ExplorerVacations.com/VacayaCaribbean
All Aboard! Join VACAYA on the 2027 Caribbean Cruise sailing on the magnificent Celebrity Beyond. See link above for pricing and details.
#VACAYA #CaribbeanCruise #CelebrityBeyond #CruisePlanners #ExplorerVacations

#vacaya Shit kickers was a vibe tonight!

It’s the little things. This made me tear up. #HardRockVallarta #Vacaya

Anyone else headed to the #Vacaya Mexico resort for Halloween? #Gay #gayPV @myvacaya.bsky.social

I just have to say thank you to all the guys who put loads in me this past week on #vacaya Alaska Cruise🥵 I’m a very happy hole.

This LGBTQ+ travel company’s mission of inclusivity is radical & ‘You’re more than welcome’ As the U.S. government tries to push trans and nonbinary people out of society, one travel company is embracing guests of all identities and sizes.

This LGBTQ+ travel company’s mission of inclusivity is radical & ‘You’re more than welcome’ buff.ly/8aHwbd9 #LGBT #LGBTTravelAgency #LGBTQ+Community #LGBTCommunity #LGBTTravel #VACAYA

Gays On The High Seas: The VACAYA Kimberley LGBTQ+ Cruise of A Lifetime Where better to start an over-the-top LGBTQIA + cruise than with VACAYA on Australia’s Top End? In mid-May, several hundred rainbow vacationers boarded a luxury cruise ship in Darwin, near ... The post Gays On The High Seas: The VACAYA Kimberley LGBTQ+ Cruise of A Lifetime appeared first on Star Observer.

An epic LGBTQIA+ cruise through Western Australia’s Kimberley brought strangers together and turned adventure into a family reunion at sea. See why travellers keep returning to VACAYA. 👇 #DNATravel #Vacaya

How one gay couple found lasting love while cruising the world “Oh, Zach, you love cruises?” “That’s cool. They’re not for me!” More than any other category of travel, whenever I mention I love cruises, there’s always a weighted response. Often, that response is immediate rejection — folks insisting that cruising is not for them or that they’re not “the cruising type.” I get it and understand that not everything is for everyone. But let me respond from my ocean of experience as a travel writer: If you’ll allow, cruising can be an escape to joy and your portal to the world. Check the records; you’ll see I was not smitten with cruises from a young age. My first voyage dates back to 1988 on the Big Red Boat, Disney’s initial foray into cruises from the ’80s into the early ’90s. From what I can reference from family photos and fun stories repeated over dinners through the years, I was a fearful child who did not trust the characters; I preferred combing my mother’s hair to enjoying the kids’ club onboard. In my defense, I was three. Despite my fears and anxieties, my sea legs were forming. Travel writer Zach Laks in front of the Disney Magic cruise shipcourtesy Zack Laks Semester at Sea, a 100-day academic adventure on a cruise ship, was where I found my heart of the ocean (see what I did there?!). The sailing university, a leader in academic adventures that gained some notoriety during the eighth season of MTV’s _Road Rules_ in 1999, offered a 100-day, around-the-world expedition from Ensenada, Mexico to Fort Lauderdale, Florida — taking the long route. I was a budding 20-year-old, out and proud for five years. I came out at age 15 in 2000 when my best friend Jeff inadvertently expedited the end of my closeted era by revealing he was gay. It wasn’t what I’d ever expected to hear, and I knew my secret would be safe with him. Leaning on Jeff, I found the strength to come out to my family, friends, and high school classmates. Having found confidence in myself and my identity as a gay man, I was eager to sail the world and experience its wonders. Right before the iPhone changed everything, I first connected with the world’s wonders through these voyages as I came of age: immersed in the throng of humanity on the streets of Tokyo, dancing to Madonna’s “Hung Up” in a queer underground club in Ho Chi Minh City, being the foreigner whose rarity is cause for celebrity in Yangon, and the niceties exchanged during a grueling haircut (and unexpected neck crack as if I were at the chiropractor) in Cairo. I’d arrived at these ports by ship, without jet lag, without pretenses, and with an ever-growing list of places to return. Zach Laks and Jesse North enjoy the Bahamas while sailing the Celebrity Apexcourtesy Zack Laks I used to collect musical theater albums, and a recurring thought I’d have was that if I didn’t have a particular album (like the 1992 Faith Prince/Nathan Lane _Guys and Dolls_ Broadway cast recording), I knew my future husband would. Cue: “I’ll Know.” Add to that, the list of places I’d sailed and was eager to return to was being crafted with the intention that I’d bring my future husband along with me one day. I didn’t know who Jesse was then, but the universe was taking notes. Jesse came into my life in 2011. It was the kind of meet-cute where you’re both at a birthday party in a bar in NYC, and you know you’ve discovered your person. (Cue “I’ll Know” again, please.) So imagine my delight when I meet Jesse, exchange some niceties, and then tell him I love cruises, and his first response is an unabashed, “Me too!” A few vodka sodas later…“What?! You have a _Guys and Dolls_ tattoo?!” Jesse had that Faith Prince/Nathan Lane CD, which fit perfectly into my…er, _our_ collection. Zach and Jesse cruise with Disney Treasure to the Bahamascourtesy Zack Laks Since that encounter, Jesse and I have spent the last 13 years exploring the world together. Cruises are the way for us to share the thrills of travel with all the bells and whistles these new ships offer. Do you want champagne on demand anywhere on the ship? Virgin Voyages has an app that you can shake and have bubbly delivered. Want to go skydiving? Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships have RipCord by iFLY skydive simulators (I tried it, and that was good enough for me). Or how about some of the finest dining experiences anywhere? Check out Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud onboard Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond and Disney’s Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement on the Disney Treasure and Disney Wish. Since meeting Jesse, I’ve left my career as a theater producer to pursue full-time travel writing, focusing on cruises and theme parks. He has found meaning in producing breaking news videos. Planning our next cruise keeps us motivated, knowing there’s a journey ahead that will bring us to new adventures and closer together. To date, one of my favorite assignments was covering the inaugural sailing of VACAYA, an LGBTQ+ vacation company. The little apprehension we had, doubting our need to be a part of an all-queer sailing, was erased within moments of boarding, as just about every fellow guest was eager to say hello. We soon became a part of a vibrant community of queer folks from around the world that had arrived for a week to celebrate life. We’ve been chasing that high since, prioritizing queer travel opportunities to complement our regular cruise getaways. Jesse and Zach enjoying VACAYA's Provincetown sailing on the Celebrity Summitcourtesy Zack Laks I understand anyone’s hesitation to set off on a cruise getaway. It’s hard to describe how much fun a cruise is and, of all things, how seamless it can be. Jesse and I will be off the ship, connecting with a new port of the world all day. Then, it’s such a convenience to retire to the ship and recharge in the comfort of our quarters before a night out at sea. I always think about the easy flow of a cruise ship. Gliding from pre-dinner drinks at a lively bar to a fascinating conversation at a fine dining experience to a Broadway-quality show is a luxury. Ease on from there right into a few choice bets at the casino, then to a piano lounge, and maybe, if the vibes are right, on to a dance party at the club, and you’re sailing the seas in style. So, let cruising be my escape, my preferred way of seeing the world with my husband. No marketing materials can encapsulate the joys I’ve experienced while cruising. And if you’re still a naysayer on cruises, I’d like to politely ask you to sit down — you’re rockin’ the boat. **Zach Laks is a travel writer and editor based in New York City with****10+ years of experience with bylines in 20 publications covering cruises, resorts, LGBTQ+ travel, theme parks, destination guides, and travel news.**

Facing the camera in only a skirt made only of plastic leaves while giving a peace sign

Standing profile outside our cruise cabin door wearing leaves as a skirt

It’s #throwbackThursday and we’re going back to 2023 even tho it feels like so much longer ago. During the #vacaya cruise they had an ABC Party, anything but clothes. Yes, I’m wearing dollar store leaves as a skirt and tiara and no, I’m not wearing anything underneath.

@myvacaya.bsky.social

www.explorervacations.com/VacayaCaribb...
All Aboard! Embrace the Rhythm on the 2026 VACAYA Caribbean Cruise! #VACAYA #HollandAmerica #Caribbean #Cruise #LGBTQ+
#ExplorerVacations

Vanessa Williams Performance on Vacaya Gay Cruise 2024 | Sylvan & Milton Get more from Sylvan & Milton on Patreon

#VanessaWilliams #gaycruise #Vacaya #gaycruise2024 #GrammyAwardWinner #MissAmerica #MissAmerica1984 #TheRightStuff #TheComfortZone #Broadway #UglyBetty #DesperateHouswives #SaveTheBestForLast #CelebrityApex www.patreon.com/posts/vaness...

