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Death Confirmed Onboard Atlantis Events'  Oasis of the Seas Gay Cruise

The much-criticized trip is the company's 30th-year celebration.

A death has been confirmed aboard Atlantis Events' 30th Anniversary Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

The Advocate has confirmed the death with Atlantis Events. While a representative said the death was "nothing out of the ordinary," they referred The Advocate to Royal Caribbean for comment on cause of death.

Last week, Atlantis Events set sail with a reported 4,700 travelers on the Oasis of the Seas. The trip was in part to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary. Given the ongoing global pandemic, a much-discussed New York Times article questioned whether the ship could keep its occupants safe. Organizers vowed to implement various social distancing methods but still sold the ship at almost full capacity.

During the cruise, multiple images have circulated on social media that show few to no signs of distancing.

Thursday night, Chris Wiggins, a freelance journalist who has written for USA Today, tweeted that he had confirmed a death of "at least one person" on the ship. He wrote that the cause of death is currently unclear. He said he confirmed this information with sources onboard the ship.

\u201cBreaking: Confirmed that at least one person on the Atlantis Gay Cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, dubbed the Omicron of the Seas, has died.\n\nCause of death is unclear.\n\n(This isn\u2019t a covid-related joke)\u201d — Christopher Wiggins (@Christopher Wiggins) 1642530071

A mostly anonymous commenter wrote in response to his tweet that the death was from a "legit (non-drug related) medical issue."

This was not the first death of an Atlantis Events cruise. In January 2020 a technical crew member went overboard, and in January 2018 reality star Joel Taylor died of a suspected overdose. Cruise Law News, a blog that covers the cruise industry, reports at least five deaths in the past decade on Atlantis Events charters.

• Gay Cruise Says No to Sexually Explicit Content ›
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Details emerge after a Chicago man dies on the world’s biggest gay cruise

The identity of the man who died during the “world’s biggest gay festival at sea" has been revealed, along with the alleged details surrounding the circumstances of his untimely passing.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

Jonathan Mindrum, 36, died on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas at around 3 a.m. on January 24, the Washington Blade reports, shortly before the ship was scheduled to reach San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 7 a.m. on January 24.

While the ship left from Miami on January 21 and returned January 28, Mindrum’s body is still in Puerto Rico at a local funeral home, according to his sister Jennifer Mindrum, whose identity was verified by the outlet after she posted on social media asking for information about her brother's death.

"My brother died Wednesday morning ... on the cruise ship. We have received hardly any information from the cruise line," she wrote in a post on Reddit.

twitter.com

One user responded, writing that “I believe I saw him die." He alleged that Mindrum's death occurred at the Neon Playground party in Studio B, an entertainment venue that is converted into a nightclub, where the music stopped around 3 a.m. to announce a "code alpha alpha alpha" -- code for a life-threatening medical emergency.

The commenter claimed that Mindrum was unresponsive where he was seated, and was then taken to the ship's medical center by their care team. He added that “the rumor mill aboard the ship is saying that he took a fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet that he purchased on board."

The claims could not be verified by the outlet, and have not been confirmed by law enforcement or the cruise line, but CEO Rich Campbell confirmed Mindrum's identity to the Blade .

“Mr. Mindrum did unfortunately pass away onboard Oasis last week, but the circumstances regarding his death were not suspicious,” he said. “We are very saddened by this loss and our condolences go out to his friends and family.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there were at least five instances of an “alpha alpha alpha” alert issued during the voyage. It is also not the first time that a passenger has died on an Atlantis Events chartered cruise, with four such cases confirmed in recent years.

Craig Mindrum, Jonathan Mindrum’s father, told the outlet that his son was a “brilliant person as a professional consultant and thinker.”

“He had a very bright future ahead of him, so losing him is a loss not just to us but to the world,” he said. “We are in the depths of grief about losing Jonathan, and we also have important questions about the circumstances of his death and emergency services provided to him."

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The Atlantis Gay Cruise: Review and Essential Guide

We had wanted to go on an Atlantis gay cruise for years! This is  the gay cruise that everyone talks about and the Atlantis gay cruise in particular is one of the best known and hosts the biggest gay cruise in the world.

