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Carnival LGBT friendly?


Seadreamer113
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Hello everyone,

 

Going on my second cruise with Carnival in a few week's and wondered how gay friendly Carnival Cruises can be nowadays. There's a lot going on in the world right now and I just wanted to see if Carnival is still a fun and safe place for LGBT people since November. Sorry if this question has already been asked...new to the board!

 

Thanks!

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I have no experience with Carnival but with NCL and Holland America we found both lines to be very LGBT Friendly. We have met some of our best friends at Friend Of Dorothy Gatherings on the ship. We traveled to the Baltic's including Russia and didn't feel worried. We of course are respectful of other cultures.

 

 

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Hello everyone,

 

Going on my second cruise with Carnival in a few week's and wondered how gay friendly Carnival Cruises can be nowadays. There's a lot going on in the world right now and I just wanted to see if Carnival is still a fun and safe place for LGBT people since November. Sorry if this question has already been asked...new to the board!

 

Thanks!

 

Carnival crew are well trained and LGBT friendly from our own experience. I wish I could say the same for the other passengers but that's a dice we all have to roll when taking a cruise on any line

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Hello everyone,

 

Going on my second cruise with Carnival in a few week's and wondered how gay friendly Carnival Cruises can be nowadays. There's a lot going on in the world right now and I just wanted to see if Carnival is still a fun and safe place for LGBT people since November. Sorry if this question has already been asked...new to the board!

 

Thanks!

 

Why since November?

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hello everyone,

 

Going on my second cruise with Carnival in a few week's and wondered how gay friendly Carnival Cruises can be nowadays. There's a lot going on in the world right now and I just wanted to see if Carnival is still a fun and safe place for LGBT people since November. Sorry if this question has already been asked...new to the board!

 

Thanks!

 

My husband was a little worried as well. We've never had a problem, and we just returned from cruise #11 with Carnival. My honest opinion is that the majority of people are on the ship to get away from everything and have a good time.

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I've only been on one Carnival cruise and we had a good time. I tried to go to the LGBT Meet but it was not hosted. I'm not good at walking up to random people and asking "is this the gay meet?" so I just left.

 

I did the "Thriller" dance class and on the way out the cruise director said, "chanté, you stay!" He later watched a little bit of RuPaul's Drag Race with us that we downloaded in port.

 

Extra Info: Our trivia team, us and a straight couple, had the team name Big Boss. The trivia girl had an accent and it sounded like she was always saying Big Balls. We laughed every time she said it but she didn't know why.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

My partner and I have been on many cruises together. We have never had ANY problems. We even eat in the Main Dining room with others at our table. It has always been fun! The LGBT Meetings are hit or miss. We have has some great ones and some lack attendance! GO... Have FUN!!!

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Hello everyone,

 

Going on my second cruise with Carnival in a few week's and wondered how gay friendly Carnival Cruises can be nowadays. There's a lot going on in the world right now and I just wanted to see if Carnival is still a fun and safe place for LGBT people since November. Sorry if this question has already been asked...new to the board!

 

Thanks!

We don't do Carnival, due to some of the pax who are on board. This is for the short "Booze" cruises(less than 5 days)Many of the pax on these type of cruises are not exactly what I'd call "worldly". If your trip is 7 days or more it should be fine. I'd still look at Princess/Celebrity. They have a good mix. The Princess LGBTQ meetings were very well attended & we frequently dined together in the specialty rest.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Never had an issue either. Ive been on quite a few Carnival cruises, and I have made friends on every single one of them. I actually tend to make more friends, or interest more people's attention once I tell them I am a gay man. Most people know gay men are the coolest and funnest to hang with LOL....I actually have more fun hanging with the straight crowd than I do with the gay ones. Hell, Ive had more drunk straight husbands flirt with me than I can remember. lol Always find at least one on every cruise. I was bit on the neck like a vampire by a drunk huband one night in the casino. Needless to say he pretty much avoided me or even eye contact the rest of the cruise lmao. As far as staff, never once have I ever been made to feel uncomfortable ever. The thing about me, is I hold myself very well, and Im not afraid to put anyone in their place if they cross me the wrong way. lol Im the last gay man you want to mess with. haha! Most people go on cruises to have a good time. I find most people leave their prejudices and opinions at the port.

