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 Travel & Outdoors | December 2005 
First-Time Gay Cruiser: Nonstop Action or Smooth Sailing?
 Stan Wu - PlanetOut.com
"If you go on a gay cruise, you'll definitely break up!" warned my pessimistic friend Scott a few days before Doug and I left Los Angeles to drive to San Diego, where we would soon start our eight-day Atlantis cruise along the Mexican Riviera.
After 10 years together living in West Hollywood, I scoffed at the idea that a boat filled with 2,200 gay men (and a few lesbians for good measure) would pose imminent danger to the strength of our monogamous relationship.
My more cautious partner, Doug, on the other hand, had internalized some common preconceived notions (floating bathhouse, snooty people, etc.), and was lukewarm about taking an all-gay cruise at first. Would Scott be proven right?
Luxury on board
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's huge Radiance of the Seas was full of bells and whistles, including a nine-story glass Centrum, two excellent specialty restaurants, a rock-climbing wall and a casino. As on all cruises, there was always plenty of things to do.
The enthusiastic social staff, known as Team Atlantis, organized daily pool games, dating games, "Survivor" competitions, etc. During the day, our favorite activities - eating and snacking - were balanced by visits to the crowded gym and spa.
Dance under the stars
For many loyal Atlantis guests (the company has a very high passenger return rate), the social highlights of the cruise are the themed afternoon tea dances, like "dog tag" and "classic disco," under the brilliant tropical sun, when the pool deck is transformed into a high-energy dance floor. While Doug and I don't take part in any sort of party scene at home, we found the vibe at both the afternoon and evening dances, like the fabulous White Party, to be refreshingly open and relaxed.
Friendly, diverse fellow passengers
For the most part, our fellow passengers were very friendly. Something about being on vacation for a week lets the guard down of some of the "hotties," who may act more aloof on land. Doug and I were both struck by the diversity of our fellow guests: We met sweet small-town guys, swinging singles, couples celebrating 30-plus years together, party-hard friends, and just-married lesbians.
An ideal gay world
Every age group - and race and body type - was represented in good numbers. One new friend who'd done five cruises said that Atlantis created "an ideal gay world for a week," and it did seem to us that just about everybody found his or her niche on board. For some, the shipboard rhythm involved flings with new shipboard paramours, but this was hardly in-your-face and definitely did not constitute a "floating bathhouse."
All ashore
Our four port stops (Ixtapa, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas) offered a good mix of traditional Mexican villages and spectacular beaches and water.
Active shore excursions like parasailing, cultural tours, and just frolicking at the gay beach in Puerto Vallarta afforded the perfect opportunity to chat with our Atlantis buddies - and spend some romantic time alone as well.
After a nap and late dinner (Atlantis is all open seating, so you can dine anytime and with anyone you choose), Doug and I perked up in time to enjoy an incredible lineup of premium entertainment. Yes, gay cruises are typically more expensive than mainstream ones, but for this "gay premium" surcharge, you benefit from an endless lineup of entertainment and activities totally geared toward our community.
Charo and Cox and Lehman, oh my!
Doug and I would never say "Cucci-cucci" again (as if we ever did?) without renewed appreciation for that ageless beauty Charo, who wowed everyone with her formidable classical guitar talent and spirited ballads. The five-octave diva Deborah Cox raised the roof with her dance hits.
Every night, drag variety shows, stand-up comedians, piano lounge music - not to mention dance parties with top DJs like Manny Lehman, Warren Gluck, and Brett Henrichsen - kept everyone wondering how they'd ever see and do it all (they couldn't!). "I look forward to this all year long!" was overheard many times that week.
As the Radiance docked in San Diego eight days after we left, Doug and I didn't want this "ideal gay world" to come to an end. We didn't break up; in fact, we were already talking about taking another Atlantis cruise. And we couldn't wait to tell Scott just how wrong he was. |
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