Celebrity Millenium: Gay Perspective
A member of MeetMeOnBoard recently returned from a 7-night cruise on board the Celebrity Millenium. Below is his review from the ‘gay perspective’.
LGBT PERSPECTIVE:
The cabin staff was very accommodating and had no issue pushing the beds together for us. They were very friendly throughout the cruise.
The cruise director and staff were cordial to us. We asked about a Friends of Dorothy announcement being placed in the Celebrity Today newsletter and were told, nicely but coolly, that the corporate policy is not to publish the FOD meeting announcement.
We felt reasonably comfortable as a gay couple. When we chose to join a table with other passengers at a table for 6 or 8, everyone was very friendly and talkative with no apparent issues.
There was no Friends of Dorothy gathering that we could discern. They did have an 8.5 by 11 inch sign at guest relations mentioning FOD (along with 2 other types of gatherings) in the Martini Bar at 7:45 but we didn’t see anyone there the one night we went. The time was not convenient with the dinner options and the location was not optimal as it was on a main passageway and well attended by a variety of straight martini drinkers. We saw only two other gay couples on the ship but did not have the opportunity to chat with them.
We did encounter LGBT crew with the entertainers of course and one in particular was friendly and talkative with us.
We didn’t feel overly comfortable being on this ship as a gay couple and were often somewhat on-guard wondering what we might encounter. We never felt comfortable about making any sort of public display of affection.
Ship activities were not of interest to us and certainly didn’t have an LGBT component. If you were into cooking, wines, cigars, or gambling, they would be happy to take your money. Overall, we found the variety of onboard activities lacking to our taste. The shore excursions were well organized, varied, and typical for a cruise ship.
Overall, we did not find Celebrity very inviting as an LGBT positive experience and would most likely not sail with them again. We had a much more negative experience several years back with Royal Caribbean, so it seems the corporate policy is pervasive.
Dave, 
Brian, 
Bill and one other person are discussing.
randall 9:52 am on July 1, 2012 Permalink |
This is an interesting perspective–especially as I’ve arranged to spend part of my honeymoon on this very Celebrity Cruises ship–an Alaska sailing in August. As Editor of MeetMeOnBoard, I will certainly be watching to see if this ship has indeed become less gay-friendly. And if so, I’ll be challenging them on it. If you’ve been reading my content for a while, you know that Denni and I pull no punches when we travel–we are out, we are visible, and we are very proud to be a couple.
randall 9:58 am on July 1, 2012 Permalink |
I should say “if this cruise line” rather than “this ship,” as I previously have sailed on a different Celbrity ship. I have also sailed on both Royal Caribbean, and Azamara — sister companies to Celebrity, and had wonderful, gay-positive experiences on both.
Bill 4:47 am on July 4, 2012 Permalink |
I’ve travelled Celebrity probably five times on Solstice class ships, as a single gay man traveling with my mother. Although I’ve met other gay men along the way, and sometimes at the FOD meetings, they certainly don’t go out of their way to publicize them, or indeed have a GLBT staff member attend or organize. They used to have the FOD on the newsletter, but it hasn’t been there for the last two years for sure, and is posted on the board at the front desk instead. I’ve commented on this regularly, but it seems to have “stuck” as a policy. Other than this specific complaint, it’s my favorite cruise experience…
Brian 8:34 am on July 4, 2012 Permalink |
I have to agree, regarding Celebrity Millennium. I had the opportunity to sail on board for their 4-day Thanksgiving Cruise in November 2011. I had the same experience not finding any gay-friendly hosted events. There was a paper sign posted on the back side of pillar at the front desk, announcing an LGBT gathering, however, no one showed up each evening. I tried to chalk it up to a family holiday commitments. It was my first time cruising with Celebrity, so I did not consider it a big deal. I also have to agree, that the Celebrity crew, including the ship’s officers, were sincerely nice and accommodating, and cannot fault any of them for, what seems to be a corporate decision.
I have taken 15 Holland America Cruises, both RSVP Charters, as well as non-charter cruises. On the “traditional” Holland America product, LGBT are listed in the daily Explorer program. On the smaller ships, they were offered only at sea, however they were hosted by a staff member in the Mix Bar. On the larger Signature Class ships, they are offered in the Silk Den Bar, adjacent to the Tamarind Restaurant, daily, again hosted by a crew member. What a difference!
Dave 7:56 am on July 6, 2012 Permalink |
I have cruised aboard a number of Celebrity ships and my experience has always benn positive. Celebrity posts a number a meetings down by Guest Relations including straight groups, Friends of Bill, as well as FOD. I know Princess puts it right in the daily Princess Patter. As for the martini bar location, it just seems the best place. Perhaps the author’s cruise had very few fellow gay passengers. Our recent Transatlantic cruise was heavily gay and we took over the martini bar every evening as well as the disco one night. Perhaps the Solstice class ships draw more GLBT passengers? I say try them again. My partner and I love Celebrity.