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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: cruise hotel RSS
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Randall Shirley
Great New York City Gay Cruise Hotels
New York City* is a major port for lots of gay popular cruises – including trans-Atlantic, New England / fall colors, and long Caribbean itineraries. Knowing where to stay in NYC is always a big challenge. In general, I’ve found major Midtown hotels to be gay-friendly enough (it’s New York, remember).
Affordable, good hotels, on the other hand, have been more challenging. My #1 recommendation is based on proximity to the pier, the #2 and #3 suggestions use affordability as a major factor.
1. Ink 48 Hotel by Kimpton.
While it hadn’t yet opened when MeetMeOnBoard recently tried to check it out, this is undoubtedly the closest gay-appropriate hotel to New York’s cruise terminal. Kimpton has an excellent reputation for being gay-friendly, and the property’s west Hell’s Kitchen location will require that.
- Best for: Proximity to the cruise pier, with a good dose of luxury.
- Gay Friendly: Should be – Hell’s Kitchen is one of NYC’s gayest neighborhoods, and Kimpton has been recognized by The Advocate among gay-friendly workplaces.
- Distance to cruise pier: About 1/3 mile
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2. 414 Hotel. This small hotel is a true gem. The property looks like a small apartment building on the outside, but
A room at 414 Hotel, New York. Ideally located for gay cruise passengers.
step under the candy-striped awning and you’re in a chic, grey-on-white lobby with exceptionally friendly staff. The lobby does double-duty as breakfast room, and breakfast is included. Rooms are either upstairs or in a second building behind the main building, across a lovely courtyard. Rooms are also in the sleek grey-on-white theme, are squeaky clean, and very pleasant.
- Best for: Value-conscious but still want to be near the pier. This is our Editor’s favorite NYC cruise hotel. Chic, priced right, and a phenomenal Hell’s Kitchen location.
- Gay Friendly: Very.
- Distance to cruise pier: 3/4 mile.
- Secret tip: The hotel’s courtyard gets a surprising dose of sun—and with free WiFi is the perfect spot to catch up on email or make new MeetMeOnBoard.com friends!
- Extra touch: The hotel is about 5 minutes walk from many great NYC finds, including excellent dining on 9th Ave. (Arriba Arriba is a fave), Broadway theatres, the super-fun piano bar Don’t Tell Mama, and “local” gay bars Posh and Vlada.
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3. The Pod Hotel. If IKEA created a hotel, this would likely be it. I was skeptical
Double room with private bath at The Pod Hotel, New York City.
of this spot, but quite liked it, and the rates are hard to beat. It was formerly the Pickwick, but has been fully reno’d. It’s super clean, very comfortable, simply designed, and modern. The desk staff are a bunch of hotties! The Pod is short on fancy amenities (although WiFi is included), and the Midtown East location isn’t ideal for either gay activity or cruise terminal proximity, but the rates and general quality make it a strong choice, allowing you to spend more dollars on your cruise bar bill later! The Pod is just over one block away from a useful subway stop.
- Best for: Super value cruisers. Rates can be as low as $69/single. It’s popular with European travelers. Some rooms have shared-bath, some have private. Ask!
- Gay Friendly: Very
- Distance to cruise pier: 1.8 miles
- Secret tip: Request a lower-floor, the elevators can be busy and a bit slow. For breakfast or lunch, Ess-a-Bagel around the corner on 1st Ave. is NYC perfection.
- Extra touch: Brochure in your room gives excellent neighborhood tips and budget-conscious recommendations.
*Note: New York cruises may also use piers in Brooklyn or New Jersey — for this hotel guide we have only considered the Manhattan cruise piers.
Written by Randall Shirley
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Randall Shirley
Great San Diego Cruise Hotels
Cruising out of San Diego, California? Here are three highly recommended hotels.
- The Ivy Hotel. Metrosexual to the max. This design hotel in the gentrified Gaslamp area is close to
Rooms at the Ivy Hotel in San Diego are metrosexual to the max!
all the shopping of Horton Plaza, and just a short ride to the gay zone of Hillcrest. Rooms are over-the-top chic. My junior suite had large, flat screen TVs in both rooms. Super comfy beds. The rooftop patio includes a bar with dazzling views, a lap pool (did someone say muscle boys sunbathing…yes, they were there), a fire pit, and on weekend evenings, the coolest dudes and chics San Diego can offer. Several gay pals and I took over the bar one weeknight, and the coversation was 100% “out.” The bartender (likely straight) was right in on it. Fun.