To us it looked like pure fun in the sun with all the different themed parties, visiting spectacular destinations and all held on-board a luxurious ship! However take a minute to look past the incredible parties and you will see there so much more to an Atlantis gay cruise.

We have been on many Atlantis gay cruises and after our first, all of our expectations were exceeded and our preconceptions challenged.

In our Atlantis gay cruise review and essential guide, we will share all our personal gay cruise experiences as well as answering all the questions you might have about going.

Here is what you need to know about going on an Atlantis gay cruise and why you need to go on one at least once in your lifetime.

What is an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Atlantis events is a company that is has been running gay trips for over 30 years. They started small and now charter some of the largest cruise ships in the world to host multiple Atlantis Gay Cruises around the world.

This means that Atlantis will buy out (charter) an entire ship from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages or Norwegian Cruise lines, and then use the ship to run a gay cruise for normally 7 nights.

By chartering the ship exclusively for Atlantis guests, Atlantis can then run their own programme of events, parties and activities catered to gay travellers.

Who goes on an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

We had some big preconceptions here, we thought it was only the sterotypical poster muscle boys and we were a little intimidated – however, and this is a recuring theme in this gay cruise review, we were wrong.

Yes there are plenty of poster boys, but having done multiple gay cruises we have seen every body type represented and celebrated, every age and people from all over the world. It’s amazing to see people just let loose and enjoy themselves no matter their body type.

Do not worry about your body, just turn up as you are and you are sure to have a great time! If you want to smash the gym pre-cruise that is also fine – it is all about what is good for you!

In terms of gender and sexuality, anyone is welcome to book an Atlantis gay cruise, we have met straight couples and lesbians onboard, but it is 90+% gay men.

We have also met plenty of solo travellers, couples, groups of friends, throuples and everything inbetween

Don’t take our word for it, read from other guests about who goes on gay cruise .

Are Atlantis gay cruises friendly?

For our first sailing, we didn’t know what types of people we would be meeting on-board. We had seen in advance through various Facebook groups that there were a lot of large groups of friends, and this being our first cruise and not knowing anybody in advance we were worried that it might feel ‘clique-y’ and that we might not fit in.

It turns out we were completely wrong.

Without a doubt the environment on the Atlantis gay cruise ship was the most friendly and welcoming environment we have ever encountered in our lives.

People would talk to you at every opportunity and it felt refreshing to experience this – people were just genuinely nice. We really wish it was like this in day to day life, people don’t talk to each other enough or simply ask how your day is going.

You will meet so many people and some will become lifelong friends – given that there are thousandss of people on-board and they booked immediately for the following year, you can see how the community builds and builds.

We purposely go on the same sailing each year to see a lot of familiar faces.

What are the parties like on an Atlantis Cruise?

The parties on an Atlantis gay cruise are a full scale production, exactly like you would expect from any big gay circuit party with international DJ’s and the party locations being turned into jungles, under the sea worlds or whatever the theme might be.

What are the Atlantis Cruise Party Themes?

On the topic of themes, we love to party and we (Sion mainly) loves a themed party.

For every cruise both the day time parties (T-Dance parties around 3pm) and the night time parties (around 11pm until as late at 9am sometimes!) have themes.

Guaranteed party themes include the dog tag T-Dance (military style), the White Party and the Disco T-Dance – other nights take on a range of themes (more below).

People get incredibly creative and you can wear anything you want at all.

Do people have ടex at the parties?

You will see everything at the parties, and by everything we mean everything.

This is not a bad thing at all in our eyes. In fact it’s quite liberating to see people taking the social stigma away from enjoying ടex and feeling free enough to do whatever they want – no one seemed to mind or care and everyone just seemed to have a good time! Do be mindful of staff, for the most part it’s deep in the crowd.

This extends well into the early hours of the morning…especially on certain ships that have the D*** Deck.

What do people wear on an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Keeping on the theme of the parties, you might decide to wear very little (i.e just a jockstrap), be nervous stood in your room (like we were the first time) and then get to the party and realise you had nothing to worry about – no one judges you and it is super liberating!

