Single trans female going on Carnival, what will it REALLY be like?

[ToriOKC]

Hey there !  I’m a 46 year old single trans female going on Carnival Glory in January. I’m respectful, friendly and socially outgoing. I am 6’3” tall, tan, platinum hair, but I am visibly transgender. Im not a raving beauty but I can hold my own in the looks department. All of my friends are gay men and I have been immersed in gay culture for the past decade. There’s no denying it, I’m out, I’m proud and I love to have fun!! For the sake of this post I’m talking about ha ha fun 😇 !!!
 

I’m used to being stared at and I’m one of those people who has significant situational awareness. As I watch videos of Carnival Glory, the quiet areas of the ship have really caught my attention as my possible Alamo. I can already tell that I am looking to make myself small and stay out of the way, avoiding any negative attention, but I want to have fun too. I keep telling myself that there will be wonderful people on board and not to worry. Secret thoughts though, I am kind of worried. 
 

Do you think there will be a lot of gawking and staring or do the straights tend to mind their business and live and let live while onboard? I’m not worried about my safety, I’m just hoping I can blend right in and enjoy the cruise like everyone else. 

I would love to hear your thoughts and advice on making this upcoming trip a success. Thank you !!

Edited November 12, 2023 by ToriOKC

[CDNPolar]

Pardon my comments as they are not intended to be offending in any way, but I think the fact that you are 6'3" as a female will garner staring eyes in itself.

 

My experience with Carnival is years old now, and I don't know what reception you will receive... I think that it will depend on where you are sailing and the demographics of the ship.  If there is a good gay population on the ship that you can attach to then perhaps you will at least have a "peer group" to be around.

 

You did not mention if you were travelling solo, or with your gay men friends?

 

I think that you just do you and that is all you can do.

 

What I would like is that you report back after to let us know how your experience was.  There are some more posts like this creeping onto CC that are asking similar questions and I don't think that we have enough real and true experience around this yet.

 

Your experience will help others.

 

[ToriOKC]

Thank you Polar and you weren’t offensive at all😊. I am traveling with a large group of gays and I’m sure everything will be fine. Inevitably there will be a few that won’t be so nice but I can deal with that. From what I hear a lot of the ships crew will be gay, hopefully, lol. There’s no question that trans people have become a pariah in our society, some of the claims against us are absolutely ridiculous.
 

I will definitely take your advice and report back once it’s over. I’m really looking forward to going and refuse to let anyone rain on my Parade. There are wonderful people in this world just as there will be amazing people on that ship and that’s what I will concentrate on. 

 

Thank you so much for your reply😊❤️

[CDNPolar]

47 minutes ago, ToriOKC said:

Thank you Polar and you weren’t offensive at all😊. I am traveling with a large group of gays and I’m sure everything will be fine. Inevitably there will be a few that won’t be so nice but I can deal with that. From what I hear a lot of the ships crew will be gay, hopefully, lol. There’s no question that trans people have become a pariah in our society, some of the claims against us are absolutely ridiculous.
 

I will definitely take your advice and report back once it’s over. I’m really looking forward to going and refuse to let anyone rain on my Parade. There are wonderful people in this world just as there will be amazing people on that ship and that’s what I will concentrate on. 

 

Thank you so much for your reply😊❤️

 

The unfortunate thing is that hate is everywhere and it is directed at so many today.  Kudos for you to stand proud and not get caught cowering in a corner somewhere!

 

Have fun - glad to hear you are traveling with a large group of gays!  Sounds like a blast!

 

 

[Vibe]

Your experience on the Carnival cruise will probably by just like it is in your everyday life.  Most people would not be unkind and many would be accepting. You should be yourself and have a great time with your friends and ignore anyone who doesn’t see you as the great person that you are.

[ToriOKC]

23 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

The unfortunate thing is that hate is everywhere and it is directed at so many today.  Kudos for you to stand proud and not get caught cowering in a corner somewhere!

 

Have fun - glad to hear you are traveling with a large group of gays!  Sounds like a blast!

 

 

You are super sweet and thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[ToriOKC]

21 hours ago, Vibe said:

Your experience on the Carnival cruise will probably by just like it is in your everyday life.  Most people would not be unkind and many would be accepting. You should be yourself and have a great time with your friends and ignore anyone who doesn’t see you as the great person that you are.

Thank you Vibe !! I do truly believe that most people are nice and kind. In my world it’s easy to dwell on the negatives,  but what fun is that !!! 
 

Thank you for your sweet comment, you made my day !!!  😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️

[Guest]

Everyone will be so drunk, won't notice or care.Dont know if it's easy to tell either.You should be ok.

[roxannex]

Hi! We aren't going on Carnival, but my family is cruising in December with my newly 18 year old trans daughter, as well as my 81 year old mom. So, don't count all of the straights out. 😉 Some of us who aren't trans have loved ones who are, and I would punch anybody in the face...okay....might not want to get kicked off the cruise....so...give a STERN talking to anyone who was rude. My mom might be the one who would punch somebody in the face! 

