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• Published March, 2021
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My Atlantis Gay Cruise Trip – What It Was Like

The Atlantis Gay Cruise Experience, First-Hand

While most of us have seen an Atlantis gay cruise via social media or advertisements, you’re probably still wondering…what are these Atlantis gay cruises really like?

Johnathan N. from New York shares his personal experience joining an Atlantis cruise, telling it like it is and offering useful tips for travelers interested in booking!

What Did You Like Best About the Atlantis Cruise?

Total inclusivity on a massive scale was definitely the best part of joining an Atlantis Cruise. I’ve done some other gay vacations, but a huge gay cruise like this is pretty unique.

Other trips for international gay pride events, ski weeks, and events like Gay Days are great, but the Atlantis Gay Cruise just felt grander. Plus, everything was catered to the gay community.

How Were the Atlantis Gay Cruise Theme Parties?

I thought the Atlantis theme parties were awesome. But I wish I had a little more time to plan out the costumes. I think Atlantis gave us a 2-week notice of the theme, but even so, it was a lot of fun. I had a blast.

Some of the commonly hosted themes include the Glow Party, White Party Dog Tag Tea Dance, and the Disco Tea Dance. So, at a minimum, you can start prepping the gay party accessories that you can wear to these.

wolfyy’s Travel Shop → Everything from underwear to luggage .

Any Recommendations for Which Rooms to Book?

Since there’s so much to do on the ship, you honestly don’t spend much time in your room. So, I wouldn’t stress out about which specific room you book.

If you’ve got the cash for a veranda and totally need that ocean view, then go for it. But in my opinion, an interior room is completely fine if you’re on a budget. Plus, if you book a budget room, you’ll have more money for the expensive booze!

The smaller interior rooms usually start around $1200 USD for two people, plus fees. When you have more than 2 guests sharing a room, there’s an additional fee. 

Oceanview and balcony rooms for two people can run anywhere from $1200 to $2400. And then when it comes to suites, prices can easily exceed $5000.

Is the Atmosphere Super Sexually Charged?

The sexual vibe depends on where you hang out on the ship. Without a doubt, there are areas where things are very sexy. On the dick deck at 10 PM, yes…you will get groped… and then some.

The rest of the boat is a bit more relaxed. It can sometimes be “cruisy” but it’s definitely not all sex, sex, sex. Lots of first-timers expect Atlantis gay cruises to be a constant sex party, but it’s not exactly like that.

The Atlantis cruise I went on offered singles events. These can really help solo travelers or anyone who’s shy get out of their shell. I personally can’t fully credit the Atlantis Cruise event for meeting my newest travel buddy at the time. (We met the night before at a hotel rooftop).

But, we quickly found ourselves in an “it’s complicated” situation and ended up spending 95% of our time on the ship together.

What Should Travelers Bring on an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Most importantly, you’ve got to bring some sexy swimwear attire. Check out my extensive list of the best gay swimwear brands . Get ideas from bikini thongs to printed trunks, plus everything in between.

People really get into decorating their room doors, too. While I didn’t on my first cruise I will do it on my next one. Most people pack mini dry erase boards to hang on their door along with photos so everyone can get a sneak peek of who’s in the cabin.

I’ve even seen some groups stick a small ticket box to their door along with some little colorful sticky notes so people can leave secret messages. It’s pretty cute.

I would really encourage getting some costumes for the themed parties. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on them, but you will feel a little out of place if you don’t participate.

At the very least, throw on a harness , a sexy jockstrap , and some shorts you wouldn’t mind losing! I definitely recommend getting some good circuit party gear for the trip.

Oh, and like any cruise, don’t forget your sunscreen , especially since it’s so expensive on the ship.

Related → wolfyy’s Gay Men’s Harness Guide

Did You Witness a “Lack of Diversity” Issue on the Cruise?

This was not the case in my experience. However, I did go on an international cruise, not a domestic one. Perhaps those could be different. There were people from every continent on mine, and it was a great time.

Can Atlantis Gay Cruises Be Overwhelming for First-Timers?

Real talk—I had a panic attack as we landed in Barcelona . I was traveling alone which I have done many times before. But for some reason, the idea of getting on a 5000+ person gay cruise hit me like a brick wall. Later that night, my anxiety started to go away, and getting on the ship the following day was fine.

I think it’s important to know that every Atlantis gay cruise has so many programmed events happening, that it’s truly impossible to do everything. It’s kind of by design.

The entire experience is sort of a “choose your own adventure” and that’s really what makes it so unique.

Want to go to a circuit party ? Great. Feeling horny and need a little help? Head to the dick deck. Feel like you overdid it the night before and need a more mellow night? Go to one of the many gay comedy, musical, piano bar, or drag shows happening on the ship.

Anything You Didn’t Like About the Cruise?

Honestly, the amount of money I spent on booze. It adds up. Ha!

Any Other Tips?

Some people don’t leave the ship when docked at the ports. It seems most people do on the international cruises, but it sounds like the gay cruises out of Miami and San Diego are pretty much constant circuit parties .

Atlantis gay cruises can get quite expensive, so there generally wasn’t a huge number of younger people. Unless it was a “daddy” situation I would say 20 somethings made up less than 10% of the attendees.

Your Gay Cruise Alternatives

Gay guys are booking Atlantis cruises like crazy, especially now that we’re out of the woods regarding the pandemic. Check out some of the other scheduled Atlantis Cruises you can join.

If you’re thinking about browsing some tamer or not-so-gay cruises, there are plenty of fun alternatives.

There are several bear weeks that take place on huge cruises. These are definitely worth a look, including the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady .

Cruise Critic  compiles a huge range of the best international cruises. Definitely check your booking options here as well.

Looking for other gay vacation options? Check out these epic gay sailing trips in the Mediterranean!

Explore the world with inspiration from wolfyy’s collection of   gay travel guides .

Before you go...

Trusted gay travel info, just for you., leave your email., gay travel advice you can't find anywhere else..

The Atlantis Gay Cruise: Review and Essential Guide

We had wanted to go on an Atlantis gay cruise for years! This is  the gay cruise that everyone talks about and the Atlantis gay cruise in particular is one of the best known and hosts the biggest gay cruise in the world.

To us it looked like pure fun in the sun with all the different themed parties, visiting spectacular destinations and all held on-board a luxurious ship! However take a minute to look past the incredible parties and you will see there so much more to an Atlantis gay cruise.

We have been on many Atlantis gay cruises and after our first, all of our expectations were exceeded and our preconceptions challenged.

In our Atlantis gay cruise review and essential guide, we will share all our personal gay cruise experiences as well as answering all the questions you might have about going.

Here is what you need to know about going on an Atlantis gay cruise and why you need to go on one at least once in your lifetime.

What is an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Atlantis events is a company that is has been running gay trips for over 30 years. They started small and now charter some of the largest cruise ships in the world to host multiple Atlantis Gay Cruises around the world.

This means that Atlantis will buy out (charter) an entire ship from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages or Norwegian Cruise lines, and then use the ship to run a gay cruise for normally 7 nights.

By chartering the ship exclusively for Atlantis guests, Atlantis can then run their own programme of events, parties and activities catered to gay travellers.

Who goes on an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

We had some big preconceptions here, we thought it was only the sterotypical poster muscle boys and we were a little intimidated – however, and this is a recuring theme in this gay cruise review, we were wrong.

Yes there are plenty of poster boys, but having done multiple gay cruises we have seen every body type represented and celebrated, every age and people from all over the world. It’s amazing to see people just let loose and enjoy themselves no matter their body type.

Do not worry about your body, just turn up as you are and you are sure to have a great time! If you want to smash the gym pre-cruise that is also fine – it is all about what is good for you!

In terms of gender and sexuality, anyone is welcome to book an Atlantis gay cruise, we have met straight couples and lesbians onboard, but it is 90+% gay men.

We have also met plenty of solo travellers, couples, groups of friends, throuples and everything inbetween

Don’t take our word for it, read from other guests about who goes on gay cruise .

Are Atlantis gay cruises friendly?

For our first sailing, we didn’t know what types of people we would be meeting on-board. We had seen in advance through various Facebook groups that there were a lot of large groups of friends, and this being our first cruise and not knowing anybody in advance we were worried that it might feel ‘clique-y’ and that we might not fit in.

It turns out we were completely wrong.

Without a doubt the environment on the Atlantis gay cruise ship was the most friendly and welcoming environment we have ever encountered in our lives.

