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Randall Shirley 10:41 pm on June 24, 2009 Permalink | Reply
Tags: B&B ( 2 ), bed and breakfast ( 2 ), Edgewater Hotel Seattle, Galight Inn, gay cruise ( 20 ), gay hotel, Hotel Max Seattle, Poppy Seattle, Seattle cruise hotel, Seattle cruise terminal
Great Seattle Gay Cruise Hotels

Seattle is one of America’s most-interesting cities, and has become a viable competitor with nearby neighbor Vancouver, Canada, as a major port for Alaska cruises.

Often called “The Emerald City,” a nod to its perpetual greenness, Seattle offers a lot for gay cruise travelers to do before or after a cruise. Capitol Hill is the city’s main gay village, but Seattleites tend to be a liberal and progressive bunch, and the majority of them seem plenty gay-friendly.

Here are three excellent, gay-friendly lodging choices in reasonable proximity to Seattle’s two cruise terminals.

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Hotel Max in Seattle is a great place for hipster gay cruise passengers to stay downtown.

Hotel Max

Your room key features a retro-photo of a guy, try not to giggle when the staff tells you to insert it “legs first, face up.” The Max is tucked in the middle of Seattle’s skyscrapers, and is the downtown address for art and modern design fans. In true gay fashion, Hotel Max takes a tired old property (long known as Vance Hotel) and smartens it way, way up, with carpets and shower curtains echoing the charcoal pinstripe suits of nearby bank managers while accent chairs, throws, and pillows are in hits of bright orange and red. Hallways are a treat—the doors are covered with black-and-white prints of classic Italian street scenes and sculpture. Staff are super-friendly and helpful.
- Best for: Urban-design types—easy walking distance to Pacific Place Shopping Centre and Pike Place Market.
- Gay Friendly: Very. Gay bars and the Capitol Hill gay neighborhood are 10-15 minutes walk or less than $10 by cab.
- Distance to cruise pier: 0.8 miles (Pier 66), 3.5 miles (pier 91)
- Distance to SeaTac International Airport: 13 miles.
- Secret tip: Rooms lean to the small side, so if travelling with another couple, request a large king, with a queen sofa sleeper, and you get plenty of breathing room.
- Extra touch: Forget something? An intimacy kit next to the bed including lickable oil, massage bar, 3 condoms, 2 lubes, and a pleasure ring. It’ll cost you $30, but in the heat of the moment…
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Gaslight Inn B&B

Gay bed and breakfast Gaslight Inn in Seattle, excellent for gay cruise travelers

The location in Seattle’s gay Capitol Hill neighborhood will appeal to many – Gaslight is an easy walk to the city’s gay bars (my fave: Madison Pub) and many outstanding restaurants (if you don’t try Poppy, you blew your trip to Seattle). Gaslight is a historic mansion, and has been owned/operated by the same business partners since 1983. Over the years, they have very lovingly restored it to Victorian glory. Public areas are delightful and welcoming. Unfortunately, this B&B has a 2-night minimum…but don’t worry, Seattle can entertain you for way more nights than that!
- Best for: Cruisers who like to be in the middle of all things gay!
- Gay Friendly: Straight-friendly would be a better question! Gay-owned, but welcomes straights.
- Distance to cruise pier: 2.6 miles (Pier 66), 4.5 miles (Pier 91)
- Distance to Seattle Tacoma Int’l Airport: 16.3 miles
- Secret tip: Walking downtown for shopping or Pike Place Market is easy, but climbing back up Capitol Hill is a bitch. A #10 public bus will take you right back home.
- Extra touch: A Pacific Northwest rarity: a fabulous and fairly private backyard swimming pool.
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Edgewater Hotel

Calling itself Seattle’s “only luxury waterfront hotel,” the surprisingly cozy Edgewater is literally next door to Pier 66, where many Seattle cruises start/end. The hotel itself sits on a pier over the ocean, and the incredibly long hallways feel like you’re already on board a cruise ship. Everything about it says “Pacific Northwest,” especially the cabin-ish wood wainscoting in public areas, the elk-antler chandeliers and chairs, and roaring lobby fireplace. The hotel bar is perfect for an early-evening libation with stunning views over the water to Bainbridge Island.
- Best for: those who fly in the night before and want to stay at the pier.
- Gay Friendly: Enough, it’s Seattle, after all. Staff say they’ve never had a complaint.
- Distance to cruise pier: Zero miles to Pier 66, 2.7 miles to Pier 91
- Distance to SeaTac International Airport:15 miles.
- Secret tip: Wood structure hotel means you’ll want a top-floor room! Even-numbered rooms from the high 30s to 50s generally have both water and city views.
- Extra touch: Teddy bear on every bed will certainly set the mood for a certain gay demographic.
Researched and written by Randall Shirley
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Randall Shirley 6:13 pm on May 26, 2009 Permalink | Reply
Tags: cheap hotel New York, cruise hotel ( 2 ), cruise pier, gay hotel, New York City, NYC
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
JayTaylor is discussing. Toggle Comments
- JayTaylor 6:30 am on September 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  
  If you are looking for the best cruises in New York I recommend visiting NewYorkCruises at http://www.NewYorkCruises.com
Randall Shirley 2:01 pm on May 13, 2009 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Canada ( 3 ), Gay cruise Vancouver, gay hotel, Gay Village ( 2 )
Great Vancouver Gay Cruise Hotels

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

located in 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.
- - 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 (notably Royal Caribbean) 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 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!
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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,

Many Listel rooms double as art/museum galleries! Courtesy Listel Hotel.

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.
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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.
- - 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 balcony room, 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

Metrosexual Spot! The Opus, Vancouver. Image courtesy Opus Hotel.

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.
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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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