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  • Randall Shirley 8:24 pm on May 6, 2012 COMMENT  

    Have you ever seen a volcano from a cruise ship? 

    What unusual things have you seen from the deck of a cruise ship? Has a captain ever made you feel you saw something special? Comment below!

    As you’re likely aware, Mark and Dale have just returned from a cruise around the Mediterranean onboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Jade. You can read about many of their adventures on the Muster Station. And did you know, you could post your own cruise memories and experiences there, too?

    Hearing of Mark’s cruise brings back Mediterranean memories of my own.

    The Azamara Club Cruises Quest anchored off Sorrento, Italy

    Azamara Club Cruises Quest anchored off Sorrento, Italy, the morning after the ship took us past Mount Stromboli during magnificent eruption. Photo © Randall Shirley

    Seeing a volcano erupt from the deck of a cruise ship was hardly what Denni and I expected when we booked our Mediterranean cruise onboard Azamara Club Cruises Quest. But that was one of the “extras” that Captain Carl Smith helped happen for us and our 700-ish shipmates last fall.

    Late in the evening as Azamara Quest sailed between Taormina, Sicily, and Sorrento on the Italian mainland, we passed by the volcano island of Stromboli. Captain Carl chose to navigate around the dark side of the island, keeping the ship at a safe distance, with the hopes that if the volcano was erupting we’d be able to see it better.

    Just as the show was ending in the main theatre, passengers clamored to the decks and we all watched in awe as Stromboli put on quite a show, spewing several plumes of lava high into the Italian night sky. The orange-glowing lava continued to be visible as it rolled down the side of the volcano to the sea.

    Captain Carl was on the bridge wings watching the show, and said in all his times passing Stromboli, he’d never seen such a magnificent performance by the volcano. Someone on the main deck hollered at the captain, “We love you Captain Carl!”

    Smith shouted back, “And I love my job!”

    Seeing Stromboli erupt was just one special moment on that cruise. Going hiking with the ship’s captain was another. Read about that here.

    Moments like this are why I love to cruise. You never know where you’ll find them, but I’m certainly planning to cruise Azamara again. And Mark & Dale seem to have had a particularly wonderful experience on the Norwegian Jade.

    What unusual things have you seen from the deck of a cruise ship? Has a captain ever made you feel you saw something special? Comment below!

     

    *Note: as is customary in the professional travel writing industry, the author received complimentary travel on Azamara Club Cruises. The author strives to remain unbiased in his reviews. Please see our full disclosure statement here.

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  • Randall Shirley 7:03 pm on April 5, 2012 COMMENT  

    Cruising Seattle? Consider this gay-interest shore excursion 

    Janet Flanner by Berenice Abbott

    Berenice Abbot, "Janet Flanner," 1927. Photographic print. 9 1/2 x 7 3/8 inches. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. © Berenice Abbott/Commerce Graphics, New York. Used with permission of Tacoma Art Museum.

    If you’re cruising through Seattle during the upcoming Alaska cruise season, consider a side trip to Tacoma. Where? Yes, Tacoma, the city with which Seattle shares its airport, the “Tac” in Sea-Tac. While Tacoma doesn’t exactly boast the tourism cachet of Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver, up until mid-June the Tacoma Art Museum is hosting the only West Coast exhibit of the Smithsonian’s HIDE/SEEK: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. The show runs through June 10, 2012.

    According to a press release, the exhibit is “The first major exhibition to explore how gender identity and sexual orientation have shaped modern American portraiture, HIDE/SEEK offers an unprecedented survey of nearly 150 years of American art with more than 100 works by masters including Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and more.”

    It’s getting some great press buzz. Check it out at the museum’s website.

