Interested in a week-long international cruise? Sure, everyone is. But an all-inclusive cruise specifically designed for LGBTQ passengers? That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Our Fund Foundation CEO David Jobin said.
“The experience is really tailored for LGBTQ people,” Jobin said. “I've been on cruises before where you see comics and magicians and kind of just general population entertainment that's not maybe of particular interest to our community, and that's not the case with Transcend.”
Transcend is the company bringing this cruise to life. South Florida organizations SunServe and Our Fund are partnering with Transcend to offer a cruise exploring places such as Switzerland and Germany from Aug. 13-20.
Prices start at $3,999 per person for a double-occupancy room, and $4,999 for a single, if you book by July 11. You also get a free one-night stay at a hotel in Zurich if you book by that date, which will be the night before the trip begins. Prices go up to $6,399 per person –– or $12,799 if you go alone –– depending on the type of room you want. Tony Lima, CEO of SunServe, said there is a cap of about 150 people on the cruise.
At that price point, almost everything except your airfare is included. While on board, all meals are covered, including unlimited drinks at the bars. Lima said meals are prepared with locally-sourced produce and include vegan and vegetarian options. Get ready to try German Rieslings one night and Alsatian classics the next, Lima said.
You’ll also get to experience electrifying entertainment, featuring evening performances from Grammy-nominated singer Deborah Cox, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Envy Peru, and a rotating lineup of LGBTQ entertainers and DJs.
The first three days of the journey begin with a hotel stay in Interlaken, Switzerland, where you’ll explore breathtaking scenic views and quaint towns in the surrounding areas. You’ll then board the cruise, called The Gentleman, at the end of the third day. Breakfast and lunches are the only offshore meals covered on days two and three.
On the fourth day, you’ll dock in Strasbourg, France, and board a panoramic boat that will take you through the city’s unique architectural style and charming canals.
The remaining days are all about exploring different parts of Germany, from Mannheim on day five to Cologne on day seven. You’ll disembark on the eighth day in Dusseldorf, and airport transportation is provided.
All excursions and expected gratuities are covered, unless you choose to partake in optional alternatives. Lima also said offshore dinners are at LGBTQ-owned restaurants or historic beer halls. For a detailed itinerary, visit the Transcend Cruises website.
The best part? Enjoying “joyful travel that pays forward,” Lima said.
“We get to gather a community of changemakers, donors and first-time travelers who all care about lifting up LGBTQ lives. Every ticket fuels SunServe’s mental-health work while supporting allies like Equality Florida and The Our Fund Foundation, so the voyage becomes a living act of social philanthropy,” Lima said. “Knowing that we’ll share Rhine castles by day and stories of impact by night is both humbling and electrifying.”
