Hundreds of men on a ship in sunny climes, add flirting and loud music that plays till dawn – and the list of ingredients for the gay cruise is complete. Obviously a favourite pastime for many, because both the number of guests and the number of tour operators is constantly increasing: this year there are more gay cruises than ever before. Time for an overview.

When millions of German TV addicts watch the latest episode of the everlastingTV series “Das Traumschiff” (The dreamboat) at the end of the year and follow the fates of retired couples on the high seas, it doesn’t really have sex appeal. And so it is perhaps also the fault of the television classic that it took quite a while for word to spread in Germany that more can happen on cruises than one boring dinner after another. Nowadays, however, cruises are no longer a niche for well-heeled early retirees.

Two new German gay cruises

According to the German Travel Association, 1.81 million Germans took part in a cruise in 2015 and the industry had a turnover of 2.87 billion euros. Olaf Alp, who is offering one of two new German-language cruises specifically for the community with the mCruise in 2017, still sees potential for growth: “Although Germany is the second largest cruise market in the world, a large part of our target group has never been able to decide on a cruise and certainly not on a gay cruise. This, he hopes, will change – not least because the industry is increasingly tailoring its offerings to this target group. On the gay cruises, from the mCruise to the Rainbow Cruise to Atlantis, the similarities to the TV dream boat are therefore kept within narrow limits: instead of schlager, house is played, hip DJs provide the right sound until early morning.

Celebrating until the morning

Those who still have energy afterwards can explore new terrain on shore leave. And when sexy guys are lying around the pool, the distinguished ladies and gentlemen of classic cruises are forgotten anyway. This also increases the choice for potential guests. Gay cruises are now everywhere: In the Caribbean, between the Canary Islands and in the Mediterranean. They each vary the classic gay basic concept a little, so that everyone who likes it a bit more exclusive and calmer will get their money’s worth, as will the boys who are primarily interested in partying and flirting as much as possible. The motto for 2017 therefore is: ‘Happy Cruising, everyone!’

Text: Daniel Segal

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