    Packages for this exhibit are being offered by the gay-friendly, upscale Hotel Murano, which is only three blocks from the Tacoma Art Museum. The hotel has been described as a “museum unto itself with a world-class collection of glass art displayed throughout the property.” Their package includes two tickets to HIDE/SEEK at the Tacoma Art Museum, plus free Wifi, parking, a food/beverage voucher, and a commeorateive HIDE/SEEK book. More info on this package is availabe at the Murano website

    The HIDE/SEEK package is available for Wednesday-Sunday stays through June 10, 2012. Rates start at $219, per night, plus tax. To book, call 866-986-8083 or visit Murano.com.

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    • John 10:41 am on April 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      The Pacific Northwest is also known around the world for its glass. The Museum of Glass in Tacoma is not to be missed.

      http://museumofglass.org/

  • Randall Shirley 11:22 am on March 12, 2012 COMMENT
    Tags: Love Boat,   

    Heartbreak for the Love Boat 

    The original Love Boat: Pacific Princess

    The original Love Boat: Pacific Princess. Photo: Wikimedia

    According to MSNBC, the original Love Boat will be making a final run to the demolition yard. The ship once known as the Pacific Princess, and used as the backdrop for the TV series, is done.

    This is a heartbreaker for me–and I’m betting for far more of you than ever admit it. The Pacific Princess’ weekly “another run” down the Pacific coast of Mexico was a welcome escape for me when I was a young gay boy growing up in one of the country’s most-conservative places. Each week Captain Stubing, Julie McCoy, Gopher, Doc, and Isaac: Your Bartender, took my young mind far away, into a world of dreams, possibilities, and romance in a way that no other show really could (Fantasy Island did it for a while, but then it got too hocus-pocus and Mr. Roarke seemed to have too many mystical powers).

    The Love Boat ended its TV run in 1986, two years before I convinced my parents to take me on my first cruise. The ship we sailed was the Carla Costa, and little did I know that she may have played a role in the creation of the TV show: it has been written that early scripts for the Love Boat were written on board the Carla.

    Each night I sent my parents to bed, then went out on the deck to watch the stars and the moonlight, dreaming of a passionate romance. At age 23, I wasn’t yet out of the closet, and hardly knew what it meant to have a man flirt with me, but in retrospect I realize I was likely flirted with the entire trip by a very handsome guy who was traveling with a group of friends. We took lots of walks together, went snorkeling together, hung out…if only he’d put a move on me!

    Anyway, RIP original Pacific Princess. You will never be forgotten by this gay guy, nor, I suspect, by thousands and thousands of others who–likely partially because of you–now are frequent cruise passengers all around the globe.

    Click here for the story on MSNBC, and to watch a video of the ship.

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    • Mark & Dale 1:50 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Our bit of history with the LOVE BOAT comes from a much different perspective.

      In the mid-1990′s Mark and I had our Seattle condo on the market. This was in the day when a “bidding war” was not unusual in our neighborhood. Imagine our surprise when the buyer turned out to be Lauren Tewes, the actress who played “Julie the Cruise Director” on the series.

      I had an awful (if convenient) case of bronchitis when it came to moving day, so Mark was left with most of the work. He asked me to take one last look in the bedroom to make sure we had everything. Apparently my inspection was a bit lax and/or fuzzy due to massive doses of antibiotics. As it turns out a few days later we got a call from Lauren who said “I’ll bet you two are fun guys….in the master bedroom closet I found a bag containing a feather boa. When can I return it?”

      • Randall 11:25 am on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        OMG–I would have LOVED that experience. Did you meet her??? She certainly did make me believe a cruise director could do no wrong.

    • John McRae 11:15 am on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      The Carla Costa was chartered to Princess Cruises in the late 60s and operated as the Princess Carla sailing the Mexican Riviera and perhaps also Alaska. This was prior to the line acquiring the Pacific Princess.

      • Randall 11:22 am on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Aha! I love the interactivity of the web…how else would I ever have known that my first cruise was on predecessor to the Love Boat! Thanks, John.

    • Richard McBride 10:05 am on March 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      My long time friends and former Princess alumni colleagues are bemoaning this news!

