Have the tides swayed in your favor this year? Feeling down in the doldrums? Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea about what to do? Maybe you aren't on board with so many sailing metaphors—okay, we'll stop—but one thing is for sure: a new year brings new adventure possibilities on the high seas! One of our favorite travel experiences is a gay cruise, and 2026 has some great ones lined up.
We have a whopping five all-inclusive gay group trips of our own planned aboard Virgin Voyages cruises. And we've added to this list three of our other favorite cruise of the year, including a river trip down the Nile with Out Adventures, a queer community–based Halloween cruise by Big Gay Cruise, and the legendary party ship that is La Demence.
Only you can choose; all we can do is point you in the right direction. Pick your favorite or pick them all—just don’t leave yourself stranded on dry land in 2026. Seas the day!
Gay Group Trip to Riviera Maya with Two Bad Tourists
January 11-16, 2026.
The Caribbean is as close to paradise on Earth as it gets! Join us as we host a gay group trip on a brand-new route embarking from Miami into tropical waters. In early 2026, we’re teaming up with Virgin Voyages for our Five Nights in the Riviera Maya cruise. As the name suggests, we’ll spend five steamy nights sailing across the Riviera Maya and Caribbean with stops at Cozumel (Playa del Carmen) in Mexico—home to the stunning Meso-American Barrier Reef—and Virgin Voyages’ very own Bahamas island, Beach Club at Bimini, for a cocktail or four. We’ll be hosting you ourselves as part of a large group on an even larger, fun-filled, adult-only playground of a ship run by LGBTQ+-friendly cruise line Virgin Voyages. Together, we’ll enjoy group dinners in quirky themed restaurants; an eclectic mix of shore excursions; private events; amazing entertainment, drag shows, and more. The cruise is all-inclusive—apart from alcohol and any special treatments you might want to pamper yourself with—so the trip is also friendly on the wallet. Come with your friends, family, partner(s), or even alone. In fact, most of our guests are solo travelers, so you’ll be in good company.
Egypt and The Nile River Gay Cruise with Out Adventures
March 6 – 15 & November 6 – 15, 2026.
Step into a pharaoh-style escape with Out Adventures’ Nile River Cruise & Cairo — a 9-night, 10-day all-gay journey blending Egypt’s legendary history with laid-back luxury. The adventure begins in bustling Cairo: with a private Egyptologist guiding you through the treasures of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and Egypt’s iconic museums — even exploring the ancient tomb of what’s believed to be Egypt’s first gay couple. Then, board a comfortable river cruise and glide along the Nile, with sunlit decks, relaxed lunches, and the ever-changing landscape drifting past your window. Along the way, explore majestic temples in Luxor and Aswan, descend into the legendary Valley of the Kings, visit ancient temples like Karnak Temple and Kom Ombo Temple, and wander through lively bazaars and local neighborhoods. This isn’t just a trip — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey through 7,000 years of civilization, shared an inclusive group of LGBTQ+ travelers.
Gay Group Trip to Spain, France & Italy on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists
June 21 – 28, 2026.
If Europe is more your bag, then hop aboard the Irresistible Med cruise with us to see three of Europe’s most beloved countries in just one week! We’ll form our own little gay family aboard the Scarlet Lady! This time, we’re sailing straight from our favorite European city, Barcelona, to Civitavecchia—the gateway to Rome. From there, we’ll explore Tuscany for the first time: Italy’s picturesque heartland, famous for its Renaissance charm and stunning Mediterranean beaches. Next up is the glamorous French Riviera city of Cannes, known for its chic vibes and sandy shores. We’ll end with an overnight in Ibiza, complete with our very own bar crawl through Ibiza Old Town. As always, you’ll enjoy our signature group dinners, shore excursions, cocktail hours, and Virgin Voyages’ top-tier entertainment, themed parties, and more!
Gay Group Trip to Spain, Morocco, Portugal & France on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists
June 28 – July 8, 2026.
Our Moroccan Marvels & Mediterranean Wonders cruise is all set to be every bit as fabulous as it sounds. Aboard, you’ll get twice as much from both being part of the Two Bad Tourists’ gay group and being with Virgin Voyages in the form of group dinners, exquisite entertainment, fun activities, and sassy themed parties. But it’s the route that we’re especially excited to share with you. This epic 10-night adventure will take us from Barcelona, Spain, all the way to Portsmouth, UK. First stop: Tangier, a vibrant port city on the northern tip of Africa where cultures mix and converge. Next, we head to one of our favorite European capitals—Lisbon, Portugal, bursting with color and charm. From there, we’ll swing back to Spain and dock in La Coruña on the lush, green northern coast (you’ll swear you’re not in Spain!). Then it’s on to the port nearest Bilbao, home to world-class Basque cuisine and the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Our final call is Bordeaux, France—the wine capital of the world, because everything’s better with a bottle… or three. This cruise will be one packed full of experiences and mischief that we can’t wait for you to be a part of with us!
