Pride at sea – the first Waves of Pride cruise

Pride on the ocean? Yes, please! I joined the inaugural Waves of Pride, an LGBTQ+ experience that brings a group on a cruise rather than fully taking over the ship. Think drag shows, themed parties, new friends, and plenty of Caribbean sunshine – with the regular cruise experience still very much part of the fun.

I was hosted by The Cruise Boys, powered by KVI Travel, for this five-day getaway aboard Virgin Voyages. And honestly, this smaller-group approach turned out to be a really nice happy medium between just going on a regular cruise or going on a fully chartered gay one!

A Smaller LGBTQ+ Cruise Within a Regular Sailing

Unlike an all-gay charter with thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers, Waves of Pride brought an intimate group onto a regular Virgin Voyages sailing. My rainbow wristband helped me recognize fellow participants and gave me access to four exclusive events.

I could mingle with everyone aboard, then reconnect with my group for what felt like little gay-club moments at sea. I met solo cruisers and couples, and those wristbands made saying hello so much easier.

Four Exclusive Events, Drag Queens & Open Bars

The private programming was a big part of what made this LGBTQ+ cruise special. All four exclusive events had an open bar, which was a very nice feature!

• Rise and Sparkle: A drag show with performances, morning cocktails, and Jessica Wild from Drag Race.
• Harmonious: A nautical party, or perhaps naughty-cal, depending on the outfit.
• Rockstar Brunch: Performances by TP Lords, Darcel Stevens, and Jessica Wild.
• Neon Nebula: A bright, colourful final party with more drag performances.

Costumes ranged from casual clothes to full on costumes. I typically landed somewhere in between. Considering the nautical dance-off finalists looked more angelic and corporate than maritime, I felt perfectly fine!

Between events, I joined informal pool gatherings. It wasn’t a full takeover, just pockets of my group hanging out. I even chatted poolside with Jessica Wild out of drag! A casual conversation with Drag Race royalty? Not a bad afternoon.

Grand Turk, Scarlet Night, and Bimini

My first visit to Grand Turk involved a canceled sightseeing tour, but the alternative was hardly tragic: warm ocean water, followed by Margaritaville with guys from the group, line dancing nearby, and some pretty literal shots.

Back aboard, Scarlet Night brought red outfits, surprise performances, and a big pool party for the whole ship. That balance was the appeal of this LGBTQ+ cruise: private celebrations without missing the shipwide fun.

The last full day took me to Virgin Voyages’ Bimini Beach Club in the Bahamas for beach time and pool-party energy. These sunny stops are why I love Caribbean trips.

My Cruise Tip: Set Your Phone’s Time Zone

My first interior cabin was wonderfully dark and quiet. The downside was just that there was no daylight clues when my phone randomly switched to Dublin time!

I thought I’d gotten up at 8am, but after finding empty corridors and a closed Galley (the on board food court), I discovered it was actually 3am. Apparently my phone wanted an Irish vacation!

Hot tip: Disable automatic time-zone changes and follow the ship’s announced time. Your alarm should get you to breakfast, not send you wandering around before dawn.

Would I Do Waves of Pride Again?

Absolutely. This LGBTQ+ cruise gave me recognizable faces around the ship, new friendships with people I’ve connected with on social media to hopefully see again, great drag performances, and freedom to enjoy the wider sailing. The next Waves of Pride was announced for November 2027 aboard Celebrity Apex and you can check out the Waves of Pride website for more details!

This article was sponsored by The Cruise Boys, powered by KVI travel, but all thoughts expressed are my own.