Does anyone do the FOD/LGBT gatherings?

[Dazza1972]

I think it's all part of being in 'The Mainstream' - but grateful their are fab people still out their to meet & hang out with

 

 

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[posspet]

We are currently sailing on the Celebrity Millennium in the port of Juneau. For no other reason we haven't had the opportunity to go to the LGBT gatherings yet because we have just been too busy enjoying the cruise with friends both old and new.

[movie buff]

If you are on a shorter length cruise like 7 nights or less it is very difficult to even attempt to go to the posted get togethers. We are leaving on September 2 on the millennium for a 15 night crossing to Japan. Lots of sea days,which is what we love. We are hopeful that we will meet a few family members at either a posted get together or even at the martini bar.

[MarkBearSF]

Our experience is that popularity varies greatly by line. Cunard has always had great attendance, especially on transatlantic crossings. On our last crossing this past May, there were 20-30 people who regularly showed up.

 

A few years ago, there was an active group on our Baltic cruise on the Eurodam. Part of this, however was likely due the fact that there were a large number of cruisers aboard planning on celebrating Europride which was happening when we disembarked in Copenhagen.

 

In 2015, the gathering was a total bust on our Celebrity South American cruise. Note, Celebrity doesn't announce the gathering on the daily schedule, but instead relied upon a small note on an out-of-the-way bulletin board.

Edited September 3, 2016 by MarkBearSF

[movie buff]

Just sailed out of Vancouver BC on celebrity Millenium 15 nights to Tokyo. They had listed in today's newsletter a LGBT get together in the Martini Bar at 7:45 pm. Of course that is a odd time for some people to attend because of dinner plans but we are going to attend and see what happens.

[DocRonPS]

On my most recent Princess and Norwegian cruises, the LGBT gatherings have been really popular and added a lot to the fun factor on those cruises. I suppose it depends a lot on the line. I hear that RCI does a poor job promoting their gatherings.

 

 

I think I saw you on the roll call for the NCL Getaway Sept 25th. I just booked it today. I live in Palm Springs. Let's introduce ourselves at the Meet and Greet. I am staying at a hotel in FLL on Sat eve.

[movie buff]

Sorry to say we are not on that NCL cruise. We get home from our current cruise from Toyko on September 23. Went to the gay get together on our first night and I must say there was quite a nice crowd that showed up. Made some good contacts. Nice to be able to make that happen on the first evening of the cruise.

[rainbowflag]

Last two cruises I went on, no one attended them

 

They must have read your name tag :)

[movie buff]

I am now into day 6 out of 15 of the cruise. This has turned out to be one of the most social I have seen with gay men. Must be over 50 gay couples and some singles on board. Met many nice people. Already been to one big party a couple had in their Royal Suite. Nice mix of people gay and straight. So far it has been a fun social cruise. Much of this is probably due to lots of sea days.

[posspet]

Just got off the Celebrity Millennium southbound in Alaska. Unfortunately we didn't attend any LGBT gatherings or even pass through one as we were too busy doing everything else and meeting friends and relatives.

We enjoy the longer cruises with more sea days so we can settle down to a routine. 7 days is too short.

If there were any others on the cruise that spotted us, sorry we didn't catch up.

[drketchone]

Just recently hoped off the Grandeur of the Seas after a 5 day Baltimore to Bermuda. The short time never lends itself to a successful FOD get together. When we got on there was already a sign card on the community bulletin board, most likely from the last cruise as we were on the ship pretty early. Viking Lounge 10pm, we didn't make up a new one. The Viking Lounge becomes the "nightclub" at 10pm also, probably wouldn't have been the place I would have chosen. We did stop up the first night, wandered around, maybe one other FOD person there, not sure, then we left. Never went as a couple again at 10pm, although the BF had gone to the "nightclub" later a couple nights.

 

We did meet 2 other couples on the ship, neither have or had attended a FOD get together. Is the FOD get together dead? probably not yet, but it is on life support, too bad. Anthem is next, I posted on the GLBT roll call 7 months ago, to date, not one response.

[Surfguyxxx]

We did actually go to the one on the Allure a few weeks ago and there were about 10 couples sitting around. We stayed for a bit but nobody seemed to be in the mood to chat so we left. We usually never go and probably won't again. We always find family without even looking.

