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  • Randall Shirley 2:18 pm on December 14, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: ,   

    Shore time craziness — when the lights went out on Oahu. 

    What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you on shore? For me, it was the lights going out on Oahu. Add to the conversation by commenting at the end of this posting.

    Aloha cruisers.

    Randall Shirley at Honolulu's Aloha Tower

    Randall Shirley at Honolulu's Aloha Tower, cruise ships dock nearby. Photo: Kevin Spragg.

    I’ve just returned from Hawaii. Unfortunately it wasn’t a cruise vacation, but while flying into both Honolulu and Lihue (Kauai) we could see cruise ships in the ports—a Carnival ship at Honolulu and NCL at Kauai.

    Seeing the ships in these far-flung islands reminded me that occasionally there are gay group cruises that visit here—I organized one of them a few years ago (did you know you can organize a group cruise? Check out these tips on how to organize your own group cruise.

    But it also reminded me of a wild experience that happened on shore during that gay group cruise. Our Honolulu port day had been fairly typical, some Waikiki gay beach time at Queens Surf Beach, some Honolulu gay bar time at Hula’s, and of course some shopping. Toward evening as my partner and I began heading back to Aloha Tower and the ship, all the lights went out in Honolulu—we watched in disbelief as neighborhood by neighborhood, the entire city went black. Traffic turned into a mess, so we walked the hour or so to the ship.

    Of course, this was a huge news item worldwide—mostly because U.S. President Barack Obama was on the island at the time. Well, while his compound got it’s power back from generators (most of the island was powerless into the next day) at the cruise terminal of Aloha Tower, things were decidedly dark.

    The cruise terminal on Oahu couldn’t board the ship because the lights and security equipment on the shore side were out. The ship itself was lights-ablaze, but 100s of passengers were stuck on the shore side, temporarily denied boarding. I’m sure safety was the biggest concern—security could be handled onboard the ship if needed.

    Waikiki gay beach area

    Waikiki gay beach area, photo: Randall Shirley

    It seemed to take forever (maybe an hour), but finally someone got really creative—the port workers found some flashlights, and the lighting equipment from the ship’s photo studio was moved onto the shore – strung through the building’s corridors on long extension cords back to the ship. Before we knew it, we were carefully guided back through the cruise terminal and onto the Celebrity Mercury where things were fully powered up. It was strange to look over the side of the ship at the very dark silhouette of Waikiki!

    There’s lots of info about Hawaii on this site! Click here to learn more about cruising gay in Hawaii.

    What strange things have happened to you while cruising? Comment below!

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    • Sophie Needelman 12:06 am on December 21, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Love this post! Thanks for turning a frustrating situation into an entertaining one!

  • Randall Shirley 2:21 pm on November 29, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: Christmas, crowds., Hanuka, Holidays, Kwanza, new years   

    10 holiday cruise tips for gay passengers 

    Suggestions for improving your travel and cruise experience during the upcoming holiday season – and mitigating the challenges presented by large numbers of families with children.

    If you’ve chosen to cruise during the KwanChrismUkah holiday season (my term for Kwanza, Christmas, Hanukah…haven’t figured out how to tie Festivus into it yet), there are a few things you can do to help make your cruise experience a bit better. I’m assuming that you’re traveling with a spouse or partner, and without children.

