Best Gay Cruise Lines of 2023 Named and How You Can Save Money - Vacationer Magazine (2024)

In September, we revealed our list of LGBTQ+ cruises to book in 2023, and now, U.S. News and World Report has released its top gay cruises for 2023. Get the details on which cruise lines recieved high marks and how you can save money on your next voyage.

As the travel industry comes back to life in a post-COVID world, consumer demand is surging, and so are the prices. Travel experts have noted a sharp increase in transportation and accommodation costs to consumers across the board for a variety of reasons. Be it the global recession, rising energy costs, or the laws of supply and demand, one thing is for certain; and it’s that it is going to cost a bit more for that dream vacation, at least for the time being.

One portion of the travel industry particularly hit by this trend is cruising. On The Today Show, Greg Guiteras, the President and CEO of Lorraine Travel, explains: “Are people going to pay higher than they ever had for a cruise? Yes. Are the selections and accommodations going to be limited? Yes. Are the ships gonna be full? Yes. But are people going to have a great time? Absolutely!”

Despite the upward trend in pricing, consumers are still keen to book a cruise as opposed to a resort trip where things like food and drinks are not included in the purchase price. Cruising appears to still be the best overall deal for thrifty travelers since it provides full package pricing. To save even more money, experts recommend booking interior rooms below deck and to book your cruise out of large ports such as Fort Lauderdale or Miami where the mega-ships depart from. Those ships can transport up to 5000 passengers which also helps to drive costs down.

This is all useful information to keep in mind when booking your next cruise. And to help us decide which cruise line to choose, U.S. News & World Report released its top gay cruises for 2023, taking the guesswork out of your travel planning.

Some of the cruise lines that made the list were of no surprise, like VACAYA, which we’ve featured several times on Vacationer. VACAYAcharters entire ships and resorts so LGBTQ+ travelers and their straight ally friends have the freedom to express their individuality, make personal connections, celebrate life, or simply relax… together.The company’s reputation comes from creating memorable travel experiences to amazing destinations, with stellar entertainment, and world-class hospitality, whether you are traveling in a group, as a couple, or flying solo. In March, they are hosting their Mystic Jungle Cruise through Central and South America.

Olivia was another familiar name on the list. For nearly five decades, Olivia’s mission has been to provide safe spaces, specifically for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women. In that time Olivia has managed and created more than 300 trips for more than 350,000 women. From large cruises to resorts, and intimate riverboats to adventure vacations, Olivia charters the entire ship or resort so that guests can always feel free to be themselves.Coming in February 2023 Olivia will celebrate its 50^th anniversary with a special Caribbean cruise.

Atlantis Events is the world’s largest gay and lesbian travel brand. Having been in business since 1991, they welcome 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ+ vacations. They also have the capacity to charter the aforementioned mega-ships, so they may have a bit of a competitive edge on pricing. They will be hosting their Prima Caribbean Cruise in late January which will feature stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and the Bahamas.

Mainstream, queer-friendly lines such as Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean International, and Celebrity Cruises also made the list as did a company LGBTQ+ cruisers may not have heard of called Brand g Vacations. Founded in 2011, Brand g recognized that LGBTQ+ travelers were looking for new and more exotic types of travel opportunities. Since river cruising was quickly becoming the hottest segment in travel, it only seemed natural to offer deluxe river cruise tours all over the world. Since then, they’ve expanded into deluxe land-only tours, as well, to countries like Africa, Ireland, Japan, and Nepal, which have earned them some of their best reviews and most fervent repeat travelers. In 2023, they’re expanding into the luxury oceancruise market.

So, there you have it! We provided a few travel expert tips on how to save money when you book a cruise if you’re thinking about book a cruise next year. Remember to check out Vacationer’s list of 2023 LGBTQ+ cruises to book right now!