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There are lots of reasons to take a gay cruise.
You want to explore the world with like-minded people. You want to be at ease with your partner among LGBTQ+ fellow travelers. You want peace of mind knowing you’ve left discrimination and judgment at the water’s edge.
Also, you want to get laid.
For the last, you’re certainly in the right place.
But for all-gay cruises — the ones with the most hookup opportunities, natch — look to two companies to satisfy your gay cruising obsession.
Atlantis is the best-known, ferrying about 20,000 gay cruisers a year with partner cruise lines Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages. Atlantis has been in the business of exclusively gay cruises since 1991 and has its itineraries and cruisers’ trust down.
Upstart VACAYA is the first all-LGBTQ+ travel company to launch in more than 25 years, with “inclusive” gay cruises scheduled for 2025 in the Caribbean and more. Their cruise line partner, Celebrity, debuted the fourth of its Edge-class ships in 2023. The ships accommodate around 3,000 passengers and are popular with gay travelers for their on-point amenities.
For cruises focused on cruising, vets know the best are round-trip excursions departing Los Angeles and San Francisco for the Mexican coast, or leaving Miami and Fort Lauderdale for a trip around the Caribbean. No one cares about the destination: these cruises are more about exploring your fellow cruisers than the local culture.
Stow your PrEP, Doxy PEP, Abreva, and amyl nitrite securely in your travel duffel, along with your sunscreen, multiple moisturizers, and plenty of NSAIDs for your mornings after (avoid Tylenol for your hangovers: acetaminophen and alcohol don’t mix). Throw a couple of condoms into your dop kit for the rare occasion when they may be asked for.
Recreational drugs at sea? There will be, but carrying them onboard is not advisable.
There’s likely a themed party scheduled for every night. That doesn’t mean you need to pack a Venetian-styled, 15th-century outfit for the “Masked Ball”; Versace briefs will do. Same goes for the Salute to Our Troops celebration; pack that Army-issued jock you swiped from that Army-issued jock. Eighty percent of party-goers will be going without pants.
Get familiar with the ship’s layout, too. Big cruise ships are enormous floating hotels with multiple bars, restaurants, and activity areas, including gyms and even onboard surfing stations on some overboard megaships. The more you know ahead of the game, the less time you’ll be figuring out where your next date awaits you.
The apps are notoriously finicky at sea, and often can’t locate you properly; you may have unlimited Wi-Fi, but it may not help somewhere in the Atlantic or Pacific. If you’re still beholden to Grindr or Scruff, log on when you’re in a port of call for a quick check of fellow users, then switch to onboard texting your object of desire.
(Pro-tip: in a port of call, change your username to the name of your ship so that you can distinguish between your fellow cruisers, locals, and travelers on other boats.)
For those who abandon the apps—at least for the duration—put on your Army-issued jock and head to the Salute to Our Troops.
Contrary to legend, gay cruises are not stocked solely with circuit party types. Ask gay cruise vets and they’ll tell you your choices vary just like in every other venue you encounter an all-gay crowd. Twinks, twunks, bears, muscle jocks, chubs, daddies and granddaddies — and every other variety of mens — are likely on your cruise. It’s a man buffet where you can load up on a favorite dish or sample every offering.
Attend all of those theme parties.
Recover from the night before while lounging on a deck chair by the pool or jacuzzi. Your next date sees you.
And hit the gym, reliably the busiest venue on a gay cruise, along with the sauna and steam room, reliably the cruisiest spots on board. Wipe your face with your towel.
(Pro-tip: crew members tend to use the gym on port days at midday when most passengers are off the ship, or close to gym closing time. These are some of your most desirable conquests, not only because cruise lines ban crew from fraternizing with guests, but because so many are so good-looking.)
You’re never going to see these gay cruisers again (okay, maybe you’ll end up doing a Same Time, Next Year thing with a few, or see one at the gym in WeHo), so make the most of your freedom — freedom from expectations, freedom from fear, freedom from pants.
And go on offense everywhere you go on this floating palace of men.
Say “hello” to someone you find interesting or attractive. Always find something to compliment someone about. Or grab your junk and nod, “Let’s get out of this high dive show” at the AquaTheatre. He’ll probably be right behind you.
There are lots of reasons to take a gay cruise.
You want to explore the world with like-minded people. You want to be at ease with your partner among LGBTQ+ fellow travelers. You want peace of mind knowing you’ve left discrimination and judgment at the water’s edge.
Also, you want to get laid.
For the last, you’re certainly in the right place.
Who’s gay cruising?