    • Accept what you’re getting into. If you cruise during the holidays—especially on itineraries traveling to/from U.S. ports, the ship will likely be packed, and that will include families with kids. Accepting this fact and putting on your “patience cap” is a big part of making holiday travel more enjoyable.
    • Add extra days. This should go without saying, but arrive in your embarkation city at least one day early for your cruise. If you wait until same-day to travel to the port city, you run the risk of flight, train, or highway delays that could cause you to miss the ship.
    • Problems can also arise on debarkation day; if possible, stay a day in your final port city. At the very least, book the latest possible flight home from the port destination. I’ve seen people miss their flights because debarkation was delayed.
    • Check the location of your cabin—and consider what is around that cabin! Make changes before the cruise if possible.
    • Is the pool deck or jogging track above your room? That could create overhead noise all day long.
    • Does your cabin have an adjoining cabin door—noise can easily travel through such doors.
    • Do the cabins on either side of you have extra pop-down beds? That type of cabin can be attractive for a family with children who can be quite noisy (this has happened to me).
    • Request the late seating at dinner. Families sailing with smaller children are likely to dine on the earlier side.
    • Buy the full-week pass for the private pool/spa area. Do this immediately upon boarding the ship (most ships have it, and they may even have a discount package at that point). This will be one place on the ship that there won’t be kids.
    • Make sure GLBT Meetup is on the first-day itinerary. If it’s not, talk to someone on the cruise director’s staff immediately. Then attend and make friends! (Don’t forget to tell everyone about MeetMeOnBoard, you could do it by using our handy Cruise Cards).
    • Traveling with a group? Talk with the ship’s hotel manager about reserving a small space (library, lounge, conference room) for your own Christmas Eve gift exchange.
    • Befriend your cabin steward ASAP—and do it with a bit of cash. Even though I’ve found a $20 bill given to my steward on the first meeting—usually presented by saying “thanks for how beautifully you’ve prepared our room, and we’d like you to keep the ice bucket full,” helps them know I’m a customer who expects and rewards good service. Especially during a cruise that could be especially packed, having your steward on your side could help make for smoother sailing.
    • Be yourself. If you’re a gay couple who tends to hold hands, don’t hide that on the ship. In my experience, the cruise lines are very supportive of their gay passengers.
    • Wait until January! If you don’t have to travel during the holidays, then wait a few weeks—you’ll likely get better deals and have far fewer families and children to deal with, and probably a less-crowded ship.
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  • Randall Shirley 9:37 am on November 18, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: agent, discount   

    How do you choose your travel agent? Should you know them? 

    A few years ago I booked, and took, a cruise via an agent I found via CruiseCompete.com.  And other than a “how was your cruise” email or two, I never heard from her again.

    I arranged and booked a another cruise — a group cruise — via an agent who I found from an online cruise agency—the kind that send out weekly emails listing super deals on cruises. That agent got the commission for several cruise cabins because of me.

    And I never heard from him again, either.

    I would have expected both those agents to try and curry a long-term relationship with me — a frequent cruiser for whom they could likely book multiple future cruises. But no. Nada.

    In both of those cases, price of the cruise was a huge factor—we needed the absolute cheapest rate we could afford.  But I can’t help wondering if it isn’t a case of “you get what you pay for.” Does using a travel agent who you actually know—who may not be the cheapest—pay off in the long run?

    I’d like to hear your opinions on this, because it’s one area where I’m NOT an expert. Thoughts?

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    • Peter 11:29 am on November 19, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      I think if you cruise a couple times a year on a luxury line you will get better treatment from the average travel agent than if you cruise once on Carnival. I still believe there are benefits to booking a cruise through a reputable agent but if they only show their appreciating for your business through an automated email…move on! I’ve owned a business for over 25 years (non-travel related) and I have treated all my clients the same no matter how much work they bring my way. It’s usually the small clients that recommend me to others and it leads to large clients.

    • Deb 6:20 pm on November 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Shirley-I am Manager of the GLBT Travel Club of New England…I organize GLBT specific travel groups and send out a monthly newsletter to club members. I would love to become your Travel Agent and my agency is GLBT friendly. I have a GLBT cruise to Bermuda on the NCL Star coming up 4/29/12 from NYC if you are interested please contact me-ok? Thanks, Deb

  • Randall Shirley 11:55 am on November 7, 2011 COMMENT  

    Gay cruises — including some where kids belong 

    I don’t have kids, and I’m not a fan of having many kids around when I’m on vacation. I prefer that to be adult time.

    But I realize many gays and lesbians do have kids (or nieces/nephews) and enjoy vacationing with them. So thank goodness for R Family Vacations. The company, which was co-founded Kelli Carpenter (Rosie O’Donnell’s ex), and Gregg Kaminsky, who formerly worked at Atlantis (the mega gay-cruise company), is now almost a decade old, and offers a variety of land-based and cruise vacations for LGBT families–however you translate that concept.

