Couple Sues Over Gay Themed Cruise - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

timwilloughby · 10-15-2009, 10:01 PM

(OK, I'll admit I have no idea where to post this thread and if you have a better suggestion, please feel free to PM me. )

The Daily Mail UK is reporting that an Italian couple is suing Grimaldi Line, with whom they booked a 3-day cruise with. The heterosexual couple was issued tickets aboard a cruise hosting a gay/lesbian event called "Revuelta".

Now, Italian press was covering this cruise as Italy's first gay cruise event and the website for Revuelta clearly states the focus of this themed cruise. Grimaldi Cruises, unavailable for comment, seemingly should have made some disclosure to the couple , who booked directly with the cruise line, that these dates were available, but during a themed cruise. I will also note that this was not an adult-oriented cruise of any kind and, according to organizers, no inappropriate public activity took place, whatsoever.

The article suggests that the couple is being criticized by gay and lesbian groups, but provides no citation, nor can I produce such a criticism upon searching.

So while I can't imagine the couple to be truly homophobic or discriminatory, it did force me to ask myself; "What would I do? How would I feel?".

And, then I thought...."What if I booked a 3 day cruise, expecting some peace and quiet, and it turned out to be a Jimmy Buffet convention?" Same difference, different tomatoes. I wouldn't be all that pumped up about my romantic getaway cruise with the wife, lets just put it that way.

So, I wanted to bring the Cruise News story to your attention, because it struck me as compelling, but also discuss the issue from a "responsibility to disclose" perspective. However, if you have some positive or constructive comments to add in support of or against the couple, for whatever reason, I urge you to include them here, too.

I ask YOU, Cruise Line Fans, "How would you feel if you were this couple?" and "What might you do to try and mitigate the 'situation'?" Is this an anti-gay & lesbian issue or is it simply a matter of non-disclosure by a negligent cruise line?

Char · 10-15-2009, 11:39 PM

Well, I read the article and can see where the couple is coming from! I would have been uncomfortable in that situation as well because I would have thought I was purchasing something different from what they delivered.

I have gay friends and would have no problem sailing or hanging out with them, but I would knowingly choose to do that. I think it is the element of surprise (especially seeing people that they knew, but didn't know they were gay) that made this cruise difficult for them.

I think it was a case of the cruise line not telling them that it was a gay cruise---not just any gay cruise but the first Italian gay cruise with all the media coverage.

I wonder if they were the only heterosexual passengers? The article doesn't mention any others.

Bottom line---the couple did not recieve what they thought they were buying. Yes, the cruise lines should inform passengers of large groups.

cruisin' chick · 10-16-2009, 01:09 AM

The article said it was an all gay cruise. So did one company do the bookings, and if so, how did a couple who were obviously not from the group get the cabin? If it was a charter that completely took over the ship, then it would seem strange that they would be able to book it. Maybe not all the passengers were gay, just a majority.

I think the real question (and Tim has alluded to) is if any major size group books a cruiseship, is the cruiseline obligated to pass along this info. After all, if many areas of the ship (lounges, the pool, dining room) are reserved for this group for much of the cruise, its' a detriment for any passengers not in this group.

No matter what the group is.

I have heard about people coming home from a cruise unhappy because a big group took over the ship. Or perhaps the behavior of a large group caused problems for others.

On my second cruise, we discovered our cruise had the "World Tourney of Bingo" when we boarded and saw the sign and registration table. Over a third of the passengers were taking part. We didn't have a problem with the many activities that didn't involve us as for the most part the bingo matches were in one large lounge during the day.

For the most part, we were laughing at the type of person taking part. I know, stereotyping, generalizing and all that. But if you saw these people... We would joke that we better not be standing in front of the dining room door when it opens. I'm sure the bars made a ton of money off the drinking. And the casinos, when they weren't at a bingo match, were filled to the brimmed. It seemed most of these people eat too much, drank too much and smoked too much (this was the real irritant for us, all that smoke). When we were on our flight for our return home, the third person in our row was a smartly dressed, slim woman. We asked if she was on that cruise, and she said yes. Made a comment about bingo players, and she admitted, with a bit of embarrassment, that she was in that tournament. She was a pilot's wife and decided to book this cruise as a single, to participate. But learned that she didn't fit in with these other players.

A couple of cruises ago, there were some groups onboard that we barely noticed at all. There were people booked through the northwest Auto Club (only knew this from all the cabin door signs) and I would guess they probably had a meet n' greet or two in one of the lounges. There was also some people there for a cardiology equipment convention. Doctors, technicians, etc. with some meetings and seminars in the lounges. But it was the Sapphire Princess, a 115,000 gt ship so there was plenty of room. Those people from this group that we did meet seemed like normal, nice people.

