Gay Frienly Cruise Lines - 2015 Survey Results

The husband and I enjoy cruising and have sailed on Celebrity, Royal Caribbeans, Norwegian, and Carnival among others (in October, 2015, we will be sailing on the Carnival Splendor -pictured above - to Bermuda from Norfolk).  It is important to us that a cruise line be gay friendly and inclusive.  To date, the only cruise line that we have sailed that has failed to have events for LGBT passengers has been Royal Caribbean.  While we loved the ships, there were no "Friends of Dorothy" events and the level of welcome could have been better.  In contrast, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Carnival all had such events and were far more welcoming.  A new survey by ManAboutWorld.com looks at some cruise lines and their level of LGBT acceptance.  Sadly, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian failed to even respond to the survey.  Here are highlights (read the entire piece):

[W]e’re reporting the responses we did receive, and the lines that failed to respond at all. We believe their answers should matter to all of us as gay consumers, and urge you to join the conversation. If you have comments or questions about our criteria or survey, please share them in the comments.

LGBT-Friendly criteria for Cruise Lines:

1. LGBT employees should be covered by a non-discrimination policy that explicitly mentions sexual orientation and gender expression.
2. Customer-facing employees should have diversity/inclusion training that specifically covers LGBT guests.
3. Cruise lines docking in ports where homosexuality or gender expression are criminalized should provide all passengers notice about such laws before disembarkation in those ports.

In addition to these minimum standards, we believe marketing and outreach to LGBT consumers, membership in the IGLTA and promotion of LGBT gatherings in daily cruise calendars to important indicators of a cruise line’s commitment to LGBT customers, not just commerce.

The following cruise lines did not respond to numerous requests over two months: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL, SILVERSEA CRUISES, WINDSTAR CRUISES

CELEBRITY CRUISES

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes and I believe Celebrity Cruises is the only one with signage on embark day noting our welcome event? We do a meet/greet for LGBT gatherings on the 1st day of the cruise in a high profile lounge and some senior officers come as well. If well attended we plan others throughout the week. We put the information on a sign and it is included in our daily program guide put in the guest stateroom. We call it LGBT Gathering, and not “Friends of Dorothy” like other cruise lines. No hiding our affection for the LGBT market. As well: Guests will be made aware that all future LGBT events will be posted on the community board at the Guest Relations Desk.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?  

We do a lot of LGBT marketing including digital advertising, magazines. Additionally we are active in numerous pride events and activities in large US cities such as LA, SF, Atlanta, DC and NYC.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Carnival really created the modern cruise business in the 1970s, and has earned its position as the world’s most popular cruise line by providing a fun, welcoming environment for the more than 4.5 million guests who sail with them each year. They answered our questions more generally.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Each of our 1,500 cruises a year includes a meeting for members of the LGBT community.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

Not answered.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
As befitting their Dutch ancestry, Holland America Line met every one of our criteria, with a comprehensive response to each of our LGBT-specific criteria. Holland America Line is popular for gay charters, and has an innovative dining program, working with master chefs to create new menus that include a Le Cirque-inspired and 20-course Master Chef dinner each cruise, along with sustainably-sourced seafoods and a new alternative vegetarian menu in their main dining rooms. Dancing with The Stars program returns to Holland America Line in 2015 with a program on every sailing, and six full-experience theme cruises.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes, we offer LGBT get-togethers on every cruise. The events are introduced by a cruise staff member at the first gathering and then open to guests to host at following events. The get-togethers are always listed in the ship’s daily program.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

We market to all demographics and communities. Some specifically targeted outreach takes place with various partnerships, but our general advertising and marketing addresses our brand experience, which appeals to many groups and demographics. We also support the LGBT community through sponsorships with various organizations and support and advocacy groups.