In 2025, nearly every major cruise line offers LGBTQ+ passengers personalized service, like meetups in ships’ bars and special programming focused on LGBTQ+ guests.But for all-gay cruises — the ones with the most hookup opportunities, natch — look to two companies to satisfy your gay cruising obsession.
Atlantis is the best-known, ferrying about 20,000 gay cruisers a year with partner cruise lines Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages. Atlantis has been in the business of exclusively gay cruises since 1991 and has its itineraries and cruisers’ trust down.
Upstart VACAYA is the first all-LGBTQ+ travel company to launch in more than 25 years, with “inclusive” gay cruises scheduled for 2025 in the Caribbean and more. Their cruise line partner, Celebrity, debuted the fourth of its Edge-class ships in 2023. The ships accommodate around 3,000 passengers and are popular with gay travelers for their on-point amenities.
For cruises focused on cruising, vets know the best are round-trip excursions departing Los Angeles and San Francisco for the Mexican coast, or leaving Miami and Fort Lauderdale for a trip around the Caribbean. No one cares about the destination: these cruises are more about exploring your fellow cruisers than the local culture.
Pre-cruise prep
If you’re looking for unlimited — and uninhibited — hookups at sea, come prepared.Stow your PrEP, Doxy PEP, Abreva, and amyl nitrite securely in your travel duffel, along with your sunscreen, multiple moisturizers, and plenty of NSAIDs for your mornings after (avoid Tylenol for your hangovers: acetaminophen and alcohol don’t mix). Throw a couple of condoms into your dop kit for the rare occasion when they may be asked for.
Recreational drugs at sea? There will be, but carrying them onboard is not advisable.
Know before go
Get familiar with the ship’s schedule of activities.There’s likely a themed party scheduled for every night. That doesn’t mean you need to pack a Venetian-styled, 15th-century outfit for the “Masked Ball”; Versace briefs will do. Same goes for the Salute to Our Troops celebration; pack that Army-issued jock you swiped from that Army-issued jock. Eighty percent of party-goers will be going without pants.
Get familiar with the ship’s layout, too. Big cruise ships are enormous floating hotels with multiple bars, restaurants, and activity areas, including gyms and even onboard surfing stations on some overboard megaships. The more you know ahead of the game, the less time you’ll be figuring out where your next date awaits you.
The apps at sea
Some gay cruisers like to ditch their phones in their cabins and freestyle cruising on their gay cruise. Others can’t escape the yoke of the apps. There are pros and cons to both approaches.The apps are notoriously finicky at sea, and often can’t locate you properly; you may have unlimited Wi-Fi, but it may not help somewhere in the Atlantic or Pacific. If you’re still beholden to Grindr or Scruff, log on when you’re in a port of call for a quick check of fellow users, then switch to onboard texting your object of desire.
(Pro-tip: in a port of call, change your username to the name of your ship so that you can distinguish between your fellow cruisers, locals, and travelers on other boats.)
For those who abandon the apps—at least for the duration—put on your Army-issued jock and head to the Salute to Our Troops.
Where to find your hookup
On a gay cruise, they’re everywhere. And they come in all shapes and sizes.Contrary to legend, gay cruises are not stocked solely with circuit party types. Ask gay cruise vets and they’ll tell you your choices vary just like in every other venue you encounter an all-gay crowd. Twinks, twunks, bears, muscle jocks, chubs, daddies and granddaddies — and every other variety of mens — are likely on your cruise. It’s a man buffet where you can load up on a favorite dish or sample every offering.
Attend all of those theme parties.
Recover from the night before while lounging on a deck chair by the pool or jacuzzi. Your next date sees you.
And hit the gym, reliably the busiest venue on a gay cruise, along with the sauna and steam room, reliably the cruisiest spots on board. Wipe your face with your towel.
(Pro-tip: crew members tend to use the gym on port days at midday when most passengers are off the ship, or close to gym closing time. These are some of your most desirable conquests, not only because cruise lines ban crew from fraternizing with guests, but because so many are so good-looking.)
Remember, you’re on vacation
While the cast of characters in your gay cruise drama may seem familiar, remember you’re all on vacation, and free from inhibitions that might haunt you at home.You’re never going to see these gay cruisers again (okay, maybe you’ll end up doing a Same Time, Next Year thing with a few, or see one at the gym in WeHo), so make the most of your freedom — freedom from expectations, freedom from fear, freedom from pants.
And go on offense everywhere you go on this floating palace of men.
Say “hello” to someone you find interesting or attractive. Always find something to compliment someone about. Or grab your junk and nod, “Let’s get out of this high dive show” at the AquaTheatre. He’ll probably be right behind you.