On our last cruise, there was a contigent of French-speaking passengers. Could tell from one of the tv channels devoted to French language shows (we did watch parts of Bewitched and The Incredibles in French, even though we didn't know that language, but we've only seen The Incredibles a zillon times so we know much of the dialogue). Our neighbors in the next cabin were in this group. But again, it wasn't a problem.

I do believe that if a huge percentage of the ship is booked by a group, the cruiseline should let the other passengers know as a courtesy. Hopefully people wouldn't cancel on the basis of racial or other reasons. I wouldn't have a problem unless much of the ship is off limits to us or if a group is unduely rowdy. No matter who's in the group.

*Lars* · 10-16-2009, 01:54 AM

I keep asking myself how would I feel if I went on an all heterosexual cruise

.......................
Yes, the "cruise line" - Grimaldi Line operated large seagoing car and passanger ferries and is not a cruise line - should have informed the couple that a large group had booked the majority of the cabins. Grimaldi Lines does not need to say who or what has booked the majority of the ship.

timwilloughby · 10-16-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

I keep asking myself how would I feel if I went on an all heterosexual cruise

.......................
Yes, the "cruise line" - Grimaldi Line operated large seagoing car and passanger ferries and is not a cruise line - should have informed the couple that a large group had booked the majority of the cabins. Grimaldi Lines does not need to say who or what has booked the majority of the ship.

Patty, Lars, Char...thanks so much for chiming in....with several different perspectives on the matter.

Lars touched on a point that I had not considered enough. Would a gay man or woman or couple have a legitimate complaint with Grimaldi if placed on an all heterosexual cruise?

I think NOT, and its here where we do uncover some inherent social discrimination. We should consider the thoughts written by Patty and pose the same question Lars poses to himself, and remember that we're all human beings who love to cruise and vacation in style.

Thank you, Lars for making me and, hopefully, others to confront this and other similar issues with a different perspective in mind.

Cheers.

*Lars* · 10-16-2009, 11:32 AM

Well, I answered my own question and yes, I would go on a all heterosexual cruise. In fact I do all the time

I actually prefer it that way. I would never go on a gay cruise.

patsea · 10-16-2009, 03:23 PM

It says that there were no scenes of excess. So that being said, what was their problem? That there were gay people there? Hellooooo. I do think they are homophobic. It says that they didn't get the relaxing cruise they were planning on. Why? Somehow I do not think that just because there were gay people there they couldn't relax. Oh and the best is that it was uncomfortable seeing people they knew that they didn't know were gay. OK so now they know. How does that change? Maybe they're upset that people think they're gay too? I don't know I just think it's another opportunity for someone to try to sue someone.

nealberk · 10-16-2009, 05:55 PM

I think it is really a problem of any group that is very opinionated or polarizing. I for one would fit right in with a Star Trek themed cruise but I can see how it would alienate many people. On the other hand, a "All My Children" cruise would drive me crazy since I have so little in common with many of the people. Many of the activities would be geared to them either intentionally or unintentionally. Same with a bible themed cruise. I would just not fit in. In both cases a lot of the very non-inflammatory topics that they would not mind discussing around each other would make me very uncomfortable.

I guess, bottom line, is that the cruise line should tell the passengers when any group is taking up a sizable portion of the ship. It is then up to the people to decide if they will be comfortable with the cruise or if they should make alternate bookings.

LuLu · 10-16-2009, 09:53 PM

From reading the article I don't understand if the cruise line advertised this cruise as an "All Gay Cruise" or not?

Also ... We have some friends (male/female) who are married and are both gay. They are the very best of friends but husband/wife in name only which works out for them for various reasons. .

Feel sure, they aren't the only ones. How would a cruise line know a Mr & Mrs couple who booked the cruise was not actually gay?

Should informing passengers of any VERY large group (when not advertised as a theme cruise) be the responsibiily of the cruise line or not? Would this infringe on the rights of the cruise line as a private company?

cruisin' chick · 10-17-2009, 12:23 AM

Very interesting thoughts here. A couple of hours ago, I just watched a news story on a racially mixed couple in Louisiana that wanted to get married, but when they contacted the parish justice of the peace, they were told he wouldn't married them because she was white and the man was black. Fortunately, another JP in a different parish said she'll marry the couple. You would think this wouldn't be happening in 2009, just as you think people would be tolerant of gays. It just seems very weird and inhumane to me.

There are signs that things are a changin'. I remember about five years at my daughter's birthday party when my mother showed up, sat down and was talking to some of the other parents. After a while, I realized she didn't come over and make any nasty comments about the make up of the party goers: Hispanic, Black, Asian, Hawaiian, Jamaican and gay (a friend of ours who is a single father with special needs kids...he would get voted father of the year, hands down, by the other parents in the neighborhood). She grew up in the olden days in a different environment where everyone in the neighborhood was the same. So maybe she's growing up.