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Cruises have long been promoted as all-inclusive vacations with accommodations, meals, entertainment and transportation all rolled into one price. But the number of extra amenities passengers must pay for has been proliferating as cruise lines go beyond the usual extras (like shore excursions, cocktails and Internet access) and add increasingly elaborate offerings.
Read the NYTimes article here >>>
Do you have any other tips? We’d love for you to share.
Venture Out emerged in 1998 out of the growing need for a greater selection of upscale, small-group, specialized theme tours for the LGBT audience. They bring together usually no more than 15 participants, ensuring an intimacy and camaraderie between group members and with the professional guide who accompanies each vacation.
Join them for an all-inclusive 8-day/7-night luxury yacht-style adventure aboard the newly renovated 86 guest Safari Endeavour. The small ship experience enables you to see the awe-inspiring sights that Alaska has to offer in a unique way. This ship can sail through narrow fjords where you will have the opportunity to hike, kayak, paddle board, and beach comb, and to see awe inspiring glaciers and wildlife very close up — something that the big cruise liners simply can’t do. In Glacier Bay National Park, a Park Ranger will board the ship for two days to lead hiking and kayaking excursions and provide interpretation of the the area’s history, culture and geography.
Our editor Randall Shirley recently returned from a cruise that departed out of Venice. In fact, he said that Venice became one of his favorite port cities. Things might be changing in this world class city if the mayor has his way.
Russia seems to be putting out the 'Unwelcome Mat'
The New York Times recently carried an article about recent developments in Russia. It seems that Russian cities are falling over themselves to outlaw “propaganda of homosexuality” including the use of rainbows.
This was interesting to us especially because of our Baltic cruise with Atlantis a couple of summers ago. St. Petersburg was mentioned in the article, and we chose the cruise because of the extended time there.
We were on a bus tour of the city, and the 20-something female guide was giving us the traditional “on your left you’ll see….and on your right you’ll see…” treatment. At one of the stops I spoke to her and explained that the tour was made up totally of gay men.
“If you know any gay people we’d be interested to find out what you could tell us about their experience living in Russia as a LGBT person,” I said.
“Well, I can help you, because I am not straight myself” she responded.
Our guide went on to say that it was difficult being gay anywhere in the Soviet Union. Moscow was among the worst, she said, but if you were gay or lesbian, St. Petersburg was the place to be. How things change in a short time.
Read the entire New York Times article.
Halloween on the NCL Spirit
Norwegian has cut back on the portion size and variety of the meals since we last cruised with them. It would be interesting to sail with a close competitor and see how the other line would compare. Is anyone prepared to fund a grant to do that research?
Mark likes “freestyle cruising” but I’m not a fan. I like getting to know people I’d never have met otherwise. I like a more dressy atmosphere as well, but then I’m a dinosaur in many ways. I would certainly say we enjoyed our meals in the main dining room and in the buffet line as well.
The food in the specialty restaurant (Cagney’s) was like the old days: Just delicious.
The ship staff was uniformly excellent. We were treated well by everyone.
The Aquafest parties and entertainment were wonderful. Due to the schedule of the ship the parties were often quite late. However, that is what disco napping is all about, and we certainly didn’t have to get up for work the morning after!
As I wrote before, go in costume if you possibly can. The Lesbian couple who won the costume contest as a couple of slinkies was a highlight. It was also great fun to watch the ship staff enjoy the costumes and parties with us. Taking the extra suitcase/steamer trunk filled with costumes was well worth it. I have, however, decided that Mark will no longer have any input on costume design or execution. He’s gonna wear what I tell him!
We’d go on this ship again, and even on the same itinerary. We’d travel again with Aguafest in a heartbeat.
Yesterday while cruising to Belize we did our first ‘It Gets Better’ video shoot on board the Norwegian Spirit. This is the first video shot on board a cruise ship with over 500 LGBT passengers. Below is a video of just a few of the stories we heard. It was an amazing day. Please consider contributing to the making of this video or becoming a sponsor. For question email: michael@meetmeonboard.com.
Halloween Night on Bourbon Street:
Dale talks about the 'It Gets Better video to Aquafest guests
Last night was all we expected and more. The crowd was mostly dressed in costume, some of them very elaborate. We went back to Lafitte’s where we bought way too many drinks from our favorite bartender Earl, and had a great time with a (very) friendly Kilt-wearing couple from Atlanta. Many of the tourists in New Orleans go there several times a year, and always at Halloween. If you go, be sure to wear a costume, it is way more fun.
