Welcome LGBT Cruisers!

Learn more about the originator and the program below.

My name is TC Cleveland, CTA, and I'm the very first 

Official “Unofficial” LGBT Cruise Ambassador. 

On November 5, 2012, I met my first cruise love, the Carnival Triumph, and on that cruise I also experienced my first LGBT Meetup at 10:00 pm among the straight patrons of  the Alchemy Bar. I met absolutely no LGBT Cruisers.

On subsequent voyages, I learned a few important things:

• LGBT Meetups are often scheduled at horrible times
• LGBT Meetups are often held at horrible locations
• LGBT Meetups are rarely hosted by crew members
• LGBT Meetups are not private events
• LGBT Cruisers are not always easy to identify
• Cruise Directors rarely care about the meetups

After my first 12 cruises, I had met less than 10 people at the meetups, and mostly due to the cruisers being Lesbian guests.

As you can imagine, meetups became a frustration and I would often end up not attending because, basically...

What was the point?

I imagine a few of you out there have felt the same frustrations.

After Covid-19 isolation, I decided there had to be a better way, and on July 3, 2021, I sailed on the very first cruise departing from the United States.

On the Carnival Vista, I packed desktop Pride Flags to set out on the countertops or tables. I was pleasantly surprised to find that one simple change attracted other LGBT cruisers. By the end of the cruise, we had 20 great guys attending the LGBT Meetups and 12 of us dining together. 

And yes, you can fit 12 men at a 10-top table.

On October 9, 2021, I sailed on the Carnival Dream with a few friends I met on the Carnival Vista. I also purchased the first Pride Pins to hand out to anyone attending the LGBT Meetups.  Once again, that simple addition made a huge impact. 

18 new cruisers joined our group of 6. 

Something else also happened on that cruise. I ran into a Carnival Cruise Officer that I had met on the Carnival Vista. The officer had received a promotion and was moved to the Carnival Dream.

That Carnival Cruise Officer was so impressed by my continued success hosting the LGBT Meetups; he dubbed me the

 Official “Unofficial” LGBT Cruise Ambassador. 

“Unofficial” because I was not going to get paid.

*Insert laugh here*

I’ve greatly enjoyed being a part of these new and improved LGBT Meetups and Mixers aboard ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and Princess Cruise Line. 

My record for new members joining the groups within a 7-day span is 45 LGBT Cruisers.  I've even had a Cruise Director or two ask about ways they could improve the experience aboard their ships. 

In early 2024, a fellow cruiser that had joined one of the hosted LGBT meetups asked me for advice on hosting the meetups on his next cruise. I was happy to send him links to the products I typically hand out.

And, so was born the 

Official "Unofficial" LGBT Cruise Ambassador Program. 

There is really no big secret to being an 

LGBT Cruise Ambassador. 

If you are outgoing, sincerely want to bring fellow LGBT Cruisers together, and desire to meet a group of great guys, 

you only need take the first step.

• Ambassadors are volunteers
• Ambassadors step in where cruise lines fall short
• Ambassadors create a focal point for LGBT cruisers
• Ambassadors display a Pride Item of their choice

But... 

You want to be an

Official "Unofficial" LGBT Cruise Ambassador?

Becoming official takes a bit more of a commitment and investment, because you are not only being the host of the LGBT Meetup, you are getting out among cruisers to invite them to the LGBT Meetups & Mixers, you are sharing the Cruise Casual Vacations Facebook Groups for future group cruise promotion, and you are helping to show the cruise lines how LGBT Meetups & Mixers should be handled in future. 

How to become an

Official "Unofficial" LGBT Cruise Ambassador?

• Register with Cruise Casual Vacations
• Buy an LGBT Cruise Ambassador T-Shirt or Tank
• Create your desired focal point with Pride Gear
• Guide LGBT Cruisers to our Facebook Groups

The Ambassador Pride Gear page guides you to products that LGBT Cruise Ambassadors typically use to host LGBT Meetups.  There is absolutely no obligation to purchase Pride Gear for giveaways.  These are strictly for fun, comradery, and any purchases are the sole responsibility of the Cruise Ambassador purchasing them.

• Pride Flags create the best focal point for passers-by
• Pride Pins make great incentives for new members
• Pride Backpacks are highly visible and easy to carry 
• Pride Backpacks also make great drawing prizes
• Pride Backpacks can be filled for bigger prize

For added fun and incentive, TC created the Pride Cruiser Raffle. Once again, this is not a requirement and the costs are the responsibility of the hosting Cruise Ambassador.

Here is how TC does it:

• 1 Ticket for each night an LGBT Cruiser attends
• 1 Ticket for each new guest invited by LGBT Cruiser 
• Determine the best night to hold the drawing to get everyone to show up (typically, last night of cruise)
• Get a group photo for the LGBT Meetups & Mixers Facebook Group

Final Suggestions

You will meet a lot of great guys on your journeys.  Enjoy these moments, because you don't know when you'll cruise with them again.

Remember to exchange Facebook profiles and share the LGBT Meetups & Mixers Facebook Group or the LGBT Solo Cruisers Group. This will help Cruise Casual Vacations to promote future LGBT Meetups & Mixers Group Cruises and bring everyone back together over and over.

With a little luck, you'll get to travel with your

 new friends again in the future.