La Demence Gay Cruise
9–16 July, 2026.
Oh La Demence. Let's just say we have memories and no regrets! This year they are departing from Barcelona to port at Ibiza, Cádiz, Gibraltar, and Málaga aboard a sleek midsize ship designed for maximum fun and connection. However to be real, it's the parties that make this cruise so legendary – bug surprise you that the company responsible for La Demence knows how to run a damn good party. As the sun sets over the Mediterranean, the men come out in force to dance hard and play harder. Firstly, you can warm up with the light-hearted sunset tea dance to get those juices flowing. Then, cometh nightfall, the pool decks transform into a huge open-air party, hosting some of the best DJs in the world. It somehow manages to be both rambunctiously wild and pleasantly intimate, and you can dance right up to the DJs. There's a special open-air cruising area, should you not find what you´re looking for on the dancefloor and the party never has to stop with after parties running well into the morning, sending you on a one-way track to a hungover breakfast. By day, if you ever see it, you can still unwind by the pools, bronze on the nudist sundeck, join excursions, or explore the Spanish ports (probably hitting those clubs in Ibiza too).
Gay Group Trip to Rome, Sicily, Naples, & Cannes on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists
August 22 – 31, 2026.
We don’t like to pick favorites among Europe’s cities, but if we did, Italy and France would be high on that list. Both are worthy of more than a one-night (or day) stand, so we’ve decided, for the first time ever, to launch a ten-day cruise along “the boot” and its surrounding ports. Pulling out of Rome (Civitavecchia), we’ll ease into the Med with Catania: brioche-and-granita mornings, lava-stone streets, Etna looming. Northward, Naples layers espresso bars, street shrines, and world-class museums, with the legendary Pompeii nearby. Ajaccio slows the pace with its sandy coves, palm promenades, citrus-scented markets, and Napoleonic history. Cannes (famous for its film festival) blends red-carpet glamour with coastal-town simplicity. Back via Livorno, pick Pisa’s Leaning Tower or Florence’s domes and galleries. Finally, we close the loop back in Rome, which needs little introduction. Aboard, we’ll treat you like the VIPs you are, with access to group dinners, themed parties, and all manner of fun as we give Italy and France the love they deserve.
Gay Group Trip to Greece, Italy & Spain on Virgin Voyages by Two Bad Tourists
October 4-11, 2026.
Join us as we sail out from the birthplace of democracy itself, Athens, heading straight to the legendary gay hotspot of Mykonos, where iconic windmills and cobblestone streets overlook nonstop beach parties. Next, we’ll dip into Catania, the sultry heart of Sicily, before cruising up the jaw-dropping Amalfi Coast to sunny Salerno. And because no Italian adventure is complete without a touch of history, we’ll stop in Civitavecchia, your gateway to the eternal city of Rome, before finally arriving in our home country of Spain, with a grand finale in Barcelona. Our trips are for everyone, whatever your background, age, relationship status, or shoe size! So don’t feel intimidated if you’re traveling alone, because our group activities, dinners, and excursions will help you forge friendships with your fellow shipmates that last way after you disembark.
Halloween Mexico and Caribbean Cruise with Big Gay Cruise
October 31– November 5, 2026.
Halloween is basically Gay Pride Part Two—only in spooky costumes—so why not go all in and book yourself onto Big Gay Cruise’s Halloween Cruise this year for Mexico and the Caribbean. Aboard the fabulous MAS Islander, you can expect a fun-filled week cruising through the Caribbean while enjoying talent-packed entertainment, Halloween-themed parties, and a camaraderie-building itinerary. There’ll be 40+ hours of private events, including competitive game shows, trivia, bingo, panel discussions on queer topics, karaoke, costume contests, themed cocktail hours, seven nights of parties, and performances by very famous Drag Race queens and LGBTQ+ comedians to keep you gagging from dusk till dawn—and back to dusk again! BGC are all about community, so come and be a part of the most fabulously frightening, glitter-soaked ghost ship on the seven seas.
Interested in joining a gay cruise? Check out our Ultimate Guide on Finding the Best Gay Cruise!
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