AFuncruiser Posted June 24, 2013 #1 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Having been to most of the Caribbean Islands and having visited and read about Jamaica and Grand Cayman's purported homophobia my question is does anyone know of a gay friendly Caribbean island? While our disposable income is welcome most everywhere the Caribbean island are conservative as a whole and outrageous behavior frowned on everywhere. Than the question is what is outrageous behavior? Dennis Jacksonville, Fl 532 days at sea 47 cruises 12 cruise lines T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted June 24, 2013 #2 Share Posted June 24, 2013 St. Barts, Anguilla come to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovemom Posted June 24, 2013 #3 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) Just googled your question and quite a few popped up. It was on about.com also on gay travel.com. Edited June 24, 2013 by ilovemom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SakeDad Posted June 25, 2013 #4 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I was in San Juan PR for gay pride and it was quite awesome! We were there for a week and had a great time. There are also several gay bars. I would be curious what other islands or Caribbean ports people have had personal experience with being gay tourists and feeling welcome and a part of the local community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusingJoe Posted June 25, 2013 #5 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I was in San Juan PR for gay pride and it was quite awesome! We were there for a week and had a great time. There are also several gay bars. I would be curious what other islands or Caribbean ports people have had personal experience with being gay tourists and feeling welcome and a part of the local community. What and where are the gay bars in san Juan. we will be there in December for a few days before our cruise? We have been to most if not all the Caribbean and have never found anything to gay or any gay bars. I have heard there maybe a few gay friendly bars, but know of none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCcruiser86 Posted June 25, 2013 #6 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I was in San Juan PR for gay pride and it was quite awesome! We were there for a week and had a great time. There are also several gay bars. I would be curious what other islands or Caribbean ports people have had personal experience with being gay tourists and feeling welcome and a part of the local community. Yes! Puerto Rico, especially San Juan are is a great gay destination. Just went this winter with my boyfriend and had no problems at all. Also the following: St. Martin, St. Bart's, Curaçao All of those are great and feel like little slices of Europe in the Caribbean, particularly St Bart's. curaçao is a little far for what it is. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFuncruiser Posted June 25, 2013 Author #7 Share Posted June 25, 2013 What and where are the gay bars in san Juan. we will be there in December for a few days before our cruise? We have been to most if not all the Caribbean and have never found anything to gay or any gay bars. I have heard there maybe a few gay friendly bars, but know of none. Hi Joe, I have spend a lot of time in San Juan. The Atlantic Beach Hotel & bar is on the beach and open during the day and evening an good starting place. Circo Bar Gay nightclub Santurce - 650 Calle Condado , San Juan, PR Splash Lounge & Restaurant Grab a drink beachside <LI class=listing-info>Condado - Condado Calle #6 , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>Atlantic Beach Hotel and Bar Beach-front Bar Condado - 1 Calle Vendig , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>San Juans best gay stripper bar with hot and super friendly guys Condado - 1204 Ponce de Leon , San Juan, PR Tia Maria Jose de Diego <LI class=listing-info>Meet the locals Santurce - 326 Av. José de Diego , San Juan, PR Scandalo The Club <LI class=listing-info>Friendly bar with strippers Santurce - 613 Calle Condado , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>Angelu's The Club Always a party going on Hato Rey - 239 Calle Eleonor Roosvelt , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>MetroSex Bar Metrosex Bar offers a stripper show, go-gos, amateur stripper night, good music, drag shows, happy hours, security, and fun Santurce - 1204 Avenida Ponce de Leon , San Juan, PR Dennis Jacksonville, Fl 532 days at sea 47 cruises 12 cruise lines T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusingJoe Posted June 26, 2013 #8 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Hi Joe, I have spend a lot of time in San Juan. The Atlantic Beach Hotel & bar is on the beach and open during the day and evening an good starting place. Circo Bar Gay nightclub Santurce - 650 Calle Condado , San Juan, PR Splash Lounge & Restaurant Grab a drink beachside <LI class=listing-info>Condado - Condado Calle #6 , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>Atlantic Beach Hotel and Bar Beach-front Bar Condado - 1 Calle Vendig , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>San Juans best gay stripper bar with hot and super friendly guys Condado - 1204 Ponce de Leon , San Juan, PR Tia Maria Jose de Diego <LI class=listing-info>Meet the locals Santurce - 326 Av. José de Diego , San Juan, PR Scandalo The Club <LI class=listing-info>Friendly bar with strippers Santurce - 613 Calle Condado , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>Angelu's The Club Always a party going on Hato Rey - 239 Calle Eleonor Roosvelt , San Juan, PR <LI class=listing-info>MetroSex Bar Metrosex Bar offers a stripper show, go-gos, amateur stripper night, good music, drag shows, happy hours, security, and fun Santurce - 1204 Avenida Ponce de Leon , San Juan, PR Dennis Jacksonville, Fl 532 days at sea 47 cruises 12 cruise lines T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska Dennis, thank you so very much for this information. It will be very helpful when we visit San Juan in December. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted June 26, 2013 #9 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Curacao is very friendly. Many islands are friendly when they see the color of that gay dollar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFuncruiser Posted June 30, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Curacao is very friendly. Many islands are friendly when they see the color of that gay dollar. I don't believe they are gay friendly, just gay tolerant because of the gay dollar. Dennis 532 days at sea 47 cruises 12 cruise lines T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawne71 Posted July 2, 2013 #11 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Hi Joe, I have spend a lot of time in San Juan. The Atlantic Beach Hotel & bar is on the beach and open during the day and evening an good starting place. We are staying at the Marriott Resort and Casino in January pre-cruise. It is walking distance to Atlantic Beach Hotel. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younglegend Posted July 2, 2013 #12 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Aruba is gay friendly. Went there for my honeymoon and had no issues. It was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotterdam Posted July 2, 2013 #13 Share Posted July 2, 2013 along w/ the Dutch West Indies....Aruba, Bonnaire & Curacao....all 4 of these are a bit more quiet than San Juan.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnatello Posted July 8, 2013 #14 Share Posted July 8, 2013 In the Caribbean, San Juan probably has the most to offer for the gay traveler. If you are going to stay in PR or doing a pre/post cruise out of PR, info posted by AFuncruiser is invaluable, but if you are visiting San Juan as a port of cal for the day and you have to be back on board by 5 or 6 PM, spend your day seeing the sights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusingJoe Posted July 9, 2013 #15 Share Posted July 9, 2013 In the Caribbean, San Juan probably has the most to offer for the gay traveler. If you are going to stay in PR or doing a pre/post cruise out of PR, info posted by AFuncruiser is invaluable, but if you are visiting San Juan as a port of cal for the day and you have to be back on board by 5 or 6 PM, spend your day seeing the sights. Very well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjetta Posted July 9, 2013 #16 Share Posted July 9, 2013 My now husband and I went to Curacao for our honeymoon. We both felt very comfortable and were never given a second glance. The only caution I would put in is that Curacao is definitely not the place to go if you are looking for bars/clubs/nightlife... we found it very quiet and laid back-- no vendors on the beach, no "braid your hair?", no timeshares... sometimes it was as if people really didn't care if we were there or not. I really liked it for that reason alone. Most of the tourists were European... lots of Dutch families. It was beautiful and one of the most wonderful places I have ever been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted July 9, 2013 #17 Share Posted July 9, 2013 What and where are the gay bars in san Juan. we will be there in December for a few days before our cruise? We have been to most if not all the Caribbean and have never found anything to gay or any gay bars. I have heard there maybe a few gay friendly bars, but know of none. I'd be real careful in San Juan. There's a heck of a lot of crime. They may not target gays in general, but if an opportunity exists well...As to gay friendly we found St.Martin/St John/Curacao/Bon Aire/Aruba to be pretty fiendly. We don't do PDA's any way. The homophobic islands: Jamaica(never again)/St.Kitts/Dominica/Barbados/St.Lucia We just exercise caution & do cruiseline sponsored trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted July 9, 2013 #18 Share Posted July 9, 2013 My now husband and I went to Curacao for our honeymoon. We both felt very comfortable and were never given a second glance. The only caution I would put in is that Curacao is definitely not the place to go if you are looking for bars/clubs/nightlife... we found it very quiet and laid back-- no vendors on the beach, no "braid your hair?", no timeshares... sometimes it was as if people really didn't care if we were there or not. I really liked it for that reason alone. Most of the tourists were European... lots of Dutch families. It was beautiful and one of the most wonderful places I have ever been. Sounds like you've been to a few of those places,braid your hair(wish I had some to braid)The Aloe foot message was nice, but yes, I'd like them to ask before pouring on the Aloe & messaging! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusingJoe Posted July 10, 2013 #19 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My now husband and I went to Curacao for our honeymoon. We both felt very comfortable and were never given a second glance. The only caution I would put in is that Curacao is definitely not the place to go if you are looking for bars/clubs/nightlife... we found it very quiet and laid back-- no vendors on the beach, no "braid your hair?", no timeshares... sometimes it was as if people really didn't care if we were there or not. I really liked it for that reason alone. Most of the tourists were European... lots of Dutch families. It was beautiful and one of the most wonderful places I have ever been. On our last cruise to Curacao we were told by another passenger there is a gay bar just over the pontoon bridge to the left and up a few blocks, but could not find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusingJoe Posted July 10, 2013 #20 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'd be real careful in San Juan. There's a heck of a lot of crime. They may not target gays in general, but if an opportunity exists well...As to gay friendly we found St.Martin/St John/Curacao/Bon Aire/Aruba to be pretty fiendly. We don't do PDA's any way. The homophobic islands: Jamaica(never again)/St.Kitts/Dominica/Barbados/St.LuciaWe just exercise caution & do cruiseline sponsored trips. We to don't show PDA's ( well, to guys together) and have been to all mentioned places and agree with you. Our favorite place is St Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted July 11, 2013 #21 Share Posted July 11, 2013 We to don't show PDA's ( well, to guys together) and have been to all mentioned places and agree with you. Our favorite place is St Martin. Great shopping, great beach to sit on & watch as your ship pulls away...Pulls away!! My God, how much was I drinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just4steven Posted November 14, 2013 #22 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I know I'm a little late on this and new to cruising but I wanted to agree with all the San Juan comments on it being gay friendly. Also, there are some cruises that leave out of San Juan and stop in St Croix. Not a huge population on the island so do not expect a lot of gay parties or anything like that. We just happened to be staying on the island when a cruise ship came in and were eating at Sandcastle on the Beach. Very gay friendly, owned by a lesbian couple and great place. It was packed as a lot of the cruise ship crowd stopped there. I don't know, basically just saying a cruise out of San Juan is a great idea, but if you can include one that stops at St Croix and check out Sandcastle on the Beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawne71 Posted November 14, 2013 #23 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I know I'm a little late on this and new to cruising but I wanted to agree with all the San Juan comments on it being gay friendly. Also, there are some cruises that leave out of San Juan and stop in St Croix. Not a huge population on the island so do not expect a lot of gay parties or anything like that. We just happened to be staying on the island when a cruise ship came in and were eating at Sandcastle on the Beach. Very gay friendly, owned by a lesbian couple and great place. It was packed as a lot of the cruise ship crowd stopped there. I don't know, basically just saying a cruise out of San Juan is a great idea, but if you can include one that stops at St Croix and check out Sandcastle on the Beach. We're headed to San Juan in January and hopping on the Carnival Valor. Unfortunately, Carnival doesn't go to St. Croix due to the high crime rate years ago. We're headed to St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. We really like Carnival and plan to stick with them, but maybe someday we'll be able to visit St. Croix. I've researched Sandcastle on the Beach and it looks wonderful. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard&JohnSTX Posted November 15, 2013 #24 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I know I'm a little late on this and new to cruising but I wanted to agree with all the San Juan comments on it being gay friendly. Also, there are some cruises that leave out of San Juan and stop in St Croix. Not a huge population on the island so do not expect a lot of gay parties or anything like that. We just happened to be staying on the island when a cruise ship came in and were eating at Sandcastle on the Beach. Very gay friendly, owned by a lesbian couple and great place. It was packed as a lot of the cruise ship crowd stopped there. I don't know, basically just saying a cruise out of San Juan is a great idea, but if you can include one that stops at St Croix and check out Sandcastle on the Beach. just4steven is giving good advise - We have lived on St Croix for 26 years - the Beachside Cafe at Sand Castles is not only a great restaurant but they do a nice drink, lounge chair, umbrella package too and if you want to walk it's maybe 15 minutes south of the pier. We have done the Summit twice out of San Juan for the Southern Caribbean and just did her from Bayonne on Sept 21st - the Canada / New England cruise for our honeymoon. ( Have been together 37 years - about time!? ) Any questions you may have on the ship or ports just ask! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard&JohnSTX Posted November 15, 2013 #25 Share Posted November 15, 2013 We're headed to San Juan in January and hopping on the Carnival Valor. Unfortunately, Carnival doesn't go to St. Croix due to the high crime rate years ago. We're headed to St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. We really like Carnival and plan to stick with them, but maybe someday we'll be able to visit St. Croix. I've researched Sandcastle on the Beach and it looks wonderful. :) Hi Shawne71, We really miss the Carnival port calls to St Croix as we had a Gay Club in Frederiksted and usually had a performance on Harbour Night from some of the ship's dancers when they were in port which was so much fun! . There is also another side to the story of Carnival saying they were pulling out of St Croix because of crime - I usually refrain from posting about politics but if you are interested let me know and I'll give you my e-mail. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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