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We've made some great friends on our Carnival cruises - gay and straight. Every once in a while you run into an idiot, but that's true no matter where you are on or off a ship. Enjoy your cruise!

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  • 3 months later...

We have been on 9 cruises [RCCL, NCL,HOL.AM. & CARNIVAL] and never had a problem. My attitude is: "your not paying for my trip therefore your views on me don't matter"

Edited by Czecholady
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  • 3 weeks later...

I have been on 2 cruises on the Pride out of Baltimore. I can say everything was fine with both passengers and crew. They had LGBT meet ups in the early evenings at the Alchemy bar but, they weren't well attended. In fact, there was more crew at the alchemy then there were LGBT people. The notifications were almost nonexistent. They regularly made announcements like "I Love Lucy Trivia here" and "<blah blah blah> there" but nothing the only notification about the LGBT meet ups was a 1-line blurb in a piece of paper left on my bed on the day we boarded the ship.

 

It is nice to see all these responses from people who sailed on Carnaval with their "better halfs". However, I believe Carnival has more of an issue with solo cruisers rather than LGBT cruisers. Their on-board excursions tend to be geared towards couples only and they don't know what to do with solo cruisers. I was disgusted on how I was treated at the chef's table excursion but that wasn't because I'm gay - but because I was traveling solo for the cruise. It left such bad taste in my mouth about Carnival that this year, I'm going on the NCL Breakaway. I'll sail on Carnival again but if I'm traveling solo, I'm going to have to see if they changed anything to better accommodate solo cruisers before I book my reservation.

Edited by hotkey
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My partner and I have been cruising since 1997 when I was 23 and he was 26. Most of our cruises have been on Carnival although we have done Princess, NCL and Norwegian. We have gone alone and with friends and have never had a problem at all with the staff and the vast majority of passengers on Carnival.

 

Fast forward to 2017: we have a 4 1/2 year old daughter who has been on three cruises with us: her first cruise (Emerald Princess) just after she turned a year old. When she was 2 1/2 we were on the Carnival Breeze and they treated her and us wonderfully! Last year (2016) we did the Norwegian Gem out of NYC. (Not a fan of Norwegian) and in 9 days, we'll be on the Carnival Sunshine out of NYC for her fourth cruise.

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I've been on a few cruises - and never had any real issues, to speak of! I've been on NCL, HAL, Celebrity, and Carnival, and felt as comfortable, If not more comfortable on carnival than on the others. We did have an issue one evening with some rude kids - but can't blame Carnival for that, but the CD (Everson something or other) was told about it and blatantly defended the rude kids. - which pissed me off a little!

Interesting story, My Partner and I decided to take a cruise on the Glory, (LOVED IT - btw) It was his first cruise, and really our first trip as a couple...... well, I'm a chatterbox, and he's more reserved, so he was a little apprehensive about the dining situation. Well, the first night, we were seated at a table for 10 ... A straight Puerto Rican couple (mid 50's), A lesbian couple in their early 50's from NY, a 20something gay couple from the midwest, and these two ladies - late70's/early 80's - that looked like they were supposed to get on a Southern Baptist Gaither cruise - complete with floor length skirts and hair buns, and us. Well, conversations started, introductions were made, and it wasn't wonderful, but it wasn't bad either. When we got back to the room, we commented and bounced the idea around of reseating or dining alone - but decided to give it one more shot!

Evening #2 begins and we are seated at the same table, minus the two church ladies! We made brief comment that they must have been uncomfortable or offended - and then turned to nicer conversation and moved on .....

On to #3 ... in line at the dining room, we see the church ladies in line to the side of us. I figured I'd see what was the deal - so, me - never at a loss for words, makes my way up to them, puts my hand on her shoulder, and so sweetly said "Hey Ladies, we missed you last night at dinner!" ... bracing myself for some sermon or a rehearsed excuse ....... the ladies both looked at me in shock, and said "Really???" ... "Of course we did!" I replied! .... after a bit of silence and apprehension, they finally broke the ice and said "Wow! we thought that you all must have not enjoyed our company, and had asked for us to be removed!" I was in disbelief, My heart sank - I felt awful! I explained that I hadn't, and we couldn't figure out anything other than the staff noticed and took it upon themselves ...