    Their upcoming cruise doesn’t seem to be completely gay-family focused; instead it seems perfectly suited for gay men. It’s a Broadway themed cruise on NCL from New York to Bermuda (not the most gay-friendly destination). I suppose this one would be perfect for parents with a gay kid who wants to tread the boards of the Great White Way! But honestly, the concept even tempts Yours Truly! Sailing is July 8-15.

    They also have an adults-only gay and lesbian cruise on a European riverboat (on the Danube) that sounds like a good time (Aug. 21-30).

    Have YOU done an R Family cruise or vacation? What was your experience?

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  • Randall Shirley 1:40 pm on October 28, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: costumes, Drag Queens   

    Costume parties on cruise ships … have you ever done one? 

    Beefcake on a gay cruise

    One of the easier, yet most effective, costumes I've ever seen on a gay cruise. And yes, his ass was visible...but keeping it PG rated here. Photo: Randall Shirley

    Happy trickin’ and treatin’ this weekend:

    tell us about your favourite cruise ship costume moment?

    It’s that hallow’d time of year…the time when gays truly bring out their inner child and dress in full-on costume.

    I, alas, am not one of them. Maybe it was the clown costumes my mother dressed me in as a child, but I have never enjoyed dressing up as something I’m not.

    In the gay world, that seems to make me a minority. And on gay cruises, costume parties tend to be one of the most popular events. Every RSVP ay cruise I’ve taken has had one, and while I personally didn’t dress up, I had loads of fun watching others. Prizes in those contests have been juicy (a free cruise was one of the prizes, not sure if they still do that), and competition has been cut-throat.

    On my last RSVP cruise, some of the guys had managed to borrow elaborate gowns costumes from an opera company, and were sure they would win. Imagine their shock when a guy with a dog up hiss ass crack took the prize–a hilarious, and much-less-complicated costume inspired by a Far Side cartoon. Very, very funny.

    The one costume that’s almost guaranteed on an all-gay cruise is drag, and the drag queens may choose to dress  up at times other than the costume party. On my first all-gay cruise, one of the cutest guys turned into a woman every single night. She entered the dining room intentionally late, and made a grand entrance down the stairs each night to the delight of both passengers and staff.

    So, happy trickin’ and treatin’ this weekend, and in the mean time, tell us about your favourite cruise ship costume moment?

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  • Randall Shirley 2:03 pm on October 21, 2011 COMMENT  

    Dream Cruises: What dream cruises – gay or straight – are on YOUR list? 

    Star Clippers is on your Editor's list of dream cruises!

    What dream cruises are on YOUR list? Add them below! And on your profile, too.

    It’s funny how I dream of my next cruise…when I’m on a cruise. But the cruise lines know they’ll snag you by marketing their future itineraries—after all, if you’re enjoying their ship and service, and you’re relaxed a bit, you’re likely to book for a future cruise.

    I’ve never actually booked my next cruise at that point—reason has said to me, “wait, they really just want your money so they can make interest on it while you go home and change your mind.” I know people who do book while on board, and swear it’s the best way to get a great price. What do you think?

    But I DO get dreaming of my next great cruise while I’m on board, and I bet you do too.  Here are several cruises I personally would love to take in the next while:

    • Azamara Quest: Barbados to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We studied the Azamara brochure in detail during our recent Azamara cruise, and this itinerary has several things we want: the same ship, the same captain (we asked; they are on rotation, you know), the right time of year, lots of sea days, cool ports. This one is likely for us—not booked yet so it’s not in my “upcoming cruises” section, but it is on my wish list!
    • Atlantis Events Exotic Southern Caribbean. If I were to do a big all-gay itinerary, of the ones currently available this one appeals most. I like the islands of the southern Caribbean—they do seem more exotic to me. I also LOVE San Juan, so sailing in/out of there would be a plus. Also, the ship, the Celebrity Summit, is the right size. Frankly I just don’t need more than 2,000 homos on a ship (or 2,000 straight passengers either, for that matter…I’m not a big ship fan).
    • Cruising with Pride’s 2012 all-gay river cruise from Paris. While I’ve never sailed with these guys and don’t know much about their company, it looks quite nice. And they’ve got one of my favorite entertainers, Mr. Rudy de la Mor, on board, so it’s bound to be a hoot. He’s a very fun pianist with a zillion hats. I’ve also never sailed rivers, but guys I know who do it, like it a lot.
    • 16 nights, Barbados to Malaga on Star Clippers Royal Clipper. I’ve always wanted to do one of these sailing ships, and have heard great things about Star Clippers (from people I met on Azamara). I love sea days, and love the motion of the ocean, so would totally be game to try such a sailing.