- Best for: Luxury, pampering, exclusivity
- Gay-friendly: VERY
- Distance to cruise pier: 1 mile (walkable with no luggage)
- Distance to airport: 2.5 miles
- Secret tip 1: Call the concierge, request to be driven around downtown in their Escalade. It’s free, you just need to tip. Cruise pier is included. When possible, they’ll even drive you outside the free zone.
- Extra touch: if you forgot your condoms, they have a “love pack” in the minibar
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- Holiday Inn on the Bay. Yes, It’s just a Holiday Inn. But the location cannot be beat! This sprawling hotel complex is quite literally across the street from the cruise ship terminal. Fly in, sleep, walk your bags across the street, sail. It couldn’t be easier. Nothing terribly gay about it, but one of the world’s most convenient port hotels.
- Best for: Quick overnighter, walk to ship
- Gay friendly: we felt comfortable, although the chain is family-focused
- Distance to cruise pier: 0.1 mile (they offer park ‘n cruise packages)
- Distance to airport: 2.7 miles
- Secret tip: request a room facing the water, get up early and watch your ship sail in!
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- Park Manor Suites. On our recent San Diego trip, some of our group stayed at this spot and quite
The Park Manor Suites is super gay-friendly, and close to Hillcrest
liked it. It’s a plenty-nice property, and very gay friendly–a member of IGLTA. Rooms are spacious enough, and it’s just across the street from Balboa Park if you want to go jogging or explore the amazing Spanish Colonial architecture of the park.
- Best for: near Hillcrest (SD’s gay village), 0.7 mile, an easy walk.
- Gay friendly: they usually fly a rainbow flag and belong to IGLTA.
- Distance to cruise pier: 2.2 miles
- Distance to airport: 3.2 miles
- Secret tip: request a room facing the park–it’s an amazing view! Plus, be sure to check their site’s “specials” page.
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Jay Gordon
Several friends and I stayed at the Park Manor Suites a couple of years ago to enjoy San Diego for a few days before our cruise departure. Among their impressive choice of room arrangements is their 2-bedroom suite with dining area, oversized living room, etc. We had such a great time that four of us went back several months later just to wallow in the comfort of the hotel and the joy of exploring San Diego.
LAST WEEK I went back again, this time for a week by myself, and never felt awkward for a moment that I was traveling solo. The staff treats you like family. The kitchenette was handy, but there is a complimentary continental breakfast in the Penthouse, which includes lovely outdoor space with views of Balboa Park and the planes landing at San Diego airport. The Penthouse also now has a gourmet lunch menu of several items at reasonable prices. It is also has the cutest, friendliest wait staff you’ll find anywhere. If you can dine without falling in love, you’re stronger’n I am. They were absolutely adorable.
Downstairs there is a gourmet restaurant (with reasonable prices and a charming wait staff) adjacent to a piano bar with nightly piano and vocal entertainment. Inn on the Park is a friendly and inviting place. You may also eat at the bar or nearby tables and enjoy the entertainment. You may choose from a modified bar menu or the full-blown, “Omigod isn’t this food wonderful!”! menu you’d find in the main restaurant. It’s a great place to meet locals who appreciate the friendly atmosphere and relatively modest prices.
This is a great hotel to enjoy for romance or with friends and families. There is a diverse clientele. It’s close to an impressive collection of bars, restaurants, shops, etc. You can spend days at the museums, shops, and showplaces of Balboa Park — just across the street and a few blocks up. Be sure to see what’s playing at the Old Globe Theatre in the park. What a showcase theater; superb performances!
You can explore San Diego’s major tourist attractions on the Old Town Trolley. Get the 2-day pass; one day is simply not enough. It picks up passengers inside Balboa Park. Shop at Old Town; lunch at the Del Coronado; visit the zoo. This is one of America’s most delightful cities and Park Manor Suites will quickly endear itself to you if you like charm with traditional decor and accommodations. Get your picture taken in that throne in the lobby — or sprawling on the elegant furniture in the nearby sitting room. Talk about your photo ops!
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San Diego hotels
I would choose the Ivy hotel. It looks to be very close to my preferences.
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NicholsLawanda
Make your life time more simple take the http://www.lowest-rate-loans.com and all you need.
- The Ivy Hotel. Metrosexual to the max. This design hotel in the gentrified Gaslamp area is close to
JayTaylor is discussing. 
Jay Gordon are discussing. 
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JayTaylor 6:30 am on September 10, 2010 Permalink |
If you are looking for the best cruises in New York I recommend visiting NewYorkCruises at http://www.NewYorkCruises.com