On the other hand we have seen people dress full on as jelly fish, sea gods and polar bears!

We have an entire post on ‘What to pack for a gay cruise’ but here are the typical themes you can expect to see every year are:

• White Party – the name says it all, wear all white. You can go all out and maybe don some angel wings , these white elastic body harnesses are a cheap and easy option for anyone or you can simply wear a white vest and shorts. We have never seen so many bare bums so feel absolutely free to simply grab yourself a white jockstrap and get ready to party!
• Dog Tag T-Dance – This one is all about the military – think black, green and camo. Grab some camo speedos , some trainers or boots and you are good to go. If you want to take it further, you will see a lot of guys wearing a good quality leather chest harness and maybe getting into character with some face paints too. 
• Disco Theme – We have never seen so much gold fabric! For this party, grab yourself a comedy disco wig , some gold pants  or maybe a ridiculous 70’s style shirt!

JJ Malibu tick all the boxes for ‘gay’ party attire and we stocked up before going on our first cruise (as you can tell in all these photos!). They have whole sections on their website for white parties, military themed parties, circuit parties etc.

In previous years the additional themes were ‘Under the Sea’ – think cheeky sailors; ‘Champions’ – think sports; Jungle and ‘Playground’ – cartoon characters and so on.

What to pack for an Atlantis gay cruise?

There is so much more to consider! Outfits, cruise cards to keep in touch with all your new friends, white boards. And we especially wish we had taken earplugs! The music was LOUD!

For the full list check out our list ‘ What to pack for a gay cruise ’.

Is an Atlantis Gay Cruise all about the parties?

We fully understand that parties are not for everyone, and so if you don’t want to go to them, simply don’t. You are probably on one of the largest and most luxurious cruise ships in the world and there is so much else to enjoy.

You have the shows to watch, whether this be theatre based shows like Mamma Mia, or the incredible acrobatic Airotic show. The food is great and each night you can enjoy a 3 course or more fine dining experience. There are usually sports courts, climbing walls, surf riders, and more bars and cafes than you attend.

There is something for everyone so if you don’t like to party, do not worry, you will still have the best time in the friendliest environment.

What are the staff like on an Atlantis cruise?

Now you might be thinking ‘what about the poor staff?’

After speaking to many members of staff on-board they all know what to expect and in fact some actively volunteer to work on an Atlantis gay cruise. One member of staff even went as far to say “it was her favourite charter of the year regardless of destinations”. They say as a group we are friendlier, politer, more fun and tip more – and they even party with us! They also enjoy not having screaming kids and, in some cases, entitled parents on board!

We don’t need to tell you, but the staff do deserve so much respect and it was lovely to see everyone giving it to them!

Is there a compromise on cruise quality?

Cruises are known for being high end vacations with exceptional service from the staff, exceptional food and the best facilities.

Just because this is a gay cruise with a heavy focus on partying does not mean that this is any less true. We thoroughly enjoyed the meals on the evening in the a-la-carte restaurant and did not miss one meal!

We made it to a couple of shows during our cruise too, before getting ready for the evening parties. And we even bravely fought the hangover to try the flow-rider, the climbing wall and on-board ziplines too!

The staff as we have already said, go above and beyond to help in anyway they can and the facilities on board the ship were top class.

The same can be said for the destinations – please make sure to drag yourself off the ship for a few places. This year we loved the water in the Bahamas, the vibe of Cozumel and the pool side bars in Costa Maya.

If you want an amazing cruise experience, you are still going to get one!

Do you need wifi on a Gay Cruise?

In all honesty, the wifi is not worth it. We know many people get it so they can stay active on Grindr, but actually most of the time location services does not work so neither do location based apps like Grindr or Scruff.

If you really need it occasionally then get it at the port without spending hundreds of dollars.

Like we said, everyone is super friendly, you don’t need an app to hook-up, if you want it you got it!

There is also an onboard app for free on Royal Caribbean Sailings you can use to message between rooms, this is what we did with our friends.

The one thing wifi can be useful for is when making new friends and trying to keep in contact on social media whilst onboard since not everyone checks the ship app.

What are the shows like on an Atlantis gay cruise?

