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News & Expert Advice
A Blog for the LGBT Community Who Love To CruiseRandall Shirley: Editor
Tom Baker: Cruise Expert
Don Church & Tony Schillaci: Guest Writers
Tagged: Canada RSS
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Randall Shirley
Great Montreal Gay Cruise Hotels
The historic Palm Court in the Montreal Ritz Carlton lobby. © Randall Shirley
Snap Update, June 21, 2012: I was just in Montreal, and checked out the eye-popping overhaul of the historic Ritz Carlton there–originally designed by Cesar Ritz himself. If you’re looking for a luxe stay, this nicely situated property will deliver. It’s worth walking in just to see the Palm Court portion of the lobby–it’s a national historic landmark.
Below originally published July, 2009:
Montreal may be the most gay-friendly city in North America, and is an increasingly popular start/end point for cruises, with Boston or New York on the other end.
“Fall colors” sailings have become especially popular, and seeing the leaves from the St. Lawrence Seaway is spectacular.
Montrealers pride themselves on their cosmopolitan style and “who cares” attitudes—sort of like the Amsterdam of North America. After generations of repression by the Catholic church, most Montrealers (and people throughout Quebec province) said, “enough.” Today they have very few hang-ups about sex and sexuality. Open relationships—even among straights—are hardly shocking to Montrealers where “swingers” clubs are legal and popular. The city’s gay village is enjoyed by everyone, and in the summer several blocks become a pedestrian-only zone.
Here are three great hotels to make the most of a night or two at the beginning or end of your Montreal, Canada, cruise.
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La Loggia Art & Breakfast Editor’s Pick
La Loggia owner Joel Prevost teaches sculpture in this remarkable Montreal bed and breakfast. Photo © Randall Shirley
One of the planet’s more interesting B&B’s, proudly gay-owned La Loggia is a unique combination of lodging, art gallery, and sculptor’s studio. Co-owner and sculptor extraordinaire Joel Prevost is a wealth of knowledge about Montreal, and is fiercely proud of his city’s dedication to culture and the arts. He’s quick to explain an aspect unique to Montreal: their B&B has dual business licenses—one for the B&B and one for the sculptor studio—even though the two share the space. And he’ll point out many other businesses up and down Amherst Street that have the same arrangement: a dentist/art gallery, a florist/restaurant, a bike shop/hair salon. A small, fun gay bar is right next door to the B&B.
The B&B’s five rooms are ultra comfy, and crammed with amazing Canadian art: all of it is for sale. Continental breakfast is served on the property’s back deck. Two of the rooms share a bath; the others have private baths. The hosts don’t service your room unless you ask, reflecting their belief in your absolute privacy. They are, however, generally just a buzzer away.
- Best for: Artsy types who wish to stay in the heart of le Village, Montréal’s gay neighborhood.
- Gay Friendly: Gay owned, straight-friendly. The owners say many straights stay with them because gay properties provide a finer experience.
- Distance to cruise pier: 1.3 mile
- Distance to Montreal Trudeau Int’l Airport (YUL): 13.5 miles
- Secret tip: If you have any interest in sculpture, you might be lucky enough to catch Joel in action—often sculpting the male form. During winter months he teaches at the B&B, and guests are welcome in the studio anytime. During summer, the studio becomes an additional bedroom, and his studio moves a few doors down—but you’re still welcome to go watch.
- Extra touch: “Mop-up towels” carefully placed at each bedside.
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Tucked on a side street in Montreal’s “Old Port,” (known locally as Vieux Montréal), the Gault is a gorgeous
The gay-friendl Hotel Gault in Montreal stands on the site of North America's first YMCA. It's fun to stay... Photo © Randall Shirley
boutique property with surprisingly affordable rates. Created from a historic, renovated warehouse, once the centre of a Andrew Gault’s Canadian monopoly on the cotton trade, the Gault’s exterior only shows four floors – in fact, the hotel has five floors, with the top being “set back” to comply with heritage zoning rules. Rooms on the top floor, thus, have fantastic shared balconies and some amazing cityscape views.
Rooms are clean and modern; polished concrete floors (heated floors in the bathrooms!) are softened by cushy rugs, and the piece de resistance is an Italian-made Flou bed, which draws rave reviews. The hotel hasn’t yet upgraded to flat-panel TVs, but with the European charm of Old Montréal right outside the door, there’s no need for TV in the first place. The hotel includes a small gym, and prides themselves on an extensive book-exchange library in the ultra-cool, open-concept lobby.
- Best for: Cruisers who want to stay in style, and affordably, near the pier.
- Gay friendly: Very. As with many Montréal experiences, you’ll think most of the metrosexual staff are gay. We’ll leave it to you to confirm who is and isn’t!
- Distance to cruise pier: 0.5 mile.
- Distance to Montreal Int’l Airport (YUL): 12.5 miles
- Secret tip:This ultra-cool property gives a whole new meaning to “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA.” Amazingly, the first branch of the YMCA in North America was organized on the corner where the hotel stands, way back in 1851.
- Extra touch: Breakfast is included in the small lobby café, which is proud of their evening tapas menu.
