A US-based LGBTQ+ travel tour operator has unveiled details of a new “sex-progressive” cruise for men and male-identifying passengers.
VACAYA said its RU5H sailing aims to make an all-gay cruise accessible to travellers who may not have considered one before.
Sailing around Palm Beach, Florida aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s recently renovated Paradise cruise ship, the voyage is described as a queer festival on the waves.
The chartered cruise departs on 2 October and sails for three nights, with one stop in Nassau in the Bahamas. Prices start from around £292 per person.
Patrick Gunn, co-founder of RU5H, said the ship is very much the destination.
The inaugural weekend will feature eight parties with DJs representing queer nightlife scenes in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Fire Island.
Programming ranges from social gatherings and underwear parties to fetish-orientated sex workshops.
There will be curated experience zones throughout the ship, including creative spaces, social lounges, immersive role-play experiences, creator experiences and areas to relax and recharge. There will also be clothing-optional upper decks while at sea.
The main rules on board are that passengers must respect each other’s boundaries and there are some no-photo zones.
Gunn told The Independent: “Many LGBTQ+ cruises are built around community, sightseeing and traditional vacation experiences. RU5H brings that same sense of belonging but adds the energy of a queer festival, nightlife destination and lifestyle experience.
“The important distinction is that this isn't simply a traditional cruise with parties added on. The entire experience is intentionally designed around connection, self-expression, fantasy and exploration.
“RU5H is also explicitly sex-progressive, rather than simply being a gay cruise with adult programming added to it. The brand's five pillars are 5EX, 5timulation, 5eduction, 5ubmission and 5atisfaction, representing opportunities for guests to explore desire, curiosity, connection and pleasure in an intentional environment built around respect and consent.”
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