[CDNPolar]

14 hours ago, roxannex said:

Hi! We aren't going on Carnival, but my family is cruising in December with my newly 18 year old trans daughter, as well as my 81 year old mom. So, don't count all of the straights out. 😉 Some of us who aren't trans have loved ones who are, and I would punch anybody in the face...okay....might not want to get kicked off the cruise....so...give a STERN talking to anyone who was rude. My mom might be the one who would punch somebody in the face! 

 

Go Mom go!  Haha.  Love it.

[okpaddy]

Okay Toriokc,

I've got to inquire. How did your cruise go ? 

I have no idea if you have completed your cruise, or if it might be ongoing as I write.

I hope that you had a wonderful trip and that you are encouraged to continue travel and explore.

Please don't be restricted by other peoples prejudices, or narrow mindedness. 

 

As for being 6'3", maybe you should think about visiting France. I believe the women in Paris were all taller than the men. It was like attending a WNBA game with really good museums and food choices 🤣 

Best wishes

[CDNPolar]

On 11/11/2023 at 7:26 PM, ToriOKC said:

Hey there !  I’m a 46 year old single trans female going on Carnival Glory in January. I’m respectful, friendly and socially outgoing. I am 6’3” tall, tan, platinum hair, but I am visibly transgender. Im not a raving beauty but I can hold my own in the looks department. All of my friends are gay men and I have been immersed in gay culture for the past decade. There’s no denying it, I’m out, I’m proud and I love to have fun!! For the sake of this post I’m talking about ha ha fun 😇 !!!
 

I’m used to being stared at and I’m one of those people who has significant situational awareness. As I watch videos of Carnival Glory, the quiet areas of the ship have really caught my attention as my possible Alamo. I can already tell that I am looking to make myself small and stay out of the way, avoiding any negative attention, but I want to have fun too. I keep telling myself that there will be wonderful people on board and not to worry. Secret thoughts though, I am kind of worried. 
 

Do you think there will be a lot of gawking and staring or do the straights tend to mind their business and live and let live while onboard? I’m not worried about my safety, I’m just hoping I can blend right in and enjoy the cruise like everyone else. 

I would love to hear your thoughts and advice on making this upcoming trip a success. Thank you !!

 

Like okpaddy very interested to your review and experience.

 

Please do share!

[ToriOKC]

On 1/23/2024 at 7:13 PM, okpaddy said:

Okay Toriokc,

I've got to inquire. How did your cruise go ? 

I have no idea if you have completed your cruise, or if it might be ongoing as I write.

I hope that you had a wonderful trip and that you are encouraged to continue travel and explore.

Please don't be restricted by other peoples prejudices, or narrow mindedness. 

 

As for being 6'3", maybe you should think about visiting France. I believe the women in Paris were all taller than the men. It was like attending a WNBA game with really good museums and food choices 🤣 

Best wishes

Hey 😊. I’m leaving in just a few days. The mental preparation getting ready for this was a journey I needed to take and I’m glad to say I’m ready to go. In the end I concluded that although there isn’t anything I can do about all the anti trans sentiment out there,  I can most certainly control being an ambassador of goodwill, be nice and kind like I usually am and just have fun. Haters are going to hate no matter what and that says everything about them, not me. There are so many wonderful people out there and I’ll concentrate on them and block out the rest. I usually make new friends everywhere I go and I’ll make sure this cruise is no exception. I love to smile and laugh and enjoy life to the fullest. Like minded people usually find one another 😊 and this I shall do. 

I actually love being tall, though any taller person can attest that being tall does gather some extra attention. I had no idea about French women being so tall !! A tall black lesbian friend of mine who grew up in Philadelphia (she is 6’5”), described to me that where she grew up, being tall was a gift and that she squeezed every bit out of her height for mere survival. “Chin up, chest out, always”, she would say. I took her advice and think of her often. Proud, confident, humble and capable, a nice combo to have and a good mantra to keep in mind for this upcoming trip😊😊😊😊

 

I appreciate you checking in and I’ll be sure to get on here during the cruise and let you know how it’s going!! We leave for New Orleans tomorrow and the ship leaves Sunday. 

[Vibe]

1 hour ago, ToriOKC said:

Hey 😊. I’m leaving in just a few days. The mental preparation getting ready for this was a journey I needed to take and I’m glad to say I’m ready to go. In the end I concluded that although there isn’t anything I can do about all the anti trans sentiment out there,  I can most certainly control being an ambassador of goodwill, be nice and kind like I usually am and just have fun. Haters are going to hate no matter what and that says everything about them, not me. There are so many wonderful people out there and I’ll concentrate on them and block out the rest. I usually make new friends everywhere I go and I’ll make sure this cruise is no exception. I love to smile and laugh and enjoy life to the fullest. Like minded people usually find one another 😊 and this I shall do. 

I actually love being tall, though any taller person can attest that being tall does gather some extra attention. I had no idea about French women being so tall !! A tall black lesbian friend of mine who grew up in Philadelphia (she is 6’5”), described to me that where she grew up, being tall was a gift and that she squeezed every bit out of her height for mere survival. “Chin up, chest out, always”, she would say. I took her advice and think of her often. Proud, confident, humble and capable, a nice combo to have and a good mantra to keep in mind for this upcoming trip😊😊😊😊

 

I appreciate you checking in and I’ll be sure to get on here during the cruise and let you know how it’s going!! We leave for New Orleans tomorrow and the ship leaves Sunday. 

