Anybody here ever done a RSVP cruise?

[SacredCow]

I'm thinking of splurging and giving myself this one:

http://www.rsvpvacations.com/cruise_2009_mexico.aspx

I've not done the Mexican Riviera before (only the Gulf side- Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, etc...). And I kind of like the idea of being on a boat with "family." If anybody has some pros and/or cons, I'd love to hear them.

:hi:

[david13]

1. It's a

cattle boat. There is nothing Mexican about it. When we go to Mexico we go plain into Mexico and live like the Mexicans do. I just have never liked the whole touristy scene. Why go to Mexico for that. But, to each his own.
dc

[SacredCow]

2. Well, all cruises would be cattle boats, then....

By definition, this would be a touristy thing, and that's ok- I'm not expecting to immerse myself in Mexican culture. To me, it would be just being among a large group of fellow gays and having a good time. That's all I seek.

[donco6]

12. Why pretend you're not a tourist?

I mean, who's fooling who?

[SacredCow]

15. I have no hope to blend in....

So I'll proudly walk (nay, stumble) around Cabo san Lucas with my yard of margarita!

[donco6]

16. Done that!

PV is a lot of fun, too.

[SacredCow]

23. Sadly, I'm intrigued by the ports of call of this cruise....

largely due to name-recall from my childhood spent watching


I can still remember Julie McCoy's perky demeanor in describing Puerto Vallarta... I just hope that this cruise would turn out as wacky as any given episode...

:crazy:

[donco6]

24. LOL! Oh honey, you totally deserve this cruise! n/t

[SacredCow]

26. Oops- replied to my own post- See below. n/t

[SacredCow]

25. And there IS a swimsuit competition...

where drag is enthusiastically encouraged... Hmmmmmm......

Maybe I'll have to see if I can channel Ms. McCoy.... "Welcome aboard <giggle>... Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Let's see.... You're on the Lido deck, room 52... Gopher? Show this nice couple to their cabin..."

:rofl:

[Cato the Younger]

3. Think White Party without the hot guys

Okay, that's mean. There WERE hot guys on the one I went on a few years ago. But ask yourself, "Do you want to be locked inside the same huge dance club without any new guys coming on for several days?". I depends on your age, if I was 23 when I did it I would have enjoyed it more. But at 35, and still hot I may add, it was too much of the party scene for me.

[SacredCow]

4. Not really looking at it as a "meet guys" kinda trip....

Was planning on going with a group of friends to just have fun and cut loose for a week.

[Cato the Younger]

5. That's why I went a couple of years ago

Group of friends etc. Yeah, think Babylon from QAF..... Seriously.......

[SacredCow]

6. The whole ship, though?

Other cruises I've been on, if you didn't like what was going on by the pool- you just went somewhere else. Measured doses of Babylon would be cool- so long as i could go have a quiet drink at, say, a piano bar, too...

[mitchtv]

7. I did and loved it , I'll never cruise strait again

let me search for my review
Sorry can't find it in archives apparently only GD goes back far enough

[SacredCow]

8. cool....

and the "all gay" thing is a strong draw....

[SacredCow]

9. Oh well- thanks for looking....

I've seen a few vids online from past years, and it looks like fun. Kind of like Southern Decadence on a boat!

[mitchtv]

17. we caught up on Gay Cinema

every day we saw a new one this was before we got Logo. We are not partiers either and have both been to Mexico enough. Bought some Vanilla extract, coffee, Delicatos(cigs) and booze a little souvenir silver jewelry for sis. Flirted with the oodles of cute Asian men and fended off the younguns chasing my hubby

[SacredCow]

21. For the "at sea" days, I'd be happy just parking my butt in a deck chair...

and reading or watching the goings-on. I will do the party thing for a while, but I tend to get sleepy by 1 or 2 am (and probably one night of that will last me for weeks!)