 

On a side note, someone posted a M4M meeting for sex posted on the regular board out front of the service desks. It was taken down the next day!!!:eek:

[Dazza1972]

Lol very bold....

Cruising with my partner on the Ovation B2B 6th Dec - 15th Dec Perth to Sydney & then 15th Dec - 30th Dec Sydney - NZ - Sydney

 

 

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[Buddy604]

Princess has always been supportive with their Rainbow LGBT meetings (which my travelling buddy and I refer to as "the sandwich group" because LGBT still sounds like a lettuce, guacamole, bacon and tomato sandwich to me - what can I say, I'm fat and food-focussed) but my last few trips have been a bit disappointing.

 

Even with the best scheduling, sometimes no one turns up, but on my last Vancouver-Hawaii round trip, the CD staff kept scheduling the LGBT meetings in load crowded venues, coincident with other non-LGBT events. The first one, hosted, was in Skywalkers at 10:30 PM while they were having another event. The second one was in the Explorers bar at 3 or 4 pm, at the same time the bar was hosting a big screen football game. Etc, etc, throughout the cruise.

 

I find the 3 and 4 day coastal repositionings to be well attended by a younger gay crowd, but my favourite one so far was the group on a Panama Canal repositioning that was mostly comprised of some facinating 60+ lesbian and gay couples. I wasn't yet 50 then and I really enjoyed their company and perspective and sharing their history.

[keithm]

Princess has always been supportive with their Rainbow LGBT meetings (which my travelling buddy and I refer to as "the sandwich group" because LGBT still sounds like a lettuce, guacamole, bacon and tomato sandwich to me - what can I say, I'm fat and food-focussed) but my last few trips have been a bit disappointing.

 

Even with the best scheduling, sometimes no one turns up, but on my last Vancouver-Hawaii round trip, the CD staff kept scheduling the LGBT meetings in load crowded venues, coincident with other non-LGBT events. The first one, hosted, was in Skywalkers at 10:30 PM while they were having another event. The second one was in the Explorers bar at 3 or 4 pm, at the same time the bar was hosting a big screen football game. Etc, etc, throughout the cruise.

 

I find the 3 and 4 day coastal repositionings to be well attended by a younger gay crowd, but my favourite one so far was the group on a Panama Canal repositioning that was mostly comprised of some facinating 60+ lesbian and gay couples. I wasn't yet 50 then and I really enjoyed their company and perspective and sharing their history.

We found Cunard well attended. The Regal Princess was very well attended. Celebrity, which we cruise more often now, does a poor job of advertising the get togethers. Usually it's a posting near guest relations. Time are always right about dinner which is a pain. Needless to say, we still can find each other. That being said we cruise for "us", not for who we may meet on board.

[starri]

We found Cunard well attended. The Regal Princess was very well attended. Celebrity, which we cruise more often now, does a poor job of advertising the get togethers. Usually it's a posting near guest relations. Time are always right about dinner which is a pain. Needless to say, we still can find each other. That being said we cruise for "us", not for who we may meet on board.

 

This is going to get me into trouble, but I wonder if perhaps Cunard's more...ahem...mature clientele might be less assimilated as young of the...ahem...less mature folks. Different generations with vastly different experiences.

 

FWIW, the last time my husband and I cruised on Celebrity, the LGBT Mixer was advertised in the Celebrity Today program.

[MarkBearSF]

This is going to get me into trouble, but I wonder if perhaps Cunard's more...ahem...mature clientele might be less assimilated as young of the...ahem...less mature folks. Different generations with vastly different experiences.

 

FWIW, the last time my husband and I cruised on Celebrity, the LGBT Mixer was advertised in the Celebrity Today program.

 

Not exactly sure what you're saying. Yes, Cunard attracts an older clientele - and as such, many of the LGBT pax are from earlier generations.

 

However, how this equates with assimilation, I'm not sure. ...And believe me, years ago we assimilated (closeted) a lot. We had to. No matter how integrated we are into everyday life, it's always nice to meet other "family" members. Whether younger gays want to hang with older gays is another matter. (...and ultimately is a matter of personal choice no matter what one might wish)

[Bo1953]

This is going to get me into trouble, but I wonder if perhaps Cunard's more...ahem...mature clientele might be less assimilated as young of the...ahem...less mature folks. Different generations with vastly different experiences.

