2026 Queer Cruise Preview: The Hottest LGBTQ+ Cruises for Next Year

Image: VACAYA Caribbean cruise. (Photo Credit: VACAYA)

by Mark Chesnut
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Sun September 14, 2025

Decades ago, LGBTQ+ cruise passengers used the term “friends of Dorothy” to discreetly meet other members of their community.

Today, it’s much easier to find a welcoming experience across the cruise industry—as evidenced by the robust array of queer-friendly cruise itineraries available for 2026.

Whether the goal is to relax, party or take a deep dive into culture, history and nature-based adventure, the cruise line-up for next year provides lots of noteworthy opportunities for excitement on the water. Considering that some itineraries sell out quickly, it’s a good idea for cruise-minded LGBTQ+ globetrotters (and travel advisors) to start planning next year’s trip today.

One thing is clear when it comes to queer cruisers: there is no one type of traveler. Travel advisors note several key booking trends—including the popularity of “mainstream,” upscale cruises that are welcoming to diverse travelers. The team at Global Travel Moments, for example, reports increasing demand for river sailings—including itineraries from AmaWaterways in Portugal and Colombia.

Brand g Vacations Panama Canal luxury superyacht cruise. (Photo Credit: Brand g Vacations)

Small luxury vessels, from Virgin Voyages to new entries like Four Seasons Yachts and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, also top the list of inclusivity-minded options, according to Duncan Greenfield-Turk, founder of Global Travel Moments.

Susan Blume, founder of Personal Escape Travel, also points to Virgin as a standout for LGBTQ+-friendly cruising, praising the quality of its entertainment and dining. She also said river cruising is a great fit for this demographic. “I just returned from an Avalon Waterways river cruise on the Rh?ne and Sa?ne rivers in France,” she said.

“I met lovely LGBTQ couples onboard and they love it; many were returning guests. River cruises are a friendly, warm way to see Europe that’s stress-free, [with] a high staff-to-guest ratio [and] high level of service.”

These observations underscore the fact that there is no “one size fits all” for LGBTQ+ cruisers.

Festive Mega Ships vs. Cultural Immersion

Travelers looking for a decidedly festive, LGBTQ+ vibe will find lots to love in next year’s range of itineraries. Operators including Atlantis Events, VACAYA and Big Gay Cruise fill their decks with lively entertainment like DJs, drag stars, pool parties and costume contests.

Atlantis is debuting a new itinerary aboard one of the largest ships afloat next year: in February 2026, its Symphony Caribbean Cruise aboard Symphony of the Seas will bring more than 5,000 LGBTQ+ guests together for a week of performances and high-octane nightlife. The ship departs from Miami and stops in Haiti, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten.

Similarly, VACAYA’s Rhythm of Freedom sailing is a Caribbean itinerary, timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day 2026 aboard the 2,678-guest Nieuw Statendam from Holland America. After departing Fort Lauderdale, the ship stops in Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Big Gay Cruise also offers an itinerary departing from Fort Lauderdale in February, sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas with stops in the Bahamas and Mexico.

By contrast, river cruises and small-ship expeditions cater to guests who are drawn to culture, history and nature.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, for example, recently unveiled its 2026 Out! On the Rivers cruise: an eight-day Paris and Normandy cruise in April that dives into northern France’s history and culture. The cruise, which is designed to provide a welcoming environment for friends and families, is hosted by gay and lesbian travel veterans Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli Carpenter.

Luxury LGBTQ+ vacation operator Brand g Vacations, meanwhile, is offering several options for 2026, focusing on small ocean ships and super yachts from cruise lines like Atlas Ocean Voyages, Swan Hellenic and Ponant. Next year, its destinations include the Panama Canal (April 24-May 3, 2026), Paris, Normandy and the Seine River (May 20-27, 2026) and the Rhine River (August 3-10, 2026); that cruise is timed to begin just after World Pride in Amsterdam.

Olivia, which specializes in travel for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women, is also offering multiple cruises in 2026—including eight-day Spain, France and Italy (March 8-15, 2026), nine-day Dublin to Edinburgh (June 17-25, 2026) and Baltic Sea (July 20-27, 2026) itineraries.

Fans of small ships with an emphasis on nature, culture and history may also want to consider Out Adventures, which is fielding 10 LGBTQ+ cruises in 2026—including a Nile River sailing (departures in March and November), an Alaska expedition aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird (May 20-26, 2026) and a Croatia yacht charter (two departures in July 2026) that includes hiking tours of Montenegro and Albania.

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