We fully understand the temptation to go for a pre-party nap each night but the shows are really quite special.

The one that we loved the most this year was called Airotic. The show has many incredibly talented aerial performers showcasing their skills in silks, hoops, pole and many other disciplines. They absolutely know how to put on a show and it helps that the performers look incredible in their minimal costumes. A very impressive and sensual show indeed!

The other show we saw was the classic Mamma Mia! which we enjoyed, other nights showcased popular gay comedians . You are paying for the entertainment so you should definitely go and see it!

Is an Atlantis Cruise just a floating gay ടex cruise

It can be if you want it to be and that is absolutely fine , gay cruise ടex is widely available!

But the ship is so large with so much going on you could be in your own little world while all the “frolics” take place elsewhere – it is your vacation and you make it what you want and leave your judgement at home.

How much does an Atlantis Gay Cruise cost?

Naturally, a gay cruise is more expensive than an everyday sailing but you really can’t compare the two.

Prices per person for the week range from about $1,200 plus taxes per person at the lower end to much higher for the suites etc.

It’s not a cheap week but we always feel it is great value for money, mainly because you can’t get the same experience anywhere else.

Is an Atlantis Gay Cruise All Inclusive/ can you bring Alcohol?

In terms of what is included on an Atlantis Gay Cruise, it is all of your food, water, basic teas/coffee, parties, shows and entertainment.

Drinks are additional and depending on which ship they use you can sometimes get bulks buys or packages. You don’t normally have access to unlimited alcohol packages like you might on an everyday cruise (and it is easy to guess why!)

Like all cruises, you are not meant to bring your own alcohol onboard and this can be conviscated. However it is worth noting for a Royal Caribbean Atlantis Cruise you can bring two bottles of wine per stateroom.

Our final word -PACE YOURSELF!!!

There is so much going on at all hours of the day, and if you try and attend between 2-3 parties a day you will burn out! It is totally OK to take a night off!

We both get serious FOMO but knew we would not make it to the end of the week if we did not have a mid week rest and we ended up sleeping for 12 hours!

When is the next Atlantis Gay Cruise?

Atlantis run gay cruises throughout the year across many different destinations, for the most up to date dates and locations head to their website .

We are itching to book our next Atlantis Gay Cruise!

Atlantis Gay Cruise: Review Conclusion

An Atlantis gay cruise is an experience we know we will never find anywhere else in any circumstance.

The entire week felt like we were in ‘gay-topia’, surrounded by a protective little bubble from the outside world!  It was an incredible feeling of liberation, freedom, community and happiness.

The ships are beautiful, the staff incredible, the parties out of this world and you will make friends to last a lifetime.

Our biggest message from this post is just come on-board and truly, truly BE YOURSELF and feel liberated.

We hope you enjoyed our gay cruise review.

Once you have done your first one, we are pretty sure you will want to go back. Let us know your own gay cruise stories in the comments below!

Want to know more about being gay at sea? Check out:

• Join us on our Gay Sailing trip to Croatia!
• Are Celebrity Cruises Gay Friendly?
• What to pack for a gay cruise?

Liked this post? Don’t forget to pin it!

P.s don’t forget to follow our  Facebook  page,  YouTube  page and  Instagram  to see more and keep up to date!

Saturday 11th of January 2020

Do you happen to know about when booking opens up for the Jan 2021 Atlantis cruise? We are wanting to get a suite cabin and we know they are limited so we want to be prepared when it becomes available.

PAUL TASKER

Saturday 2nd of November 2019

I've booked my first ever gay Atlantis cruise next march 2020 from.puerto rico im a solo traveller and am very nervous as ive chosen the single sharer option

Tuesday 13th of August 2019

It was such an amazing cruise... Will you boys being going again this January?

The Globetrotter Guys

Sunday 8th of September 2019

Yes! We booked for January 2020 almost immediately after this years :)

Features / Top Stories / Travel

Yet another passenger dies on world’s biggest gay cruise

In a tragic development during the “world’s biggest gay festival at sea,” a passenger aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, chartered by Atlantis Events, unexpectedly died last week. Atlantis Events specializes in cruise  vacations  targeted at gay men. The death occurred during the Oasis Caribbean Cruise from January 21 to 28. The cruise originated and concluded in Miami.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines confirmed the death in a statement to  The Advocate.