 

FWIW, the last time my husband and I cruised on Celebrity, the LGBT Mixer was advertised in the Celebrity Today program.

 

s - you are not going to be in trouble at all, yet you are showing your ability to not understand or know sociological history, as such. For this, I forgive you as unknowing.

 

History is history etc.. to know it, is to understand it, is to have the ability to appreciate how far (or not) many 'groups' have come not only in the U.S., but throughout the world in many situations. Many are willing to share, if only a few are willing to listen and understand.

 

One does not have to accept the facts as they are, but only understand them and accept that things have and/or need to continue to move forward with change for all.

 

There is much education yet to do, then again with those of us who have decent access to the internet and books and newspapers, there really is not much of an excuse to not know. Freedom of speech and etc. does not always fare well..

 

bon voyage

[DocRonPS]

I just disembarked on the NCL Getaway. The first night the LGBT gathering had 18 people and started to dwindle by Wednesday. I found that unless you were part of a group or partnered, the single guys frequently did not get included in dinner plans with established groups. This was unfortunately but further demonstrated how cliquish we can be amongst own. My previous experience two years ago on the Epic was quite the opposite. Of course Atlantis and RSVP are quite the opposite!

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I just disembarked on the NCL Getaway. The first night the LGBT gathering had 18 people and started to dwindle by Wednesday. I found that unless you were part of a group or partnered, the single guys frequently did not get included in dinner plans with established groups. This was unfortunately but further demonstrated how cliquish we can be amongst own. My previous experience two years ago on the Epic was quite the opposite. Of course Atlantis and RSVP are quite the opposite!

 

Sadly, I had the exact same experience sailing solo on Getaway 9/4-11/2016. Lots of the gays at the FOD, but not an especially friendly bunch. I ended up hanging out with a lot of friendly straight folks that I met through CC or on shore excursions. I had an awesome cruise, but I didn't spend any time with the gays and when I did try and strike up a conversation it went nowhere.

[DocRonPS]

Sadly, I had the exact same experience sailing solo on Getaway 9/4-11/2016. Lots of the gays at the FOD, but not an especially friendly bunch. I ended up hanging out with a lot of friendly straight folks that I met through CC or on shore excursions. I had an awesome cruise, but I didn't spend any time with the gays and when I did try and strike up a conversation it went nowhere.

 

Yes, how unfortunate that we can be so isolating among our "own"! I, too, talked to people sitting next to me at my meals and would run into them throughout the ship. I will still cruise on NCL on future trips and will try to find others to join me. I do want to do the Panama canal sometime and the Baltic. Thanks for writing back to support my experience. Too bad those at the FOD meetings could not read out posts! I did thank the cruise director, Silas, for hosting them.

 

Keep in touch regarding your future cruise plans

 

DocRonPS@gmail dot com

 

Ron

[keithm]

This is going to get me into trouble, but I wonder if perhaps Cunard's more...ahem...mature clientele might be less assimilated as young of the...ahem...less mature folks. Different generations with vastly different experiences.

 

FWIW, the last time my husband and I cruised on Celebrity, the LGBT Mixer was advertised in the Celebrity Today program.

The last assimilation I recall was with the Borg, but that's for another day! We found the clientele on Cunard to be somewhat older, but the same goes for the Eclipse on Celebrity or the Regal Princess. We generally find the pax on Celebrity/Cunard to be more worldly overall. These lines cost more than say..Carnival, so you expect pax with more disposable income to be more educated & hopefully more understanding. True it might not ALWAYS be the case, but it has so far on Cunard/Celebrity. I just wish Celebrity did more advertising for the meetings. The "mention" on the poster board by guest relations is pretty lame. Cunard/Princess do a full mention in their daily paper.

[Flying-Dragon]

My partner and I just got off Celebrity Infinity last week from a 12-day Pacific Coastal, and we noticed that the "Celebrity Today" newsletter gave a 10pm LGBT unhosted social hour in the Martini Bar, whereas the notice board at Guest Relations gave it as 10pm at the Rendez-vous Lounge. Since both were on deck 4 we spent the first couple of evenings shuttling back and forth between the two locations but found no family in either one. There definitely were several couples on board and we chatted with a few in the course of the cruise.

