Best major cruise lines for LGBTQ+ cruises

LGBT cruise holidays are far from a rarity nowadays as cruise lines vie to be the most welcoming they can be.

We’ve investigated what major cruise lines are doing to make sure everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is included out on the waterways of the world.

From Celebrity Cruises to Royal Caribbean, this is what you should know about LGBT cruises with the big names in cruising.

Celebrity Cruises – LGBTQ+ cruises

Celebrity Cruises prides (sorry) itself in valuing the importance of diversity among guests and crew. The proof is in the pudding – the luxury line has been awarded copious accolades including ‘LGBTQ+ Friendly Travel Company of the year’, ‘Best Large Ship Cruise Line for LGBTQ+ Passengers’, and most recently ‘Consumer Favourite for Inclusivity’ in the Sailawaze Excellence Awards 2024.

The brand has been performing legally recognised same-sex marriages onboard its ship since 2017, officiated by the captain himself!

Celebrity Cruises’ LGBTQ+ Welcome Parties are held on the first night of almost every cruise and are open to all guests. There are also various LGBTQ+ events and social hours onboard throughout sailings.

What’s more, the line holds a Pride Party at Sea every June (This June marks the fourth annual celebration) amid a flag-raising ceremony and month-long celebrations across the entire fleet.

– READ MORE: How can cruising become more inclusive? –

Royal Caribbean – LGBTQ+ cruises

As for LGBT cruises with Royal Caribbean, the line has also won awards for its LGBTQ-friendly cruises. It was the first cruise brand to receive the sought-after distinction of being Gay Travel Approved by GayTravel.com, the ‘go-to’ resource for members of the LGBTQ+ community, back in 2016.

Royal Caribbean’s ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ+ community has gained international recognition for its active support. Since 2022, the line has partnered with Pride 365 and demonstrates a spirit of diversity and inclusion on all its ships.

Ben Bouldin, Vice President EMEA, Royal Caribbean International, told Sailawaze: “As a holiday provider, our aim is to put a smile on our guests’ faces 365 days a year. We believe that our differences make us stronger and that happy employees make for happy guests. Happiness comes from the freedom to be true to oneself, both in the workplace and on holiday.”

Royal Caribbean hosts LGBTQ+ meet-and-greets and various events onboard its cruises, as well as symbolic same-sex marriage ceremonies at sea. To legally tie the knot, fully-fledged weddings are possible at select ports.

While Royal Caribbean isn’t currently promoting any LGBTQ-themed sailings itself, the ships are often chartered by companies that run LGBTQ-themed charters.

– READ MORE: How to get married on a cruise ship –

Virgin Voyages – LGBTQ+ cruises

Virgin Voyages “welcomes and celebrates members of the LGBTQ+ community every day”. All the line’s ships offer gender-neutral and accessible bathrooms and allow “sailors” to select the gender in which they identify when sailing.

Virgin Voyages hold regular parties and LGBTQ+ themed events, such as drag cabaret shows, karaoke nights and drag bingo. The celebrations reach their peak in June of course, and this year the LGBTQ+ cruises 2024 offer PRIDE-themed cocktails, sporting all the colours of the pride flag.

The adults-only line brands some of its award-winning entertainment as “deliciously NSFW” (Not Safe For Work) – free from all rules and restrictions like dress codes, this is a place where you can really let your hair down.

Sailings regularly visit LGBTQ+ friendly destinations, from the legendary gay clubs across Miami to the colourful pride celebrations in Cozumel, Mexico.

Travel company Atlantis Events frequently hosts LGBTQ+ cruises on Virgin Voyages ships, combining high-energy fun, culture and a sprinkling of history for an action-packed holiday. This summer an Atlantis Athens to Bareclona Cruise will be running from August 13th, 2024 – August 23rd, 2024.

– READ MORE: Best singles cruises for a hook-up –

P&O Cruises – LGBTQ+ cruises

Among the top LGBTQ+ cruise lines sits P&O Cruises which “celebrates the diversity, inclusion, and equality of all people” and continues to partner with and sponsor Southampton Pride, alongside Cunard.

P&O’s parent company Carnival Corporation has been recognised for the eighth year running for its LGBTQ+ employment practices, recently scoring a perfect 100 on the Human Right Campaigns’ (a leading global non-profit organization working to advance diversity, inclusion and gender equality at work) corporate equality index.

