I get asked this a lot. "Why Virgin Voyages? Why not Atlantis or VACAYA? Wouldn't a gay charter cruise be the more obvious choice for a queer travel advisor?"
Fair question. And the answer isn't that charter cruises are bad. They're not. They serve a real purpose and a lot of people love them. But I chose a different path, and it was a deliberate choice. Here's why.
Charter Cruises Do Something Important
Let me start with respect. Companies like Atlantis and VACAYA pioneered queer travel at sea. They created spaces where thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers could be fully themselves, at a time when that wasn't possible on mainstream cruise lines. That matters. That history matters.
And for a lot of people, a full-ship gay charter is exactly what they want. The energy is unmatched. The parties are legendary. The sense of community when you're surrounded by 2,000+ queer travelers is powerful in a way that's hard to replicate.
I've heard incredible stories from friends who've done these sailings. I'm not here to talk anyone out of them.
But Here's What I Kept Coming Back To
When I was figuring out what kind of travel business I wanted to build, I kept running into the same set of questions.
Availability. Charter cruises run a handful of sailings per year. Maybe 3-5 if you're lucky. That means you're working around their schedule, not yours. Want to cruise in March for your birthday? October for your anniversary? You might be out of luck. Virgin Voyages sails year-round, from multiple ports, with dozens of itineraries. You pick the trip. The trip doesn't pick you.
Accessibility. Charter cruises tend to be expensive. They're chartering an entire ship, and that cost gets passed on. A week-long charter sailing can easily run $3,000-5,000+ per person before you add drinks, excursions, and flights. VV's standard sailings start significantly lower. More people can afford to actually go.
The inclusion question. This is the philosophical one, and I know people have strong feelings about it. But here's where I land: I believe the best version of queer travel is one where we're welcomed in the mainstream, not separated from it. I don't want to need a special "gay cruise" to feel safe on a ship. I want a cruise line where being queer is just... normal. Every sailing. Every ship. Every day.
And that's Virgin Voyages.
What Makes VV Different From Other Mainstream Lines
This isn't just "pick any cruise line and it'll be fine." I chose VV specifically because they back up the inclusion with real, structural decisions.
Gender-neutral restrooms on every ship. Not one token restroom in a corner. Throughout the ship.
Drag shows as standard entertainment. Not a special Pride sailing add-on. Every voyage, every ship, drag is part of the programming. It's in the DNA.
A crew culture that's genuinely inclusive. I've watched crew members light up when they see queer couples on board. Not in a performative way. In a "you're home here" way.
Named the #1 LGBTQ+ Cruise Line. Not by a queer publication doing them a favor, but by the broader travel industry recognizing what they've built.
Adults-only across the fleet. This matters because it creates an atmosphere where everyone on board chose to be there. The vibe is social, open, and grown-up. You're not navigating around families or wondering if the couple at the next table is going to give you a look.
The Year-Round Thing Really Matters
I want to help people take vacations when they actually want to take them. Not when a charter company decides to schedule a sailing.
I have clients who cruise for long weekends, for milestone birthdays, for "I just need to get out of Chicago in February" trips. That flexibility only works if the cruise line operates continuously. VV has ships sailing from Miami, Barcelona, Athens, and more. Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Alaska. There's almost always something available within a reasonable timeframe.
Try doing that with 4 charter sailings a year.
The Price Conversation
I care about this a lot. Travel should be accessible. One of the things I love about VV's model is that it's genuinely all-inclusive in ways that matter. All restaurants included. Gratuities included. Wifi included. Basic beverages included.
When you factor all of that in, a VV sailing is often cheaper than what looks like a "cheaper" cruise on another line once you add all the extras. And it's significantly more accessible than most charter cruises.
I want to help people who are cruising for the first time, not just people who've been doing this for years and have the budget for a premium charter. VV lets me do that.
Different Models, Both Valid
I want to be clear about something. I'm not saying charter cruises are wrong or that VV is objectively better. They're different experiences serving different needs.
If you want the experience of being on a ship with thousands of other queer travelers, a dedicated party atmosphere, and that specific community energy, a charter cruise might be exactly right for you.
But if you want a cruise line that's inclusive by default, available when you want it, and offers what I genuinely believe is the best food, design, and overall experience in the industry, that's Virgin Voyages. And that's why I built QueerQruises around it.
🎯 Bottom line: The inclusion isn't an event. It's the baseline. That's the difference.
Let's Find Your Sailing
Whether it's your first cruise or your fifteenth, I'll help you find the right VV sailing for your schedule, your budget, and your vibe. Take the quiz or reach out directly. This is literally my job and I love talking about it.
Not sure which sailing is right for you?
Take the 2-minute quiz and I'll point you in the right direction.
Brandon
Queer-owned travel advisor obsessed with Virgin Voyages. First Mate certified, FORA partnered, and here to help you plan an incredible cruise.