Not unexpectedly, the crowd in and outside of the gay area on Bourbon Street was cordial and fun. Once you get into the straight area, the atmosphere changes in a way difficult to explain. While we certainly felt safe there, the vibe was more tense. It was more ‘charged’ and not in a good way for my taste.
First Day On Board the Spirit:
The ship recently went through a renovation, which appears to have been mostly cosmetic. The rooms are older and ours shows some signs of wear and tear. However, the room is laid out well, pleasant and we have a beautiful view of that incredible blue of the Gulf of Mexico. Our Cabin Steward Kiran is excellent and easy on the eyes, which never hurts.
Tom Baker of AQUAFEST has done a wonderful job of assembling his team. The hosts do a fine job and the entertainment is terrific, with a special nod to Drag Queen Bianca del Rio and Lesbian comic Julie Goldman.
New Orleans is not only becoming one of my favorite port city but it will soon be one of my favorite cities…period. The sights, sounds and smells of Bourbon Street can be overwhelming. Starting around 10:00 a.m., the streets become alive. Even the gay bars are active in the morning and who could complain about Bloody Mary’s and dancing boys! Tonight is our pre-cruise party followed by Halloween on Bourbon Street. Let the party begin!
Dale and I flew to New Orleans 3-days before our Aquafest Halloween cruise departs. We will be updating The Muster Station frequently to keep you up-to-date.
On our first night in New Orleans we went for drinks at Cafe Lafitte in Exile on Bourbon Street and Dumaine. They say this is the oldest gay bar in the country, and that Tennessee Williams frequented the place. Since we’ve “Always depended on the kindness of strangers” we couldn’t stay away. The bartender was cute, friendly and flirty. The drinks were reasonable and generous. We’ll be back.
Across from Lafitte’s is a place called the Clover Grill. We went there for breakfast, having noticed that it is open 24/7. The place is tiny, seating only about 35, and decrepit like everything else in the French Quarter. Again, this is a place we’d recommend. The waiter Bobbie was campy, fun and very efficient despite being extremely busy. And the cook! That woman can make an omelet and watching her is like poetry in motion. We had an enormous breakfast that lasted us until dinner time. Wonderful place and there were more pecs and biceps on display than at most gyms. Highly recommended for many reasons.
During the next afternoon we took a streetcar (not named “desire”) to the garden district where we walked around the neighborhood. Oddly enough we did find ourselves tempted to shout “Stella….Stella.” Since we’re from Phoenix, we complained to each other how cold it was, meaning it was below 85 degrees. The neighborhood is beautiful, and you can get an all-day transit transfer for $3.00; you’d spend $2.50 just getting there and back. Just a block off St. Charles the neighborhood gets quiet and relaxing. Don’t miss seeing the beautiful architecture of this district when visiting New Orleans.
One of you met the love of your life on MeetMeOnBoard. That is a story I’m sure all the members would enjoy hearing. If you have a great MMOB tale please drop me an e-mail so I can include it in a future article about how the members use the site.
In our recent membership survey we asked you specifically how you use the various features on MeetMeOnBoard and which additions you’d like to see in the future.
Since the survey we’ve added a forum, complete with MeetMeOnBoard Roll Calls so you can post your cruise there for people to find you.
Of course all of you who have booked an upcoming cruise and posted it on your profile know you are automatically connected with everyone who is also listed on that cruise through our Cruise Mates feature. This is yet another reason you should tell your friends who haven’t signed up on MeetMeOnBoard yet.
I’d like to hear from members who absolutely love a particular feature of the site. Are you a HUGE fan of the new and improved Cruise Calendar — the only LGBT cruise calendar in existence?
Do you love to read the latest cruise news in News & Expert Advice? Are you growing to love the new Forum or is the Muster Station a place you just can’t resist?
Are you meeting folks from the site on the ships and forming friendships? We certainly hope so. After all, that’s why we started the site–to connect LGBT cruise travelers with one another before setting sail. Since then we’ve grown into the largest LGBT cruise travel social network, thanks to you.
Let me know what you love about MeetMeOnBoard features, where’d you’d like to see the site grow in the future and if social media and mobile apps are a direction we should embrace next.
Can’t wait to hear your stories. Please send me an MMOB mail or e-mail michael@meetmeonboard.com.
Thanks,
Michael Bradbury
MMOB Director of Marketing
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