“I can confirm that we had a death onboard and that it was unexpected and not suspicious,” the spokesperson said.The details of the passenger’s death have not been publicly disclosed.

Related:  Death Confirmed Onboard Atlantis Events’ Oasis of the Seas Gay Cruise

Details from a private Facebook group and private chat groups for those on the cruise shed some light on the incident.

Atlantis Events cruises feature large-scale circuit party-type dance events, among other entertainment offerings. Drug use at those events is common.

To all my gays on the Atlantis cruise please please be careful and look out for one another \ud83d\ude22— (@)

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there were at least five instances of an “alpha alpha alpha” alert issued during the voyage. Cruise ships typically use this code to signify that someone needs life-saving medical assistance. If accurate, the frequency of such alerts would suggest multiple medical emergencies during the cruise, although the nature and severity of these incidents remain unclear.

The Oasis of the Seas, known for its extensive amenities and entertainment options, was navigating with about 5,200 guests, according to Atlantis Events’ website. The itinerary included visits to several Caribbean destinations, offering a blend of parties, performances, and social activities.

Related:  Florida Man Dies on Gay Atlantis Cruise After Jumping Overboard

An anonymous source aboard the ship spoke to  The Advocate,  highlighting that the death was isolated and also mentioned the spread of influenza A among passengers. The private Facebook group for the cruise revealed many passengers suffered from flu-like symptoms.

The source commended the onboard medical team of Atlantis Events for their professionalism.

Despite multiple requests for comment from Atlantis Events, the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office, and Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, no further information has been provided.

It is not the first time that a passenger has died on an Atlantis Events chartered cruise.

In 2022, a passenger died on the same ship during another Atlantis Events chartered cruise.

In the 2022 case,  The Advocate  reported a death aboard  the Oasis of the Seas during Atlantis Events’ 30th Anniversary Cruise. The death was confirmed by Atlantis Events, with a representative describing it as “nothing out of the ordinary” and directing further inquiries regarding the cause of death to Royal Caribbean.

In 2020, a 46-year-old Florida man  died after jumping  10 stories from the Oasis of the Seas in Puerto Rico during an Atlantis charter. 

In November, two people reportedly died while aboard an Atlantis cruise. 

According to a November 2020  study  in the  International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health , covering data from 2000 to 2019, 623 people died aboard cruise ships, with 89 percent being passengers and 11 percent crew members. The majority of these passenger deaths were among U.S. residents, and the leading causes included falls overboard or onto lower decks, suicide, murder, and terror attacks, unspecified natural causes, and cardiac incidents.

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The Aftermath of the Gay Cruise Controversy

Atlantis Events, which produces LGBTQ cruises and vacations, received searing criticism for hosting the largest pandemic-era cruise event for its sold-out 30th-anniversary voyage — even as omicron spread like wildfire across the country. It earned the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Oasis of the Sea, the name “Omicron of the Seas” on social media.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the death of the passenger aboard the Atlantis cruise, first tweeted by Chris Wiggins, a gay freelance journalist. Wiggins tweeted reports of multiple “code alpha” emergency calls aboard the ship during the cruise, sources told him.

“We are saddened by the death of one of our guests aboard Oasis of the Seas. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family. We are fully cooperating with all parties involved in this tragic situation,” wrote Miraya Vargas, a member of Royal Caribbean’s corporate communications team, in an email to Gay City News.

Cruise Law News reported at least five deaths in the past decade aboard Atlantis cruises, not including this month’s death. Among the fatalities, a technical crew member went overboard a year ago, and in 2018, reality star Joel Taylor died of a suspected overdose.

Both ships were code yellow on the CDC’s COVID-19 list for cruise ships . The Oasis of the Sea and the Millennium both met the threshold for CDC investigations for reported COVID-19 cases on the ships for weeks prior to sailing in this month, yet were allowed to continue to sail.