CUNARD
Celebrating its 175th anniversary Cunard is the queen of the seas offering classic ocean travel experiences such as transatlantic crossings aboard legendary ships including flagship Queen Mary 2. The onboard captain’s welcome is an invitation to join the most elite travelers (not tourists) aboard a sailing or crossing (not a cruise). Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodations are luxurious and spacious, and the dining options are world class. The ships’ recent enrichment programs have included gay and gay-friendly icons from George Takei and Tilda Swinton to Desmond Tutu. The Friends of Dorothy gatherings are prominently advertised and popular, and gay solo travelers, couples and groups are comfortable and visible on board. This may be among the most effortlessly queer of the non-gay cruises.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes, Cunard offers Friends of Dorothy gatherings on all sailings, which are listed in the Daily Programme, a daily activities schedule distributed to all guests.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

Cunard is a former National Gold Sponsor of the Human Rights Campaign donating cruises for live auction events which have raised more than $200,000 for the nation’s largest LGBT organization. Cunard is also partnered with travel agent retailers that focus on the LGBT community as clients for group cruises and charters. For example, RSVP Vacations chartered Queen Mary 2 in 2007.  Cunard does not currently do any targeted advertising to the LGBT community, although the line has hosted several journalists writing for various LGBT-focused magazines over the years.

We have not yet sailed Cunard, but it is on my wish list - it is one of the few lines that still has formal dress as in the "old days" of cruising.  Perhaps in 2016 (although we are toying with a 2016 trip to India in light of my many Indian clients).

Carnival Cruise Lines Returns to Norfolk in 2015

Carnival Glory on October 18, 2013, in Norfolk when we returned from a cruise to The Bahamas

The boyfriend and I enjoy cruises - as do a lot of our gay friends and some of my fellow LGBT bloggers - and we have sailed on Carnival out of Norfolk twice and had a wonderful time at very reasonable cost since no air travel has been required.  We were most disappointed when Carnival announced it would not have a ship home ported in Norfolk in 2014.  Thankfully, as announced by Gov. McAuliffe today to the General Assembly, Carnival is returning to Norfolk in 2015.  For those who have never cruised before, mark your calendars for 2015 and check it out.  Here are details from the Virginian Pilot:

Carnival Cruise Lines is returning to Norfolk next year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe told the General Assembly on Monday night.  The world’s largest cruise line intends to resume sailing from Norfolk in the spring and fall of 2015, McAuliffe announced.

“This renewed activity in Hampton Roads will not only generate important tourism dollars for the commonwealth, but will also be a catalyst for job growth,” he said in his first address to General Assembly members.

“I am delighted to welcome Carnival back to Virginia next year, but my administration’s goal is to encourage them to bring more ship calls and ultimately, regular homeport service to downtown Norfolk, and to continue to grow our tourism economy across the commonwealth.”

The announcement comes 2½ months after the Carnival Glory pulled out of Norfolk for Miami, leaving the city’s nearly 7-year-old, $37.4 million Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center without a ship that calls it home.

“I can confirm that Carnival Cruise Lines is returning to Norfolk in 2015 to operate a series of cruises in the spring and fall,” Jennifer de la Cruz, a spokeswoman for the Miami-based cruise line, wrote in an email to The Virginian-Pilot on Monday.

“Specific ship, date and itinerary information is still being finalized and more specific details are expected to be announced this spring. We would like to thank the port, and local and state leadership, for their continued partnership and we greatly look forward to returning to Norfolk next year.”

Norfolk officials said they expect Carnival to offer 10 to 12 cruise departures in 2015, with Caribbean ports being the likely destinations.

Fraim said that while the city had not offered any Carnival any incentives to come back, he suggested that the state might.  “We live in a very competitive environment with cruise ships,” he said. “And we know that both Maryland and South Carolina, their states provide marketing dollars to aid the sale of tickets. And we hope that the commonwealth will do the same.”

Fraim said McAuliffe, whom he praised for helping win back Carnival, is committed to doing everything possible to have a ship homeported in Norfolk year-round.

“He gets it; he acts quickly,” Fraim said. “The one thing about Gov. McAuliffe is he knows most captains of industry well. He is able to make phone calls returned  quickly and he has been of great assistance in this regard.”

 I guess we will be cruising from Norfolk again next year!