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Originally posted by Green:
Good thinking, Joe!

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The Greek Line of yore, which did much travel to Israel, had Jewish theme cruises to Israel and other places. There was a kosher dining room onboard their ships.

What I understand from Gay and Lesbian cruises is that they are good tippers.

Olivia charters female only cruises.

We have recently had an uproar fuelled by the homosexual element. Name calling resulted, and I cannot cite some of the personal slurs since these were edited out.

Still remaining is a topic in Shipmates. This makes a crack at Barryboat and has not been deleted. Frankly, I did not know whether to be astounded or roll over laughing when Thulewx shared in the post that he would be sailing with a largely gay group on a line called of all things the Windjammers.

I think that the new category may be opening a can of worms because of some special interest groups on the fringe. It may however inject some badly needed new subject matter. I wait with interest.

As for gays and lesbians, they have the right to a cruise experience w/o having to worry about the stares of other people...

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Originally posted by Rex:
Why not create a ship specifically designed for the handicapped traveler? Does anyone know if this could be done w/o going bankrupt?

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
An interesting idea, Rex. I recall that by law a percentage of cabins of US Cruise ships must be suitable for wheelchair travelers. I seem to recall that Carnival were given a deadline of a few years to meet this target?

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I didn't know that, Malcolm. I also read somewhere that it costs a couple of hundred $US more to build a cabin for physically challenged passengers than a conventional cabin, what with the drastic modifications to the layout and all.

As for the rest of the ship, the passageways would have to be wider, as would the public rooms, and there would have to be special entertainment for the hearing and sight-impaired passengers too. Exterior ladders and stairway would either have to be extremely wide, or replaced w/elevators.

Of course, if a cruise line were so bold as to build a ship like this, no doubt they could receive some for of government subsidy. It would not surprise me is America were the first to come up with this.

Access Now, a Miami Beach-based advocacy
group for the disabled that’s on a crusade to
increase cruise lines’ onboard facilities for the handicapped, got a setback last week.

The organization, which has already reached a
settlement with Carnival Corp. to make substantial improvements for disabled passengers, such as the addition of more cabins with enlarged doorways, less cramped interiors and showers accessible to people who use wheelchairs, had gone after Disney
Cruise Line.

In a lawsuit, Access Now charged that Disney’s two ships -- Magic and Wonder -- lacked sufficient facilities for the disabled as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Alas, a federal judge in Orlando dismissed their case on technicalities. Which were? No disabled members of Access Now had ever even taken a cruise on a Disney ship (their attorney reported that an undercover inspector who was “able bodied” had checked out the ships).

Concerning the Barryboat posts, I see fit to defend his right to an opinion. For all I know, he may be a perfect ass (pun intended). He does however have the right to express his views.

As long as posts are not a personal character assassination, I'm at ease.

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
Rex, this press release is related:
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Access Now, a Miami Beach-based advocacy
group for the disabled that’s on a crusade to
increase cruise lines’ onboard facilities for the handicapped, got a setback last week.

The organization, which has already reached a
settlement with Carnival Corp. to make substantial improvements for disabled passengers, such as the addition of more cabins with enlarged doorways, less cramped interiors and showers accessible to people who use wheelchairs, had gone after Disney
Cruise Line.

In a lawsuit, Access Now charged that Disney’s two ships -- Magic and Wonder -- lacked sufficient facilities for the disabled as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Alas, a federal judge in Orlando dismissed their case on technicalities. Which were? No disabled members of Access Now had ever even taken a cruise on a Disney ship (their attorney reported that an undercover inspector who was “able bodied” had checked out the ships).

In a more significant setback, the judge also ruled that ADA requirements for dry-land facilities don’t apply to cruise ships.

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Well, I guess as long as they offer some facilities, Malcolm. A ship just for disabled passengers only would never really work, I guess...

I thought I'd jump in here finally.

I don't think a ship specifically for handicap passengers would ever fly. Too many logistics and too many types of handicaps. Cruise ships should, however, should be handicap accessible for wheelchair and hearing impaired, and even the blind etc.

Does anyone know which cruise line is the most handicap friendly?

I do know that the MS Deutschland has a full Dialysis unit on board!

Now, if visions of pride parades and summer camp make you a bit queasy, relax. There are some campy, silly, and extroverted aspects to these vacations, but there are also lots of refined, relaxed, and even serious aspects too. From costume parties to financial planning seminars and almost everything in between, you can participate in group activities almost all day and night, or you can just relax by the pool or beach, or enjoy a romantic dinner for two. It's easy to strike your own personal balance of activity, combining the elements that appeal to you into one great vacation.