    What dream cruises are on YOUR list?

     

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  • Randall Shirley 9:04 pm on October 17, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: , Shopping, Shore excursions   

    Silverware and coffee makers: My best shore shopping experience. What’s yours? 

    What’s the best thing you ever bought during a shore excursion? Where was it made? Comment below!

    Salami and Pasta shopping in Sorrento, Italy

    Salami and Pasta shopping in Sorrento, Italy. © Randall Shirley

    My partner and I recently completed a Mediterranean cruise onboard the Azamara Quest. Our favorite port was Sorrento, Italy—a place we almost stayed on the boat!

    Of course, unless you take a ship-organized shore excursion, the quality of your shore time really depends on a combination of two things: the port itself, and the effort you put into it.

    Italy is full of lovely towns that mix the modern world with old-world memories. Sorrento is yet another of them, but set atop a cliff face, about 100 feet above the sea. We chose to walk up a combination of stairs and sidewalks to get into the town, and while most of the other passengers and land-based tourists turned right at the top of the stairs, following their tourist maps into cozy alleyways filled with tourist traps, we wandered to the left, and quickly found ourselves away from the swarms of tourists that had maddened us during previous stops in Taormina and Dubrovnik.

    Totally local experience: Coffee at Bar Paradise, Sorrento

    Totally local experience: Coffee at Bar Paradise, Sorrento. © Randall Shirley

    We enjoyed a great coffee/croissant experience at Bar Paradise, a place catering to bus and train drivers, bought a suitcase-full (no kidding) of regionally-made pasta at a very local grocer/salami shop with a super-friendly salami salesman, and stumbled our way into the Italian version of the Gap, called Piazza Italia. (For better or for worse, the actual Gap recently opened in Italy).

    Then we happened into one of the most amazing shopping experiences either of us has ever had, anywhere: we met Umberto Esposito, at L’Argentario. A window display of cute Top Moka brand Italian coffee maker devices caught our eye, and we decided to price a dual-cup, stove-top espresso maker. Inside the not-large shop we were surrounded by all manner of upscale dishes and cutlery, as well as some fine china and pots and pans. We had no intention of buying a set of cutlery, but the gorgeous styling of Bugatti caught my eye, and once we began discussing pricing with Umberto, we knew we’d found possibly the best-ever souvenir of a trip (since we both love cooking and entertaining—the cutlery will be a great conversation piece at future meals).

    The Espositos at L'Argentario, Sorrento, Italia

    The Espositos at L'Argentario, Sorrento, Italia. © Randall Shirley

     

    But the best part of the experience was meeting a merchant who hasn’t sold out. We learned that his shop only sells items made in Italy—which is becoming increasingly rare. He told us that tourists often come in, see the price of some of his products, and challenge him that they’ve bought the same thing elsewhere for much less money. He challenges them back, asking them to show the bottom of their product where it inevitably says the new three most-common words in the English language: Made in China. (In Italy we often saw this written as “Made in PRC”).

    Every time Umberto discovers that a supplier has moved production from Italy to one of the world’s factory countries, he stops carrying that product. We were delighted. While we are stuck buying plenty of Made in Somewhere-else product at home, we don’t travel with the hope of buying Chinese-made products as our souvenirs—unless we’re traveling in China. Several hundred Euros later, we are delighted to have paid a bit more, and come home with not only Italian design, but Italian craftsmanship. Oh, we bought the Top Moka coffee maker, too.

    If Sorrento is in your travel plans—either as a cruise destination or land-based destination—I encourage you to stop by L’Argentario. Introduce yourself to Umberto, thank him for setting a higher bar. And buy something fabulously Italian for your home.

    L’Argentario, Corso Italia, 205-207 Sorrento
    Phone  081 877 3417
    Email:     largentario@alice.it

    What’s the best thing you ever bought during a shore excursion? Where was it made?