      When I was a lad in Vancouver, I was transfixed by the Love Boat – the theme song and pure glamourous, escapism had me from the get go. Summer in Vancouver would see the cruise ships sail by on their way to Alaska. As they slowly beckoned and teased, I would ponder ” what would it be like to work on a cruise ship……..?”

      Flash forward….. career in musical theatre.. and auditions in Vancouver for Princess Cruises! A large group of Canucks ( I think the first) were hired to do the productions shows AND serve dual duty as Assistant Cruise Directors (with two and a half strips officer status). The youngest was 17.

      In Los Angeles, we learned 4 hour long productions shows in 4 weeks and then off to the ships. The taller dancers were the “chosen ones” sent to the original Pacific Princess, while the shorties were banished to the tiny, old Dawn and the Fair. Never mind! It was one of the most challenging, rewarding experiences of my life; exhausting days of juggling the shows,ship-board activities , land tours, formal cocktail parties, dancing with the ladies -plus the officer responsibilities. All the while living on the ships 6-9 months at a time. Oh the love, lust, excitement & heartache!

      I stayed with Princess traveling the world for 4 years and several different Princess ships. Only fond fond memories remain (oh the stories!) In the early/mid nineties cruising WAS different ( yes… more personal & glamourous) .

      The original Canuck gang are now now planning a 20 year Princess reunion cruise. So it goes, a chapter closes with the extinction of the original Pacific Princess. LOVE… exciting and new!

  • Randall Shirley 2:01 pm on March 11, 2012 COMMENT
    Tags: , Gay cruise Vancouver, ,   

    Great Vancouver Gay Cruise Hotels 

    This page was originally published in May of 2009; Pan Pacific info and hotel photos updated March, 2012

    Cruising out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada? Here are four highly recommended, gay-popular hotels. They are listed in the following order

    1. Proximity to cruise terminal, 2. Value with style, 3. Gay Village location, 4. Metrosexual luxury

    1. Pan Pacific Vancouver Roll out of bed at the Pan Pacific and take the elevator to your cruise ship! The Pan is

    The Pan Pacific is at Vancouver’s Canada Place cruise terminal. Photo: Randall Shirley.

    located at Vancouver’s main cruise terminal, Canada Place—overlooking the iconic “five sails.” It’s a very nice property, elegant and understated. Every room has a view, and in Vancouver that generally means ocean and mountains. Vancouver’s downtown shopping district is an easy walk.

      • Bonus in 2012: Luggage transferred to the ship! The hotel is offering a package that includes logding for cruise passengers, and on the morning of your cruise they’ll transfer your luggage to the ship! If you’re sailing from Vancouver’s alternate pier (Ballantyne), the package will transfer you to that pier.
      • Best for: people who are paranoid about missing the ship!
      • Gay Friendly: Very. The hotel has many gay staffers; anyone on staff will be glad to point you to the gay village, bars, and restaurants.
      • Distance to cruise pier: O miles. You’re THERE! Note: Some Vancouver cruises arrive depart at Ballantyne Pier, 1.6 miles away. There is no appropriate hotel near Ballantyne.
      • Distance to Airport: All downtown hotels are approximately 10 miles from the airport.
      • Secret tip: Vancouver’s “downtown” gay bathhouse, Steamworks, is just a few blocks away…if that’s your thing! Or you can just share the hotel pool (great views) with families and flirt with the dads.
      • Extra touch: Map lovers (and what gay isn’t?) will love the lobby fountain which replicates the Pacific Rim—many travelers walk right by, but you won’t.

    ________________________________________

     

    2. The Listel Art lovers take note: the Listel is a gallery/museum experience you’ll never forget, and it’s among Vancouver’s most affordable lodging. The property is a beautifully reno’d Best Western on trendy Robson Street,

    clinging to the edge of Vancouver’s gay-heavy West End. From the moment you enter the lobby you’ll be blown away by the art, curated by fabulous local gallery Buschlen Mowatt.

    But it gets better. 2 floors of the hotel are called “Gallery Floors,” and rooms are filled with original artworks-all are for sale. An additional 2 floors of the hotel are “Museum Floors,” filled with pieces from Vancouver’s glorious Museum of Anthropology.

      • Best for: travelers who love great art and great music.
      • Gay Friendly: Very. One of North America’s gayest neighborhoods is literally out its back door.
      • Distance to cruise pier: 1 mile to Canada Place cruise pier.
      • Distance to Airport: All downtown hotels are approximately 10 miles from the airport.
      • Secret tip: The Listel’s bar/restaurant is among the finest places to hear live Jazz in Vancouver.
      • Extra touch: The hotel is a 10 minute walk from almost everything a gay visitor could want: Stanley Park, Davie Village, Denman Street Dining.

    ________________________________________

     

    3. Sandman Suites on Davie Location, location, location. Smack in the middle of Vancouver’s gay village (Davie Street), this tower was renovated from apartments to hotel, and they did a great job of it. Design is contemporary and nothing too fancy, but plenty comfortable.

      • Best for: travelers who want to be in the middle of the gay “action.” Bars, bookstore, restaurants, all nearby!
      • Gay Friendly: Very, although, strangely, they don’t really market to the gay audience.
      • Distance to cruise pier: 1 mile to Canada Place cruise pier.
      • Distance to Airport: All downtown hotels are approximately 10 miles from the airport.
      • Secret tip: Request a high-floor balconyroom, facing English Bay – the view is enough to make you call U-haul and plan your move to Vancouver!
      • Extra touch: All suites means this hotel is perfect spot for keeping a couple of brews or bottle of white wine in the fridge to entertain fellow cruise passengers you might meet across the street at Vancouver’s “real guy” bar: the Pumpjack, or the stand-and-model bar, 1181.

     

    ________________________________________

    4. Opus Hotel Metrosexual to the max, and regularly on “it lists” like Conde Nast, the Opus is a decadent treat for any traveling homo! Rooms are modern design-chic, and come in four different color palates. The Opus is in super-trendy Yaletown, formerly Vancouver’s warehouse district, which reportedly can be a bit noisy at night. Nearby restaurants, shopping, and galleries lean to the pricey side. The gay village is about a 10 minute walk up Davie Street.

      • Best for: Cruisers with a bit of spare cash to spend—metrosexual luxury isn’t cheap (although we’ve recently spotted discounts at around U.S. $200).
      • Gay Friendly: Very. If a hotel could “be” gay based on style and appearance, this is it. But plenty of trendy straights stay there, and the bar is mostly straight (but friendly).
      • Distance to cruise pier: 1.4 miles to Canada Place cruise pier.
      • Distance to Airport: All downtown hotels are approximately 10 miles from the airport.
      • Secret tip: By fall of 2009, Vancouver’s new airport-downtown subway line will be complete. It’s first “downtown” stop will be practically on the Opus’ doorstep.
      • Extra touch: Use the hotel’s website to Concierge Quiz to profile what kind of traveler you are, and then let the staff know. They’ll pick a room based on it, and give you local travel advice.

    ________________________________________

    BONUS HOTEL TIP: If you’re staying an extra day at the END of your cruise, and have an early morning flight, consider a night at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport. It’s a really gorgeous, hip hotel, actually in the airport. Facilities are first rate, and the hotel is right above the U.S.-bound departures area. It also has super high-tech glass, so you can watch the planes through the window, but can hardly hear them.

    Written by Randall Shirley

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  • Randall Shirley 8:36 pm on March 10, 2012 COMMENT  

    You dirty, dirty man . . . this Hawaii shore excursion is for you! 

    ATV Kauai

    A stop during the ATV Kauai tour. © Randall Shirley

    My close friends might be surprised to know that I did this excursion, which is doable during a port stop at Lihue, Kauai. But it was recommended by the local tourism agency, Poipu Beach Association, so my partner and I decided to try a few hours in a “mud bug,” basically a two-person dune buggy.

    If your ship will be docked in Kauai for a fairly long day, you’ll have plenty of time to swing over to Poipu and try this excursion. Be sure to book ahead, and let them know you’re on a cruise. Tthey may have suggestions about ground transport, although a rental car will give you ultimate flexibility..

    On the road in Kauai by ATV

    On the road in Kauai by ATV. © Randall Shirley

    Explore a historic sugar cane plantation by ATV. We gave it a shot–and we are so glad we did! The ATV was basically a 2-person dune buggy. We took turns driving, and had a blast. During the tour, it wasn’t the gays who ran off the road and got stuck in the mud–it was a straight couple. There was a LOT of mud, and we got very, very dirty–luckily the tour

    Waterfall stop, ATV Kauai Tour

    Waterfall stop, ATV Kauai Tour. © Randall Shirley

    company, ATV Kauai*, provides clothes and goggles, but you should wear shoes that can be washed. The tour took us from near the beach and into privately owned land which their company has access rights for–the land is owned by Steve Case of AOL fame, who is leaving it alone and choosing not to develop for now. The tour included a lot of information on Kauai’s history, how sugar cane played into things, how and why it ended. Along the way we drove through a very cool tunnel, once used to transport cane between parts of the island, and saw scenery used in such films as Jurassic Park (many movies have been filmed on Kauai: check this list) We also stopped at a waterfall and pool for a picnic lunch. Very fun.**

    *Note: when we did this excursion, we were not in Hawaii on a cruise, but as land-travelers.  For my thoughts on cruising to/from Hawaii, click here.

    **Part of this blog posting originally appeared on Randall’s personal blog, 5faves.com.

    Travel on Kauai was partially courtesy Poipu Beach Assocation. The ATV adventure was courtesy ATV Kauai for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed are my own. To read our full ethics/disclosure statement, click here.

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  • Randall Shirley 5:02 pm on February 23, 2012 COMMENT
    Tags: Partners   

    Gay at sea, now gay on land, too: GayTravel.com new partner for port city info 

    You’ve planned your dream cruise, using the MeetMeOnBoard.com cruise calendar and resources, and now you’re wondering what to do in your embarkation and debarkation cities.

    We’ve partnered up with our friends at GayTravel.com to give you more answers! Their site connects gay and lesbian travelers with gay friendly destinations, hotels, and tours throughout the world.

    Say you’ve used our cruise calendar to book one of the many cruises departing Miami, but you really don’t know much about Miami.

    On the Cruise Calendar “Embarkation” column, click the GayTravel button, and voila, you’re on their site where you can find great info on hotels, bars, restaurants and more—all the things you might want to do before, or after, your cruise.

    You can also build a profile on GayTravel.com, which could help you connect with non-cruising gays in destinations your cruise will visit.

    GayTravel.com has been at it for a long time over 15 years! New features on their redesigned site include user profiles – allowing site visitors to meet locals in the area they plan to visit, provide their own travel tips on places they know well, find room mates or travel buddies or just have a conversation with a fellow gay traveler.

    Just like MeetMeOnBoard, but on land! Check out GayTravel.com now. Let us know what you think!

     

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    • Jenn 12:06 pm on February 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      This is awesome information! I’m actually doing some research for our gay friendly business. I’ve been trying to figure out what the best gay friendly destinations are for woman. Can you provide any advice on that? It would be great if you can post some of your information on . Thanks so much for your advice

    • GayTravel 2:39 pm on March 6, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Jenn, Gaytravel.com is a great resource for Women’s vacations thru the World’s top Tour and Cruise Operators. Just visit the Tours or Cruises section of our site and you can choose “Women Only” to filter the excursions! :) Hope that helps! GayTravel Team

  • Randall Shirley 11:23 am on February 8, 2012 COMMENT  

    Unique gay cruise website MeetMeOnBoard reaches 5,000 members! 

