What Is a VACAYA Cruise Like? The 2027 Guide to VACAYA

VACAYA charters whole ships and resorts for the entire LGBTQ+ community, not just gay men. In 2027 it runs two big-ship cruises (the Caribbean on Celebrity Beyond and a Mediterranean eclipse cruise on Oceania's Allura) plus smaller luxury, river and expedition sailings. This guide covers who sails, what happens on board, what's included, what a VACAYA cruise really costs, and how booking works, from VACAYA's own website, checked on October 23, 2026.

For every gay cruise from every company, with a sortable table, see our gay cruises 2027 guide.

VACAYA at a glance

• What it is: full-ship charters, from Celebrity Beyond (more than 3,200 guests, according to VACAYA) to small PONANT and Emerald ships and river boats.
• Who sails: VACAYA says its trips are built "for the entire LGBTQIAPK community and their straight ally friends." It does not publish a gender or age split.
• Minimum age: 18. Guests under 21 must share a cabin with a companion over 25.
• Women, trans and nonbinary guests: VACAYA has a page for lesbian and bisexual women, and The Advocate reported in July 2025 that its sailings have a dedicated lounge for women, trans and nonbinary guests, plus gender-neutral bathrooms and pronoun pins.
• Lowest bookable 2027 fare on October 23: $1,648 per person, two to a cabin, on the February Caribbean charter, before fees and gratuities.

VACAYA cruises in 2027

Most of VACAYA's 2027 sailings show "sold out" on its site. Its February Caribbean page says the cruise has sold out too, but when we checked VACAYA's booking system on October 23, 2026, it still offered Deluxe Interior cabins at $1,648 and several higher categories. The Total Eclipse Mediterranean cruise showed penthouse suites still for sale. Use the waitlist or ask VACAYA directly.

What a VACAYA cruise is like

VACAYA's version of the gay cruise tea dance is the V-Dance, which it calls its "twist on the classic T-Dance." On the February 14–21, 2027 Caribbean charter (its 10th-birthday cruise on Celebrity Beyond), its day-by-day plan names:

• February 14: "THIS IS ME: VD Edition," where you wear something that says who you are and where you're from, in red, pink and white.
• February 15: Church Bingo with Sister Helen Holy, the first V-Dance, and the Stoplight Soirée (green for ready to mingle, red for taken, yellow for in between).
• February 19: a 10th Birthday Bash.
• February 20: the "She's a Mess" V-Dance, where you wear one piece of every costume from the week, then a 10th-birthday show.

VACAYA says it publishes party themes 120 days before each sailing. The Caribbean charter includes ReachOUT volunteering, and VACAYA's FAQ says it runs solo mixers and daily 12-step meetings.

What's included, and what isn't

On the 2027 Caribbean charter, VACAYA includes the cabin, meals (specialty restaurants cost extra), in-room dining, the fitness center, its entertainment, social activities and theme parties. Not included: flights, transfers, drink packages, specialty dining, excursions and the spa. Per person, you also pay $347 in port taxes and fees and $147–$177 in prepaid gratuities.

So the $1,648 Deluxe Interior fare comes to about $2,142 per person once fees and the lowest gratuity are added.

VACAYA's smaller ships include more: its Red Sea and Madagascar sailings list drinks in the fare, and its river cruises include drinks.

Going solo on VACAYA

VACAYA does not match roommates. It points solo travelers to its "Solo Travelers Playground" Facebook group and to a Facebook group for each trip, saying "the most successful pairings are those initiated by the people actually looking." A solo traveler in a double cabin pays both halves of the fare.

How booking works

From VACAYA's guest terms and conditions:

• Payments: 10% of the total trip cost (fare, port charges and gratuities) at booking if you book more than 300 days out, then installments reaching 25% at 300 days, 50% at 240, 75% at 180 and 100% at 120 days before sailing. Credit card only.
• Cancellation: 10% of the total trip cost (fare, port charges and gratuities) at 300+ days out, 20% at 299–240 days, 40% at 239–180, 60% at 179–120, 80% at 119–90, and 100% from 89 days out.
• One-time change: within 30 days of booking, and while you're still more than 240 days out, you can move your payments once to a future VACAYA trip, as non-refundable credit.

Is VACAYA right for you?

VACAYA suits LGBTQ+ travelers who want a whole-community crowd: women, trans and nonbinary guests, couples, and gay men who'd rather not be on a men-only ship. If you want a big all-gay party ship, look at Atlantis, which bills its Allure charter as "The World's Biggest Gay Festival at Sea." If you're a woman who wants a women-only ship, Olivia is the one. Compare them all in our sortable list of 2027 gay cruises.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a VACAYA cruise cost?

On October 23, 2026, the lowest bookable fare on VACAYA's 2027 Caribbean charter was $1,648 per person (two to a cabin), plus $347 in port taxes and fees and $147–$177 in gratuities. Its small-ship and expedition cruises list much higher fares: $11,286 for the Red Sea and $13,629 for Madagascar to the Seychelles.

Is VACAYA only for gay men?

No. VACAYA says its trips are built for the entire LGBTQ+ community and their straight allies, and The Advocate reports it runs a dedicated lounge for women, trans and nonbinary guests.

Is the VACAYA Caribbean cruise sold out?

VACAYA's page for the February 14–21, 2027 cruise says it has sold out, but its booking system still offered cabins from $1,648 when we checked on October 23, 2026.

What is a V-Dance?

VACAYA's name for its afternoon dance parties, which it calls its "twist on the classic T-Dance."

What is the minimum age on VACAYA?

The minimum age is 18. Guests under 21 must share a cabin with a companion over 25.