    Note: Reviewer sailed courtesy Azamara; shore experience at own expense. See our disclosure policy here.

     

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    • Dave Cantrall 6:15 am on October 23, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Randall!

      Very interesting article and great photos! Really enjoyed reading this!

      Dave

    • Alan Pacquer 2:23 pm on October 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Randall,
      You gave travelers a great insight on experiencing another side of shopping in Italy instead of shopping for the usual T-shirts, olive oil decanters and limoncello. It brought back great memories as a few years ago, my partner Bob and I left Mark and Dale at the train station, they on their way back to Rome and Bob and I, sister and Mom heading further south to Sorrento after a perfect day in Pompeii. I remember waving to Mark and Dale as their train headed north with a pack of stray dogs running after the train on the platform. “Back to Sorrento”…the city is perfect as a base for exploring the Amalfi coast. Like you Randall, we prefer the less traveled route, leaving most tourists to the trendy shops, one of the reasons we travel off season. We unfortunately will not be joining Mark and Dale on their cruise this week out of New Orleans, so to get over my sorrow, will be returning to Italy next week. Looks like I’ll be looking for kitchen items “Made in Italy”!

      Alan

  • Randall Shirley 2:47 am on October 8, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: Cabin types   

    In or Out: what type of cruise ship cabin do you prefer? 

    Breakfast on the Verandah of Azamara Quest

    Breakfast on the Verandah of Azamara Quest, © Randall Shirley

    On my first 2 cruises I had inside cabins—and I thought I was in heaven. After a youth spent dreaming of sailing on the Love Boat, I was finally on cruise ships! When I price shopped, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars more for a window, let alone a balcony cabin. After all, my inside cabins were plenty bright when the lights were on, and the cruise companies are experts at making inside cabins feel like they have windows. Plus if I wanted to go outside, I preferred to head to a public deck because I’m a fairly social guy. Even a 2-week cruise through the Panama Canal was fine in an inside cabin.

    Then I got a taste of the outside. In the past few years, I’ve had a couple of outside (window only) cabins, and then a couple of verandah (balcony) cabins. And on my most recent cruise, my partner and I enjoyed an extra large cabin with what amounted to 1.5 lengths of balcony, onboard the Azmara Quest. (The cabin type was called a Club Ocean Suite, although it wasn’t truly a suite in the way you would think of a suite, i.e. with multiple rooms, just an oversize stateroom).

    As our Azamara cruise came to an end, and my partner and I began debating a future Azmara cruise and discussing what we would be able to afford. We decided that a balcony is our new minimum requirement. Here are what I consider the pros and cons of each cabin type.

    Inside Cabin.

    Pros:

    • Price—these are generally the cheapest cabins on any cruise ship.
    • Dark—if you have trouble sleeping when the sun peeks through even the best curtains, an inside cabin will solve the problem. They tend to be pitch black inside, and you’ll generally need to set an alarm to even know when it’s morning.
    • Can help prevent feeling seasick—since you can’t see the waves or the horizon, I find the motion of the ship can feel less dramatic in an inside cabin. Do you agree?

    Cons:

    • Dark—not knowing what time it is based on natural light can be bothersome.
    • Claustrophobic—if you have problems with feeling “closed in,” an inside cabin may not be best.
    • No fresh air—you’re at the mercy of the ship’s heating/cooling system.

    Outside cabin, with window or porthole.

    Pros:

    • Price—again, these cabins tend to be priced competitively.
    • Ocean views—if you enjoy seeing the water, these cabins are often on lower decks where the waves can be much more visible. I actually enjoy this sensation.

    Cons:

    • Blocked views—be sure to check that the view isn’t obstructed by a lifeboat or other ship equipment.
    • No fresh air—you’re at the mercy of the ship’s heating/cooling system.

    Verandah Cabin / Balcony Cabin.

    Pros:

    • Stepping outside—it’s really nice to be able to wake up and have your coffee in your bathrobe, on your own bit of private deck.
    • Nude cruising allowed! As long as you’re not in port or in a situation where you could be observed from another deck, you can be naked on your private verandah!
    • Sense of spaciousness. The verandah cabins generally have almost a full wall of glass, so when the curtains are open they feel airy and spacious.