[Rowdyboy]

30. I bookmarked it because it sounded wonderful. Here you go...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=18649&mesg_id=18649


We boarded in San Diego at the Convention Center. We had previously checked in on line, so it went smoothly and quickly. There was a shuttle from the long term parking, where they picked up our luggage, and we only had to schlep around our carry ons.The garage charges $8 /day , so we were a little put out about paying $120. for an 8 day stay, but WTF, we were going on vacation.The line to board went quickly and the Royal Caribbean staff were just beautiful, kind and welcoming.We were starving after having driven 2&1/2 hrs so we went to the buffet. We Left the dock near midnight. We got a nice stateroom with a veranda and were greeted with a bottle of merlot, and a fruit basket, compliments of Atlantis (wine) and the Gap(fruit). No party for us that night. Partner is 68 and I am 60.
We went to the buffet for all our breakfasts, rather than open seating at the restaurant. we were both happy with the fare there.We did however go to the main restaurant for dinner, and it was generally good to excellent. Wine was $5.50 and up for the glass. we only got a bottle one night. $20 for a bottle of La Terre Chardonnay from woodbidge , ca.-drinkable. Where Atlantis sets itself apart from mainstream cruises is the quality and abundance of activities. Also, they got hold of a big, magnificent almost new ship for the job.
We went to most of the shows including the headliner, Charo. Now I was not a big Charo fan, but her show changed my mind she sang Abba's "Fernando" which she said she helped write, and donated the rights to UNICEF. some "cu-chi stuff" and then her forte classical guitar (she studied under Segovia) she did "Malaguena" and then a rendition of Bolero for guitar. she did a great job.there were several drag shows Edie and Jackie Beat and Miss Richfield 1981 all fun , a lesbian comic Shann Carr and a few singers from Broadway , Marty Thomas and Deborah Cox, and more musical acts and comedians, can't forget Christine Pedi doing "Divas gay men love"
The ship had a cinema also, so we caught up on all the gay themed movies we don't see on HBO , like
Everyone
Kiss me Guido(actually missed that)
P.S. Your cat is dead
Ethan Mao
Bear Cub spanish w/subtitles
Latter days
Cowboys and Angels
Zona Rosa Mex with subtitles
The Fluffer
I addition to various new regular movies. like Priscilla,To wong foo... Victor victorian, Monster in law meet, the fokkers and many more.
We were neither the fattest,nor the oldest on board, which was a relief, there was a different theme party every night White, Dog tag
Mardi Gras yadyayada/ We are too old to drink and dance after 11pm however so we passed om all of them but loved the lasers shooting off the ship from our veranda.
I did little shopping in Mexico a kilo of organic coffee, bottle of vanilla extract, bottle of Kahlua, a piece of silver for my sister and a teeshirt for Mr. Mitchtv. We set anchor at Ixtapa (real cute). Puerto Vallarta, gay friendly, mazatlan, best for shopping and Cabo San Lucas( got an unfriendly vibe there+ expensive.
All in All we booked the Alaska cruise in June and we will never book a straight cruise again We just loved it.
Any Questions????

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/mitchtv My previous life outside the law

[teenis]

10. I think they are a blast...

...I have been on a few RSVP and a few Atlantis cruises, and each one was a blast. I have met dozens of new friends from around the country and world. The parties are fun, the shows are usually good, and a just being with hundreds of like-minded people is powerful, IMHO. I think I will be going on the Baltic cruise coming up this summer..... What I found is that there is a HUGE variety of guys on the ship, not just the circuit boys you see in the brochure. All ages, backgrounds and sizes/body types.....I never felt out of place. I think the value for your money is also a good, averaging about $200 per day....deal.

[SacredCow]

11. Thanks for the input...

And welcome to DU... :toast:

[donco6]

13. We were on St. Thomas when their ship cruised in.

It was a hoot. We ran into them all day. They sure seemed to be having a good time to me. And yeah, they were all average looking guys - I guess if you want the Only Hot Young Models Allowed boat you'll need to sign up with Old Sugar Daddies Supporting Their Lazy Ass Sons cruise.

[SacredCow]

14. I've got little use for the "hot young model" type....

so I'll steer well away from the OSDSTLAS cruise! I'm decidly average, myself, so I should fit right in.

[donco6]

18. I definitely could see us going on one, too.

We have it on our list.

We are cruising straight this summer, tho, to Alaska.

[SacredCow]

22. There's an RSVP to Alaska that's in August, I think....

But I was looking for something earlier in the year...

[LeftHander]

19. I told them I could not attend....nt

[SacredCow]

20. Now THAT's a smartass answer!

:spank:

[LeftHander]

27. sry....I couldn't resist.

There was this big door I had to go through....

"The power of snark compels you."

[SacredCow]

28. The snark is strong with this one.....

:rofl:

:hi:

[SacredCow]

29. Well, I'm probably going to book it today or tomorrow...

and make a mad rush to get myself a passport, since they're now required for travel to Mexico.

:bounce: