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It was like walking into a gay episode of The Love Boat: the weather was stunning, the celebrities were congregating, the boat was beyond gorgeous, the cabin was spacious with a ridiculously beautiful view, I couldn’t choose which bar to drink at first, and the attendees looked like ambassadors from every LGBTQ group you could imagine.  I was ready for my first gay cruise, the maiden voyage of VACAYA – the only large-scale vacation company on earth built for the entire LGBTQIAPK community and their straight ally friends.  Was I going to fit in?  Was I overpacked?  Were my shorts short enough?  Was I going to make friends?  Was I going to eat too much?  The answer, blissfully, would be yes.  But before I could finish my first pinot grigio and before the Celebrity ship could set sail, there she was – the Godmother of VACAYA – Kristin Chenoweth to take the outside stage just steps away from me, being accompanied by David Foster, no less, with Katharine McPhee, Leslie Jordan, and Alex Newell standing next to me and Lady Bunny ready to DJ the night away.  I knew at that moment that it was going to be a journey to remember.  And indeed, it was.   

According to Patrick Gunn (current CMO), VACAYA was spearheaded by himself, Randle Roper (current CEO), and John Finen, who had a vision that a more welcome traveling experience for the entirety of the LGBTQ+ community could be successful.  Between them, they had nearly a century of combined experience in management, marketing, entertainment, hospitality, and operations.   

Ultimately, what VACAYA would become was sparked by our own vacations, where we all had encountered two very different experiences. 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.  

We all shared a sense there was a sweet spot – a great “in-between” – one that offered the joy of like-minded people coming together to celebrate, with more activities, destinations, and ways to personalize the vacation experience than ever before. One that capitalized on smart, tech-savvy booking and customer service – just as you might expect with a mainstream vacation. 

VACAYA takes its name from Polari, a centuries-old language used by the gay subculture to discreetly communicate.  In addition, “vacay” has become a slang word, the casual mainstream term for vacation.   

Put together, the two meanings celebrate our LGBT identity and the inclusive, joyful, and unfettered spirit we cherish. 

Patrick is no stranger to traveling, it has been part of his life that has also been a part of his LGBTQ activism. 

I caught the travel bug while attending a college study abroad program called Semester at Sea. The semester consisted of a 100-day voyage by ship around the globe, stopping in 10 different countries along the way. Having my eyes opened during my first global circumnavigation, I volunteered to work on my second Semester at Sea a few years later. My job on the ship was to help the students plan their in-country travel. I credit my travels with helping me to find the courage to come out to my friends and family, a major step in any gay person’s life. I have visited over 50 countries and grown from each experience.  

I have personally witnessed the transformative power of sharing my story in places that were less than gay friendly. I have also experienced the impact just one traveler can make, let alone hundreds or thousands. My experiences have shaped my perspective and they are what compels me to share my gay story while traveling to antigay destinations. 

My initial trepidation about attending a gay cruise was due to the mere fact that I was prejudiced by photos and stories I had heard about other gay cruises in the market.  I was not a gym bunny, I enjoy a buffet, can sing Britney but not Taylor Swift, and do not own a pair of speedos.  What I quickly learned is that no one cares, all welcome. 

We create a warm environment where ALL who believe love is love are welcome and we make it easy for everyone to leave their cares behind and focus on the fun. At VACAYA, guests of all shapes and sizes come together to celebrate the great diversity within our community. Traveling with VACAYA is all about our guests being completely comfortable in their own skin, no matter where they fall on the LGBT+ spectrum. Whether they are single, coupled, black, white, skinny, thick, or even straight, they’ll easily find a welcoming tribe. Add to that the safety that comes with being part of an undeniable majority while guests travel with us and VACAYA becomes a blissful utopia. 

There was a complete balance to my cruise experience.  The nightclub events and themed nights were a blast, but not a requirement.  I could get my fill of show tunes from the stage celebrities that performed on the mainstage or could sing karaoke to the dolphins as the bartender kept me well oiled.  There were naughtier events on the ship you could take part in, or you could literally order in room service and dine by yourself with the ocean crashing at your balcony.  A special treat was the incorporation of the Celebrity staff at our events – gay or straight, it did not matter…everyone was having fun. 

We certainly love a great party and will produce some of the best parties in the world, but our focus will not be on all-night ragers every night of the holiday. VACAYA is about discovering magical textures, tastes, smells, sites, and sounds of lands near and far… together. Sailing the seven seas or enjoying a resort that is all ours is about the moments we spend connecting, laughing, and living life to the fullest. Its possibilities are endless and exciting, sensual, life changing. These experiences open our minds, unify our rhythm, and bond us for life. 

I met a variety of people I would never have met before, from around the nation and even some from back home.  We are still in regular contact and were quick to sign up for the next VACAYA journey, including stays at a VACAYA Oasis – all-inclusive resorts that deliver a relaxing and exhilarating vacation because it is all included for one incredible price, from meals and alcohol to spa treatments and excursions…did I mention ALCOHOL?  Little did we know that COVID would change the world and the way we look at vacations. 

Like most people, we genuinely thought this would be a temporary disruption and that our government with its vast resources would rise to the challenge we were all facing. Very early on we thought we would be just fine for a few months. Sure, slow sales, but those would certainly rebound quickly once the worst of it was over. Early in the pandemic, we realized how devastating a prolonged Covid-19 battle could be for the travel industry. With trips likely to be canceled or postponed, VACAYA was challenged in myriad ways, with our very survival on the line. We did not have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines waiting for others to ultimately determine our fate. So, we got into the game.  