    Cons:

    • Price. Verandah cabins are the most popular type of cabin, and this means prices tend to be higher for the type.
    • Neighbors. Your verandah is likely to be part of a very long verandah running the length of the ship, divided into individual verandahs by opaque glass or other types of dividers. These dividers generally don’t block much sound so private conversations (or other activities) on the verandah may be heard by your neighbors—and vice versa.
    • Location on the ship. While the new, big ships may have several decks of verandah cabins, the top verandah deck is often just below the pool deck. When choosing your cabin, pay attention to what is above (and next to, and below). Children running or deck chairs being dragged directly above your cabin can quickly shatter a morning snuggle. The same goes for cabins that in any way adjoin discos and theatres.

    Suites.

    While I haven’t yet sailed in a true, multi room suite (unless you consider a bedroom with a bathroom a suite), our recent Azamara cruise included one of the amenities generally associated with suites: a butler.

    Frankly, I wasn’t sure what to do with him. Our butler was a friendly Turk named Eyup—always dressed, at minimum, in proper trousers, a vest, and a tie, and often in a jacket with tails. He was available to unpack our luggage (we didn’t take advantage of this).

    What we did enjoy about a butler was having full room service. We generally took an early coffee service with fruit on our verandah, and the butler whisked in and set this up—complete with linens and cutlery—in a flash. We also enjoyed a romantic evening of in-room dining, and our butler served us just as if we were in the main dining room, including changes of plates and cutlery.

    We also enjoyed full high-tea service in our room each afternoon, as well as early evening appetizers.

    This cabin also included an almost-full-size bathtub, and the bathroom didn’t feel cramped.

     

     

    Note: As is common in the travel journalism industry for purposes of reviewing experiences, the author and his partner traveled on Azamara, and some other lines, courtesy of the cruise lines. See our full disclosure statement here.

     

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  • Randall Shirley 10:08 am on September 29, 2011 COMMENT  

    Cruising gay: do you join in the dance? 

    For your comment below: My question today is this: Have you danced with your partner or a same-sex friend on a mainstream cruise? Will you? Why or why not?

    Randall Shirley onboard Azamara Quest

    Randall Shirley onboard Azamara Quest, sailout of Venice, Italy. Photo: Denni Danieli-Polloni

    Ciao from Sorrento, Italy, where my partner and I just returned from an amazing day ashore. What did we do? Surprisingly, we shopped! A new set of silverware, made in Italy, is going home with us.

    Sailing aboard the Azamara Quest* has been a blessing and a curse. The blessing: it is a gorgeous ship with the best service we have ever experienced. They are actually delivering the experience that matches what the glossy brochures promise. The curse: it will be hard to go on the mass-market ships again after this amazing cruise. I guess you could say we’ve been spoiled. The number of repeat Azamara guests we’ve met onboard tells us that this cruise is not a fluke: Azamara has hit a sweet spot.

    What is that sweet spot? Essentially, they’re targeting up-market cruise passengers who want something not too big, not too small, and really warm and personal. The ship takes only 694 passengers (double-occupancy). There are almost no children on board (yay!), people tend to dress nicely all the time—not just at dinner. The food is the best I’ve ever had on a ship. And the itinerary is interesting—we’ve visited 3 ports in Croatia and 3 in Italy. The crew seem incredibly happy—something I’ll write more about in a future post.

    As a gay couple, we feel incr

    Azamara Quest in Montengro

    Azamara Quest in Kotor Bay, Montengro. © Randall Shirley

    edibly welcome and at home on this ship. If you’ve read my postings for a while, you know I’m a big believer that the only way we can truly be accepted in the world is to be visibly “out.” To be ourselves wherever we go. For me, that means I hold my partner’s hand when I want, kiss him when I want, and dance with him when I want. When we lay by the pool, one of us is quite likely to have a hand on the other’s shoulder or leg. We act just like the straights.

    Our “out” experience on this ship has been perfect. Hardly a double-take as we danced the night away together during the big mid-cruise deck party, both fast dance and slow, cheek-to-cheek stuff. We were quite near the stage and definitely under the lights, and several people have since mentioned to us that they saw us dancing and what a good time we obviously were having.

