Big LGBT+ ocean cruises can be a blast – there are tons of hot people to get to know biblically, big, all-night dance parties, and an endless array of activities onboard.
But as we age, those cruises can begin to hold less allure. Maybe you’ve outgrown the “notches in the bedpost” routine, or it’s getting harder to dance all night in your underwear and then get up at 7am to take an all-day excursion into Rome.
Both experiences – big-ship and small-ship – have incredible experiences to offer. It really depends on what you’re looking for in a vacation.
WHAT IS THE BIG-SHIP LGBT+ OCEAN CRUISE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
The Pro’s:
- Tons of people to meet
- Lots of onboard amenities
- Great theme parties
- Great entertainment
- Lots of categories of cabins to choose from
The Con’s:
- You may never run into that great guy you met on day one again
- Lines for everything, from the buffet to the bathroom
- Escaping the crowds can be daunting
- You may hear the music from the deck parties for much of the night
- For those with mobility issues, the amount of walking can be a challenge
- Since big ships can only dock at big ports, there can be long bus rides from the port to the city you’re visiting (this isn’t exclusive to big ships; occasionally, small-ship cruises can also have this issue)
- Seasickness can be an issue for some, although the stabilizers on the newest ships have helped to minimize this
WHAT IS THE BRAND g SMALL OCEAN SHIP OR RIVER CRUISE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
The Pro’s:
- The atmosphere/décor/food can be much more luxe
- You can get to know many of the people on your ship, since the number of guests ranges from about 50 (for our exotic cruises, like in Asia, India, etc) to 150 (for European river cruises) to 200 (for our small-ship ocean cruises)
- No lines
- Ships are more easily navigable, since they’re much smaller
- Great entertainment (albeit often in a lounge as opposed to a theatre)
- Less ship movement – if you have issues with seasickness, you’ll virtually never even know you’re sailing on a river cruise
The Con’s:
- Less onboard amenities (many ships offer a small gym and spa, but you won’t get a casino or water park)
- If you’re super shy, it can be harder to get “lost in the crowd” (however, the guests on our trips tend to be very friendly and welcoming)
- Fewer categories of rooms. Although our luxury small-ship cruises offer ten categories to choose from, river cruises typically only have three or four (although all rooms are oceanview or balcony – there are no inside rooms).
- The price is higher, since you don’t have the same scale. A cruise for 4,000 has economy of scale – much more buying power with things like food, and less onboard space per person – so they’re able to offer the product at a lower price.
Note that there are also tour operators that book a group of LGBT+ guests onto a straight cruise. So, you may have 50-100 gay folk onboard that 4,000 person Celebrity cruise. This is a good compromise for those on a stricter budget, since – outside of a cocktail party or two – the tour operator isn’t offering a full-ship charter or LGBT+ dance parties or entertainers, and thus the price will be cheaper. You won’t get that memorable feeling of freedom and safety that comes with a full-ship charter, but at least you get a guarantee of having a decent amount of LGBT guests on your cruise.
(Photo courtesy of Nomadic Boys)
HOW DO THE BIG-SHIP LGBT+ COMPANIES WORK?
Pricing
The big-ship LGBT cruise companies offer their cruises a la carte. This means that the price you pay for the cruise itself is only the beginning. From there, you’ll add in the cost of shore excursions, which can often be as much as the cruise itself. You’ll add the cost of drinks (or a prepaid drink package). You’ll have to book your own airport transfers. You get the picture. The price can still be lower overall, but you do have to budget for all these extras.
Service
They also offer a lower level of service. This isn’t meant to criticize or imply that these companies don’t care about their guests or want to offer more service. Not in the least. It’s just physically impossible to offer a high level of service when you’re dealing with thousands of guests on a single trip.
Changes/Cancellations
These companies typically require you to resell your own cabin if you need to cancel. Once again, since they’re dealing with a massive volume of guests, they have to make certain compromises in terms of service.
HOW DOES BRAND g WORK?
Pricing
Our fares are virtually all-inclusive, except for airfare. We include almost everything, so that from the time you land at the destination airport until you leave, you never have to pull out your wallet. We include shore excursions, adult beverages, airport transfers, special Brand g experiences, etc. This results in a higher initial price – particularly because our cruises are luxe and smaller scale – but breaks down to be considerably less so when you consider everything that’s included.
Service
We can proudly say that Brand g’s commitment to an extremely high level of service is unparalleled. Ask any of our guests. We want you to feel taken care of in every possible way. If you encounter a problem during the reservations or planning process or while on the trip, we’re there to solve it.
Changes/Cancellations
Brand g will work with you to resolve any changes or cancellations. While we can’t refund a trip after final payment (we encourage guests taking ANY type of trip, straight or gay, to buy travel insurance), we will attempt to move your payments to another trip of your choice.
As you can see there are amazing positives to both of these types of experiences and tour operators. It all just depends on where you’re at in your travel evolution and what is most important to you!