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This slowly growing luxury Canadian chain (currently there are two, Montreal and
Montreal Opus Hotel Room (photo courtesy Opus Hotels)
Vancouver, with more planned) smartly presents themselves as the hippest address for the hippest people, and that means hip gays, right? Indeed, the hotel is crawling with gorgeous, metrosexual staffers, and plays host to a number of gay events on a regular basis.
Opus is not exactly in the gay village—but it’s pleasantly situated roughly between the village and downtown, about a 10-minute walk to either. It’s technically at the top of a neighborhood called the Latin Quarter, which includes many fine dining spots.
Rooms at the Opus are not shy—bright colored walls come in a variety of schemes, all coordinating smartly with the consistent gray carpeting. The rooms have a fairly loft-ish feel, and include large flat panel TVs and pampered concierge service.
- Best for: Trendy gays who don’t mind spending a few bucks for the privilege.
- Gay friendly: Very. The restaurant manager is openly gay, and the hotel actively courts the gay market, being host-spot for Montreal’s GLBT chamber of commerce meetings.
- Distance to cruise pier: 1.3 miles
- Distance to Montreal Int’l Airport (YUL): 12.7 miles
- Secret tip: The hotel hosts a gay tea dance on many Sunday afternoons (ask when reserving).
- Extra touch: the hotel’s small gym has a full-time trainer on staff to help ensure you don’t lose your six-pack abs before your cruise, or re-find them after!
Researched & written by Randall Shirley. Disclosure: The editor’s stay at La Loggia was courtesy the B&B and Tourisme Montreal, however the views are his own and remain impartial. Read our full disclosure statement here.
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Randall Shirley
Eastern Canada…cool shore excursion.
Just when you thought you’d been everywhere, welcome to a unique destination. I’ll be adding several activities for this port in the next while.
I’m in Corner Brook, Newfoundland (where? see map below). This is one cool place–very much a part of Canada and North America, yet totally its own vibe and culture. 20 cruise ships will stop here (list is not apparently updated) this season, including majors like Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess, etc. If you’re on one, here is a FANTASTIC zip line, Marble Zip Tours, you could book as a shore excursion. It includes 9 cables, and while I was there on a rainy day, it was still plenty fun. You can zip in many places around the world, and I always think it’s a super-fun shore excursion for the gay traveler who’s done everything.
In order to review this shore excursion, and as is customary in the travel journalism industry, I traveled courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism Newfoundland, which covered the zipline entry price. See our ethics and disclosure statement here.
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Randall Shirley
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.
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- 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.
- 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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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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Thom C.
I wouldn’t recommend going to the Steamworks bathhouse downtown Vancouver. Total drug den full of sketchpads and that’s when it is considered busy. Not the safest place anymore.
Thom C., and 
Randall Shirley
The "only" gay on the ship — Canadian Arctic Cruise Experience
Hello Sailors,
Cruise North's ship, the Lyuba Orlova, as seen from a zodiac among the ice floes of Canada's Arctic region. Photo: Randall Shirley
As you may have heard, my story about cruising in the Arctic recently won a major travel writing award.
But the article as run by The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and Dallas Morning News is only part of the story. You see, I traveled on board Cruise North’s Lyuba Orlova because I’m gay, to gauge the reaction of staff and crew to homos. Not that polar bears and muskox really care about humans’ sexual orientation. But cruise companies’ sure do.
I was assured in advance that Cruise North had seen lots of gay passengers, and that gays love the experience. Unfortunately, neither my partner nor a friend was able to join me for my Cruise North expedition, so it’s really hard to say exactly how “gay friendly” shipboard staff actually is…on my itinerary, I was the only “out” gay person onboard.
There was certainly no “Friends of Dorothy” party. It would likely have been a “Friend of Dorothy” party; I’m fairly sure I wasn’t the only homo on board, but none of the Russian sailors or Inuit crew come from cultures where being out is an easy thing.
Lest you think I’m a pansy, you should know that I was as out as I could be onboard the Orlova, and my experience was very good. The chance to see polar bears from the deck of a cruise ship is brain-dazzling beyond words (even for a writer), and my experiences with ship staff and fellow passengers were uniformly accepting. As for the Russian sailors–the crew–who run the boat, I can’t really say. We didn’t have enough chance to interact…although I winked at a couple of them and like to think they smiled knowingly in return.
A polar bear, as seen during a Cruise North trip. Photo: Bob Mesher
If you’re looking for a remarkable cruise experience in a region few travelers will ever visit, I encourage you to take a good look at the remarkable itineraries offered by Cruise North. I’m actually considering a return voyage with them to the Arctic this summer or in 2010, although I’ll be bringing my partner or a gay friend to truly gauge the staff & crew reaction when two “out” men travel together, not to mention having a more meaningful experience.
Better yet: invite several friends, make your own gay “polar bear group” cruise, and let me know how it turns out. I suspect sailing on top of the world will be life-changing for you as it was for me, in a very positive way.
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Jimmi 12:15 am on June 7, 2012 Permalink |
Nice job on the zip line! Looks like fun!