June 9th 2024.
This cruise is all about bringing the community together, with inclusivity as its main focus. VACAYA, the world's first, largest, and most exciting LGBTQ+ cruise, has a few guidelines for its guests. For example, if you're planning on wearing an outfit that exposes your buttocks and you want to grab a bite to eat at the buffet, you'll need to use one of the provided towels to cover up. It's only fair, after all.
To kick off our VACAYA experience, we flew to Miami on the amazing low-cost airline, Norse Atlantic, and made our way to Fort Lauderdale where our cruise awaited us. If you've never been on a cruise before, imagine a 13-story boat that feels more like a building. In our case, we were on the Celebrity Apex, a massive ship that rarely gives off that "boat-like" feeling. It takes you to different destinations where you can choose to explore or simply stay aboard.
The ship itself is like a glamorous five-star hotel mixed with a small town. It's equipped with a theater, restaurants, a pool, nightclub, martini bar with a grand piano, casino, cafes, a poolside burger joint, spa, indoor pool, boutiques, and a business center. And let's not forget the huge buffet with a variety of food options, including Indian and Chinese dishes, salads, burgers, pizzas, vegan and gluten-free options, and an endless supply of desserts. The best part? All of these amenities, including shows, seminars, and live entertainment, are included in the price. Just ask and you shall receive.
One of the things that sets VACAYA apart from other "gay cruises" is its laid-back atmosphere. The founders of VACAYA wanted to create a cruise that was more inclusive and less focused on wild parties and exclusivity. While the majority of guests are gay men, there's also a lounge specifically for female, trans, and non-binary guests. We even met a married couple, one man and one woman, who attended the "Tell Us Who You Are" party in matching dressing gowns. It's safe to say that VACAYA truly caters to all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
But don't worry, this cruise isn't all about partying and looking good in a bikini. VACAYA promotes body positivity and inclusivity, so there's no pressure to have a "perfect" body. In fact, it only took us half an hour of being in our swimwear to let go of any insecurities and embrace our bodies. The guests on board come in all shapes and sizes, but the main demographic seems to be slightly older gay men sporting a variety of swimsuits (some of which may require a towel at the buffet).
We were pleasantly surprised to see the level of inclusivity and accessibility on the cruise. For example, there was a deaf and blind guest who was greeted by a staff member trained in communicating through writing on hands. The deaf community on board had reserved seating in the theater and even had celebrity-like signers. We had the privilege of exploring Puerto Rico with one of the signers, who was welcomed with a flurry of sign language from the locals.
As for entertainment, we were treated to performances by Alan Cumming, drag queen La Voix, and Hollywood legend Vanessa Williams, who will soon be starring in Elton John's new musical, The Devil Wears Prada, in London's West End. But the real entertainment came from La Voix, who had us in stitches with her jokes and hilarious commentary. We also attended numerous themed parties, where the guests went all out with their costumes. From pirates to drag queens to sparkly majorettes, the creativity and energy of the guests were unmatched.
One of the reasons VACAYA is such a hit is because they give plenty of notice for party themes, allowing guests to plan and create their outfits in advance. In fact, during a seminar with the on-board medium, Lilli, she pointed out how the LGBTQ+ community takes care of each other and knows how to have a good time together. And she was right. VACAYA truly feels like a reunion with 3,000 of your closest friends.
So, if you're looking for a cruise that celebrates inclusivity, body positivity, and good old-fashioned fun, book your VACAYA cruise at MyVacaya. And don't forget to fly with Norse Atlantic, with economy prices starting at £395 and premium at £945. We can't wait to see you on board!
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