January 25, 2015
Six Gay Cruises Leaving Florida This Winter
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 4 MIN.
Florida already feels like paradise in the wintertime, so the only way you can add on to perfection during these beautiful months is to take a cruise and visit the Caribbean! Many cruise ships will have gay tour groups sailing the seas this winter. Here's a rundown of the ships leaving the ports of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa in the next two months.
JANUARY
Groove Cruise
If you love house music, this is the cruise to go on. The Groove Cruise will be celebrating its eleventh year with a five-day cruise which includes a two-day stop at a private beach in the Bahamas! Headlining performers include Aly & Fila, Arty, ATB, Erick Morillo, New World Punx, Oliver Heldens, Roger Sanchez, Sharam, Sidney Samson and Thomas Gold. The cruise sets sail from Miami on January 28 and returns on February 1.
According to the organizers, the Norwegian Pearl ship will be transformed into a large floating nightclub, with special events like DJ blackjack, volleyball, and even elevator twister. Sounds like fun! There will be over 40 DJs playing across nine stages, and there will be six different theme parties. Over 2,000 people are expected to be there; will you be one of them? To book your ticket, visit thegroovecruise.com/miami or call (877) 438-9438.
Bearracuda Heretic Cruise
The Celebrity Reflection was named the best cruise ship by Frommer's in 2011 and now you can experience the elegance and comfort that earned them such high honors. Bearracuda Events and The Heretic bar in Atlanta have gotten together to create a one-of-a-kind experience forGay-Cruises_logo bears and their friends.
This eight-day cruise leaves Miami on January 31 and makes stops in San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten before returning to home port on February 7. The headlining entertainment on this cruise includes DJ Paul Goodyear, DJ Tony Moran, and San Francisco performer and filmmaker Peaches Christ. Tickets can be purchased by going to bearsoverboard.com; suites can be reserved for as low as $1050 per person at double occupancy.
FEBRUARY
Celebrity Silhouette All-Gay Cruise
This is one of the largest all-gay cruises in the world, and there's a lot for Celebrity Cruises to brag about. Their top of the line Silhouette ship will be taking 2,800 sexy men through various ports of call, starting in Fort Lauderdale and continuing on to San Juan, St. Maarten, and Gay-Cruises_copy1Atlantis's own private island off the coast of Haiti. On top of that, there's three days at sea to relax and have fun. The cruise leaves on February 1 and returns to Florida on February 8.
The AquaSpa allows you to get pampered with massages and spa treatments right there on the ship. There's also a first-class gym, cabanas with an outdoor grill and real grass on the lawn, a dozen bars and clubs, and over twenty different parties and theme nights! The Aquaclass Cabin is still available for purchase and is priced at $1025 per person based on double occupancy. Call (866) 749-7354 to book your room! Mention code 11839860.
RSVP's 30th Anniversary Cruise
RSVP is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in style, as they commission the brand-new Regal Princess, with space available for 3,500 men! That's a lot of eye candy! The ship will be making its first-ever winter Caribbean tour this February, starting out in Fort Lauderdale on February 8. Gay-Cruises_copy2The eight-day trip brings all the partiers to Princess Cays, a private island in the Bahamas, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman.
On top of all the fabulous amenities this cruise ship offers, this special thirtieth anniversary show is going to have an all-star cast! Florida fan favorites Amy and Freddy will be performing, as well as singer Ann Hampton Callaway, drag performer Gert Crawford, DJ Robbie Leslie and VJ Tony Built, and comedian Brad Loekle. They can be seen in the two-story theater or in the more intimate lounge area. Ready to set sail? Prices are as low as $899 per person based on double occupancy! Reserve your cabin by going to rsvpvacations.com.
10-Day Celebrity Equinox Gay Tour
What's better than going on a week-long tour? A ten-day tour, of course! The Celebrity Equinox will be taking a gay cruise group along for a luxurious, long vacation starting on February 13. Leaving from the port of Fort Lauderdale, the ship and your tour group friends will stop in St. Gay-Cruises_copy3Thomas, St. Kitts, Roseau in Dominica, and St. Maarten before returning to South Florida on the 23rd.
There are so many things on this ship that are so cool...like did you know there's a big lawn you can sprawl out on, as if you were just sitting in the park back in Florida? Pretty cool! You can also go shopping at Michael Kors and the Apple iLounge. Then of course there's cocktails. You can dress up and go to the gastropub or chill poolside with your favorite frozen drinks! This package starts at $1150 per person based on double occupancy. Call (800) 647-2251 to reserve your room.
Flashback Cruise
Get away for three days of fun and take a time machine back to the '70s, '80s and '90s! This fun cruise leaves from the Port of Miami on February 27 and is hosted by none other than former Gay-Cruises_copy5MTV VJ "Downtown" Julie Brown! This cruise stops at two different islands in the Bahamas for a fun concert experience you'll be talking about for years to come.
Live performers include "Downtown" Julie Brown herself, in addition to Lime, Judy Torres, France Joli, Amber, and Veronica. Your favorite DJs will be on hand too, including Razor and Guido, Maximus 3000, Tracy Young, Ryan Morales, and Eddie Baez. The price for this cruise starts at $699 per person based on double occupancy. Reserve your spot by going to flashbackcruise.com or by calling (305) 671-3330.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.