Romance is far from guaranteed, but you won't find a better setting to rekindle an old relationship, or start a new one (of the LTR or one-night-only variety). Unless you're a curmudgeon, you can certainly expect to make at least a few new friends. You'll probably have the opportunity to try something new, like the flying trapeze on some Atlantis trips, and enjoy something familiar, like Bingo on most RSVP trips, but with a fun and funny gay twist.

Most all-gay vacations use moderately priced cruise ships and resorts. You can expect a range of quality comparable to the range from a Holiday Inn to a Hyatt hotel. As for the food, the range spans the Sizzler to Houston's gamut. There has been a trend towards newer and better ships in the last five years, so you may sometimes be pleasantly surprised by more deluxe accommodations and more gourmet food. While these are important considerations when choosing a mainstream vacation, they aren't the big draw on gay vacations. Plan on them being adequate, and not a big concern while you're enjoying the entertainment, activities, and camaraderie. If you are accustomed to more deluxe accoutrements, book a larger cabin or suite, and consider making advance reservations to enjoy a great meal or two during a shore excursion off the ship or outside the resort.

Many first-time gay vacationers worry about the mix of people on a given trip. Don't worry. With 300 to 2,500 people on board, there's always a good mix of couples and singles, older travelers and younger ones, returning guests and first time vacationers. And the extra staff that companies like Atlantis, Olivia, and RSVP bring along ensure that everyone gets to participate and mingle as much as they'd like, and that there's always someone available to answer questions about activities or help solve unforseen problems.

Theme nights and parties are a major fun opportunity for many passengers, and it's worth asking about these events prior to departure. There are usually a couple of wardrobe opportunities that you might want to prepare for. That said, those who aren't into dressing up could get by with what they can fit in a small carry-on bag.

Here's a quick quiz to help you decide if a gay cruise is for you:

1) I experience motion discomfort:

a) on buses
b) on airplanes
c) on the Fire Island Ferry
d) in a reclining theater seat

2) I like to eat:

a) haute cuisine SEULEMENT!
b) often
c) food that's good for me
d) with my fingers

3) The best thing about staying in a hotel is:

a) room service
b) plenty of clean towels
c) mint on the pillow
d) "Sanitized" label on toilet

4) My idea of romance is:

a) a starry night
b) breakfast in bed
c) deciding how to hyphenate names
d) having the UPS girl ask for my signature every morning

5) When packing for a trip, I always like to bring along:

a) a couple of snappy outfits
b) sexy nighties
c) clothes that don't wrinkle
d) only what will fit in my steamer trunks

6) My idea of great entertainment is:

a) anything with boys in tights
b) Phranc selling tupperware
c) gay comedy … intentional or otherwise
d) Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

Scoring: Unless you answered "d" to all questions, there's a cruise out there that's right for you. Contact a travel agent or cruise specialist to help you make the right choice. And be sure to talk to friends who have cruised before; they are an invaluable resource.

C,C,C,D,B

It's often a lonely existence being gay, and so I agree a cruise with my partner is the perfect vacation. I only wish that one day my gay lifestyle will not be looked at, by straights, as odd. When my partner and I cruised on the Millennium a few months ago, we would often get strange looks as we walked hand-in-hand on deck, or cuddled up to each other in the hot tub. Our table-mates that we were originally assigned to, disappeared after the first night, we later found that they had asked to be moved to a different table. I think it was because they saw that my partner and I were gay that they moved. The entertainment onboard the ships is indeed wonderful and all other aspects of cruising far outweighs the strange looks and behavior from straights.

I wonder if the Captain of a ship could marry us since we cannot seem to legally get married where we live. For some reason our love and committment to each other is not recognized by the state. I think the Voyager of the Seas has a wedding chapel, and my partner and I have considered getting married on a ship.

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Originally posted by OneMillennium:
It's often a lonely existence being gay, and so I agree a cruise with my partner is the perfect vacation.

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Welcome aboard CruiseTalk

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
Many of us don't really appreciate what life on the other side of the fence may be like. Maybe we should take a little more time to think other people situations thru?

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Italian Cruiser, I have octagenarian parent[s]. What is most necessary are adequate number of elevators and a cabin with 50' of one. The Norway had many physically challenged passengers. The Regal Empress, and other ships of that vintage and size, which are small scaled all around, are not well set up for those with limited mobility.

Some like to sit on the boat deck under a lifeboat for shade and an ocean view, yet see people go by. Sitting on a balcony can be too isolating.