Gay ad lesbian cruising is here as the cruise industry welcomes full ship carters. When it’s time to plan a vacation, it can be nice to be around like-minded people. The gay and lesbian community has made strives with the ability to be legally married yet still deals with increasing harassment. When it’s time to vacation, this shouldn’t be a worry. Enter the top gay, straight friendly, full ship charter companies. Olivia for Lesbians, Atlantis and RSVP events for Gays, and Vacaya for the all LGBTQ passengers.

All four are the largest gay companies doing full ship charters with the major cruise lines like Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity cruises. They also do land base & hotel programs for those who don’t like to cruise vacations. 

If you’re thinking of a vacation, why not take a gay vacation? Pack your bags, maybe a costume or two and get out of town. Each company focuses on curtailed vacations LGBTQ travelers. From drag shows to comedy, Broadway singalongs, lesbian entertainers, cocktail parties, and Tea dances, you’re bound to have more fun with Atlantis, RSVP Vacaya, or Olivian. Please reach out to me, your LGBTQ travel expert, at Scott & Thomas to help you plan these amazing vacations.

RSVP Vacations

In 1986, RSVP created the first gay and lesbian cruise. A safe, tailor-made vacation environment for the gay community. Today, RSVP is still working to create safe and all-inclusive travel spaces for the LGBTQ community.

Upcoming RSVP Vacations

RSVP Vacations has one gay cruise planned for 2023 on the Norwegian Pearl. RSVP vacations tend to offer slightly better value than their little sister Atlantis with an all-inclusive drink package. Something not typical on full ship charters on the large ships.

The next RSVP vacations is setting sail on the Norwegian Pearl March 17 – 27, 2023 throughout Central America.

Atlantis Events

For gay cruises and gay resort takeovers, Atlantis events is the fun party sister of RSVP Vacations. For over 30 years, Atlantis Events has hosted iconic all-gay vacations. Atlantis has a long history of chartering cruise ships and taking 2,000+ gay men and their friends on fabulous trips.

Each Atlantis cruise or resort offers a carefree experience based around friendship, camaraderie, relaxation, indulgence, gay adventures, and pure uninhibited fun.

Atlantis Upcoming Cruises & Resorts

Each year there Atlantis offers several full ship charts and gay resort vacations. Cruises are typically announced 8-12 months in advance. For the 2023 Season Atlantis is focusing heavily on the newest and nicest ships in the industry. Gay Cruises in 2023 include setting sail on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Ocean. The next big event, February 2023.

Atlantis Events has four full ship charters with the major cruise lines in 2024. Only three still have space for sale. One is completely sold out.

• Norwegian Prima Caribbean Cruise January 22 – 29, 2023.
• Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas Southern Caribbean Cruise Feb 4 – 12, 2023
• Oceania Vista Athens to Venice July 5 -15, 2023 
• Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas Italy, France & Ibiza August 28 – September 6, 2023

Depending on the cruise and room category, prices start as low as $1,179 per person.

Ships aren’t your style? Atlantis Events will be hosting gay week at Club Med, an all inclusive resort. Atlantis events Club Med Cancun is April 30 – May 7, 2023. Space is limited and begins at $1,499 per person.

Vacaya – The all Inclusive LGBTQIA Company

Vacaya is the ultimate elevated inclusive gay friendly travel company. While RSVP and Atlantis invite all to their parties and vacations, they tend to attract a subset of gays and a few lesbians. And of course, there’s always a few straight allies sprinkled. Vacaya truly focuses on everyone in the community. Not just a single subset but instead advertises and invites all to experience the ultimate safe space vacation. 

Bears, Twinks, butch, fruit fly, pup, dykes, lipsticks, circuit queens, fag hag, trans, fem, masc, leather, otters, twunks, guy next door, straight ally…Vacaya welcomes all! Vacaya’s gay and lesbian groups brings the community together. Vacaya is the only large-scale adults-only vacation company on earth built for the entire lgbtqiapk community and our straight ally friends.

Vacaya also focuses on full ship charters, river cruises, and resort buyouts. Yet, what makes Vacaya unique is they don’t only focus on large ships. Vacaya’s primary focus is small ship expeditions and premium luxury cruises with unique ports of calls, unesco world heritage sites and all 7 continents. Vacaya works with the leading premium companies for gay vacations to bring you to the far ends of the earth. Imagine an all gay trip to Antarctica, Galapagos, the middle east, or even the south pacific. 

Vacaya offers a vacation every month! This makes a gay vacation easier to plan and book. 

Upcoming Vacaya Vacations

If you’re interested in a Vacay gay vacation, I kindly ask you to contact us. Vacay has several upcoming cruise experiences on both Celebrity Cruises and Ponant. Gay and Lesbian cruises start at just $1497 per person. 

• Celebrity Cruises Reflection Caribbean Cruise Feb 12-19, 2023 
• Celebrity Apex Caribbean Cruise Feb 17 – 24, 2024 

Vacaya Gay Expedition, Small Ships, 

Vacaya has several small premium luxury options for the gay traveler who is looking for something of a higher caliber. The costs increase, but these vacations bring the ultimate value as an all-inclusive getaway at sea. Each Vacaya gay cruise is on luxury five star French carrier Ponant. Ponant, along with Seabourn, is among my favorite major cruise lines. With just 180-250 guests, these super yacht charters are beautiful, Check out the yachts! 

Vacaya expedition in Antarctica[/caption]

• Ponant  Le Bellot Costa Rica, Panama and Columbia Expedition March 7-17, 2023
• Ponant Le Jacques Cartier Jordan to Athens April 16-26, 2023
• Ponant Le Dumont D’Urville Norwegian Fjords July 31- aug 7, 2023
• Ponant Le Lyrial Adriatic Sea cruise Aug 13-20, 2023
• Ponant Le Boreal Hawaii and French Polynesia Oct 12 – Oct 27,2023

For the lgbtq travelers looking for something not on a ship Vacaya offers the following land and hotel programs for 2023.

• Land tour: Italy’s Malfi coast & Capri Aug 7-13, 2023
• Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive Puerto Vallarta Mexico Oct 29 – Nov 5, 2023

Vacaya Resort takeover

Other Gay Travel Companies

There are several other gay and lesbian travel companies which I did not highlight above. I will cover these in future blog posts. Feel free to contact me for travel ideals or for other companies. Some big ones include the Lesbian version of Atlantis and RSVP, Olivia travels. Olivia has options all around the world and runs more like Vacaya. Several options every year. More of that in a future blog.

Looking for something smaller? Try Out Adventures, focusing on gay small group travel;usually land based programs. We are lucky to live in a time where there’s something for nearly everyone.

Bottom Line

When it comes to gay travel, gay and lesbian cruises, LGBT+ expeditions, and gay resorts, there are more options than ever thanks to several companies which are helping create a safe and welcoming place for our brothers and sisters. On every vacation, allies are welcome to join the fun.

In the worlds of Lady Gaga, No matter gay, straight, or bi’, lesbian, transgender life RSVP, Atlantis, Olivia, and Vacaya is ready to take you on the ultimate welcoming and safe space LGBTQ vacation. Contact me, your openly and proud gay travel concierge, to plan your ultimate getaway and the best cruise offers