People would talk to you at every opportunity and it felt refreshing to experience this – people were just genuinely nice. We really wish it was like this in day to day life, people don’t talk to each other enough or simply ask how your day is going.

You will meet so many people and some will become lifelong friends – given that there are thousandss of people on-board and they booked immediately for the following year, you can see how the community builds and builds.

We purposely go on the same sailing each year to see a lot of familiar faces.

What are the parties like on an Atlantis Cruise?

The parties on an Atlantis gay cruise are a full scale production, exactly like you would expect from any big gay circuit party with international DJ’s and the party locations being turned into jungles, under the sea worlds or whatever the theme might be.

What are the Atlantis Cruise Party Themes?

On the topic of themes, we love to party and we (Sion mainly) loves a themed party.

For every cruise both the day time parties (T-Dance parties around 3pm) and the night time parties (around 11pm until as late at 9am sometimes!) have themes.

Guaranteed party themes include the dog tag T-Dance (military style), the White Party and the Disco T-Dance – other nights take on a range of themes (more below).

People get incredibly creative and you can wear anything you want at all.

Do people have ടex at the parties?

You will see everything at the parties, and by everything we mean everything.

This is not a bad thing at all in our eyes. In fact it’s quite liberating to see people taking the social stigma away from enjoying ടex and feeling free enough to do whatever they want – no one seemed to mind or care and everyone just seemed to have a good time! Do be mindful of staff, for the most part it’s deep in the crowd.

This extends well into the early hours of the morning…especially on certain ships that have the D*** Deck.

What do people wear on an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Keeping on the theme of the parties, you might decide to wear very little (i.e just a jockstrap), be nervous stood in your room (like we were the first time) and then get to the party and realise you had nothing to worry about – no one judges you and it is super liberating!

On the other hand we have seen people dress full on as jelly fish, sea gods and polar bears!

We have an entire post on ‘What to pack for a gay cruise’ but here are the typical themes you can expect to see every year are:

• White Party – the name says it all, wear all white. You can go all out and maybe don some angel wings , these white elastic body harnesses are a cheap and easy option for anyone or you can simply wear a white vest and shorts. We have never seen so many bare bums so feel absolutely free to simply grab yourself a white jockstrap and get ready to party!
• Dog Tag T-Dance – This one is all about the military – think black, green and camo. Grab some camo speedos , some trainers or boots and you are good to go. If you want to take it further, you will see a lot of guys wearing a good quality leather chest harness and maybe getting into character with some face paints too. 
• Disco Theme – We have never seen so much gold fabric! For this party, grab yourself a comedy disco wig , some gold pants  or maybe a ridiculous 70’s style shirt!

JJ Malibu tick all the boxes for ‘gay’ party attire and we stocked up before going on our first cruise (as you can tell in all these photos!). They have whole sections on their website for white parties, military themed parties, circuit parties etc.

In previous years the additional themes were ‘Under the Sea’ – think cheeky sailors; ‘Champions’ – think sports; Jungle and ‘Playground’ – cartoon characters and so on.

What to pack for an Atlantis gay cruise?

There is so much more to consider! Outfits, cruise cards to keep in touch with all your new friends, white boards. And we especially wish we had taken earplugs! The music was LOUD!

For the full list check out our list ‘ What to pack for a gay cruise ’.

Is an Atlantis Gay Cruise all about the parties?

We fully understand that parties are not for everyone, and so if you don’t want to go to them, simply don’t. You are probably on one of the largest and most luxurious cruise ships in the world and there is so much else to enjoy.

You have the shows to watch, whether this be theatre based shows like Mamma Mia, or the incredible acrobatic Airotic show. The food is great and each night you can enjoy a 3 course or more fine dining experience. There are usually sports courts, climbing walls, surf riders, and more bars and cafes than you attend.

There is something for everyone so if you don’t like to party, do not worry, you will still have the best time in the friendliest environment.

What are the staff like on an Atlantis cruise?

Now you might be thinking ‘what about the poor staff?’

After speaking to many members of staff on-board they all know what to expect and in fact some actively volunteer to work on an Atlantis gay cruise. One member of staff even went as far to say “it was her favourite charter of the year regardless of destinations”. They say as a group we are friendlier, politer, more fun and tip more – and they even party with us! They also enjoy not having screaming kids and, in some cases, entitled parents on board!

We don’t need to tell you, but the staff do deserve so much respect and it was lovely to see everyone giving it to them!

Is there a compromise on cruise quality?

Cruises are known for being high end vacations with exceptional service from the staff, exceptional food and the best facilities.

Just because this is a gay cruise with a heavy focus on partying does not mean that this is any less true. We thoroughly enjoyed the meals on the evening in the a-la-carte restaurant and did not miss one meal!

We made it to a couple of shows during our cruise too, before getting ready for the evening parties. And we even bravely fought the hangover to try the flow-rider, the climbing wall and on-board ziplines too!

The staff as we have already said, go above and beyond to help in anyway they can and the facilities on board the ship were top class.

The same can be said for the destinations – please make sure to drag yourself off the ship for a few places. This year we loved the water in the Bahamas, the vibe of Cozumel and the pool side bars in Costa Maya.

If you want an amazing cruise experience, you are still going to get one!

Do you need wifi on a Gay Cruise?

In all honesty, the wifi is not worth it. We know many people get it so they can stay active on Grindr, but actually most of the time location services does not work so neither do location based apps like Grindr or Scruff.

If you really need it occasionally then get it at the port without spending hundreds of dollars.

Like we said, everyone is super friendly, you don’t need an app to hook-up, if you want it you got it!

There is also an onboard app for free on Royal Caribbean Sailings you can use to message between rooms, this is what we did with our friends.

The one thing wifi can be useful for is when making new friends and trying to keep in contact on social media whilst onboard since not everyone checks the ship app.

What are the shows like on an Atlantis gay cruise?

We fully understand the temptation to go for a pre-party nap each night but the shows are really quite special.

The one that we loved the most this year was called Airotic. The show has many incredibly talented aerial performers showcasing their skills in silks, hoops, pole and many other disciplines. They absolutely know how to put on a show and it helps that the performers look incredible in their minimal costumes. A very impressive and sensual show indeed!

The other show we saw was the classic Mamma Mia! which we enjoyed, other nights showcased popular gay comedians . You are paying for the entertainment so you should definitely go and see it!

Is an Atlantis Cruise just a floating gay ടex cruise

It can be if you want it to be and that is absolutely fine , gay cruise ടex is widely available!

But the ship is so large with so much going on you could be in your own little world while all the “frolics” take place elsewhere – it is your vacation and you make it what you want and leave your judgement at home.

How much does an Atlantis Gay Cruise cost?

Naturally, a gay cruise is more expensive than an everyday sailing but you really can’t compare the two.

Prices per person for the week range from about $1,200 plus taxes per person at the lower end to much higher for the suites etc.

It’s not a cheap week but we always feel it is great value for money, mainly because you can’t get the same experience anywhere else.

Is an Atlantis Gay Cruise All Inclusive/ can you bring Alcohol?

In terms of what is included on an Atlantis Gay Cruise, it is all of your food, water, basic teas/coffee, parties, shows and entertainment.

Drinks are additional and depending on which ship they use you can sometimes get bulks buys or packages. You don’t normally have access to unlimited alcohol packages like you might on an everyday cruise (and it is easy to guess why!)

Like all cruises, you are not meant to bring your own alcohol onboard and this can be conviscated. However it is worth noting for a Royal Caribbean Atlantis Cruise you can bring two bottles of wine per stateroom.

Our final word -PACE YOURSELF!!!

There is so much going on at all hours of the day, and if you try and attend between 2-3 parties a day you will burn out! It is totally OK to take a night off!

We both get serious FOMO but knew we would not make it to the end of the week if we did not have a mid week rest and we ended up sleeping for 12 hours!

When is the next Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Atlantis run gay cruises throughout the year across many different destinations, for the most up to date dates and locations head to their website .

We are itching to book our next Atlantis Gay Cruise!

Atlantis Gay Cruise: Review Conclusion

An Atlantis gay cruise is an experience we know we will never find anywhere else in any circumstance.

The entire week felt like we were in ‘gay-topia’, surrounded by a protective little bubble from the outside world!  It was an incredible feeling of liberation, freedom, community and happiness.

The ships are beautiful, the staff incredible, the parties out of this world and you will make friends to last a lifetime.

Our biggest message from this post is just come on-board and truly, truly BE YOURSELF and feel liberated.

We hope you enjoyed our gay cruise review.

Once you have done your first one, we are pretty sure you will want to go back. Let us know your own gay cruise stories in the comments below!

Want to know more about being gay at sea? Check out:

• Join us on our Gay Sailing trip to Croatia!
• Are Celebrity Cruises Gay Friendly?
• What to pack for a gay cruise?

Liked this post? Don’t forget to pin it!

P.s don’t forget to follow our  Facebook  page,  YouTube  page and  Instagram  to see more and keep up to date!

Saturday 11th of January 2020

Do you happen to know about when booking opens up for the Jan 2021 Atlantis cruise? We are wanting to get a suite cabin and we know they are limited so we want to be prepared when it becomes available.

PAUL TASKER

Saturday 2nd of November 2019

I've booked my first ever gay Atlantis cruise next march 2020 from.puerto rico im a solo traveller and am very nervous as ive chosen the single sharer option

Tuesday 13th of August 2019

It was such an amazing cruise... Will you boys being going again this January?

The Globetrotter Guys

Sunday 8th of September 2019

Yes! We booked for January 2020 almost immediately after this years :)

Everything You Want to Know About Going on an Atlantis Gay Cruise

Going on an Atlantis Cruise is one of the most enjoyable vacations you can take. The options are limitless ranging from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean or even the South Pacific. The entire ship is full of LGBT guests and all staff have been extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment and one where you can relax and be yourself. The environment is friendly with a great social atmosphere and there are great parties and entertainment throughout the trip.

About Atlantis Gay Cruises

Atlantis Cruises was founded in 1991 and is the most popular and well-known gay cruise company in the world. They offer large, full-ship gay cruises where all the guests onboard are LGBT and they charter top-of-the-line cruise ships from well-known companies like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Norwegian Cruise Lines. The number of guests on an Atlantis cruise typically ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 depending on the ship and route. Atlantis offers 4 to 5 cruises a year in North America and Europe as well as occasional cruises in Asia and Australia/South Pacific.

Why Take an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

• Easy to meet new people – one great aspect of taking a gay cruise is that most of the guests are friendly and open to meeting new people. On a straight cruise, guests come with friends or family and already have a social group established. On a gay cruise, there are many activities that help connect guests and give you a chance to others.
• Travel alone – Atlantis cruises offers a cabin match program where they will assign you a roommate, so you don’t have to pay for the full price of a two-person cabin if you’re traveling alone.
• Awesome parties – If you book a cruise with Atlantis, you’ll be in for a treat with awesome and over-the-top parties. The events are usually themed, often outdoors and guests are encouraged to dress up.
• Great entertainment – most of the big gay cruise lines like Atlantis bring on big headliners or “gaylebrity” performers. Into drag queen bingo? How about performances from some of the top gay celebrity comedians, entertainers and famous drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race?
• Be yourself – probably one of the most attractive parts about a gay cruise is the comfort zone. The entire ship is full of LGBT guests and all staff have been extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment and one where you can complete and be yourself.

Is a Gay Cruise Right for You?

First, you need to decide whether taking a cruise, in general, is something you want to do. Not everyone likes cruising due to the nature of the experience, but many do. Second, if taking a cruise definitely interests you, next you’ll need to decide if you prefer a gay cruise or a mainstream (e.g. straight) cruise. Here are a few things to consider.

• Your cabin, meals and entertainment are included in the price
• The ship will be almost exclusively LGBT guests
• Cruises can be crowed and there isn’t a lot of privacy
• You can visit many new destinations in one trip, but you only have a short time at each port to explore
• Gay cruises can be a bit more expensive than mainstream cruises due to the elaborate parties and unique entertainment onboard

What to Expect from an Atlantis Cruise?

Determining which gay cruise or trip to take is completely subjective. People have different preferences, budgets or destinations in mind when it comes to booking a trip. Atlantis is popular for a reason but it’s not for everyone. However, they definitely do a great job in providing an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Below are a few things to expect if you take an Atlantis gay cruise.

• Party focus – Atlantis cruises tend to be very party-focused and many guests go on these cruises just for the party atmosphere. Some people might not even get off the ship at the ports. The music tends to be electronic, circuit party style and not necessarily pop or top 40.
• Price – Atlantis cruises generally start out at about $900 per person for trips departing from Los Angeles or Miami. Cruises in Europe, Asia or the South Pacific might start at $1,500 to $2,000 per person. You’ll also need to add the price of flights or transportation into your budget so the location of the departing and arrival port should be part of your planning process.
• Size – Atlantis cruises are all large groups and full ship takeovers. If you’re someone who doesn’t like crowds, then you may want to avoid an Atlantis cruise and opt for a more intimate experience on a small ship.
• What’s included – the price of an Atlantis cruise includes the cabin, meals, parties and onboard entertainment. These items are typically not included in the price: pre and post hotel stay, land tours and excursions, specialty drinks/alcohol and airport transfers.
• The crowd – Atlantis cruises are typically about 99% gay men. Their main client market comes from the US, but people from all over the world go on their cruises. The average age range is usually mid 30’s and 40’s, but you’ll see guests of every age onboard ranging from 18 to 80.

Reviews from Past Travelers

Our atlantis cruise review & videos.

We took an Atlantis gay cruise back in 2010 and had a great time. We’ve been on gay cruises from a few other major companies including Le Demence and Open Sea by Axel. Atlantis definitely offers the most diverse entertainment and they have great parties. We took the Mexican Riviera cruise which departs from Los Angeles and visits various coastal cities in Mexico, including the gay-favorite Puerto Vallarta.

If the idea of a cruise, in general, doesn’t sound like your type of vacation, then an Atlantis cruise probably isn’t for you. Some longtime Atlantis guests have even become frustrated with Atlantis' complacency in the market, having been the only large-scale, gay cruise provider. But that has now changed and for that reason alone, VACAYA was founded in 2018 and has now become their biggest competitor. Atlantis also really focuses on the parties, so if that's not your scene then you may want to consider another gay cruise provider . However, if cruising is something you enjoy or think you might enjoy, then we’d definitely recommend you try an Atlantis gay cruise. It’s an unforgettable experience but you need to go in with the right mindset.

Check out these additional reviews and videos created by guests on a few Atlantis gay cruises.

• What is a gay Atlantis cruise really like?
• On Board Gay Cruise, Oasis of the Seas with Atlantis
• Atlantis Oasis 2019 Mediterranean Gay Cruise
• What to Expect on an Atlantis Gay Cruise

Image credits: Atlantis Events

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Atlantis Gay Cruises

gay cruises

Unleash Your Inner Mermaid (or Merman) on an All-Gay Voyage!

Solo travelers.

Atlantis offers a first-of-it’s kind room share program, allowing ALL travelers to set sail on the gay seas! Mingle at social gatherings designed for solo travelers, or indulge in some well-deserved “me time” with a good book on a secluded deck

Fabulous Destinations

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of cultures, from the ancient ruins of Greece to the vibrant energy of Mykonos. Imagine yourself strolling along sugar-white beaches in the Bahamas or exploring the bustling art scene of Miami.

Incredible Parties

Themed dance parties under the stars? Check! Hilarious drag brunches complete with singalongs? Absolutely! Get ready for unforgettable experiences designed to make you smile.

An Incredible All-Gay Experience: Unwind, Explore, and Celebrate with Pride on Atlantis Cruises

Something for everyone on board Atlantis all gay cruises

From sizzling poolside soirees to serene beach getaways, Atlantis all-gay cruises offer the perfect blend of excitement and relaxation.

Feeling anxious and have questions? We’ve got answers!

Do i need a great body.

Atlantis is all about being yourself and feeling great about who you are. Whatever shape you’re in, you’re going to feel right at home on Atlantis. We promise.

Are the cruise lines friendly to the LGBTQ community?

Absolutely. Atlantis works very closely with the cruise and resort companies to ensure that their staff members welcome Atlantis guests just as they do everyone else. Actually, most staff members request to work Atlantis weeks because the group is so much fun. You can rest easy.

Is there a minimum age to attend an Atlantis event?

At this time, the minimum age for our guests is 18. Guests between 18 and 21 must travel with a companion over the age of 25, staying in the same stateroom.

Are women welcome to attend?

Absolutely. Women have traveled on every Atlantis vacation ever produced. They typically represent between 5 and 10% of guests, but Atlantis is working to make that number grow. Most of the female guests are couples.

July 17-24, 2024

See it all next summer on the most exotically thrilling all-gay cruise that Atlantis has ever offered! Sail from magical Istanbul to vibrant Athens on the newly re-imagined Oceania Riviera as we visit the Pyramids of Egypt, explore the melting pot of Cyprus, the island playground of Mykonos and the historical majesty of Crete. In seven magical nights you’ll discover new worlds while surrounded by great friends with spectacular cuisine and Oceania’s legendary service. All with more included than ever before!

Ready to Book?

Click the button below to experience everything that an incredible Atlantis vacation has to offer.

Protect Your Trip »

The 9 best gay cruises for 2024 (+ planning tips).

Dance parties, drag queen performances and fun destinations await on these LGBTQ voyages.

The Best Gay Cruises

Courtesy of The Cruise with La Demence

Embark on an all-gay or LGBTQ-friendly cruise for excellent entertainment, food and excursions.

Whether you are looking to hop aboard a Pride Week cruise with a major line or sail away with a smaller company that specializes in LGBTQ voyages, the following cruise operators promise a fun, safe and memorable vacation.

(Note: While many of these cruise lines sail to LGBTQ-friendly ports of call, travelers should research destinations to learn more about cultures, customs and safety in each location and determine what's right for them.)

Virgin Voyages

Atlantis events, brand g vacations, celebrity cruises, royal caribbean international, the cruise with la demence, source journeys.

Gabriel Goldberg | Courtesy of VACAYA

Founded by avid travelers Randle Roper, Patrick Gunn and John Finen, VACAYA bills itself as the first all-LGBT travel company in the full-ship charter/resort buyout sector of the travel industry to launch in more than 25 years.

"[VACAYA] was sparked by our own vacations, where we all had encountered two very different experiences," says Gunn. "The all-gay cruises were liberating, empowering and fun, but limited to a small spectrum of people. And while everyone loves a good time, there's more to a memorable vacation than just parties. Mainstream vacations offered more activities and destinations, and were accessible to a diverse set of people, but didn't always feel like a friendly, judgment-free environment."

As such, VACAYA set out to bring LGBTQ travelers from across the spectrum together in a welcoming, inclusive setting, while offering varied onboard activities and immersive itinerary options. Cruisers will enjoy traveling to ports around the world, in the Caribbean , the Galápagos, Europe , Antarctica and more. You can participate in shipwide events ranging from themed deck parties to performances by LGBTQ entertainers to rejuvenating yoga classes. Note that VACAYA's cruises are for adults only.

Previous cruisers had abundant praise for VACAYA's voyages, highlighting the company's responsiveness when booking and the kindhearted staff, as well as the genuine connections they made with other passengers on board. Many were also impressed by the events and entertainment options throughout their sailings.

In 2024, VACAYA will offer a number of voyages worldwide. The seven-night Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Apex in February will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, with several fun-filled days at sea in addition to stops in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Antigua. In August, VACAYA has a 12-night river cruise in Northern Europe on board Advance by Transcend Cruises; this sailing includes the Amsterdam Pride event. The 11-night Antarctica expedition on Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator in December 2024 is sold out, but you can join the waitlist.

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The Virgin brand has long been known for its celebration of the LGBTQ community, and cruise line Virgin Voyages is no different. The strictly adults-only cruise operator aims to provide a unique experience, with onboard tattoo parlors, impressive live entertainment, and dining options that include more than 20 eateries and menus created by Michelin star chefs. This line gets the stamp of approval from previous LGBTQ cruisers, who praise the ships' gender-neutral bathrooms, diverse staff and onboard shows with resident drag queens.

Virgin Voyages offers gay-specific sailings through travel companies like Atlantis Events, but its more mainstream itineraries still offer a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that attracts LGBTQ cruisers year-round. Virgin hosts a number of events during Pride Month each year, including deck parties and interactive social media campaigns.

"Each June here at Virgin Voyages, we like to go big for Pride Month with larger-than-life events … all monthlong," the cruise line says in a statement on its website. "It's an important time for us – both internally within our crew and for our sailors – to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community; who for so long has had to continually fight for equality and the right to be seen, heard and included."

Virgin Voyages sails to a variety of LGBTQ-friendly countries, including New Zealand, Greece and Spain. In June 2024, consider a seven-night sailing aboard Scarlet Lady departing from Barcelona with stops in Marseille and Cannes in France as well as Spain's Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines for the Money

The world's largest gay and lesbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was founded in 1991 and welcomes more than 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vacations. For its all-gay cruises, Atlantis charters megaships from popular lines like Royal Caribbean International , Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages in addition to smaller vessels with companies like Oceania Cruises so cruisers will have a fully immersive experience.

On board, travelers can enjoy all the perks these ships have to offer (think: pools, hot tubs, sports courts and plenty of dining choices), plus special events like drag performances, motivational speakers, LGBTQ movies on demand in each cabin and high-energy circuit parties across the ship.

"As an LGBTQ cruiser, you're looking for a ship with lots of entertainment, including dance parties and events," says Marcos Martinez, founder of Men Who Brunch, a Black gay lifestyle blog. "One of the best cruise [lines] for gay cruising is Atlantis, since you'll be able to meet hundreds of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship."

Atlantis hosts primarily gay men; women make up about 5% to 10% of bookings, according to the Atlantis website. Previous cruisers said the atmosphere on board was fun, friendly and welcoming, though some noted that the company's customer service could be better, especially when it comes to details about the cruise.

Due to the company's popularity, its three 2024 cruises are already sold out.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

Courtesy of Brand G Vacations

Specializing in all-gay river cruises – and now luxury ocean liners – Brand g Vacations was founded in 2011 and explores destinations all over the world. Chartered river cruises typically welcome between 40 and 200 LGBTQ passengers (and their straight allies), which allows cruisers to get to know one another in a smaller setting. Guests tend to skew more mature (think: 40 and older), and the line attracts both men and women.

Onboard entertainment differs slightly from larger ocean voyages: Expect more cabaret-style entertainment than massive all-night dance parties. Cruisers will also enjoy performances by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, on top of typical river cruise perks like sightseeing and lavish meals. Past guests recommend choosing Brand g if you're looking for a well-planned, relaxed and luxurious experience over a busier, more party-heavy vacation.

Brand g aims to provide a nearly all-inclusive cruise experience , with Mercedes or small van airport transfers, upscale hotel stays prior to embarkation, and unlimited alcoholic beverages as well as meals included in the fare. As such, prices tend to be on the high end. Plus, cruisers can feel good about their trip knowing that Brand g donates to causes in the U.S. and around the world that assist LGBTQ refugees, AIDS organizations, LGBTQ centers and more.

In 2024, Brand g sails through unique waterways around the world, including the Amazon, the Loire, the Danube, the Mekong, and the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The line's small cruise ship charters also take guests to Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Croatia and other European destinations.

Read: The Top River Cruise Lines

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Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises sets the scene for an excellent vacation for gay travelers, from its extravagant annual Pride parties to its daily LGBTQ programming throughout the year. The mainstream line has received numerous awards for its inclusivity, receiving accolades from the Cruizie Awards, TTG Travel Awards and Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards for being one of the best cruise lines for LGBTQ passengers.

LGBTQ cruisers can start their vacations off on a high note with a special welcome party on the first night of their voyage to meet other travelers on board. After night one, there are other social events for gay cruisers to party and hang out together. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises was the first cruise line to legally marry a couple at sea in 2018, and it continues to perform same-sex marriages on its ships.

Past cruisers enjoyed their voyages with Celebrity, noting that the line was welcoming, the food was delicious, and there were plenty of areas to hang out as a group with fellow LGBTQ passengers or other companions throughout the ship.

Although all itineraries are gay-friendly, consider booking a sailing during Pride Month in June for an extra special experience. Onboard entertainment during this month includes guest entertainers, a flag raising ceremony, Celebrity's signature Pride Party at Sea and more. The Italian Riviera & France cruise will depart from Barcelona on June 8, 2024, on the new Celebrity Ascent; this 10-night Mediterranean sailing stops at ports in France, Italy and Malta. Private travel companies like VACAYA also charter Celebrity ships for all-gay voyages throughout the year.

Read: Cruise Packing List: The Top Essentials for Any Cruise

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Specifically marketed toward lesbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted more than 350,000 travelers by land and sea over five decades. Cruisers can choose between river voyages or ocean sailings to destinations around the world. On the lesbian cruises, expect a mix of nostalgic decade-themed dance parties, folk singers, writing workshops, karaoke and other activities. Cruisers can also relax poolside, spend some time in the onboard spa or take it easy in one of the ships' lounges.