     


    Shawn & Jason became the 5,000th member(s) to join MeetMeOnBoard.com

    Jason (left) & Shawn became the 5,000th member(s) to join MeetMeOnBoard.com

    Meet Shawn & Jason, the 5,000th (and technically, 5,001st) members of MeetMeOnBoard – the unique website where gay cruise travelers connect.

    Cruise with these guys on their upcoming Carnival Cruise in June, and your first question should be “how did you meet?” Their answer is a hoot—and it involves an ex-partner’s crush that reaches all the way back to high school.

    Shawn and Jason, a couple for 11 years, live in Indiana, and love going on cruises. The best part, they say, is the people they meet through cruising. Sounds familiar…after all, that’s what MeetMeOnBoard is all about.

    • Number of cruises (thus far): 5
    • First cruise destination: Jamaica & Cayman Islands in 2007
    • Favorite cruise line: Carnival
    • Have also sailed: Disney & Royal Caribbean
    • Destination they love: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. “We went zip-lining over the original Preadtor set there,” Shawn recalls. “It was amazing—so beautiful!”
    • Why they love cruising: “Cruising, for us, is a great way to get away and meet great people and see some amazing sights.”
    • Great cruise experience: the four other people they met as dining companions on their first cruise. “We are all still good friends and have since then cruised together. It takes some careful planning but we make it happen.”

    With all that cruise experience, why did Shawn and Jason become members of MeetMeOnBoard.com?

    “We joined MeetMeOnBoard because we liked the mission of the site,” Shawn says. “It wasn’t about ‘hooking up’ and didn’t have that meat market feel.  We hope to meet dynamic people and make friends from across the country!”’

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    • Sophie Needelman 8:56 pm on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      congratulations on this great success! have a great time on your cruise- well be waiting for a full report!

  • Randall Shirley 1:07 pm on January 14, 2012 COMMENT  

    Cruise ship safety, and other travel safety 


    Photos: Courtesy of AP

    The grounding and capsizing of the Costa Concordia yesterday seems almost unbelievable. But it’s a strong reminder that when we cruise, we’re still on a big machine that floats, in the ocean.

    No matter how much we gays travel—be it cruising, hotels, flying—it’s crucial that we pay attention to safety.

    I generally do the following, but after yesterday’s disaster am recommitted to do at least these things when I travel. I encourage you to do the same.

    On a ship

    • During my FIRST visit to my stateroom, study the safety materials in the room.
    • Learn the exit routes, as posted in the cabin. Go look at those routes.
    • Consider alternate routes for how I would get off the ship if it were dark, or if the ship were listing to one side.
    • Discuss an evacuation plan with my partner or other traveling companions.
    • Pay close attention to the muster drill.
    • Really learn to use the life vest.

     On a plane

    •  Pay attention to the safety briefing.
    • Actually look at where the nearest exit is, and count the number of seating rows between me and that exit, because in a smoky or darkened plane you might have to actually find the exit by feel.

    In a hotel

    • Learn the exit routes.
    • In a foreign country, check to make sure the exit routes are not blocked, or worse, locked. It’s unlikely, but not unheard of. Ant it wouldn’t hurt to check on exits even in North America and Europe–just so you know the way and have a plan.
    • Keep appropriate clothing ready in case of evacuation—shoes, pants, and shirt/coat near the door.

    These are simple things, but in a world where we take travel safety for granted, yesterday’s Costa Cruises disaster serves as an excellent reminder of how wrong things can go.

     

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    • Chris 6:23 pm on January 15, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I’ve been wondering if those of you who have Cruised with Costa perceive that line as being lax on safety. It would seem that emergency training of the crew (and passengers!) would be a first priority.
      Again, what has been your experience on Costa.

