Tristan Schukraft confirms launch of Tryst Cruises, with two huge charters already booked
The Maiden Tryst Voyage sets sail on Halloween 2027.
Mark
Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of Tryst Hospitality and the entrepreneur behind The Abbey in West Hollywood, has confirmed he’s entering the gay cruise business. Two large charters are already booked, including what Schukraft bills as the largest gay cruise in history. The announcement confirms reports that surfaced earlier this month.
“Many people had written off gay hotels as campy or not for them until they experienced The Tryst Puerto Vallarta,” said Schukraft in a press release. “I reimagined what a gay hotel could be. With Tryst Cruises, I’m bringing together the best of our destinations at sea. Starting with 3,200 sailors on Halloween 2027, then we go bigger with 5,800 in February 2028. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Maiden Voyage
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The Tryst Maiden Voyage will set sail from Fort Lauderdale on Halloween 2027. The six-night cruise will call at Puerto Plata and Samaná in the Dominican Republic, and Nassau in the Bahamas. It takes place aboard Celebrity Beyond, part of the Celebrity Cruises fleet.
Attractions will include a full Abbey takeover on the ship, “The Blue Whale’s Low Tea”, drag brunches and the best in LGBTQ+ entertainment, the Tryst Pool Club, and “Fire Island’s famous Meat Rack reimagined in a private open-air section of the ship”.
The voyage will culminate in a closing party at a private beach club in the Bahamas. Expect a surprise celebrity performance. Tryst Hospitality hasn’t revealed a name, but Schukraft has hosted the likes of Madonna, Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan at the Abbey in West Hollywood.
You want some extra VIP treatment? The first 300 guests to book a Tryst Cruise will receive an exclusive invitation to Tristan’s Buoys Club. Think the Captain’s Table, with a Tryst twist. Members will enjoy private gatherings, elevated onboard experiences, special recognition and exclusive privileges throughout their voyage.
The Maiden Voyage will be followed by an even bigger event in February 2028 aboard Royal Caribbean’s huge Wonder of the Seas. That voyage will depart from Miami and run February 4–11, 2028. Tryst is billing it as the world’s largest gay cruise.
What does this mean for the gay cruise industry?
Tryst Hospitality’s decision to enter the cruise market is already making waves in the industry.
The news was first leaked a couple of weeks ago via LGBTQ+ cruise operator Vacaya. In an email newsletter to its subscribers, Vacaya bosses said they had taken the difficult decision not to organize their traditional, big Caribbean cruise for winter 27/28.
“To understand why we’re taking a step back, it helps to know who’s likely to soon be making a very big entrance into the market… Tristan Schukraft and Tryst Hospitality have created ‘Tryst Cruises LLC’ and are expected to enter the big-ship, all-gay cruise market soon,” they explained.
“If his name is unfamiliar, some of the businesses behind his empire probably aren’t: MISTR, Tryst Hotels, The Abbey in West Hollywood, The Crown & Anchor in Ptown, and Fire Island favorites The Blue Whale and The Pavilion (as well as the as-yet-to-open Tryst Hotel Fire Island). He’s assembled quite a kingdom across LGBTQ+ healthcare, hospitality, and nightlife.
“Now, that kingdom appears poised to take to the high seas.”
“Detrimental to us”
Vacaya wished Schukraft well, “just as we do every LGBTQ-owned business creating places where our community can connect and thrive. We respect the vision and commitment it takes to bring those spaces to life.”
They said their decision was driven by concerns about competing with this new arrival on the market.
“Selling out our big-ship cruises is essential: anything short of a near sellout means that sailing could operate at a loss. With Tryst and [established big-ship gay cruise operator] Atlantis expected to compete for many of the same travelers on the biggest ships afloat, putting a VACAYA Caribbean cruise in the middle of that contest could be detrimental to us.”
For this reason, they’ve decided to skip next winter’s big-ship Caribbean cruise. They will, however, be running other big-ship cruises in 2028.
Early access registration for the first Tryst voyages is now open at trystcruises.com. Cabin pricing has yet to be announced.
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