Travelers who are looking to connect with others who share similar backgrounds can do so in one of Olivia's specialized programs. There are group and solo traveler meetups, as well as programs like Sisters, which is for LGBTQ women of color; Gen-O, for cruisers 40 and younger; Women in Uniform gatherings, for veterans and those currently in the armed forces; and events for OWLs (which stands for "older, wiser lesbians"). Past cruisers on Olivia's voyages report feeling a true sense of community and belonging on board, resulting in a fun, carefree trip.

In June 2024, set sail with Olivia from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Dublin on Windstar Cruises' Star Legend. Or, visit the islands of Tahiti on the line's Star Breeze in September. Other cruise itineraries include Alaska, the Greek Isles, Mexico and the Panama Canal.

Read: The Best Girls Trip Ideas

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International provides a welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ travelers. The popular cruise line frequently partners with Atlantis Events to offer all-gay voyages throughout the year, but even the standard sailings earn praise.

Highlights of the sailings are the ships' entertainment options (including the Tony Award-winning musical "Mamma Mia!") and attentive staff, according to past cruisers. Itineraries typically include LGBTQ meetups at the beginning of each cruise for gay travelers to meet like-minded passengers. Outside of the sailing experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly committed to supporting the LGBTQ community throughout the year, and it was the first cruise line to earn the title "Gay Traveler Approved" from GayTravel in 2016.

In 2024, consider a Royal Caribbean voyage that sails to gay-friendly destinations. "Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [is] full of gay bars, clubs and gay beaches," says Martinez. Hop aboard Navigator of the Seas in May for a seven-night sailing round-trip from Los Angeles that stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas also hosts a seven-night itinerary throughout the year that calls on Mazatlan, Mexico, as well.

Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of The Cruise With La Demence

According to past cruisers, if you're looking for one of the best party scenes on the open seas, consider an all-gay cruise with La Demence. Powered by a popular gay nightclub in Brussels with the same name, La Demence – French for "the madness" – primarily caters to a European crowd. Most passengers are male, though women are also welcome.

On board, passengers should expect to dance the night away at massive deck parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. The line prides itself on its top-notch DJs, impressive light setup and electric party atmosphere. Previous cruisers had high praise for the itineraries – which exclusively visit gay-friendly locations – as well as the fruity cocktails, themed nights (costumes strongly encouraged) and glamorous entertainment. Enjoy unique events like drag bingo, high heel runs and more.

La Demence sails every summer to European destinations like Greece, Italy and Malta. The 2023 cruise was chartered on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Fares include all food and nonalcoholic beverages, plus access to all parties, shows and the onboard gym.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Source Journeys has been planning luxury vacations for LGBTQ travelers for more than 20 years. The Miami-based company, with the vision of founder and chief executive officer Craig Smith, offers small group land tours and full-charter cruises for like-minded travelers with a focus on giving back to the communities they visit. The company also supports LGBTQ organizations, such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign.

Past guests of their tours say their fellow travelers were as fun and interesting as the destinations. They appreciated the excellent personalized planning for the trips by Smith and his life partner, Rafael Rodriguez.

The company's cruises in 2024 include a seven-night Galápagos sailing in late September on a Relais & Chateau luxury yacht: Ecoventura's new ship, Evolve. The intimate ship accommodates just 20 passengers. Source Journeys is also offering a seven-night river cruise through Burgundy and Provence, France, in June on Avalon Waterways' Avalon Poetry II, as well as a seven-night voyage from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast. This ocean cruise scheduled in August is chartered on Star Clippers' masted sailing ship, Royal Clipper.

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to gay cruising, gone are the days of discreet "Friends of Dorothy" meetups. The term – a euphemism that dates back to the 1950s – was once used to indicate gay social events on daily cruise line programs, without explicitly calling out members of the community on board. It's a far cry from today's LGBTQ cruising industry, which loudly and proudly celebrates passengers from all walks of life.

According to experts, LGBTQ cruising is a market that will only continue to grow. Travelers can take their pick between cruise operators tailored specifically to queer communities and major cruise lines that offer festive Pride celebrations and inclusive onboard entertainment. As travel on the high seas continues to grow in popularity for vacationers, gay and lesbian travelers should consider setting sail on a fun-filled cruise vacation for their next trip.

When planning a cruise, vacationers should first consider what their ideal sailing looks like.

Gay-friendly vs. all-gay sailings: Cruisers should think about whether they'd like to travel aboard a gay-friendly mainstream line – such as Celebrity Cruises or Virgin Voyages – or opt for an all-gay, full-ship charter with a third-party vacation company.

"Each and every LGBTQIAPK person has a different level of comfortability in their 'outness,' " says Patrick Gunn, co-founder and chief marketing officer of LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA. Of VACAYA's all-gay charters, he adds, "For one magical week, our community gets to be the majority and live life out loud in the blissful utopia VACAYA creates on a gay cruise. That single change from being an always-minority to a sudden majority can have a profoundly positive real-world effect on individuals."

• Travel style: Some cruise operators (think: Atlantis Events and La Demence) are known for their electrifying all-night parties, which may be perfect for gay groups of friends. Meanwhile, other companies like VACAYA and Olivia look to provide a more diverse selection of activities, ranging from tea dances (LGBTQ parties that, historically, included tea service) to philanthropic service activities to immersive onshore experiences.
• Ports of call: Some of the most LGBTQ- and gay-friendly destinations for cruises include: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sydney; Barcelona, Spain; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Helsinki; Quebec City; Auckland, New Zealand; Mykonos, Greece; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam; Tel Aviv, Israel; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and San Francisco. Countries that gay travelers may want to avoid include the Maldives, Jamaica, Morocco, Malaysia and Haiti, as homosexuality is illegal in these destinations.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Cruise Lines
• The Top Solo Cruises (No Supplement Fare)
• The Top Themed Cruises
• The Top 3-Day Cruise Itineraries
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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Personal Journeys

On a Gay Cruise, Just One of the Guys

By Steven McElroy

• April 10, 2015

Two men in revealing white singlets walked into a piano bar while the cabaret singer Natalie Douglas belted away on stage, accompanied by Brian Nash , a fixture on the New York City piano bar scene. The men were hardly out of place, though — a couple of other men in white shorts and bunny ears were already there.

If I’d witnessed this in New York, at Brandy’s, say, or Don’t Tell Mama, it would have perhaps been bizarre (perhaps, because in New York you kind of never know what to expect). But we were a week into an all-gay Atlantis cruise, and costumes of varying sorts — including those that leave precious little to the imagination — were hardly oddities at this point. It was just another night, another theme party aboard the Golden Princess.

The thumpa-thumpa club scene is hardly my milieu at home, but there I stood an hour later in tight shorts, a short-sleeve dress shirt with a bow tie, and flip-flops, all of it white. I was surrounded by hundreds of people, mostly gay men, some in chef hats or sailor caps, others in dresses, sequined from head to toe, and many wearing nothing but minuscule underwear and a coating of glitter. Nearly everything in sight was monochromatic at this “White Party,” an all-night event and the last big blowout of our eight-day Los Angeles to Mexico excursion.

I hadn’t expected to fit in on this cruise. I thought the Atlantis experience might be too intense for me; I’d heard stories about the costumes and assumed that only impossibly young gay men with untraceable amounts of body fat would be on board. I figured that my partner, Brett, and I would feel awfully out of place.

This is not to suggest I never get out of the house. I certainly have gay friends and have been to plenty of gay bars (and if clichés matter, I see more musical theater than the average person). Heck, I’m even getting married to a man pretty soon.

But still, it is easy to fall into the trap of imagining young, beautiful men who have no cares, no wrinkles, no qualms about dancing in skintight pants as the real epicenter of gay-dom. This is a myth, I knew, but it sprang to mind when planning this particular voyage, which I thought would be a foray into that imagined world, one in which I have no cred.

“The age thing is the one thing that everyone gets hung up on,” said Rich Campbell, the president and chief executive of Atlantis Events , when I contacted him after returning home. “There is that great phantom misperception that it’s a giant 24-hour boat of guys who are 26 years old, that it’s all one dynamic,” he said. “You’re absolutely going to see guys in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and you’re also going to see guys in their mid-20s.”

The average age of the almost 2,000 people on my cruise, Mr. Campbell said, was around 40, and the wide range of ages and body types was indeed apparent as soon as we boarded, when I happily realized I would not have to hold my breath nonstop to keep my abs tightened for over a week.