DNAnews: Markos | Nico | Hayden

Inside: Blake Yelavich Ryan Stanford Jade Young

#Titanique #TrentOwers #HotTakes #KimMingyu #BeauDeMayo #DecemberKnight #Vacaya #VacayaCruiseRescue

~read/opt-in 👉 dnam.ag/MNH

Thank you boys for letting me design the harnesses for your green pepper group look! 🫑 #VACAYA #gaycruise
@jarrenshanxxx.bsky.social @willkeysx.bsky.social

Gay Cruise Ship Rescues Stranded Refugees In The Gulf Of Mexico A gay cruise chartered by LGBTQIA+ travel company VACAYA became an unexpected lifeline for 11 Cuban refugees stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. The Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, ... The post Gay Cruise Ship Rescues Stranded Refugees In The Gulf Of Mexico appeared first on Star Observer.

BREAKING: LGBTQ+ cruise rescues 11 refugees adrift in the Gulf of Mexico An _LGBTQ_+ cruise turned into a life-saving mission Wednesday when Brilliance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship currently chartered by an LGBTQ+ vacation company, rescued 11 refugees who had been adrift in the Gulf of Mexico. > **Keep up with the latest inLGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.** According to a press release, passengers and crew mobilized after spotting a distressed vessel. Video footage from the ship shows a yellow rescue boat traveling between the refugees’ vessel and the cruise ship, bringing them aboard in small groups. Once on board, the individuals were given medical care, food, water, and warm clothing, the statement indicates. > **Related:**Details emerge after a Chicago man dies on the world’s biggest gay cruise The Brilliance of the Seas had departed from _New Orleans_ on Saturday for a seven-night Caribbean cruise when the rescue happened. VACAYA, an LGBTQ+ vacation company that charters entire ships and resorts and that chartered Brilliance of the Seas, said this was the first time in its eight-year history that one of its cruises had been involved in a maritime rescue. Guests on board rallied to help, collecting dry clothes for the rescued individuals, while Royal Caribbean provided emergency care, representatives for VACAYA said. VACAYA CEO Randle Roper, who is on the cruise and witnessed the rescue firsthand, described it as one of the most emotional moments of his career. “In my 22 years in the industry, I’ve never had such an emotional day,” Roper wrote on Facebook. “It’s sad that some people have to put themselves through such trauma in hopes of finding a better life.” Speaking to _The Advocate_ via voice memo, Roper detailed how the rescue unfolded. “The captain of Brilliance of the Seas spotted a boat in the distance that appeared to be in distress,” Roper said. “The captain called me immediately as the charterer of the ship to let me know they were going to turn around and investigate. They sent a pilot boat with crew members out to the stranded vessel, and from a distance, they could see at least 10 people aboard. It was clear they were in distress. The refugees were literally bailing water out of the boat—it was stricken, adrift, and taking on water.” According to Roper, the refugees had been stranded at sea for at least one to two days. “I can only imagine the fear they must have been feeling,” he said. “To be out in the open Gulf with no other vessels around, and then to see us—it must have been such a relief. The minute they spotted the ship, they started waving a white flag of distress.” MTV icon Downtown Julie Brown, who was performing on the ship, documented the rescue in a video shared with __The Advocate__ , explaining in real-time how the ship’s captain turned around after spotting the vessel in distress. > **Related:Yet another passenger dies on world’s biggest gay cruise** “We are in the middle of a live rescue operation right now,” Brown said. “We’ve just come down from the coast of Cuba, and we’re on the way to Mexico, but the captain of the ship … thought he saw a boat in distress. So we looped around—a big loop took us about 20 minutes probably to loop back around—and it was indeed a boat in distress.” Brown described how the ship’s rescue boat made multiple trips, bringing back a few people at a time. “The rescue boat has gone out four times and picked up three passengers at a time. So I’m guessing it’s roundabout between nine and 12 people at this point,” she said. Brown also said medical screenings were conducted once the individuals were safely on board. “They’re downstairs swabbing them for flu,” she explained. “They are being well taken care of. As they were coming towards the boat, I waved to them, and they all waved back to me.” Once the refugees were safely on board, the LGBTQ+ guests on the cruise immediately stepped in to provide support. “Most guests are asking, ‘What can I do to help?’” Roper said. “It’s been really, really inspiring. From the moment those 11 refugees boarded, people wanted to assist.” VACAYA provided fresh, dry clothing for the individuals as soon as they arrived on board, and the ship’s medical team ensured they were given food and water. Roper said the refugees, while exhausted and malnourished, were in good spirits. “They were exceedingly happy to be rescued, especially knowing their boat was taking on water,” he said. “They had no food, no water for a couple of days. We’ve got them here on board, safe and sound. They’re being fed, getting lots and lots of water to rehydrate.” Guests on the ship have been donating clothing and funds to further assist the rescued individuals. “Our guests are so generous—I imagine we’ll raise a substantial amount of money for them,” Roper said. It remains unclear where the refugees were coming from or where they had intended to go. Roper said that the U.S. Coast Guard has since taken over the situation and will determine whether the individuals continue on Brilliance of the Seas to New Orleans or if they will be taken ashore in Mexico, the ship’s next stop. _The Advocate_ reached out to the Coast Guard for comment. Roper said he has communicated with Royal Caribbean leadership about the rescue. “It’s really all about caring for the people,” he said. “This is a human issue. These are fellow humans, and everyone wants to make sure that A, they’re okay and B, that their onward journey, wherever it may be, is one of less distress than they’ve been going through these last couple of days.” __The Advocate__ has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment. While cruise ships sometimes encounter distressed vessels in open waters, Roper said this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a rescue. “I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and I’ve never seen one,” he said. “Never. So to have this happen is a really emotional day. As privileged as we are to travel on this luxury cruise liner, to know that people have to escape their lives in this way—it’s humbling. It’s very, very emotional.” For VACAYA, which specializes in LGBTQ+-inclusive travel, the moment highlighted the community’s values of care and compassion. Roper said the rescue underscored the values of the LGBTQ+ travel community. “Two of the most reviled groups in America right now are the LGBTQ+ community and refugees,” Roper said. “The fact that we were the ones lucky enough to help them—it just feels really, really good.” __This story is developing.__