Plans for a family-friendly pride cruise which “honour[s] pride in self, the diversity of the community and the endless variety of talented artists, entertainers and educators in it” are currently on hold for the cruise line, however details are due to be announced soon.

Several ships within the P&O Cruises fleet including Arvia and Iona publish daily LGBTQ+ meet-ups in activity programme ‘Horizon’.

 – READ MORE: What’s included on a P&O Cruises holiday? –

Azamara – LGBTQ+ cruises

Azamara is another great LGBTQ+ cruise line, having won “Best Small Ship Cruise Line for LGBTQ Passengers”, as voted by LGBTQ+ cruisers.

While some LGBTQ+ cruisers prefer its smaller scale for a quieter, arguably more sophisticated holiday, this by no means results in there being a lack of shindigs for the buzzing LGBTQ+ community. In Azamara’s own words: “We’ll roll out the rainbow carpet with activities and events that embrace and celebrate your community and your allies.

Azamara LGBTQ+ friendly cruises also visit “welcoming destinations”, with meet-and-mingle cocktail parties, energetic pride-themed activities, plus an array of activities and experiences for the community both onshore and onboard. New for 2024, the line has begun hosting LGBTQ+ happy hours on certain sailings.

– READ MORE: 8 best small cruise lines –

Princess Cruises – LGBTQ+ cruises

Is Princess Cruises LGBTQ-friendly? The answer is yes, and has been for some time. LGBTQ+ meet-ups are held every sea day which can be found in the ‘Princess Patter’, as well as special events aimed at the entire community.

The ‘Love Boat’ line also will not call at “unfriendly” destinations – in 2019 Princess dropped its calls at Brunei over anti-LGBT laws.

“At Princess Cruises, we celebrate diversity and equality and would avoid any location where any guests are not treated with dignity and respect,” a Princess spokesperson said of the decision.

Guests of the cruise line are even able to customise the face of their Princess Medallion (an innovative device that offers personalised service, locates friends and even unlocks cabin doors!) with the Rainbow flag.

– READ MORE: What’s onboard Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Sun Princess? –

Seabourn – LGBTQ+ cruises

Seabourn – along with Holland America Line – provides LGBTQ-friendly cruises that welcome guests “from all walks of life, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds, including of course our very important LGBTQ guests,” said a spokeswoman.

Holland America Line – LGBTQ+ cruises

Holland America Line and Seabourn offer LGBTQ+ welcome parties and ‘get-togethers’ at least twice per cruise. What’s more, the vessels are sometimes chartered by organisations such as RSVP Vacations and Olivia, which have specialised in gay and lesbian cruising for decades.

 – READ MORE: How to choose the right cruise for you – 

Viking Cruises – LGBTQ+ cruises

As for LGBTQ+ river cruises, Viking is very much an LGBTQ-friendly cruise line. Ships offer regular meet-ups as well as entire-ship charters for LGBTQ+ travellers, recently upping their port stops in LGBTQ-friendly destinations such as Amsterdam. The smaller number of passengers lends a more intimate atmosphere and increases the likelihood of meeting like-minded people, or even perhaps…’the one’!

If you needed further convincing, Viking has previously been awarded ‘Best River Cruise Line for LGBTQ+ Passengers’. The line’s LGBTQ+ river cruises are rapidly growing in popularity, with places getting snapped up in no time as itineraries are released.

– READ MORE: Viking’s new riverboat coming in 2025 –

Uniworld – LGBTQ+ Cruises

Uniworld’s mantra when it comes to satisfying its LGBTQ+ audience is “inclusivity goes beyond amenities”.

The river cruise line, which is a proud member of The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, offers annual dedicated week-long cruises full of fun, memorable travels for LGBTQ+ travellers and their friends, family and allies. Hosted by gay and lesbian travel veterans, Gregg Kaminsky & Kelli Carpenter, these holidays feature special programming, such as LGBTQ+ performers, dance parties and themed events.

What’s more, Uniworld’s sensitivity training takes care to ensure its personalised service approach is responsive to the LGBTQ+ community, with staff taking part in a compulsory series of expert-led LGBTQ+ training sessions.