Mr. Campbell founded Atlantis in 1991, when another company, RSVP Vacations , was already doing gay cruises. Initially, he focused on resort events, starting with a gathering of a few hundred at a Club Med in Mexico. Eventually he began chartering cruise ships, and one of the earliest Atlantis cruises made headlines when it was denied permission to stop at Grand Cayman in 1998. Two years later, another ship ran into problems with Turkish police at Kusadasi, on the Aegean coast.

Things are somewhat easier today, and as he approaches a quarter-century in the business, Mr. Campbell owns both Atlantis and RSVP, which he took over in 2007 (“wouldn’t you want to own both Coke and Pepsi?” he said).

With the two companies, he runs cruises and resort events that entertain tens of thousands of gay travelers every year. (The next Atlantis event is a resort vacation at Club Med in Cancun, April 25 to May 2.) Most travelers are gay men, though gay women are welcome and there were some (barely a dozen, though) on our cruise.

Atlantis doesn’t own ships, but has chartered with every major cruise line. Rather than simply holding several of their own events on board while embracing the regular lineup of entertainers on the ship, like some charters do, Atlantis really takes over. They even have their own cruise director, Malcolm Neitzey, who works alongside the cruise director of each ship, and is a constant, cheerful presence on board.

Atlantis hires entertainers, like Ms. Douglas, Mr. Nash and Nate Buccieri , another New York singer-songwriter popular at home, where he’s a regular presence at the keyboards at Brandy’s, the Duplex and other establishments. We also saw the vocalist William Blake and drag performers including the delightfully nasty Jackie Beat , Miss Richfield 1981 , Sherry Vine and Courtney Act , a finalist in season six of the Logo television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” There was plenty of comedy, from the cabaret entertainer Matt Yee , to Bruce Vilanch and even Roseanne Barr , in an appearance that was kept secret for most of the cruise until the day of her blisteringly funny performance.

Another comedian, Brad Loekle , is an Atlantis regular and his “Last Laugh” show, on the final night of the cruise, has become a tradition in the last few years. He had a full house in stitches in the ship’s theater as he poked fun at specific situations he had observed during the previous week.

On this trip, Mr. Loekle had plenty to make fun of regarding the ship itself. The specific ship and voyage can make or break a cruise, and ours was not without problems. There were glitches — too much attention from the servers at the (unimpressive) breakfast buffet and not enough at some of the other food and drink areas, for example. The layout of the ship was weird, too, and more than one comedian ( Shawn Pelofsky was another funny one) joked about being unable to find their rooms. Curiously, elevators right next to each other didn’t necessarily go to the same floors, so you had to think more than a lazy vacationer should about which one to enter.

Then the Golden Princess suffered an attack of dead mussels. Apparently, the high temperature of the sea had caused a huge number of mussels to die and get sucked into the ship’s filtration system, thus rendering the air-conditioning, while not quite inoperable, insufficient.

It got hot enough that they decided to cancel our stop in Cabo San Lucas and add another “at sea” day to get to cooler water. This, after a hurricane had forced us to swap a stop in Manzanillo for one in Mazatlán. The situation was bad enough for Princess and Atlantis to split the cost of a $500 credit per person, at a cost of nearly a million dollars, to apologize for the inconvenience.

These sorts of things affect people differently, and to be honest, I sort of didn’t care (I have a high heat tolerance anyway) and I especially didn’t mind skipping a port. Despite my initial misgivings about this cruise, assimilation had come easily and I’d become so enamored of the on-board experience — the entertainers, drag shows, parties and, most importantly, the unapologetic gayness of it all — that I was perfectly happy to have more time on the ship.

That gayness doesn’t refer only to the big parties and people in drag, either, or even the opportunities for passengers to hook up for casual sex. It was the overwhelming feeling of acceptance on board, by other passengers and by staff members who seemed unfailingly friendly and unfazed by our shenanigans.

The sense of freedom was powerful: You could be old or young, slim or heavy, and could have a loud, drunken cruise, a quiet romantic one, or even a naughty one. The many people I met who had taken multiple Atlantis cruises, 10 or even 20 or more, are clearly on to something.

“I think no matter how socially acceptable being gay becomes, and thank God it’s continually getting better, there’s something about being on this magical island where everyone is like you and you can be entirely yourself and be as ridiculous as you want to be or as romantic and loving in public as you want to be,” Mr. Nash said when I caught up with him back in New York a week later. “There’s a comfort level, there’s no looking over one’s shoulder,” he said. “After the first day and a half you realize, ‘Oh, I’m not worried about anything at all.’ ”

One afternoon, a guy who looked like Ernest Hemingway was standing in the middle of a crowded, shallow pool at the rear of the ship, holding a plastic water gun. The sun was blazing and the music blaring as he sprayed water into a crowd of hundreds standing or dancing nearby. Hemingway wore a sadistic, ear-to-ear grin.

This party, the “Soaked T-Dance,” was probably the most fun event, at least for me, partly because it encapsulated much of what made the Atlantis experience unique: Not only did we all give in to that sense of gay abandon that permeated the entire voyage, but we were also releasing the inner child, as they say. As we frolicked by the pool, squirting each other with water pistols, we giggled, flirted and easily fit in — all of us. I didn’t even bother wearing a shirt at this party, which is hardly the norm for me.

As we disembarked back in Los Angeles, I heard “we need to go further with costumes next time” come out of my mouth before I even realized it. I don’t think I can handle walking in heels, but at the “Treasure Island” party I saw some scantily clad pirates and I’m thinking I might be able to rock that look.

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Come Sail Away

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Gay Almanac Blog Clone

Gay Cruise FAQs: What You NEED to Know About Atlantis Themed Parties

In this video, joey (justjoeyt) and i are running through the most frequently asked questions about the atlantis themed parties. we talk about the atlantis party themes, how to dress for atlantis gay cruise parties (such as the costumes for atlantis gay cruise and costume ideas for atlantis gay cruise). don’t miss these atlantis cruises faqs and atlantis parties faqs, what are the atlantis themed parties.

Basically, they’re giant dance parties with awesome music being played live by an internationally acclaimed DJ. They’re usually outdoors by the pool, but some of them are in larger indoor spaces, depending on the cruise ship. Each party is THEMED to something, so partygoers like to dress up when they go to these parties.

When and Where are these parties?

There are parties EVERY night on the cruise, and sometimes during the day too! The daytime parties, sometimes referred to as T-Dances, will most likely be on the pool deck or in a large outdoor space (again depending on the cruise ship you’re on). It’s fun when it’s outdoors because the vibe is more relaxed and you can mingle/chat with your friends or make new friends!

The nighttime parties are usually in a large indoor space and it’ll have lasers and awesome lighting, which gives it a much different atmosphere than the daytime parties. But the nighttime parties is where you’re going to have the most fun!

What are the Themes and When do you find out?

Themes usually get announced just a few weeks prior to the cruise sailing. And once they get announced it’s a mad dash to get costumes ready for these parties!

But there are several themed parties that you can always count on: The Dog Tag T-Dance, the Disco T-Dance, a Glow Party, and the White Party

The Dog Tag T-Dance is a stoplight party where you get a military dog tag to wear around your neck and you put a colored sticker on the dog tag. A Green sticker means you’re ready to mingle. A Yellow sticker means you should ask first. And Red means you’re not available. And since it’s a dog tag, everyone wears their favorite military attire.

The Disco T-Dance is an amazing themed party because the costumes can get REALLY fun and creative. Lots of sequins and color costumes with giant wigs!

And the iconic White Party is always the last nighttime party of the cruise and it goes all the way until sunrise. Everyone wears their favorite white costume and they stay up to watch the sun come up. So much fun!

Pro-Tip for Costume Organization!

For each themed party, place the costumes you’ve chosen in its own labeled ziplock bag! This is going to help you save space in your luggage and you’ll be ready to party once you get on the ship. Just grab the right ziplock bag and you’re good to go!

Do I have to dress up?

No you don’t have to dress up for any of these parties! Many people do, but if it’s not for you, then you don’t have to! Wear what you’re most comfortable and just have fun!!

To see what else we discuss, watch our video below!

About the author

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11 things I learned on my first gay cruise

You've probably heard of gay cruises and wondered how they differ from "traditional" cruises. Are they open to straight people? Is it all about partying? What about the hook-up element?