@myvacaya.bsky.social has an official nude sunbathing deck. Today is a beautiful day at sea.

#GayCruise #vacaya #myvacaya

Just two more days and this guy is cruising!! Can’t wait!! #vacaya

Last 2 projects finished this AM. Shirts for 90s night. Downtown Julie Brown will be on the ship during that event. and CUTE animals dressed for Mardi Gras tumblers. I’m the hedgehog. 😉 #vacaya

This is a Pokémon named Snorlax. This is a shiny version of Snorlax. It has been applied to a black T-shirt.

This is a poke man named Eevee. This is the shiny version of Eevee. It has been applied to a black T-shirt.

This is a Pokeman named Wooper. This is a shiny version of Wooper. It has been applied to a black T-shirt.

This is a shiny version of the original Nintendo game controller. It has been applied to a black T-shirt.

Been crafting again to keep above news. We are leaving on a Vacaya cruise on Saturday on the Brilliance of the Sea Royal Caribbean. One of the theme party is called brilliance. And I immediately thought about shiny Pokémon. This is a new chrome vinyl material. It was tricky. #pokemongo #vacaya

Less than 4 days until vacation! Cruise time! Anybody sailing with #Vacaya?

VACAYA Is Bringing Their LGBT+ Cruising Experience of a Lifetime To Australia The Kimberley is one of the world’s last remaining pristine wildernesses. Breathtaking sandstone cliffs, stunning gorges and a tropical paradise await the city weary traveller. Stretching across the remote northwest ... The post VACAYA Is Bringing Their LGBT+ Cruising Experience of a Lifetime To Australia appeared first on Star Observer.

Booked! Alumni can start booking on 2/8. Newbies can start booking on 2/11
#vacaya
#gaycruise
#vacayacaribbeanvruise2026

Count down to cruise. #vacaya

The Palm Springs Guys (aka Glen Nadeau & Gregory Douglass) will be setting sail on this year's VACAYA 2025 Caribbean Cruise! Gregory will be performing 3 of his own shows, alongside other fabulous divas… 🤩🛳️ 🇲🇽 🏳️‍🌈 🎶 www.myvacaya.com/trip/caribbe... #VACAYA #CaribbeanCruise #GayCruise #MardiGras2025

#vacaya
#chubvers
#verswolf

#Vacaya #chubbywolf

There's a new sheriff in town

#Vacaya vacation fun

Can't wait to go on my first all gay cruise with #vacaya to Alaska this coming summer, but I'm the mean time I'm going to find some other gay men for my cruise in February from Miami to Barcelona. There's always a dozen or so on any cruise it seems.

Standing naked in a hotel room wearing a chest harness

Happy #throwbackthursday! This was before a Caribbean cruise in 2023 on #vacaya. I was trying on harnesses for one of the theme parties. What do we think??

#cellblock13 #harness #gay