Longtime Atlantis cruiser Ron Davis, who was aboard the ship and was quoted in a New York Times article that questioned whether a gay cruise could keep 4,700 passengers safe, told Gay City News the captain announced that only five cases out of the more than 4,000 passengers were reported aboard the cruise at the end of the trip. VACAYA reported 27 cases out of nearly 2,000 guests and, in a statement on January 27, fired back at the New York Times article.

VACAYA co-founders Randle Roper, CEO, and Patrick Gunn, CMO, called the low transmission rates proof that following COVID-19 health and safety protocols work: masking, social distancing, testing, vaccination, and reduced capacity. They declared LGBTQ travel companies and cruises can keep travelers relatively safe at sea.

The criticism of the Times was just as sharp as that of Atlantis setting sail with thousands of gay men during the omicron surge. Gunn said the community was described in “stereotypical ways” and said it amounted to “unacceptable prejudice.”

“I hate the presumption that people, when they hear gay cruise, they assume it’s just this big floating bathhouse,” Davis said, noting staff talked about a swinger cruise, Bliss Cruise, that sailed in November 2021 but did not garner the same media attention. “I hate that stigma so much.”

Images captured aboard the Atlantis ship of hunky, unmasked men in chaps, tightly packed together in what looked like a pre-COVID-19-like scene on the ship’s outdoor Aqua Theater, were pretty accurate, Davis said. The photos quickly went viral on social media.

With Atlantis and Royal Caribbean’s COVID-19 safety protocols, which included pre-boarding testing and masking in place, Davis said he felt safer aboard the ship than in an airplane or bar. Those who tested positive pre-boarding for both Atlantis and VACAYA’s cruises were not allowed to board, Davis and VACAYA’s founders said.

In addition to the safety protocols , VACAYA and Celebrity worked to together to meet guests’ comfort levels in an effort to keep COVID-19 transmission rates low. Guests had the option to watch live shows in the theater simultaneously on a big screen on the top deck of the ship.

The CDC loosened restrictions on cruise lines on January 15. The revised guidelines came 18 days after Dr. Anthony Fauci issued a strict travel advisory telling all travelers to avoid cruises in the face of the highly infectious omicron variant.

Many travelers reconsidered their cruise vacations, but Atlantis only had 35 cancellations out of 2,700 rooms since January 1, Rich Campbell, chief executive officer of the gay travel company, told the Times.

Reduced COVID-19 transmission rates on their cruise gave VACAYA the courage to sail forward this year, unlike some LGBTQ travel and cruise companies that canceled some trips or only have cruises sailing during the second half of 2022.

Royal Caribbean canceled some cruises out of caution due to COVID-19. Lesbian travel company Olivia scheduled cruises for the second half of 2022. Smaller cruises, like Viking, are going to require booster shots to board starting March 1.

“All of our trips are moving forward,” Gunn said stating the company’s leadership is “quite bullish” on the issue. They believe they’ve answered the question that they can “travel guests safely.”

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7 Night Atlantis Caribbean Cruise

Find out how crowded are ports - cruise ship traffic during this voyage. Click on each port for more details.

Miami, Florida

Nassau, Bahamas

Coco Cay, Bahamas

Labadee, Haiti

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Everything You Want to Know About Going on an Atlantis Gay Cruise

Going on an Atlantis Cruise is one of the most enjoyable vacations you can take. The options are limitless ranging from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean or even the South Pacific. The entire ship is full of LGBT guests and all staff have been extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment and one where you can relax and be yourself. The environment is friendly with a great social atmosphere and there are great parties and entertainment throughout the trip.

About Atlantis Gay Cruises

Atlantis Cruises was founded in 1991 and is the most popular and well-known gay cruise company in the world. They offer large, full-ship gay cruises where all the guests onboard are LGBT and they charter top-of-the-line cruise ships from well-known companies like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Norwegian Cruise Lines. The number of guests on an Atlantis cruise typically ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 depending on the ship and route. Atlantis offers 4 to 5 cruises a year in North America and Europe as well as occasional cruises in Asia and Australia/South Pacific.

Why Take an Atlantis Gay Cruise?

