The sheer number of options for LGBTQ cruisers has seriously never been better. Data shows that the percentage of gay and lesbian travellers who go cruising just narrowly surpasses straight travellers. Cruise lines are returning the compliment by truly embracing their LGBTQ passengers, creating inclusive, welcoming, and diverse communities that everyone can enjoy.
Whether you’re turning up the fun or flicking that relax switch on, there’s no shortage of LGBTQ-friendly cruises to choose from. Thinking of flying the Pride flag at sea? Let’s look at the best cruise lines for gay, lesbian, and trans passengers and how they celebrate each part of the rainbow below…
Are there LGBT cruises?
There are indeed! Gone are the days when gay and lesbian passengers would have to organise meet-ups themselves. Now it’s the cruise lines and crew members who are doing the organising! There are even companies, such as Atlantis Events, RSVP Vacations, Olivia and VACAYA, that host all-gay and all-lesbian charters too.
But exclusive or not, cruise ships and lines as a whole are way more welcoming than back in the day; practically every cruise line have created policies banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and policies concerning gender identity aren’t far behind. Even the amount of marketing towards these communities have been on the up and up lately.
The best LGBTQ-friendly cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises has been a bit of a game-changer for LGBTQ cruises. As well as a trophy cabinet filled with related awards (including four Best Large Ship Cruise Line for LGBTQ+ Passengers from the Cruizie Awards), they’ve also been performing legally recognised same-sex marriages onboard ever since 2017.
There are also a raft of LGBTQ+ social events to be found throughout the cruise, not least the Welcome Party held on the first night – an excellent place to break the ice, and start your cruise in style. Oh, and did we mention the Pride Party at Sea? Held every June, this worldwide celebration spans time zones, hemispheres, and generations – and keeps the party going all over the globe. Really, we mean that: once one ship has finished its festivities, it hands them on to another ship so they can get the party going!
Royal Caribbean
Another award winner, including being the first line to be deemed Gay Travel Approved by GayTravel.com, Royal Caribbean are true allies. Teaming up with Pride 365 in 2022, the partnership is a year-round commitment to celebrating LGBT+ employees, guests, and crew members, strengthening the line’s dedication to inclusivity in all forms.
While Royal Caribbean offer no LGBTQ-themed sailings, there are plenty of LGBT meet and greets, and LGBT events to get involved with across its fleet of ships – they even offer symbolic same-sex marriage ceremonies at sea or at select ports of call too!
Virgin Voyages
A line that prides itself (no pun intended) on creating a welcoming, judgment-free place for LGBTQ+ passengers to enjoy, Virgin Voyages’ queer-friendly credentials are plain to see. Gender-neutral toilets. Drag entertainment. Staff who are free to express their gender identity however they like. A vibe that lets everyone be themselves, day and night.
Time your trip for Pride month and you’ll be able to get involved in all sorts of themed parties, sip on Pride-inspired cocktails and get the party going on-deck while DJs spin the best tunes, past and present. The line even teamed up with Fluid, the Miami-based party animals, for a Studio 54-inspired journey around the Caribbean! And as you can imagine, Fluid is as diverse, and inclusive as their name suggests. Come as you are and don’t worry about anything other than your true self.
If that didn’t get you excited, then check this out: every Virgin Voyages cruise is adults only!
P&O Cruises
Three-time sponsors of Southampton Pride, P&O Cruises have nailed its LGBT+ colours to the mast, in all sorts of different ways for both employees and guests alike. As part of the Carnival Corporation, P&O Cruises have been recognised for their LGBT-friendly employment practices, blessed with a score of 100/100 as part of the Human Right Campaigns’ corporate equality index.
As for guests, there’s plenty of inclusivity instore too. The line saw its first-ever LGBT+ Pride cruise set sail from Australia in November 2021, and it’s kept up this at-sea safe space ever since. Curated entirely for the community, the cruise gives LGBT+ passengers – and their allies – a chance to let their hair down in a truly inclusive environment, with a dizzying range of artists, entertainers and educators getting in on the action too!
Azamara
Like things small and intimate? Azamara is the line for you. Awarded with a Best Small Ship Cruise Line for LGBTQ Passengers accolade, there are fewer than 700 passengers onboard across its two ships. And thanks to its Immersion Programme, passengers get to spend more time in welcoming destinations in LGBTQ-friendly cities and ports.
Plus, with the likes of Pride cocktail parties and other LGBTQ-friendly activities, including regular Meet & Mingle events, guests have plenty to enjoy whether they’re coupled up or going solo.
Princess Cruises
As the one-time star of The Love Boat back in the 70s, it should be no surprise that Princess Cruises’ are spreading the love to its LGBT passengers – and have been for quite a while too! Ensuring the comfort and inclusivity of all its guests has long been a mission of the line. And they don’t just do that by organising regular LGBT meet-ups and events tailored to the community, it goes for the destinations they visit too.
In 2019, the line made the decision to drop calling at Brunei over its outdated anti-LGBT laws. Guests onboard a Princess cruise, whoever they are, can rest easy knowing they’ll be treated with nothing but dignity and respect.
In the mood to paint the seas all the colours of the Pride rainbow? We bet you are after reading this! To bag a real bargain with one of these incredible LGBTQ-friendly cruise lines, you can find more deets over at our homepage.