RSVP Vacations originated the concept of the gay cruise with its “A Cruise to Remember” that sailed out of New Orleans in early 1986.

There were 750 guests on board. Today there are quite a few notable players in the business, promoting itineraries that span the globe, and with passenger lists ranging from a couple hundred to a few thousand.

If you still aren’t sure where to go this summer, here are four cruises you might want to consider:

1. The “U in Drag” Cruise/U River Cruises

Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will want to shantay their way aboard the new “U in Drag”-themed river cruise which sets sail July 6-13. Guests on the eight-day trip from Regensburg to Frankfurt, Germany will be joined by none other than Drag Race fan-favorites Phi Phi O’Hara, Jiggly Caliente, and Darienne Lake. Included activities include gag-worthy performances, drag karaoke, drag makeup lessons, an exclusive diva-led bar crawl through one of the ship’s ports, and more.

2. Summer in Alaska Cruise/RSVP

From July 14-21, RSVP Vacations will take 1900 passengers from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska aboard Holland America’s Oosterdam. Along the way, guests will visit Hubbard Glacier, the totems of Ketchikan, and the Inside Passage.

3. Voyage Around Iceland/Source Events

Guests who join Source Events for its “Voyage Around Iceland” (August 13-20) also have the chance to experience the fun and frivolity of Reykjavik Gay Pride (August 8-11) before they even step onto the 212-passenger Star Breeze yacht. Once aboard, guests will circumnavigate the entire island nation while visiting less-explored fjords, waterfalls, fishing villages, and more along the way.

4. Oasis Mediterranean Cruise/Atlantis Events



As summer draws to a close, Atlantis Events has put together the biggest gay cruise in European history. As many as 5,500 guests will climb onboard the Oasis of the Seas as they navigate the Mediterranean from Barcelona with stops in Rome, Naples, Italy; Provence, France; and more.