Gay Cruises 2010 and trend for the year 2011
The last two years of economic crisis caused a huge downturn in cruise industry and it also affected the gay cruise market.
The biggest victim of the recession in 2009 was Rosie O’Donnell’s R Family Vacations, scaling down from chartering entire ships for all-gay and lesbian family cruises. For 2010, the company decided to do modestly and offer only “gay lesbian group cruises”
The all-gay family cruise market (focused entirely on busy gay and lesbian parents and their kids) was obviously not large enough to support entire ship charters. Another victim of the economic slowdown was the now defunct Travelpride, which offered unique, luxury, small-ship charters for the gay cruise market up to January 2010.
All-gay or lesbian-only charters like Atlantis are doing quite well though..
Atlantis earned a good reputation among gays around the world. If you have even been on Atlantis cruise, you probably loved it: great entertainment, attention to the smallest detail and a good mix of guys. Prices might be high end, but if you can pay that, then you should definitely try Atlantis.
A new trend of the last two years is Gay affinity groups on mainstream cruises, organized by travel agents. There were many gay group cruises organised on Royal Caribbean ships throughout Europe. The price tag is a fraction of that of Atlantis. Ambientravel from Barcelona organised gay friendly cruises for the last two years, all on Royal Caribbean ships and with a very good response from the travellers.
There is still a good opportunity to try one. The very next gay friendly cruise sailing from Malaga in Spain to Canary islands and Madeira on Adventure of the Seas November 13 – 18. Prices are an incredible bargain, at around 399 euros per person for a balcony cabin. Most of the guys are Spanish, most within age range 20 to 55 y.o. So, if November is still available on your calendar, then be quick and book.
Think twice though: a cruise is an adventure, so don’t complain if it was too much of an adventure.. Watch this video below.
The impact of massive waves that struck a cruise ship during a storm off New Zealand have been revealed by CCTV footage posted on the internet.
Pacific Sun Cruise liner, carrying 1732 passengers and 671 crew, was caught in a severe storm on July 30, 2008, encountering seven-metre swells and 50 knot winds. Passengers who were aboard the journey were offered a 25 per cent reduction in the cost of a future cruise.