    Some of the people who’ve said this are gay—and most of the other gays on board were not on the dance floor (only one other gay couple has participated). But straight people have mentioned that they noticed us, too. And always with a smile on their face.

    So my question today is this: Have you danced with your partner or a same-sex friend on a mainstream cruise? Will you? Why or why not?

    In order to review this cruise, and as is customary in the travel journalism industry, my partner and I traveled as guests of Azamara Club Cruises (cruise only, no land arrangements or air). See our ethics and disclosure statement here.

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    • Clara 6:50 am on October 12, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      We have danced together on a couple of cruises. We were having a great time and wanted to dance, so we did. Nobody minded at all. Everyone was enjoying themselves and didn’t pay us much attention. Which was fine with us.

      • Deb 6:26 pm on November 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Hi Clara- have you tried a GLBT Dance Cruise? The dance classes are private for GLBT group members only and the evening dances “under the stars” are also private…same sex dancing in a comfortable zone! I have one comin gup 4/29/2012 to Bermuda from NYC on the NCL STAR so please check out the details on my web page and send me an e-mail if you are interested in joinin gour travel group? Thanks, Deb

  • Randall Shirley 1:26 pm on September 23, 2011 COMMENT  

    My Top 6 Favorite Cruise Ports for Embarkation — what are yours? 

    Be sure to add your favorites below in the “comments” field!

    Venice Grand Canal

    Venice Grand Canal, 2011. © Randall Shirley

    Ciao. I’m in Venice, Italy, right now—getting ready to board the Azamara Quest tomorrow for a 7 night cruise to Croatia, Montengro, Sicily, and eventually Rome.

    This is my first trip to Venice, and I am blown away by the beauty of the place. I immediately decided it is my new favorite cruise port, but then I realized that’s jumping the gun! I have different favorites, and for different reasons.

    Here are my top six favorite major (embark/debark) cruise ports, what are yours—and why?

    1. Vancouver, British Columbia. When I visited Vancouver, I liked it so much that I moved there! This city with majestic mountains, gleaming skyscrapers, and clean ocean has been my home for the past 6.5 years, and while I’ve yet to take a cruise from there, I do enjoy going to Canada Place and looking at the ships, and watching them sail out to Alaska all summer long.
    2. New York, New York. It’s the greatest city in the world, and I can tell you a zillion reasons why I feel that way, starting with the fact that great cruises call on that amazing city. Add on Broadway, great food, astonishing museums, and the most friendly-rude people on earth and there’s just no place like it!
    3. San Juan, Puerto Rico. I fell in love with that lovely port on my very first cruise, nearly 25 years ago. My parents and I sailed on Costa from there, and I was flirted with by a lovely Mexican boy the whole cruise. Alas, I was so deeply in the closet I didn’t have a clue what was going on! But ah, San Juan—it’s got so much going as a destination, including beautiful beaches, amazing food (Ajili Mojili is still among my favorite restaurants; I’ve been back several times), and beautiful men!
    4. San Diego, California. With the most-perfect weather in North America, some fun gay nightlife, gorgeous beaches, and some really great pre-cruise hotels (Hotel Del, anyone?), San Diego hits high on my list. Add in the hot military guys you see all over town plus the great mainstream tourist attractions of Balboa Park—yes, I love that port.
    5. Gondola in Venice

      Gondola in Venice © Randall Shirley

      Hong Kong. The first time I saw this pearl of Asia my eyes nearly popped out of my head. The combination of tropical mountain beauty and modern skyline sparkling in the harbor is simply dazzling. Add in some of the world’s best shopping and crazy-good dim sum, and I say it’s one hell of a great port.

    6. Venice, Italy. One of the cool things about this port city is you can occasionally see ships being built here—not far from the very busy cruise terminal. I love that everything about Venice seems to so close to the water, and that there are travelers here from every corner of the earth, all converging on the amazing Piazza San Marco. Wow. Add in some really good Venetian desserts and this is a city I’ll be visiting more than once…hopefully always in conjunction with a cruise.

    What are your favorite cruise ports? Why?

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