    • Bill McFarlane 1:53 pm on January 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Great Information Thanks Randall. On a cruise ship we also discuss evacuation routes from areas OTHER than our stateroom…for example how would you quickly get to the boat deck from a higher deck like the Lido restaurant. Evacuating a cruise ship must be very difficult and potentially frightening for people using wheel chairs or coping with physical challenges.

    • Marvin Perton 7:35 am on January 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks for your safety tips, Randall. A friend suggest3ed another tip: PACK A SMALL FLASHLIGHT!

  • Randall Shirley 8:43 am on January 13, 2012 COMMENT
    Tags: , Crew, Montenegro, Quest   

    Reflecting on Azamara: Our own Captain Stubing & Julie McCoy 

    My partner and I recently cruised in the Mediterranean onboard the Quest of Azamara Club Cruises. The gay-friendly experience raised the cruising bar for us, and if I had to pick a single reason why, I’d pinpoint the captain.

    Captain Carl Smith, Azamara Club Cruises

    Captain Carl Smith of the Azmara Quest gives instructions before welcome about 100 passengers to join him for a hike in Kotor, Montenegro. The most-amazing cruise ship captain I've ever met. © Randall Shirley

    Whoa…the captain? Yes, you read that right. On all my previous cruises, I have never encountered a memorable captain. They’ve all seemed like guys who put up with the time they had to spend greeting the passengers.

    Not the captain of the Quest. Carl Smith is a fascinating guy—he’s British, and young, and he loves, loves his job. That showed in everything about the experienced we had on the Quest. I never asked his age, but he can’t be a day over 40. He is incredibly friendly. And during his daily noontime briefings and other encounters around the ship, it’s abundantly clear that he loves being on board a ship and being at sea—and the many things you can see and experience at sea and in port.

    Two examples—one today, and one I’ll share in a future blog posting.

                Number One. In Kotor, Montenegro, Smith actually guided a hike to St. John’s Fort, a magnificent spot some 4,000 steps above that gorgeous port town. Yes, the ship’s captain served as tour guide. The day prior he announced that in Kotor he and several of his officers would be doing the hike, and invited any passengers who so desired to join them for the hike—basically a “free” shore excursion! Denni and I jumped at the chance, and joined about 100 other passengers along with Captain Smith and many of the staff and crew of the ship. It was a blast!We all met on shore (first time I’ve ever seen a captain on shore), next to the ship, where Smith stood up on a platform and talked to everyone about the hike, letting us know it would be a strenuous hike. Strangely, many passengers decided to do the hike in sandals—big mistake (although most of them did make it to the top and back down). We all were required to sign waivers releasing Azamara from liability, and then we walked through the old city of Kotor, and past the gate to the stairs to the fort (Azamara covered the small entry fee for every one of us!).

    Hiking in Kotor

    Randall and Denni with the ship Azamara Quest from St. John's Fort trail, high above Kotor, Montenegro.

    The hike was both strenuous and gorgeous. We could have done it on our own. But we had so much more fun doing it with the captain of our ship and having the chance to visit with him a bit—just like Love Boat passengers used to do with Captain Stubing. We also really enjoyed extra time to visit with Cruise Director Russ Grieve, who does an amazing job with the entertainment staff on board the ship, and by the end of the cruise had become a friend (just like Julie McCoy, Russ was even there as we debarked to bid us farewell).

    As we all posed for a photo at the top of the hike, with the ship’s photographer shooting it. Of course, it was for sale back on board, a great memory available for those who were there.

    While the Azamara Quest is a gorgeous ship, it is just a ship. Ultimately it is the staff and crew who bring any ship to life. Captain Carl Smith was truly key in making our Azamara trip amazing.

    Obviously, Captain Smith isn’t on board every Azamara sailing. They do have another ship, the Azamara Journey, and even on the Quest, Smith rotates with another captain every few months. Staff members on the Questsaid that the other captains are all different, but that the experience of sailing on Azamara is outstanding and the service level remains extremely high.