 

This is completely different from our 2011 experience doing a TA on Equinox, where the 5pm and 10pm LGBT get-togethers, official and unofficial, were delightful occasions with a good mixture of European, Canadian and US attendees. At times we had over 20 of us meeting there, and often some of the theatre performers would join us

 

Do any of you find that certain cruises, perhaps the TAs, are better for our gatherings? For us, we enjoy the cruises even without any get-togethers, but they can really make a difference in how memorable the cruise is.

[Austcruiser84]

Sadly, I had the exact same experience sailing solo on Getaway 9/4-11/2016. Lots of the gays at the FOD, but not an especially friendly bunch. I ended up hanging out with a lot of friendly straight folks that I met through CC or on shore excursions. I had an awesome cruise, but I didn't spend any time with the gays and when I did try and strike up a conversation it went nowhere.

 

There was a large FOD contingent on my TA on QM2 in Jan. Mostly in their late 30s to 50s. Most were friendly, some were cliquey (there was a gay couple who refused to attend FOD. Thought they were so superior - older man and his young travelling 'companion'). Also, I generally find older gay men to be kinder hearts than the young though. Perhaps it has something to do with no expectations that seems to affect socialising between younger gay men.

 

I tend to mix with straight and gay people throughout my cruises. It reflects shore life to me. And regardless of sexuality, you inevitably come across all types of personalities. Most are lovely, but there are always exceptions (but they make for the best stories when the inevitable future cruise discussion amongst new friends comes to horror passenger meets).

[Bow Tie]

Just got off the RCCL Grandeur of the Seas cruise from Baltimore to . . . New Jersey. We were supposed to go to Bermuda, but that is a story for another thread.

 

The first newsletter did not mention a LGBT meeting, so I went to guest services and asked about one. The staff person pretended like he had no idea what I was talking about, as if he did not understand what the words "gay" and "lesbian" meant. I did not use the acronym.

 

After repeating my request and asking to speak to someone else, he finally told me to check the bulletin board, which was small and nearly hidden in a location where few passengers would notice it. I asked that any meetings be listed in the newsletter.

 

The newsletter for the next day had a note that Friends of Bill W. meetings, LGBT meetings, and other (unspecified) meetings could be found on the bulletin board. It did not list the location of the bulletin board. I don't know how far in advance the newsletters are printed, so I don't know if the inclusion of LGBT was in response to my request.

 

Oddly, the LGBT reference was only in the newsletter that one day. For the rest of the cruise, the newsletter referred passengers to the bulletin board for Friends of Bill W. meetings and other (again, unspecified) passenger meetings.

 

I don't know if it was a passenger or the cruise director who put the notice on the bulletin board, but it said that we were to meet at 10pm in the Viking Lounge (on the uppermost deck at the back of the ship) every night. The notice remained on the board throughout the cruise.

 

I went the first night and the bar was nearly empty. I met one lesbian and her brother. The brother was probably gay, but it was never stated and I did not ask. There was another man at the bar who did not talk to anyone and did not seem to want to be approached.

 

I went two or three other nights and there was no one there. Not a surprise, since I can't imagine very many passengers noticed the bulletin board.

 

I don't understand why they could not have simply listed the meeting time and place in the newsletter as Holland America did on a cruise I took in July.

 

There were about 2000 passengers on this ship. I was traveling with my father. On my own, I met one other gay man and a gay couple. There was one additional gay couple who were identified when a comedian asked if anyone was engaged and they raised their hands.

 

Through Grindr/Scruff/Growlr, I met another gay couple - the friendliest of all the folks I met on board. They invited me to join them on their exploration of Manhattan. I had to decline, but we had a few very nice visits on the ship.

 

Through this couple, I met one other gay man, 29 years old, who was traveling with his family. A very cheerful and friendly fellow, but I don't know that I would have met him without being introduced by the couple.

 

One additional person kept contacting me through the above social media and asking me to meet him in the steam room. He was traveling with his wife and other family members. Grandeur had the largest steam room I have seen on a ship, and a big sauna. (Holland America had neither, and no locker room at all.)

I declined to meet this man.

 

There was one additional person on the above social media who identified himself as being on the Grandeur in his profile, but I did not communicate with him or recognize him on the ship.

 

Anyway, I was disappointed that RCCL was so shy about publicizing a meeting of gay passengers.