I sailed with tour operator Vacaya in February 2023 on a one-week gay cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and heading to the Caribbean via Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection cruise ship. For context, I'm a white, cisgender, gay man in my mid-30s. I had a lot of questions about what to expect, given this was my second cruise ever and my first one with a queer tour operator.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here are the top things I'd want someone considering or planning their first gay cruise to know.

People are friendly

The first thing that struck me about the sailing was that almost everyone was smiling and eager to interact. As an Australian living in the U.S. for almost a decade, I generally find Americans to be open, talkative and curious. This cruise was like that … on steroids.

I would have found it overwhelming if I weren't an extrovert, but since I'm a social butterfly, I was in heaven.

Tip: Taking the stairs between levels on the ship is a great way to keep in shape. However, opt for the elevators if you are searching for moments of lighthearted connection. Waiting for an elevator to arrive at your floor and then jumping in with other guests gives you a quick opportunity for some enjoyable small talk.

Partying is front and center

The rumors are spot on. Gay cruises have tons of parties, sometimes multiple a day. If you're on a weeklong sailing, it's important to pace yourself.

Most of the parties on my cruise took place outside by the pool and started at 10:30 p.m. The late start gave enough time for passengers to eat dinner, attend an evening show and get dressed in theme.

Highlights on my cruise included a Super Bowl party (the day we boarded), a traffic light party (the gay cruise version of an icebreaker activity, see below) and the "She's A Mess" party on the final afternoon (where passengers donned one piece from each costume they'd worn throughout the week).

It's also a good idea to plan your outfits well in advance — people get really into the party themes. You can find information about theme nights on your tour operator's website.

Related: The top gay cruises you don't want to miss

It's sex-positive

Going into the cruise, one of my biggest questions was, "Would people be hooking up all over the ship in public places?" On this particular Vacaya cruise, I did not see anything like that. (I can't speak for other sailings, though.) However, sexual expression was a prominent feature of the cruise — and I loved it.

I appreciated the three types of lanyards that Vacaya offered upon boarding. They were color-coded in a traffic light system: red for "taken," yellow for "it's complicated/maybe," and green for "available." This made it easy to understand what kind of interaction someone wanted. At the traffic light party on the second night, I estimated that 60% of the passengers were dressed in green, 30% in yellow and the remaining 10% in red.

One unique feature Vacaya had on this cruise was a late-night "dark room" on the rooftop basketball court. It was very popular.

The crew won't judge you

Cruise ships hire crew members from around the world, with many coming from more conservative countries. I wasn't sure how they'd react to thousands of openly gay men taking over their cruise ship.

Once on board, I realized my concerns were overblown. The Celebrity Cruises crew — waiters, room stewards, bartenders — were consistently friendly. I never sensed any judgment from them. They didn't even bat an eyelid when a drunk gay guy wearing nothing but underwear came to a bar to order a drink. I'm not saying I was that guy.

Choose your cruise carefully

The one major lesson I learned is that it's important to do your research.

On this cruise, I sometimes felt like a fish out of water. At 35, I was one of the youngest on the sailing. Vacaya skews older (think: Gen X and boomers), whereas I've heard Atlantis gay cruises attract mainly twinks and daddies.

Of the well-known queer cruises, Atlantis is for your circuity gays, and Olivia is for queer women. Vacaya skews toward a more inclusive and welcoming experience for everyone (although it needs more work in this area). Body positivity was an obvious component of my Vacaya cruise, and I heard many passengers say they appreciated this.

Related: These LGBTQ-focused travel companies can help you plan the perfect cruise

Gay cruise travel is a huge (and growing) market

Queer travelers account for 5% to 10% of the global tourism market, according to the World Tourism Organization . Couple that with the huge growth in cruising over the past decade (excluding the pandemic), and it's obvious that cruise and tour operators can earn a lot from catering to LGBTQI+ travelers.

For example, Fort Lauderdale saw four sold-out LGBTQI+ cruises in February 2023. Atlantis and Vacaya had one each, and tour operator Olivia had two women-focused cruises. Atlantis' voyage on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas was the largest gay cruise ever, with more than 5,400 passengers.

If you want to go on a gay cruise, I'd suggest booking early to secure your place and take advantage of early bird discounts. With growing demand, I hope to see an increase in the number and type of sailings offered, giving queer travelers more themed cruise options.

Diversity and inclusion is a work in progress

In my opinion, the cruise was too heavily skewed to a specific demographic. I estimated that at least 90% of the passengers on my cruise were white, cisgender, gay men from the U.S. — and that was on Vacaya, one of the more "inclusive" cruise operators.

The organizers clearly have a strong passion for and commitment to making their experiences more inclusive and diverse. They teared up when talking about their origin story and what they envision for their future experiences.

However, it's a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation. Vacaya has a financial incentive to cater to its base market of white, affluent gay men. But, its future growth lies in providing opportunities that broaden the company's reach to other tribes in the larger community, such as queer people of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming folx, and women.

For Vacaya to achieve that goal, those groups must make bookings and come on board. However, they'll be hesitant to book if they don't think there will be people like them on board. It's a work in progress.

On my cruise, I did see a glimmer of Vacaya's future.

One evening, I sat behind a black trans woman and a plus-size, white cisgender woman in a wheelchair to watch a show in the ship's auditorium. When drag queen Alyssa Edwards began lip-syncing on stage to "This Is Me" from "The Greatest Showman," they reached out to hold hands as they sang along. These are the moments Vacaya hopes to deliver to more queer travelers in the future.

Gay cruises are more expensive than regular cruises

Gay or queer cruises cost more on average than your everyday cruise because they offer premium LGBTQI-focused entertainment, such as drag queens and world-renowned DJs on each sailing. The charter company (Vacaya, in this case) needs to pay not only the cruise line but also the specialized entertainment — and turn a profit.

Make sure you save up your cash for the room, taxes, gratuities, drink packages and shore excursions — it can really add up.

For example, Vacaya's pricing for its weeklong 2025 Caribbean cruise starts at around $3,200 per room for a windowless inside cabin (based on two people sharing; includes taxes and gratuities). That's nearly double the cost of a "regular" cruise for the same duration and on the same ship, where pricing for a cruise just a few weeks earlier than Vacaya's starts at $1,755.

Many people don't explore the ports

Based on my observations and conversations with other shipmates, I don't think many passengers got off the ship in every port. Perhaps that's because our itinerary featured four back-to-back port stops. Or, my shipmates were too hungover to go out or wanted to prioritize time on the ship they had paid so dearly for. Whatever the reason, many people were at the lunch buffet and lounging poolside during our port stops.

To be honest, I only got off at Grand Cayman and stayed on board in Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatán, Honduras (all of which I'd visited on previous trips).

It turns out my observations were correct. The Vacaya cruise organizers confirmed that on big-ship Caribbean cruises, many guests typically stay on board in one or two ports. On the company's luxury cruises — which focus more on bucket-list destinations — and Mediterranean cruises, a higher percentage of guests get off the ship daily.

For the record, people who did get off the ship didn't miss much. People mostly used port days to enjoy more pool time and work out at the gym (which, surprisingly, never got busy on my cruise). Vacaya schedules its marquee activities for when the ship is sailing.

Wash your hands

The worst part of the cruise? I picked up norovirus about halfway through the sailing and was bedridden for the final three days.

Norovirus is a contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with an infected person or surface and causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. The self-contained, high-traffic nature of a cruise ship makes it susceptible to outbreaks, and on a gay cruise, frequent person-to-person contact can increase your chances of getting sick.

My most unpleasant memories from this cruise included gathering the energy to make my way from my cabin to the buffet to eat something, anything, that would fill me up before my whole world came crashing down again. Picture the wedding dress-fitting scene from "Bridesmaids." I was Kristen Wiig desperately trying to pretend she was enjoying her almonds — all in front of hundreds of other gay men. Not a peak life moment for me.

The best way to avoid catching norovirus is to wash and sanitize your hands frequently. I thought I was doing a good job of that, but apparently, it wasn't enough. This is a public service announcement to wash your hands more than you think you need to the next time you're on a cruise.

Many passengers come back time and again

Vacaya has a return rate of more than 70%, which is even more notable given it has only been around for six years. (My cruise was its fifth birthday celebration.) People talk with their feet — and their wallets. If they're returning, they must enjoy the experience and want to reconnect with friends and lovers they met on previous cruises.

If you enjoy your first cruise, it's worth keeping your eyes out for any early bird discounts for future sailings the line may offer during the final couple of days you are on board.