During that period, we focused on all the people around us – our guests, our entertainers, our vendors, our partners. For our guests, we offered to delay payments for all those affected negatively by the pandemic and were happy to offer that. Quite a few of our guests took us up on that offer. Then, for our entertainers – who we recognized very quickly would soon be in dire straits as all performance gigs dried up – we created a series of online shows where they performed live for our guests. We paid each performer a small fee, but it was our guests who really stepped up to the plate to lend a hand by giving incredibly generous tips. Collectively, over $20,000 was raised. Our “Saturday Night Spotlight” shows were a great forum to bring everyone together and to help our stable of talent survive those earliest days.  

Until recently, we could not imagine any light at the end of the tunnel until news of a vaccine promised some normalcy on the horizon.  Does this mean it will be safe to go back to vacationing? 

We are all about fun and building community, but our guests’ health and safety will always be our highest priority. While we fully expect the Covid-19 vaccine to be readily available before our June 2021 event, both VACAYA and our partner hotels in Provincetown have proven we can discern and implement complex health protocols when necessary. Using the guidance from national, state, and local agencies, we will be ready to adapt to any conditions we may face as a community, as we managed during our Mexico Resort vacation in October of 2021. 

That vacation was indeed a test of VACAYA’s ability to handle anything, and they did.  Not only were they able to navigate the resort under COVID protocol before the second surge, but they also had to deal with a tropical storm and a full-blown Category 4 hurricane.  Under the care of their hotel partner and the work of CEO Randle Roper’s quick adjusting, the vacation was a healthy success.   

Forecasters say that once 70% of Americans are vaccinated, we will have achieved herd immunity. According to Dr. Fauci, all Americans who wish to be vaccinated will have the opportunity to be inoculated by the end of Q2 of 2021. That puts summer as the prime return of travel and we’re ready for that moment. We just recently announced an all-new experience in Provincetown for the third week of June 2021. If everything goes as planned, we will be nearly back to “normal.” Then, we have a robust slate of programs in Q3 and Q4 including Iceland, Mexico, and New Orleans, followed by the Caribbean in Q1-2022. 

There is no doubt that the idea and the experience of travel will change for the foreseeable future.  Patrick refers to this as the “Great Pause”. 

The “Great Pause” of 2020 (which is likely to stretch through the first quarter of 2021) is just that, a pause. We anticipate travel will bounce back rapidly. Most people have been confined to their homes, and that goes against everything we are as a species – adventurers, social butterflies. With vaccine news getting better and better each day, we’re already seeing a tremendous surge in bookings for 2021 and 2022. The one thing we hope does change is that we hope fewer people take travel for granted. We have now seen how easily that privilege can be stripped away. So, we hope those who travel with us will really celebrate these moments together in more profound ways. 

TIPS for the SOLO traveler:

  • BOARD THE SHIP WITH A SMILE!  

Smile and say “hi” to the welcome staff, to fellow passengers in the elevator, and even at muster drill. It’s a good way to get your solo cruise off to a great start. 

  • PARTICIPATE IN GROUP EVENTS WITH OTHER SOLO TRAVELERS  

VACAYA offers daily organized activities for solo travelers. Test your wits at trivia, sing your lungs out at karaoke, or take part in silly pool competitions. Chances are you will see these folks again and again during the week, so have a go at something you would never try at home and see where it leads.  

  • SIGN UP FOR EXCURSIONS! 

Hopping on an active excursion is a great way to acquaint yourself with others on the cruise and take part in a shared goal.  Shared fun is bound to lead to opportunities to share your smile. And where that leads is up to you!  

  • MAINTAIN REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS  

Shipboard romances do occur and occasionally turn into long-term loves (Randle met his husband on an all-gay cruise). In general, however, most people will return to their real lives at the end of the cruise. Look for a few new friends rather than searching for “the one.” And along the way to friendships, you might just find “the one.”  

  • TAKE THE FIRST STEP  

VACAYA’s “Solo Traveling with Ease Program” (or STEP) will pair you with another solo traveler to share a room, ensuring your costs are kept to a minimum.  Don’t want to share a room? No problem. We offer solo travelers a “My Own Room” option – a single room all to yourself. Each vacation also has an official Facebook Event Page that you can share pics, ask questions, and share common interests. 

TIPS for traveling with your significant other:

  • READ THE DAILY SCHEDULE TOGETHER  

VACAYA publishes a daily schedule prior to each event, and on cruises, we also offer a video version on the shipboard TV. Take the time to read or view the available activities and pinpoint a few that each of you wants to do. We often hear that the person who tagged along to the activity had even more fun than the person who selected it!  

  • SCHEDULE TIME TOGETHER  

Be sure to set aside some time to rekindle the flame. Perhaps a couples’ massage in the ship’s spa can relieve some tension and bring each other closer together. Book a dinner at a specialty restaurant or surprise your significant other with a bottle of champagne and roses.  

  • OPEN YOURSELVES TO NEW FRIENDS  

While you’re traveling with your honey, that doesn’t mean you both can’t make a few new friends. Cruises are great for socializing and meeting others who share the same interests and hobbies. Whether lighting up the dance floor or enjoying one another’s company in the pub or wine bar, feel free to strike up a conversation with fellow travelers.

Once it is safe, you won’t even have to worry about those COVID pounds, girl… just pack a bag and join me on a VACAYA vacation, I’ll be the husky Latino next to the empty glasses of pinot grigio. 

Check out all VACAYA’s upcoming trips – including their resort vacations in Provincetown, Mexico, and Costa Rica and their cruises to Iceland, New Orleans, the Southern Caribbean, and Antarctica: myvacaya.com

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