Anyway, at dinner, I mentioned the situation, and they all agreed that they hadn't complained or asked for a reseating..... So, in conclusion, we asked for them to be reseated with us! They sat with us the rest of the trip - and we all had a great time!!!

Moral of the story is this - first of all, Never assume or judge a book by it's cover.... but secondly, as a minority, sometimes we tend to have a chip on our shoulder - so to speak, and forget our similarities because we are too focused on the differences!

I've found that being a gay cruiser - with family, alone, or with my partner - a cruise is about relaxing, unwinding, and taking a 7 day course of "Fukitol" and most want to just have a good time!

I've learned that you have to respect, to be respected.... accept, to be accepted, and love to be loved in return! A cruise, like life, is what we make of it, what we focus on, and what we culture and embrace! Some may be better than others, but life's gotta be good if you're on a cruise!!!!!!

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I've been on a few cruises - and never had any real issues, to speak of! I've been on NCL, HAL, Celebrity, and Carnival, and felt as comfortable, If not more comfortable on carnival than on the others. We did have an issue one evening with some rude kids - but can't blame Carnival for that, but the CD (Everson something or other) was told about it and blatantly defended the rude kids. - which pissed me off a little!

 

Interesting story, My Partner and I decided to take a cruise on the Glory, (LOVED IT - btw) It was his first cruise, and really our first trip as a couple...... well, I'm a chatterbox, and he's more reserved, so he was a little apprehensive about the dining situation. Well, the first night, we were seated at a table for 10 ... A straight Puerto Rican couple (mid 50's), A lesbian couple in their early 50's from NY, a 20something gay couple from the midwest, and these two ladies - late70's/early 80's - that looked like they were supposed to get on a Southern Baptist Gaither cruise - complete with floor length skirts and hair buns, and us. Well, conversations started, introductions were made, and it wasn't wonderful, but it wasn't bad either. When we got back to the room, we commented and bounced the idea around of reseating or dining alone - but decided to give it one more shot!

 

Evening #2 begins and we are seated at the same table, minus the two church ladies! We made brief comment that they must have been uncomfortable or offended - and then turned to nicer conversation and moved on .....

 

On to #3 ... in line at the dining room, we see the church ladies in line to the side of us. I figured I'd see what was the deal - so, me - never at a loss for words, makes my way up to them, puts my hand on her shoulder, and so sweetly said "Hey Ladies, we missed you last night at dinner!" ... bracing myself for some sermon or a rehearsed excuse ....... the ladies both looked at me in shock, and said "Really???" ... "Of course we did!" I replied! .... after a bit of silence and apprehension, they finally broke the ice and said "Wow! we thought that you all must have not enjoyed our company, and had asked for us to be removed!" I was in disbelief, My heart sank - I felt awful! I explained that I hadn't, and we couldn't figure out anything other than the staff noticed and took it upon themselves ...

 

Anyway, at dinner, I mentioned the situation, and they all agreed that they hadn't complained or asked for a reseating..... So, in conclusion, we asked for them to be reseated with us! They sat with us the rest of the trip - and we all had a great time!!!

 

Moral of the story is this - first of all, Never assume or judge a book by it's cover.... but secondly, as a minority, sometimes we tend to have a chip on our shoulder - so to speak, and forget our similarities because we are too focused on the differences!

 

I've found that being a gay cruiser - with family, alone, or with my partner - a cruise is about relaxing, unwinding, and taking a 7 day course of "Fukitol" and most want to just have a good time!

 

I've learned that you have to respect, to be respected.... accept, to be accepted, and love to be loved in return! A cruise, like life, is what we make of it, what we focus on, and what we culture and embrace! Some may be better than others, but life's gotta be good if you're on a cruise!!!!!!

 

 

 

I loved your story! Thanks for sharing!

