I need to tell you upfront: this wasn't the plan. I became a travel advisor focused on helping queer travelers find great trips anywhere in the world. That was the pitch. Any destination, any style, any budget.
Then I got on a Virgin Voyages ship, and the plan went out the window.
How the Obsession Started
When I started advising queer travelers, I'd recommend all kinds of trips. Beach resorts, European cities, adventure travel, the works. I'd also been on an Atlantis sailing, the all-gay cruise charter in the Caribbean. Good time, big party, very specific vibe.
But when a client asked about cruises that weren't the Atlantis circuit party experience, I started looking into Virgin Voyages. And then I booked one for myself.
Something just clicked.
The food was legitimately great. Not "good for a cruise" great. Actually great. The ship felt like a boutique hotel, not a floating mall. The entertainment was weird and immersive and genuinely surprising. And the vibe? Adults-only, no kids screaming at the pool, drag shows on the daily schedule, crew members who didn't just tolerate queer people but celebrated us.
It was everything I'd been recommending to clients in pieces, all in one place.
I came home and wouldn't shut up about it. My friends got tired of hearing about it. My partner got tired of hearing about it.
So I decided to make it productive.
Why Only One Cruise Line
People ask me this a lot. "Don't you want to sell Royal Caribbean too? Norwegian? What about river cruises?"
No. Genuinely, no.
Here's what happened: I kept recommending VV to the queer travelers I was already working with, and it was a surefire win every time. Couples loved it. Solo travelers loved it. Groups booking birthday trips loved it. Nobody came back saying "it was fine." They came back saying "when can I go again?"
I quickly realized that VV was the best bet for just about anyone I was already working with. So I leaned all the way in.
I got my First Mate certification (that's VV's program for travel advisors who specialize in their ships). I learned every cabin type, every itinerary, every restaurant booking hack. I became the person who could tell you that Extra Virgin should be your first reservation, that the hammock on your balcony will become your favorite spot on the ship, and that Scarlet Night is worth packing an entire outfit for.
💬 My take: I'd rather be the person who knows everything about one excellent thing than the person who knows a little about a lot of mediocre things.
The Queer Part
VV was named the #1 LGBTQ+ Cruise Line, and it's not because they slapped a rainbow on their marketing during Pride month. It's because the inclusivity is structural. Gender-neutral restrooms on every ship. Drag entertainment as standard programming, every single sailing. A crew culture that's genuinely diverse and celebratory.
I'd been on the Atlantis sailing and had a blast. But that's a specific experience, a chartered gay party on someone else's ship. VV is different. It's a cruise line that was designed to be welcoming from day one. You don't need a special "gay sailing" to feel comfortable. That's just how it is, every trip, year-round.
That difference matters. And it's what made me want to build QueerQruises. Not just a travel advisory, but a space where queer travelers can get honest advice from someone who's been there, sailed that, and is probably already planning his next one.
What Working With Me Looks Like
Pretty simple. You reach out, we chat about what you're looking for, and I help you find the right sailing, the right cabin, and the right onboard experience. I'll tell you which restaurants to book first, which shore excursions are worth it, and what to skip. I'll prep you on the app, The Band wristband, embarkation day strategy. All the stuff that makes the difference between a good trip and a great one.
📌 Good to know: You pay the same price booking through me as you would booking directly on virginvoyages.com. The exact same price. VV pays me a commission. You don't pay extra. You just get someone who actually cares about making it great.
Then you sail. And I'm around if you need anything.
So Tell Me, Sailor
Can I help you get onboard? Whether it's your first cruise or your fifth, I've got opinions and I'm not afraid to share them.
Take the quiz and I'll match you with your perfect voyage. Or if you already know what you want, let's talk and get you booked. Either way, the water's warm and the drinks are cold. Well, the drinks cost extra. But everything else? It's included.
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.