• Easy to meet new people – one great aspect of taking a gay cruise is that most of the guests are friendly and open to meeting new people. On a straight cruise, guests come with friends or family and already have a social group established. On a gay cruise, there are many activities that help connect guests and give you a chance to others.
• Travel alone – Atlantis cruises offers a cabin match program where they will assign you a roommate, so you don’t have to pay for the full price of a two-person cabin if you’re traveling alone.
• Awesome parties – If you book a cruise with Atlantis, you’ll be in for a treat with awesome and over-the-top parties. The events are usually themed, often outdoors and guests are encouraged to dress up.
• Great entertainment – most of the big gay cruise lines like Atlantis bring on big headliners or “gaylebrity” performers. Into drag queen bingo? How about performances from some of the top gay celebrity comedians, entertainers and famous drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race?
• Be yourself – probably one of the most attractive parts about a gay cruise is the comfort zone. The entire ship is full of LGBT guests and all staff have been extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience. It’s a very open environment and one where you can complete and be yourself.

Is a Gay Cruise Right for You?

First, you need to decide whether taking a cruise, in general, is something you want to do. Not everyone likes cruising due to the nature of the experience, but many do. Second, if taking a cruise definitely interests you, next you’ll need to decide if you prefer a gay cruise or a mainstream (e.g. straight) cruise. Here are a few things to consider.

• Your cabin, meals and entertainment are included in the price
• The ship will be almost exclusively LGBT guests
• Cruises can be crowed and there isn’t a lot of privacy
• You can visit many new destinations in one trip, but you only have a short time at each port to explore
• Gay cruises can be a bit more expensive than mainstream cruises due to the elaborate parties and unique entertainment onboard

What to Expect from an Atlantis Cruise?

Determining which gay cruise or trip to take is completely subjective. People have different preferences, budgets or destinations in mind when it comes to booking a trip. Atlantis is popular for a reason but it’s not for everyone. However, they definitely do a great job in providing an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Below are a few things to expect if you take an Atlantis gay cruise.

• Party focus – Atlantis cruises tend to be very party-focused and many guests go on these cruises just for the party atmosphere. Some people might not even get off the ship at the ports. The music tends to be electronic, circuit party style and not necessarily pop or top 40.
• Price – Atlantis cruises generally start out at about $900 per person for trips departing from Los Angeles or Miami. Cruises in Europe, Asia or the South Pacific might start at $1,500 to $2,000 per person. You’ll also need to add the price of flights or transportation into your budget so the location of the departing and arrival port should be part of your planning process.
• Size – Atlantis cruises are all large groups and full ship takeovers. If you’re someone who doesn’t like crowds, then you may want to avoid an Atlantis cruise and opt for a more intimate experience on a small ship.
• What’s included – the price of an Atlantis cruise includes the cabin, meals, parties and onboard entertainment. These items are typically not included in the price: pre and post hotel stay, land tours and excursions, specialty drinks/alcohol and airport transfers.
• The crowd – Atlantis cruises are typically about 99% gay men. Their main client market comes from the US, but people from all over the world go on their cruises. The average age range is usually mid 30’s and 40’s, but you’ll see guests of every age onboard ranging from 18 to 80.

Reviews from Past Travelers

Our atlantis cruise review & videos.

We took an Atlantis gay cruise back in 2010 and had a great time. We’ve been on gay cruises from a few other major companies including Le Demence and Open Sea by Axel. Atlantis definitely offers the most diverse entertainment and they have great parties. We took the Mexican Riviera cruise which departs from Los Angeles and visits various coastal cities in Mexico, including the gay-favorite Puerto Vallarta.

If the idea of a cruise, in general, doesn’t sound like your type of vacation, then an Atlantis cruise probably isn’t for you. Some longtime Atlantis guests have even become frustrated with Atlantis' complacency in the market, having been the only large-scale, gay cruise provider. But that has now changed and for that reason alone, VACAYA was founded in 2018 and has now become their biggest competitor. Atlantis also really focuses on the parties, so if that's not your scene then you may want to consider another gay cruise provider . However, if cruising is something you enjoy or think you might enjoy, then we’d definitely recommend you try an Atlantis gay cruise. It’s an unforgettable experience but you need to go in with the right mindset.

