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Safe travels, everyone. I’m heading to the airport tomorrow morning. Dreading the long flight from San Diego, but I will have the cruise to recover from it!

What is the current status of the ship? Is the power restored? Is water back to normal?

When the Flag of the United States was first created, the plan was to have one star and one stripe for each former colony that became a state. As new states joined a star and stripe were added, but very quickly the shape of the flag became awkward, and then impossible. It was decided to go back to the original, 13 stripes, but keep adding stars as needed. Our community faces a similar dilemma, as we try to be ever more inclusive. The original “everybody is represented“ rainbow flag keeps getting new stripes added with different colors. There is also the new section with the angled stripes. And what is the result? Everybody now has to have their own flag! There are more than 30 different flags to represent all of the different ideas of gender and gender expression and sexuality. How can we possibly unite under such a fragmented system? I long for the good old days when the discussion centered around whether we should say “gay and lesbian,” or “lesbian and gay…”

Your husband is a lucky man indeed if he has always been 100% free to be his authentic self, never holding back a kiss or a touch, nor feeling unsafe because of other people or his surroundings. That definitely wasn’t the world in which I came of age. A gay cruise is, first and foremost, a cruise. But it is also a week or so of freedom from heteronormativity, its attitudes and constraints.

I just booked this one this morning -got a truly amazing deal from *****. Over on the straight roll call there are 15 pages of posts. Any other LGBTQ+ travelers going to be aboard?

Thanks for the rec for Pied Piper. Always good to find another option. 🙂

Hi Everyone, I'm joining a group of theatre lovers on a trip that includes the westbound crossing on the Queen Mary 2 on October 17. I hope there will be others aboard that week!

So glad you had a good time, ToriOKC! I sailed the Glory out of Galveston a few years back, and while I enjoyed the ship and ports, some of may fellow passengers were, well... a bit of a shock! First (and likely last) time I was the Body Beautiful by the pool! Never saw so many mobility scooters and smokers in my life. Despite a lot of cultural and political differences I found people were friendly and respectful -but I imagine it's always easier for a cis man in those situations. I hope you'll enjoy another cruise soon!

I recently saw a review of Celebrity that said the company was reversing its position on solo cruisers -going back to more reasonable single supplements. That's a huge relief for me, as Celebrity has been my favorite line. I think most lines today are pretty LGBTQ-friendly, though it can vary a bit from ship to ship (like everything else). My only bad experience as a gay cruiser in recent years was aboard NCL. I find it gets harder to find a good cruise, as I am over Carnival, NCL, and Royal Caribbean. I don't like big ships and whole floating-amusement-park mentality. Food and service on all three of those lines have gone down significantly in the last few years. Just booked my first TA on QM2 -very much looking forward to that!

I've done Atlantis, RSVP, and a couple of gay-group cruises. I much prefer the all-gay ones -and I am not at all a partier. I don't even drink. What makes the all-gay cruise is the ambiance and camaraderie. Everyone gets to be themselves without fear or worries. And there are no children running about... I did feel very much like a third wheel in the gay-group cruises, as I was almost the only one not in a couple or traveling with a close friend. On the all-gay cruises usually a third to half of the passengers are single. Yes there are parties every afternoon and evening, but nothing says you have to attend them. I usually go to bed by 11 and never hear a thing (though I do see some interesting sights on my way to breakfast in the morning). The afternoon "t-dances" only last for about 90 minutes, and you can easily get away from them (though the people-watching can be amazing). The only way to really know is to take the plunge and try one. Look for a ship or itinerary that really interests you.

Puerto Vallarta is a safe and welcoming city for LGBTQ people. I've been there a dozen or more times -most recently in October. A visit to the Zona Romantica will reveal gay bars, clubs, restaurants, shops and even a few resorts. There are gay baths, along with several men's spas that offer legitimate services at very reasonable prices. On the negative side, unless you're on a gay cruise you'll likely miss out on most of the PV scene, as ships typically sail at 5:00, and many of the livelier places don't open until later. Fortunately the malecón and the beaches are beautiful, with lots of great food and places to hang out. You'll have a wonderful time!

Sadly, I very much fear we could be going backwards, what with all the hatred, violence, and new criminalizations around the world (and at home). 😞

Or maybe Barry Manilow?

I've looked around the internet and can't find anything about a "towel code." Not doubting the info -but it's odd that I can't find anything.

I would have thought that the way you tie your towel was mostly a function of whether you are left- or right-handed? Seems like if this were a real thing a lot of mistakes would be made...