Bottom line

With LGBTQI+ rights under sustained attack, it was refreshing to get out into the open ocean with other queer folx and let our pride flags fly. The feeling of dancing in the warm Caribbean breeze with thousands of other queer people — and a supportive, open-minded crew — without fear of judgment, violence or harassment is something I believe every queer person deserves.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Frequent Asked Questions

About Atlantis Guests

What is the typical Atlantis guest like?

There is no typical guest on an Atlantis vacation, which is what makes the experience so much fun. Our guests range from their 20s to retirement age and beyond. They come from all over the US and all over the world. And their interests and experiences are as varied as the gay community overall. Community is what it's all about at Atlantis, so wherever you are, you'll feel at home.

Do I have to have a great body to fit in on an Atlantis vacation?

Very funny. Seriously, while we have some great bodies in our brochure and website (remember it IS marketing!), Atlantis is really all about being yourself and feeling great about who you are. Whatever shape you're in, you're going to feel right at home on Atlantis. We promise.

Are women welcome on Atlantis vacations?

Absolutely. Women have traveled on every Atlantis vacation ever produced. They typically represent between 5 and 10% of our guests, but we're working to make that number grow. Most of our female guests are couples. Check out our page on Women & Atlantis for more information.

Is there a minimum age?

At this time, the minimum age for our guests is 18. Guests between 18 and 21 must travel with a companion over the age of 25, staying in the same stateroom.

Is it easy to connect with others on an Atlantis vacation?

You bet. Meeting new people is the most valued part of the Atlantis experience for most of our guests, and it's why so many guests return again and again. Every Atlantis vacation is chock full of parties, events, and gatherings that make it easy for you to introduce yourself to other guests. And we have our Atlantis team the whole time to facilitate fun and interactions.

About Atlantis Vacations

Is there Internet access on Atlantis cruises?

All our ships are equipped with satellite internet service, accessible via wifi from your own computer or from public computers onboard. There is a fee for this service, which can be quite substantial if used frequently.

Which is better for me: An Atlantis Cruise or Atlantis All-Inclusive Resort vacation?

Our cruises and resorts both offer a phenomenal vacation experience that is about community and having a fun, relaxing time. The variety of events and entertainment is what makes all Atlantis vacations special. You can't go wrong either way. However if you really love time on the beach, want a relaxed environment, or really get into sports activities, you may prefer a Club Atlantis resort vacation. If the non-stop excitement, endless entertainment, and multiple ports of a cruise appeal to you, then join us as we set sail. Of course, you could always try both.

I'll be traveling alone. How does that work?

Almost half our guests travel on their own, so we make it easy and affordable with our Room Share Program. If you would like to share a room, we will find a roommate for you at no additional charge. Roommates are assigned by smoking preference; share rooms are available in the categories listed on each program and are subject to availability. If you would like a resort room for single occupancy, we can accommodate you for a modest supplement. Cruise staterooms are subject to a 100% surcharge for single occupancy. Availability of single rooms is limited. Please check out our page on Single Travelers for more information.

Are the staff members of the cruise lines or resorts gay-friendly?

Absolutely. We work very closely with the cruise and resort companies to ensure that their staff members welcome Atlantis guests just as they do everyone else. Actually, most staff members request to work our weeks because the group is so much fun. You can rest easy.

What is included in my Atlantis vacation?

Virtually everything is included in our cruise and resort vacations: meals, entertainment, most sports with instruction, activities, parties, and tips. Our Club Atlantis resorts even include all your drinks! All Atlantis vacations include everything described on the individual tour descriptions of the website and brochure.

What is not included in my Atlantis vacation?

The things that are not included in an Atlantis vacation are few and far between. Optional excursions, optional specialty restaurants, some sports, bar charges, spa services, telephone calls, and shop purchases can usually be charged to your room and settled upon departure.

What is a "Non-Commissionable Fare and Port Fee" charge for?

The non-commissionable fares and port fees cover the cost of various port taxes, port fees, tonnage charges, and other costs related to your cruise that are not covered in the price of the cruise ticket. These charges may contain administrative fees and other direct costs of your vacation as well.

How does Atlantis assign rooms/cabins to guests?

Reserving early gets you the best selection of rooms. Cruise staterooms are assigned at the time of booking. Resort rooms are assigned in order of reservation. We make every effort to honor special requests, subject to availability and prior requests.

What are the accommodations like?

Atlantis uses only top-rated cruise lines and resorts, with high standards for rooms throughout. You can learn more about the specific accommodations in each price range by checking out the vacation descriptions on the website.

Is smoking permitted on Atlantis vacations?

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas on Atlantis cruise and resort vacations. Most of our restaurants are designated non-smoking.

Can Atlantis handle special dietary needs?

Our cruise lines and resorts will make every attempt to accommodate dietary needs and restrictions. Please advise us of special needs at least two weeks prior to departure.

Are there 12-step meetings on Atlantis vacations?

Yes. Atlantis offers a daily meeting for members of all 12-step programs.

Before You Book

Do I need a visa or passport?

A valid passport is required for all travel. Citizens of other countries may require a visa. Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months following your trip to avoid any potential problems. All documentation is your responsibility so please make sure that everything is in order before your departure..

When will I receive my travel documents after booking?

Once you've made your initial deposit, we will email you a statement confirming your booking. Please review this information to make sure it is correct. Approximately one month prior to your trip departure, we will email your travel documentation that includes cruise registration, packing suggestions, and other specific information pertaining to your trip. In addition, we make much of the pre-departure information available on the Atlantis website several weeks prior to departure, in the Already Booked section of the cruise page.

What are my payment options?

You have three ways to pay for your Atlantis vacation.

Option 1 offers an initial deposit and up to 2 installment payments thereafter, with the final balance due 90 days before departure.

Option 2 offers guests the ability to spread payments over a period of time with a low initial deposit. The deposit is non-refundable. Monthly payments are due on the 1st day of each month, with the final payment due 60 days before departure.

Option 3 offers the ability to pay in full. Learn more about these options and specific costs on our  Terms & Conditions  page.

Does Atlantis have a monthly installment payment plan?

Yes. Atlantis also offers a flexible payment options that lets you pay for your vacation in easy, automatic monthly payments, at no additional charge. Depending on the payment plan, your final balance may be due 60-90 days prior to departure.

What is your cancellation policy?

Our cancellation policy is detailed in Atlantis Guest Reservation Terms and Conditions .

What is the likelihood of a trip cancelling?

It is highly unlikely that an Atlantis Cruise or Club Atlantis would be cancelled. In 31 years of operation, the COVID-19 Pandemic was the first cause for such cancellations. We have great relationships with our travel partners and do everything we can to provide incredible experiences while providing a safe environment to ensure the health and wellness of our guests.

What does Atlantis do versus the cruise lines and resort operators?

Atlantis Events is a charter company. We work with various suppliers (cruise lines and resorts) to take over their ships/resorts for a specific period of time, creating bespoke experiences for the charter/resort including customized entertainment, parties and itineraries. In order to do this, we enter into a contract with the cruise line/resort operator, typically a year or more in advance, granting Atlantis exclusive use of the ship/resort for the specific period of time, including all staff, services, and amenities. Atlantis then ‘owns’ the inventory of the cruise/resort, and in turn, markets and sells cabins/rooms for the contracted time period to our customers (as detailed in the  Atlantis Guest Reservation Terms and Conditions ).

Why doesn’t Atlantis have flexibility in cancellations?

When Atlantis enters into a charter agreement (or resort contract) we own the inventory of the ship/resort for the specific contractual period. We are contractually obligated to pay for this inventory upfront. Unlike the cruise lines/resort operators, we do not have multiple ships and an open calendar of dates to reschedule guests on. We have designed our  Cancellation and Transfer Policy  to be fair and equitable, allowing for changes and cancellations with escalating cancellation charges over time, based on the cruise departure date (or resort start date). In the unlikely event that Atlantis does cancel a cruise or resort prior to departure (i.e. if the supplier is unable to fulfill their contractual obligation), Atlantis does refund all monies to our guests.

Should I buy trip insurance?

Absolutely. You’re spending thousands of dollars for your vacation and a few extra dollars will help protect you from emergencies. You insure your car and home, why not your vacation? Some policies offer a waiver of all pre-existing medical conditions and help protect many unexpected occurrences. There are many types of travel insurance, but we offer Travelex. You may purchase Travelex Insurance  here .

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; NAIC #22276. V94