First gay cruise? Here’s everything you need to know before you board.
OutBound Travel on an Azamara ship to a handful of Greek islands and Ephesus.
Mark
You’ve booked your first gay cruise. Now what?
My partner Uriel and I had zero cruise experience when we sailed with OutBound Travel on an Azamara ship to a handful of Greek islands and Ephesus. We walked onto that boat completely clueless, with no idea how dining worked, whether we needed cash, or what the hell a “sea day” meant.
All we knew was that OutBound had won the 2024 Best of GayCities Best Tour Operator award, so that was enough for us to know we’d have a great time.
These tips are only applicable to the smaller, more grown-up cruises. The company and the cruise line don’t do the giant party cruises popular with a particular set.
About 65% of the cruisers on our trip were over the age of 50, and there were more lesbians and trans people than twinks and muscle gays. While shenanigans occurred, it was through Grindr and flirting, rather than openly on the dance floor.
Here’s everything we wish someone had told us before we set out to sea.
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Before You Board
Check your email obsessively in the weeks leading up to departure. The cruise line sends pre-boarding information, including the required arrival time at the port and the necessary documents to bring. Miss these emails, and you’ll be that person holding up the check-in line.
Download the cruise line’s app before you leave home. You’ll need it to book excursions, check your daily schedule, and order room service at 2 a.m. when the buffet wasn’t enough.
Bring a credit card for your onboard account. Most ships are cashless. You’ll link a card at check-in, then charge everything to your cabin. You’ll settle up on the last night.
Your Cabin
You’ll pay more to get a room on the outside edge of the ship with a balcony and ocean view, but you can save money with an interior room without windows. After all, you can always go up on deck to the pool or see the water from the dining room or other recreational areas of the ship. No matter what, unless you’ve splurged for a suite, your room will be tiny, and you’ll want to be out and about. Sure, you can hang out on the balcony all day, but consider what you’ll want to do versus cost savings when making your decision.
Your cabin steward cleans your room twice daily. Morning service happens while you’re at breakfast. Evening turndown includes fresh towels, a sweet treat, and a printed schedule for the next day. Tip your steward well, either daily or with a larger amount at the end of the cruise.
Laundry service is available, but it’s incredibly costly. Some ships have a small laundromat on board that’s much more affordable, but no one presses your shirts or folds your underwear. On most ships, you can’t have an iron in your room.
Pack a power strip and universal power adapter. Cabins have limited outlets, and you’ll want to charge multiple devices. While North America uses one type, most of the rest of the world uses different voltages and plugs.
Food and Drinks
The main dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner has set times, typically early seating at around 6 p.m. and late seating at around 8:30 p.m. Specialty restaurants incur an additional cost. Budget: $30- $75 per person, depending on the venue. Some are worth it. Others are just the main dining room with fancier plates. The buffet is your friend. It’s perfect for grabbing a quick bite or eating in your swimsuit after a dip in the pool.
Drinks are complicated. Water, coffee, soda, and tea are included. Everything else costs money unless you’ve bought a beverage package. Beers run $3 to $10. Cocktails start around $12. Wine by the glass hits $10 to $15. There are also different tiers of alcohol and beer options. The better the drink, the more it costs. Do the math on whether a drink package makes sense for you.
Excursions
Book early. Popular shore excursions sell out, especially on gay charters where everyone wants to see the same sites. You can book through the cruise line or find independent tour operators. Cruise line excursions cost more, but they guarantee the ship will wait if your tour runs late.
Budget $75 to $300 per person per port, depending on the activities you want to do. A bus tour costs less than a private guide or a sunset catamaran cruise.
Read the activity levels and weather carefully. “Easy walking” means different things to different people. If you’re unsure you can handle three hours on cobblestones, consider an alternative.
Walking around the city on your own is free and gives you more freedom and chances for serendipitous adventures. Don’t underestimate the benefits of skipping your fourth “food tour” in favor of dipping into restaurants on your own.
A planned excursion requires you to disembark from the boat at a specific time. If organized by the cruise, you’ll generally gather on board and leave as a group. If you’re exploring on your own, you can get on and off the boat whenever you want.
Internet and Staying Connected
Ship WiFi is expensive and slow. Like, really slow. Expect to pay $15 to $30 per day for a connection that barely loads Instagram. Some lines offer unlimited plans that make more sense if you need to stay connected.
Be aware that the fee is typically charged per person, not per room. If you’re traveling with a companion, you’ll need two packages or be connected.
Your phone will work in the port. When you’re in the middle of the ocean, though, you’re generally screwed when it comes to getting a signal, so you might regret not getting the expensive internet package. International roaming charges apply unless you have a plan that covers them. Check with your carrier before you leave.
What to Pack
Bring more swimsuits than you think you need. Wet trunks don’t dry overnight in a small cabin. Pack a light jacket or sweater for overly air-conditioned spaces. Throw in a small backpack or beach bag for excursions.
Formal nights exist on some cruises. Check your itinerary. You don’t need a tuxedo, but you’ll want to wear long pants and a collared shirt at a minimum.
Don’t overpack. You’ll wear the same three outfits the entire trip. Everyone does.
The Bottom Line
Your first cruise involves a learning curve. You’ll take a wrong turn to the dining room. You’ll miss an announcement about tendering to shore. You’ll wonder why everyone’s dressed up, and you’re in shorts.
That’s fine. By day two, you’ll figure it out.
By the end of the trip, you’ll be a cruise veteran boring your friends with unsolicited advice.
Related
This sexy Greek daddy can teach you everything you need to know about Athens
We traveled to Greece to find the best of Athens.
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
