Earlier, I covered how an upcoming Atlantis Events cruise (the company organizes cruises intended for LGBTQ+ travelers) faced a major issue on an upcoming Virgin Voyages charter, when Turkey revealed it wouldn’t let the ship dock in the country, citing “moral standards” and “family values.”
The thing is, that cruise wasn’t specifically about Turkey, but instead, it was just one of several stops, with the primary destination being Greece. Well, OMAAT reader Sisyphus pointed me to what’s perhaps an even more interesting cruise concept, which is the first-ever gay cruise from Saudi Arabia. Hmmm…
In this post:
VACAYA hosts “thrilling” LGBTQ+ Saudi Arabia cruise
VACAYA is a vacation company that creates adults-only experiences for the LGBTQ+ community. The company primarily charters cruises for this concept, but also hosts some resort experiences.
As you’d expect, most of the company’s experiences are in gay friendly destinations, but not always. From March 28 through April 7, 2027, the company will be hosting its “Arabian Nights Cruise,” described as the company’s “most thrilling adventure yet,” allowing people to “make and live history.”
The journey takes place on the new Emerald Kaia, featuring 64 cabins and suites.
The cruise visits Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, with Saudi Arabia stops including the origin in Jeddah, and a second stop in Yanbu. Jeddah is described as a “vibrant port city,” while Yanbi “offers pristine beaches and diving adventures in the azure depths of the Red Sea.”
As you’d expect, many people probably see this and think “huh, a gay cruise from Saudi Arabia?!” So VACAYA does have the following message about this, which I think is worth sharing:
Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a profound transformation, cautiously stepping onto the global tourism stage and inviting travelers from around the world to experience its breathtaking cultural heritage and natural beauty. For decades, LGBTQ+ visitors could scarcely imagine setting foot in the Kingdom. Yet, as the country seeks to diversify its economy and reshape its international image in anticipation of hosting the 2034 World Cup, a quiet but notable shift has emerged: visitors of all identities are being welcomed, provided they honor local customs. While full equality is still distant, this opening marks a moment of change – an acknowledgment that the world’s travelers come in every color of the rainbow. It is a delicate step, but one filled with diplomacy, hope, and the promise of a more inclusive tomorrow.
One of VACAYA’s core beliefs is that the world’s treasures belong to ALL of us, and by bringing our community into dialogue with one of the most storied regions on Earth, we celebrate our right to explore, to learn, and to connect. This isn’t just a vacation. It’s a pioneering voyage of understanding and visibility, where the joy of discovery becomes a bridge between cultures and the hope of progress sails alongside us.
My take on this bold Saudi Arabia cruise concept
At least officially, Saudi Arabia claims it’s welcoming to LGBT visitors, under what I’d describe as a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Here’s how the company addresses this on its tourism website:
Are LGBT visitors welcome to visit Saudi Arabia?
Everyone is welcome to visit Saudi Arabia and visitors are not asked to disclose such personal details.
So I’d be curious to know if any explicit permission has been given for this cruise, or if it’s more just that the cruise has been organized under the assumption that we can take Saudi Arabia at its word here.
In the past, I’ve shared my philosophy on traveling as a gay (and married) man, and I’ve also shared my take on flying Gulf carriers, and the ethics of that. People are of course more than welcome to disagree with me on those points, and I don’t think there are any wrong or right answers. Quite frankly, the only takes I don’t really respect are those from people who get on their high horse and claim that they’re doing everything right, while anyone with a different opinion is wrong.
As a gay person, I’d feel comfortable traveling to Saudi Arabia, and frankly, I’d probably act the same I do anywhere else — being gay isn’t my entire identity, I’m not into PDA in general, etc.
That being said, at least at this early stage of Saudi Arabia opening up more broadly, I’m not sure I’d like to travel on a journey that is explicitly for gay people. As I see it, VACAYA is straddling the line here a bit — the company notes that everyone is welcome in Saudi Arabia, assuming they honor local customs, and in this case, those local customs are basically not disclosing your sexual orientation.
But then VACAYA goes on to describe this as a “pioneering voyage of understanding and visibility.” The thing is, this really isn’t about visibility. Saudi Arabia is explicitly telling tourists not to be “visible” if they’re LGBT. Like, I would even assume local officials aren’t explicitly being made aware of the people on the cruise, or the type of journey this is.
Anyway, this is definitely quite the creative concept. I suspect this cruise will be a bit more “toned down” than some of the other Atlantis Events or VACAYA vacations we hear about, in terms of… well… ummm… you know.
Bottom line
LGBTQ+ vacation company VACAYA is hosting a special “Arabian Nights” cruise in early 2027, which visits Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. This is a first of its kind cruise. I appreciate the concept behind this, which is that Saudi Arabia claims it’s trying to modernize, and is open to all, as long as they respect local customs.
As I see it, the challenge here is that VACAYA is both promoting the concept of “visibility,” while also acknowledging that Saudi Arabia’s policy of welcoming gay travelers is based on what can best be described as a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. I get it, it’s a tough line, and I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong answer. Personally, I’d feel comfortable traveling to Saudi Arabia, but ideally independently, and not as part of a specifically gay group.
What do you make of this Saudi Arabia cruise concept?
This is awesome!
Next, we should go over there and build them a shiny, new, fabulous skyscraper for them to push us off of!