Have a great time and make many happy memories.

[ToriOKC]

1 minute ago, Vibe said:

Have a great time and make many happy memories.

Thank you darling 🥰

[okpaddy]

ToriOKC,

I will keep you and your travel companions in my thoughts and prayers for a wonderful and safe journey. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your adventure 

Be sure to enjoy the delicious food in New Orleans. 

 

[ToriOKC]

1 minute ago, okpaddy said:

ToriOKC,

I will keep you and your travel companions in my thoughts and prayers for a wonderful and safe journey. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your adventure 

Be sure to enjoy the delicious food in New Orleans. 

 

Awww thank you so much Paddy !! See you in eleven days 😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️

[CDNPolar]

Great attitude and outlook.  You WILL find people that will openly welcome you to their conversations, meals, and activities.

 

Just be your positive self and all will be well.

 

Can't wait to hear back from you!

 

Enjoy and travel safe!

[ToriOKC]

Well, I’ve been back from the cruise for a few days and needed some time to process everything that happened before writing this. 
 

The cruise was so much fun, I made a bunch of new friends and it was truly amazing, it had its moments though. To say people were gawking and whispering to one another and then looking up at me would be an understatement. It was a lot. I did notice that in general, “people watching” was a past time for most involved, including me, so I totally got it. 
 

I had a few harsh comments thrown at me and one guy refused to ride the elevator with me and took the stairs instead. I had to force myself to block out those looking my way. I remember walking onto deck 9 in the main pool area, the sun was in my face, I had on pink shirt and shorts, and when I looked up I can’t even describe how many people were looking at me. I was like, “girl, chin up, chest out, and own this moment and keep moving.”  lol
 

I mostly hung out on deck 10 and started making friends right away. My shipmates had lots of questions at first, which I politely answered, and in the ensuing days we drank, laughed and had fun together. I even dropped my discover card accidentally in one of the couch cushions and didn’t realize it. A man wearing rebel shorts came up to me the next day and said, “Hey darlin, our group thought this might belong to you” and handed me the card. I thanked him and his friends repeatedly!! What amazing people!! 
 

I tried to be back in my cabin around 11 pm before everyone got drunk and crazy. Since the gawking and staring part was kind of never ending, retreating to my cabin and being able to take a deep breath and just chill out alone on the balcony really helped. Though there was two nights I stayed out until 1 am and then 3 am and I had no problems and had an awesome time. 
 

I became close to one of our servers and went into Belize with she and her girlfriend. She later confided that several people made negative comments about my presence, two of which she refused to serve because of what they said. I knew damn well that such things were happening and my server simply validated my suspicions. In the end, people have a right to their opinions and honestly, I would rather not know, but nonetheless I appreciated her telling me. 
 

So, to wrap this up, I give my experience an eight out of ten. I had the best time and truly met the most wonderful people. I am in contact still, and Facebook friends,  with about fifteen or so fellow cruisers and others I met on the different excursions. There were wonderful memories made and it was one of the best vacations I have ever had!! 
 

Since returning home I’ve thought about everything that happened and I would indeed like to go again. The good people outweighed the bad by far and at the end of the day, laughter, smiling and good conversation overcomes most hidden prejudice, which allowed us to see each other as human beings and become friends which made this trip one for the record books !! ❤️❤️❤️

[CDNPolar]

31 minutes ago, ToriOKC said:

There were wonderful memories made and it was one of the best vacations I have ever had!! 
 

Since returning home I’ve thought about everything that happened and I would indeed like to go again. The good people outweighed the bad by far and at the end of the day, laughter, smiling and good conversation overcomes most hidden prejudice, which allowed us to see each other as human beings and become friends which made this trip one for the record books !! ❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

So happy to hear that the good outweighed the bad, and that you would go again.

 

Your comments about people watching you don't surprise me.  Anyone today that does not immediately conform to what a certain group of people would consider the traditional male/female "look" are going to be stared at and comments made.  It is just the way it is.

 

Good on you for having the strength and courage to do it and come through the experience positively.

 

I wish you many more cruises.  This is certainly our preferred way to travel.

[okpaddy]

Thank you for the update. I applaud your courage and admire your strength. I hope you continue to travel, explore and meet new adventures. I think the gawking and staring might have been caused because you are gorgeous and radiate a beautiful smile 😁

Please share more photos if you have them available and tell us more about what you enjoyed. 

Best wishes 

[fshepinc]

So glad you had a good time, ToriOKC! I sailed the Glory out of Galveston a few years back, and while I enjoyed the ship and ports, some of may fellow passengers were, well... a bit of a shock! First (and likely last) time I was the Body Beautiful by the pool! Never saw so many mobility scooters and smokers in my life. Despite a lot of cultural and political differences I found people were friendly and respectful -but I imagine it's always easier for a cis man in those situations. I hope you'll enjoy another cruise soon!