Why Celebrity Cruises® are best for LGBT travellers

Celebrity Cruises^® pride themselves on being one of the most welcoming cruise lines for the LGBT community.

We speak to Becky Thompson-Foley, Entertainment Director at Celebrity Cruises about why they are such a popular for discerning LGBT travellers.

What makes Celebrity Cruises so appealing to LGBT guests?

At Celebrity Cruises we offer guests high standards of service and impeccable attention to detail that all our guests – including those in the LGBT community – really appreciate; and we recognise and really value the importance of diversity amongst all our guests and crew. This has always been a driving force in how we operate and what we offer our guests during their holiday. We are really proud to have won awards from the LGBT community, including being voted for four years running as the ‘Best Large Ship Cruise Line’ for LGBT Passengers’ at MeetMeOnBoard.com’s Cruizie Awards. At these awards we have also won for our overall food experience, décor, spa and comfortable cabins… we find that our Modern Luxury approach really resonates with our LGBT guests.

Tell us about the LGBT welcome party on board

Our popular LGBT welcome parties – which all LGBT guests are invited to – take place on the first night of almost every cruise (unfortunately excluding Celebrity Xpedition itineraries). This get together acts a lovely ice breaker and provides the perfect opportunity to meet new people and make friends for the rest of your holiday. It’s always a lot of fun, and is a very relaxed and casual event; guests almost always say it is real highlight of their trip. The party is hosted by our senior officers on-board, and is an official welcome to our LGBT guests.

Having this welcome party sends a lovely message to all our guests that Celebrity Cruises is an open and inclusive community. It is so important for LGBT passengers to feel acknowledged, safe and comfortable in their holiday environment.

What’s the most popular ship or sailing with LGBT travellers?

All of them! Some of the more popular sailings with our LGBT travellers are the Greece and Italy cruises, such as the Italy and Greek Isles Cruise on Celebrity Reflection. They have such a lovely mix of beautiful beaches and clear blue seas, and the stop in Mykonos always goes down well. Another of our Greek cruises includes an overnight stay on this beautiful Greek island so guests can let their hair down and enjoy the nightlife here as well as enjoying the laid back atmosphere the Greek Islands are so renowned for.

How else are LGBT guests made to feel welcome on board?

In addition to the welcome party, we do a lot at Celebrity Cruises to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all LGBT guests to ensure they get the most out of their holiday. Through investment in training for all of our staff we create the welcoming atmosphere that our LGBT guests tell their friends about.