Going on a VACAYA cruise is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing vacations you can take. The entire ship is filled with LGBTQ+ guests, and all staff are extensively trained to provide a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment where you can relax both mentally and physically. The atmosphere is friendly, with a strong social vibe, and there is excellent entertainment throughout the trip.

About VACAYA

VACAYA was founded and created by a small group of tourism and travel industry executives with more than 100 years of combined experience in entertainment, hospitality, and travel. In fact, the core team of VACAYA spent many years working at Atlantis and RSVP before deciding to start a new company with a different vision and offering.

Prior to VACAYA’s launch, Atlantis and RSVP were the only major players in the market for large, full-ship gay cruises. Atlantis acquired RSVP in 2007, so there wasn’t much competition or change in the industry for years. VACAYA saw this as an opportunity to innovate and create a more unique product designed around diversity for the entire LGBTQ+ community. VACAYA currently offers 4 to 5 trips per year, including a large, full-ship gay cruise along with several smaller ship river cruises and resort stays. The inaugural cruise departed from New York City and traveled to Provincetown in the summer of 2019 on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship.

Why Take a VACAYA Gay Cruise?

  • Easy to meet new people – One great aspect of taking a gay cruise is that most of the guests are friendly and open to meeting new people. On a straight cruise, guests often come with friends or family and already have a social group established. On a gay cruise, there are many activities designed to help connect guests and give you a chance to meet new people.
  • Travel alone – VACAYA offers a cabin match program where they will assign you a roommate, so you don’t have to pay the full price of a two-person room if you’re traveling alone.
  • Awesome parties – You’ll be in for a treat with fantastic parties. The events are usually themed, often held outdoors, and guests are encouraged to dress up.
  • Great entertainment – Most of the big gay cruise lines like VACAYA bring on major headliners or “gaylebrity” performers. Into drag queen bingo? How about performances from some of the top gay celebrity comedians, entertainers, and famous drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race?
  • Be yourself – Probably one of the most attractive parts of a gay cruise is the comfort zone. The entire ship is full of LGBTQ+ guests, and all staff are extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment where you can relax and be yourself.

Is a Gay Cruise Right for You?

First, you need to decide whether taking a cruise, in general, is something you want to do. Not everyone enjoys cruising due to the rapid pace of the experience, but many do. Second, if taking a cruise definitely interests you, you’ll need to decide if you prefer a gay cruise or a mainstream cruise. Here are a few things to consider:

  • Your cabin, meals, and entertainment are included in the price.
  • The ship will be almost exclusively LGBTQ+ guests.
  • Cruises can be crowded, and there isn’t much privacy.
  • You can visit many new destinations in one trip, but you only have a short time at each port to explore.
  • Gay cruises can be a bit more expensive than mainstream cruises due to the elaborate parties and unique entertainment onboard.

What to Expect from a VACAYA Cruise

Determining which gay cruise or trip to take is completely subjective. People have different preferences, budgets, or destinations in mind when booking a trip. VACAYA is still new to the market, but they have made a huge splash and appear to have claimed a well-deserved spot in the gay travel industry. Whether it’s a large-ship cruise in the Caribbean or a luxury river cruise in Europe, VACAYA charters the entire vessel. This allows them to fully customize the itinerary and create unique entertainment and social activities tailored to the LGBTQ+ community. Below are a few things to expect if you take a VACAYA gay cruise:

  • Entertainment focus – VACAYA cruises are entertainment-focused. While they throw great parties, they are not as party-focused as Atlantis or Le Demence. The music tends to be more top 40 and pop-themed rather than electronic or circuit-party music.
  • Price – VACAYA cruises generally start at about $900 per person for their large-ship cruises. Smaller ship and river cruises can range from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the specific trip and route. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of flights or transportation, so the location of the departure and arrival ports should be part of your planning process.
  • Size – VACAYA cruises include either large or small full-ship takeovers. If you don’t like crowds, you may want to avoid the larger VACAYA trips and opt for a more intimate experience on a small ship.
  • What’s included – The price of a VACAYA cruise includes the cabin, meals, parties, and onboard entertainment. Items typically not included are pre- and post-hotel stays, land tours and excursions, specialty drinks/alcohol, and airport transfers.
  • The crowd – VACAYA has made an effort to be more inclusive of the entire LGBTQ+ community. They’ve seen some success and are definitely more diverse than Atlantis, RSVP, or Le Demence. So far, their cruises are still about 80-90% gay men, compared to Atlantis, which sees about 99% men. The other 10-20% of guests include lesbian, non-binary, trans, and straight allies. Their main client base comes from the US, but people from all over the world attend their cruises. The average age range is typically mid-30s to 40s, but you’ll see guests of all ages onboard, ranging from 18 to 80.

VACAYA Cruise Reviews and Videos

Check out these videos created by guests on the inaugural VACAYA cruise.

Image credits: VACAYA