Check out these additional reviews and videos created by guests on a few Atlantis gay cruises.

• What is a gay Atlantis cruise really like?
• On Board Gay Cruise, Oasis of the Seas with Atlantis
• Atlantis Oasis 2019 Mediterranean Gay Cruise
• What to Expect on an Atlantis Gay Cruise

Image credits: Atlantis Events

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• LGBTQIA+ Roll Calls

Oasis of the Seas - January 16, 2022 - Atlantis 30th Anniversary Cruise

By CLTJif , October 24, 2021 in LGBTQIA+ Roll Calls

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Starting a roll call for the January 16, 2022, Atlantis cruise on RCCL's Oasis of the Seas. 

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Atlantis Aquaventure via Royal... - Aquaventure

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• Aquaventure

Great fun in the water park and pools. Even though i lost my glasses it was an excellent time... read more

The most fabulous resort that I have ever been to. Walking to the Aquaventure park was some... read more

Atlantis Aquaventure via Royal Caribbean Excursion

A group of 17 of us took an excursion to the Atlantis Aquaventure during our cruise on the Oasis of the Seas. Our price was $165 per adult, although from what I am told, the price fluctuates throughout the season. We ran into someone there from our ship who did it on his own for $140 plus a $4 cab ride, so we could have a saved a few bucks. Anyway, we got off the ship at about 7:15am and took a group shuttle to Atlantis. Our van driver was personable and friendly. Once we got to Atlantis at a little after 8am, we took the time to walk through the aquarium since the water attractions didn't open until 9am. If you aren't interested in the aquariums, you can walk around the property for a bit. At 9am, the Mayan slides open (that's the Leap of Faith, the Challenger,Serpent Slide, and Jungle Slides. There were not a lot of people there that early, so we went on each several times in a row with no lines at all. The (not-so) Lazy River opened at 9:30 and it was WELL worth your time. I'm not exactly sure how long it was, but it felt like a good 15-20 minutes to do a full lap. It's loaded with rapids and wave machines so you won't be able to rest too much over the course of your ride. Watch your ankles and watch your head, some of it is very fast. At 10am, the Power Tower opens which has the Abyss slide and 3 tube rides (The Fall, The Drop, and The Surge, All of the attractions (with the exception of the Falls and the Drop - these are just ok) are AMAZING and among the coolest rides I've ever been on. We were very lucky going in early February because the park wasn't busy in any way and we had very short lines for our time there. Don't worry if your excursion is only booked until 1pm or so, we went on 14 different rides and were basically tired of walking up stairs. We left on the noon shuttle and were completely satisfied. It's a bit pricey, but if you don't go during a busy vacation week, you should have an unforgettable experience. I read reviews that the pavement is REALLY hot when the temperature is hot, but it was only the low 80s and we walked around in water shoes or barefeet all day. We rented a $15 "large" locker and it was more than enough for the towels were brought (but didn't need to bring) and our bags.

Our favorite slides were the Serpent Slide, The Jungle Slide and The Abyss--- hours of fun! Must go on the lazy river (warning: it is not very lazy! thrilling and exciting is more like it!) Very clean, staff is very friendly and helpful.

This is not just fun, fun, fun, but also breathtakingly beautiful. The Atlantis managed to make a super fun water park that is woven beautifully into this gorgeous resort.

What a beautiful and fun park!!!!!! Slides are awesome and some are scary and some are just pure fun. The tubes slides are the best as not that scary and go through fish tanks - so much fun. Rapid River is a must do!!!!!!

Really not worth the cost. Disappointing!! Lunch cost us $75 for 3 people - burgers, chips and beer. The staff is not very personable - almost robotic - never smile Will NEVER go back there.

Great waterpark but the music played at the pools is too loud - more suitable for a night club. The kids enjoyed the rapids tremendously and the pools were great!

Atlantis Online Booking

Welcome to the Atlantis booking system for our cruise and resort vacations!

If you're a current Atlantis alumni, we recommend signing in to your account in order keep all your bookings in one place. By signing in, you will also automatically receive any eligible Alumni discounts on your booking.

Please note that if you prefer to book through a travel agency, you must contact your agency and have them make the booking for you.

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