 

 

~Profile Says Everything~

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I've been on a few cruises - and never had any real issues, to speak of! I've been on NCL, HAL, Celebrity, and Carnival, and felt as comfortable, If not more comfortable on carnival than on the others. We did have an issue one evening with some rude kids - but can't blame Carnival for that, but the CD (Everson something or other) was told about it and blatantly defended the rude kids. - which pissed me off a little!

Interesting story, My Partner and I decided to take a cruise on the Glory, (LOVED IT - btw) It was his first cruise, and really our first trip as a couple...... well, I'm a chatterbox, and he's more reserved, so he was a little apprehensive about the dining situation. Well, the first night, we were seated at a table for 10 ... A straight Puerto Rican couple (mid 50's), A lesbian couple in their early 50's from NY, a 20something gay couple from the midwest, and these two ladies - late70's/early 80's - that looked like they were supposed to get on a Southern Baptist Gaither cruise - complete with floor length skirts and hair buns, and us. Well, conversations started, introductions were made, and it wasn't wonderful, but it wasn't bad either. When we got back to the room, we commented and bounced the idea around of reseating or dining alone - but decided to give it one more shot!

Evening #2 begins and we are seated at the same table, minus the two church ladies! We made brief comment that they must have been uncomfortable or offended - and then turned to nicer conversation and moved on .....

On to #3 ... in line at the dining room, we see the church ladies in line to the side of us. I figured I'd see what was the deal - so, me - never at a loss for words, makes my way up to them, puts my hand on her shoulder, and so sweetly said "Hey Ladies, we missed you last night at dinner!" ... bracing myself for some sermon or a rehearsed excuse ....... the ladies both looked at me in shock, and said "Really???" ... "Of course we did!" I replied! .... after a bit of silence and apprehension, they finally broke the ice and said "Wow! we thought that you all must have not enjoyed our company, and had asked for us to be removed!" I was in disbelief, My heart sank - I felt awful! I explained that I hadn't, and we couldn't figure out anything other than the staff noticed and took it upon themselves ...

Anyway, at dinner, I mentioned the situation, and they all agreed that they hadn't complained or asked for a reseating..... So, in conclusion, we asked for them to be reseated with us! They sat with us the rest of the trip - and we all had a great time!!!

Moral of the story is this - first of all, Never assume or judge a book by it's cover.... but secondly, as a minority, sometimes we tend to have a chip on our shoulder - so to speak, and forget our similarities because we are too focused on the differences!

I've found that being a gay cruiser - with family, alone, or with my partner - a cruise is about relaxing, unwinding, and taking a 7 day course of "Fukitol" and most want to just have a good time!

I've learned that you have to respect, to be respected.... accept, to be accepted, and love to be loved in return! A cruise, like life, is what we make of it, what we focus on, and what we culture and embrace! Some may be better than others, but life's gotta be good if you're on a cruise!!!!!!

 

Wonderful story! In this case the "church ladies" were the minority and it shows that any group can find itself outside the "mainstream" depending on the circumstances. It was great you had a chance to correct the misunderstanding so they did not feel unwanted.

 

 

I have been fortunate in never had a bad experience on a cruise (at least with regard to how I have been treated by fellow passengers).

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Hold your pearls! We had an amazing time on a Texas sailing of five days. Yes Texas! We went with other gay friends and knew of a couple others. We picked up a few along the way and made the best of the LGBT mixer. If I had a cocktail or two, I would arrive with a "we're here for the LGBT mixer... let's get this party started". One time we even had some of the dancers swing by. Oh my!

 

 

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Only good times, sometimes solo, sometimes with a friend. I agree with other commenters that the LGBT get togethers are very hit and miss, but its always worked when there was an Alchemy Bar. In fact, the LGBT group essentially took over the singles meet and greets as well.

 

One brief moment of a teenager trying way too hard to prove something to his pack of friends one night got some death stares from about 25 people and the Alchemy staff, but nothing more than that on 5 cruises.

 

Similar church ladies story from my first cruise (solo). I managed to switch assigned tables to be with a friend from the LGBT get togethers, and turns out we had two other solo church lady types at the table. We put aside our differences, and ended up having some wonderful dinners together. I've since switched to Your Time Dining, and I have to admit I kind of miss the possibility of something wonderful like that happening.

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