Occurring a VACAYA cruise is without doubt one of the most pleasing and stress-free holidays you’ll be able to take. Your complete ship is crammed with LGBTQ+ visitors, and all employees are extensively skilled to supply a welcoming and gay-friendly expertise. It’s a really open atmosphere the place you’ll be able to loosen up each mentally and bodily. The ambiance is pleasant, with a powerful social vibe, and there’s glorious leisure all through the journey.
About VACAYA
VACAYA was based and created by a small group of tourism and journey business executives with greater than 100 years of mixed expertise in leisure, hospitality, and journey. Actually, the core workforce of VACAYA spent a few years working at Atlantis and RSVP earlier than deciding to begin a brand new firm with a unique imaginative and prescient and providing.
Previous to VACAYA’s launch, Atlantis and RSVP have been the one main gamers out there for giant, full-ship homosexual cruises. Atlantis acquired RSVP in 2007, so there wasn’t a lot competitors or change within the business for years. VACAYA noticed this as a chance to innovate and create a extra distinctive product designed round variety for the complete LGBTQ+ neighborhood. VACAYA at the moment provides 4 to five journeys per 12 months, together with a big, full-ship homosexual cruise together with a number of smaller ship river cruises and resort stays. The inaugural cruise departed from New York Metropolis and traveled to Provincetown in the summertime of 2019 on the Movie star Summit cruise ship.
Why Take a VACAYA Homosexual Cruise?
- Simple to satisfy new folks – One nice side of taking a homosexual cruise is that many of the visitors are pleasant and open to assembly new folks. On a straight cruise, visitors usually include pals or household and have already got a social group established. On a homosexual cruise, there are lots of actions designed to assist join visitors and offer you an opportunity to satisfy new folks.
- Journey alone – VACAYA provides a cabin match program the place they are going to assign you a roommate, so that you don’t must pay the complete value of a two-person room for those who’re touring alone.
- Superior events – You’ll be in for a deal with with incredible events. The occasions are often themed, usually held outdoor, and visitors are inspired to decorate up.
- Nice leisure – Many of the large homosexual cruise traces like VACAYA deliver on main headliners or “gaylebrity” performers. Into drag queen bingo? How about performances from a few of the prime homosexual superstar comedians, entertainers, and well-known drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race?
- Be your self – Most likely probably the most engaging elements of a homosexual cruise is the consolation zone. Your complete ship is stuffed with LGBTQ+ visitors, and all employees are extensively skilled to give you a welcoming and gay-friendly expertise. It’s a really open atmosphere the place you’ll be able to loosen up and be your self.
Is a Homosexual Cruise Proper for You?
First, it’s good to determine whether or not taking a cruise, typically, is one thing you need to do. Not everybody enjoys cruising as a result of speedy tempo of the expertise, however many do. Second, if taking a cruise positively pursuits you, you’ll must determine for those who want a homosexual cruise or a mainstream cruise. Right here are some things to contemplate:
- Your cabin, meals, and leisure are included within the value.
- The ship will probably be nearly completely LGBTQ+ visitors.
- Cruises will be crowded, and there isn’t a lot privateness.
- You’ll be able to go to many new locations in a single journey, however you solely have a short while at every port to discover.
- Homosexual cruises could be a bit dearer than mainstream cruises as a result of elaborate events and distinctive leisure onboard.
What to Count on from a VACAYA Cruise
Figuring out which homosexual cruise or journey to take is totally subjective. Individuals have completely different preferences, budgets, or locations in thoughts when reserving a visit. VACAYA continues to be new to the market, however they’ve made an enormous splash and seem to have claimed a well-deserved spot within the homosexual journey business. Whether or not it’s a large-ship cruise within the Caribbean or a luxurious river cruise in Europe, VACAYA charters the complete vessel. This permits them to totally customise the itinerary and create distinctive leisure and social actions tailor-made to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Beneath are some things to count on for those who take a VACAYA homosexual cruise:
- Leisure focus – VACAYA cruises are entertainment-focused. Whereas they throw nice events, they don’t seem to be as party-focused as Atlantis or Le Demence. The music tends to be extra prime 40 and pop-themed quite than digital or circuit-party music.
- Worth – VACAYA cruises typically begin at about $900 per particular person for his or her large-ship cruises. Smaller ship and river cruises can vary from $1,500 to $3,000 relying on the precise journey and route. You’ll additionally must consider the price of flights or transportation, so the situation of the departure and arrival ports must be a part of your planning course of.
- Dimension – VACAYA cruises embrace both giant or small full-ship takeovers. In case you don’t like crowds, it’s possible you’ll need to keep away from the bigger VACAYA journeys and go for a extra intimate expertise on a small ship.
- What’s included – The value of a VACAYA cruise consists of the cabin, meals, events, and onboard leisure. Gadgets usually not included are pre- and post-hotel stays, land excursions and excursions, specialty drinks/alcohol, and airport transfers.
- The group – VACAYA has made an effort to be extra inclusive of the complete LGBTQ+ neighborhood. They’ve seen some success and are positively extra various than Atlantis, RSVP, or Le Demence. To date, their cruises are nonetheless about 80-90% homosexual males, in comparison with Atlantis, which sees about 99% males. The opposite 10-20% of visitors embrace lesbian, non-binary, trans, and straight allies. Their predominant shopper base comes from the US, however folks from all around the world attend their cruises. The common age vary is often mid-30s to 40s, however you’ll see visitors of all ages onboard, starting from 18 to 80.
VACAYA Cruise Critiques and Movies
Take a look at these movies created by visitors on the inaugural VACAYA cruise.
Picture credit: VACAYA