experience. It is hard to pick out an aspect of the cruise that made it "worth it" because it wasn't just 1 or 2 things. It was the combination of all factors that made for a wonderful, unique, and memorable experience.

 

312 days, 2 hours, and 6 minutes until Atlantis Freedom...

 

Best Regards,

Gary

[thulewx]

I chatted with one of the upper people at RSVP once concerning the food. He told me that there is one main supplier (or caterer) in the US, to most of the cruise lines and they offer 4 or 5 "levels" of food quality. RSVP and Atlantis (and any charter) get the opportunity to choose which level is served. Level 1 is for those cheesy day-long gambling charters and really poor quality. Level 2 is for cheaper cruises that might be doing 3-days to Bahamas, and some of the older lines (no longer in business, like Dolphin). Level 3 is for the majority of lines like Carnival, RCCL. Level 4 is for the fancy restaurants in HAL, Celeb, Princess, Cunard. Level 5 is for Silversea/Seabourn and Queen's Grill types. Generally the differences between lines that use equal levels is pretty much due to preparation, but he told me that they (RSVP) had decided to cut corners on some cruises and gone with Level 2 even though it was a Level 3 ship. I'm pretty sure he said they got so many complaints, they decided to stick with "3" and "4." The quality levels differ mainly in meat cuts, fish freshness (vs. frozen), and availability of things like pheasant, squab, paté, caviar.

[bepsf]

I chatted with one of the upper people at RSVP once concerning the food. He told me that there is one main supplier (or caterer) in the US, to most of the cruise lines and they offer 4 or 5 "levels" of food quality. RSVP and Atlantis (and any charter) get the opportunity to choose which level is served. Level 1 is for those cheesy day-long gambling charters and really poor quality. Level 2 is for cheaper cruises that might be doing 3-days to Bahamas, and some of the older lines (no longer in business, like Dolphin). Level 3 is for the majority of lines like Carnival, RCCL. Level 4 is for the fancy restaurants in HAL, Celeb, Princess, Cunard. Level 5 is for Silversea/Seabourn and Queen's Grill types. Generally the differences between lines that use equal levels is pretty much due to preparation, but he told me that they (RSVP) had decided to cut corners on some cruises and gone with Level 2 even though it was a Level 3 ship. I'm pretty sure he said they got so many complaints, they decided to stick with "3" and "4." The quality levels differ mainly in meat cuts, fish freshness (vs. frozen), and availability of things like pheasant, squab, paté, caviar.

 

 

Hmph--

Charging extra, then skimping on the food bill...

:mad:

...not cool - they're only hurting themselves.

[gfromftlaud]

While aboard Celebrity Infinity, we were told the opposite by Infinity crew as well as Atlantis staff. The food served was the same grade/quality as always served on Celebrity ships, the only difference was that they had more liquor and Red Bull in stock than on standard cruises....

 

In regards to Thulewx comments, We had copious amounts of champagne and caviar each night in Infinity's champagne bar, and pheasant as well as pate was served in the main dining room. If RSVP skimps on the food, I can assure you Atlantis/Celebrity did not on the "15th anniversary cruise"

 

Gary

[MattInFLL]

Our dining experience on Westerdam RSVP a few weeks back was some of the best overall food I have had on a cruise ship. I actually thought the food in the main dining room was a bit better than the specialty restaurant on board. Overall, I would rate it #2 in my experience, with #1 being Celebrity Infinity. It seemed to me like a regular HAL menu, since it featured the chef's specialties. I guess if RSVP ever did experiment with the food choices, they certainly do not do that now, and your level of food is going to depend on the ship/cruise line.

 

Anyway, I HATED my first RSVP cruise in '99. I went on with great expectations and was sorely dissappointed. The ship was an old Carnival tugboat, and the crowd/experience was not fun. It was a floating bathhouse, with everyone trying to pretend it wasn't. And everyone just seemed so bent on flying the flag, so to speak, I would have enjoyed some straight company for a few hours of relief. But then I lived in West Hollywood, and worked in a gay business, so I really didn't need a cruise to experience sex and gay freedoms.

 

I thought Atlantis might be more my style, so I also did an Atlantis land vacation (Puerto Vallarta), where you could have had the ultimate circuit boy experience, or just laid low and relaxed and had a good time (we did the latter). But it didn't make me want to jump on one of their cruises.

 

The bulk of my cruises have been gay group, and I thought that was the way I preferred. And even when I've cruised without a group, I still met a bunch of family on board and had a good time.

 

But my partner is not as much of a fan of cruising as I am, and gets sea sick in a bath tub... and an all gay cruise was about the only way I could entice him to go. So with alot of trepidation, I went back to RSVP.... and have to say it was mostly a great experience. A very friendly crowd, and a nice cruise. You could still have the bathhouse experience if you wanted it, but it was toned down, and it wasn't the only thing to do (as it seemed in '99). And this time there was no hypocrisy about it from the RSVP staff (they used to be very sensitive to the idea of people thinking of their cruises as sex cruises - even more odd when friends of mine have "enjoyed the company" of RSVP senior staff on cruises).

 

I would go back on an all gay cruise with no problem, and now really would have to think about whether I like the all gay or gay group experience better. There is something nice about being able to totally relax and be yourself throughout the ship, and to me, that is what you are paying for.

[etoile]

I'm curious about gay groups on straight cruises - Pied Piper, etc. - do women usually go on those? Who else besides Pied Piper is there, and who has more women? I'm not thinking women only, I'd be happy with a mixed group.

[jac69]

Is there a difference between being a part of a small gay group ie Pied Piper on a straight cruise and being on a megaship charter put on by RSVP or Atlantis? My partner and I have gone on a number of cruises and differnt lines but have never really seemed to notice other gay travellers. In fact it wasn't until our last cruise that we even came across a FOD meeting. It was on the Veendam in November. Hopefully on our next cruise, Noordam fall transatlantic some of our fellow FOD travellers will be more evident.

[MattInFLL]

Well the gay groups can run into the several hundred passengers on some cruises... so they are not always small groups. Pied Piper is probably most well known, but there are lots of others... like Outcruising and cruising with pride... in my experience there are always a number of women in the group..maybe 30%... but of course that is up to chance.

 

and jac there is a huge difference. On a gay charter you have the whole ship, so you can walk with your boyfriend hand in hand, kiss openly.. dance at an underwear party on the open deck if you want... it's an open relaxed gay environment... you can't be that open on a straight cruise.