    The ship Azamara Quest from St. John's Fort trail, high above Kotor, Montenegro. © Randall Shirley

    The ship Azamara Quest from St. John's Fort trail, high above Kotor, Montenegro. © Randall Shirley

    Next time: Captain Smith shows us an active volcano…where we didn’t know there was one!

     

    *Note: as is customary in the professional travel writing industry, the author received complimentary travel on Azamara Club Cruises. The author strives to remain unbiased in his reviews. Please see our full disclosure statement here.

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  • Randall Shirley 1:31 pm on December 30, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Old Year’s Cruise Gay Reflections 

    Holland America Oosterdam at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

    Holland America Oosterdam at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo: © Randall Shirley

    Suddenly 2011 is at an end. It’s that strange time when I seem to be simultaneously full of reflection and full of dreams for the future.  I’ll write about the future next week (which, as it happens, is the future…).

    2011 was a great year for cruising—both for me and for many of my friends. I know from checking out your profiles that it was good for many MMOB friends who I haven’t met yet. My cruise memories include:

    1. A ride on the Love Boat. Well, not really…but if I twist it enough ways I can say that Holland America is owned by Carnival Corp. which also owns Princess…so sailing Holland America on the Mexican Riviera (the classic Love Boat region) is sort of the same idea! The trip was last March on the Oosterdam*, and the best part, as with many cruises, was meeting new friends—including guys from MeetMeOnBoard.com. I’m proud to say that my partner and I had a MMOB success story—we e-met Jimmi and Kevinbefore our cruise, connected with them and became friends on board, and have been out to dinner with them since…when they came through Vancouver on (another) cruise. That’s what this site is really all about—connecting gay people who love to cruise. I’m proud to say it works.We met lots of other great gay guys and a few gals on that cruise. The ship was pleasant and lots of fun—and much credit for that goes to the inimitable Randall Powell, piano man extraordinaire! Randall made sure we had lots of great LGBT meet ups and that everyone got introduced. Unfortunately for cruisers, Randall is not on the ships anymore.
    2. Azamara Quest in port, Kotor Montenegro. Photo: © Randall Shirley

      Azamara Quest in port, Kotor Montenegro. Photo: © Randall Shirley

      Raising the bar on cruising. They say once you’ve flown first class, it’s hard to return to coach. Well, I’ve now cruised at a new level—on the fabulous Azamara Quest. That trip has decidedly raised the bar. The level of service was beyond expectations, the food was beyond expectations, the ship was gorgeous, and best of all it only carries about 700 passengers for a more intimate experience. And those passengers seemed to be more sophisticated than many of the folks I meet aboard big, mass-market ships (not snobby, just interesting). I absolutely loved this trip.* This was also my first cruise outside of North America, and I enjoyed the Italian, Croatian, and Montenegran ports.The gay quotient on that trip was decidedly smaller—and the LGBT meet ups were sparsely attended. We did meet a few gay guys, and overall the ship seemed gay-friendly. A particular highlight was Denni and I slow dancing together, in the middle of all the straight folks. No one batted an eye!

    3. Glaciers at Prince William Sound, Alaska (day cruise)

      Glaciers at Prince William Sound, Alaska (day cruise). Photo: © Randall Shirley

      A mini-cruise in Alaska. I should be ashamed of myself—I live in Vancouver but have never taken an Alaska cruise. I was lucky to go to Alaska on business last summer, and took a day cruise* to Prince William Sound. Seeing the glaciers there was awesome. There were lesbians on board, and it was a reminder that when you can’t get a full cruise “fix,” a mini-cruise can come to the rescue!

    Happy Old Year, so long 2011…

    *Note: as is customary in the professional travel writing industry, the author received complimentary travel on Holland America, Azamara, and Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises. The author strives to remain unbiased in his reviews. Please see our full disclosure statement here.

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    • Jimmi 5:21 pm on January 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      We had a great time and you know we will always look you up when in the Vancouver area! We had a great time, just wish we had more time to spend with you guys. There are always other cruises though…

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