Transgender Cruising
Sea’s the moment!
Nora A. Simone
“Being transgender does not matter.”
If transgender people I know are an indication, even first-time cruisers are clambering aboard ships at ballooning levels. Is it possible that weeklong trips at sea aren’t only for the wealthy and elderly?
To learn more, I went to transwoman world traveler Jamie Kendall. She says that on today’s cruises “Being transgender does not matter.” As evidence, she described a wonderful weeklong Caribbean cruise this year (2024) with about a dozen transgender lady friends.
Interviewing Jaime and two co-cruisers Ashley Thomas (the organizer) and Heidi Phox (see TLI magazine no. 83) I collected details about their trip.
To learn more, read on!
To put the entire experience in perspective, Jamie says “A cruise is a temporary alternate reality bubble. This means that while on board you can safely be whomever you want to be.” Wow! Doesn’t this sound extraordinary?
So, before you book a cruise, the following points from Jaime, Ashley, and Heidi should be useful.
Is previous cruise experience necessary?
Generally speaking, no. Cruise organizations welcome newbies and are prepared to ensure all have a good experience. Yet, with some familiarity you’ll feel more comfortable. Ashley says “My experience allowed me to benchmark the attention and service received on over 50 past cruises and can truthfully say that there was no difference. My experience helped friends with questions prior to the cruise: check in, legal documents, booking excursions, linking reservation for dinner table, and drink packages for example. My experience helped relieve anxiety my friends might have otherwise felt.”
How will crew members treat me? All gender expressions are treated equally. “Gender or gender expression were irrelevant to crew members” says Jaime. Online research indicates that cruise lines have crew member training which often includes transgender guest comfort and safety. This training includes using a guest’s preferred name vs. legal name and even pronouns.
What if my required identification does not match my presentation? – If your legal documents do not match your appearance, there were no worries according to Ashley “The staff was professional and friendly as I checked in as Ashley, though my identification showed my male identity.” This may not be true for all cruise lines so it is another topic to research in advance.
What about port safety?
Be careful! All countries are not equally accepting of transgender people. Consequently, transgender cruisers should always research destinations in advance. Some useful resources are:
- GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- U.S. State Department: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/lgbtqi.html
- Canadian Government Travel Advisories: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
Port destinations are either cruise line managed or not. Destinations managed by the cruise line are considered safer while visiting shore destinations on your own is riskier.
Ashley said “Safety was always in the back of my mind. Our cruise had two stops at private locations, so those seemed low risk. Another was a zip line excursion booked through the cruise line. We had no issues and had a wonderful time. However, if you are uncertain, I’d recommend sticking to official cruise line excursions.”
Online research indicates you should not count on cruise lines providing a warning about onshore transgender safety concerns. Be aware! Also, note that you are subject to the local laws of the country you are visiting. If you violate that country’s laws, you could be arrested and prosecuted, even if your actions would not have been against the law in your home country.
What will other passengers think? Other Passengers likely do not care. “The other cruisers were polite and accepting of me,” said Heidi. who further said “The only time I felt undue attention was probably my fault. For example, while seated at a window table overlooking the ocean, lighting was challenging for a selfie. Taking photos from different angles probably caused a group of passengers to stare.” It’s also important to research the likely passenger demographics. A younger crowd may be more accepting than an older conservative one.
What about dress codes? Research indicates cruise lines are relaxing strict dress codes to “suggestions,” yet they may still be gender specific. “You should seek to blend in and do not call unwanted attention to yourself.” says Jamie. Understanding cruise line dress codes is another topic that should be researched in advance of booking. It is simply a matter of being prepared. “We had fun dressing up, but we usually wore casual outfits daily “reports Jamie.
Was it worth it?
Beyond the benefits promoted by cruise lines, such as excellent entertainment and activities, these ladies wish to share a few additional:
- Confidence Building: Being in public day-after-day is an unparalleled confidence builder. It is an alternate reality you can get comfortable with.
- Friends Forever: Sharing vulnerability together creates a bond that will last forever.
- Positive Public Impressions: Those meeting or observing transgender people, should be left with a positive impression. These can change impressions one person at a time. It wasn’t all fun and glamour. Heidi reported that the entire experience was beyond expectations, yet seven consecutive days of shaving, wigs, shapers, makeup, etc. was a lot of work. This would not be the case for all transwomen of course.
Are transgender themed cruises a good option?
They could be. However, Jamie, Ashley, and Heidi’s group experience indicates an amazing mainstream cruise is possible if not preferrable. For a start on this subject, see information about the LGBTQ+ Travel, Gay Travel, Lesbian Travel, Travel Association (IGLTA) https://www.iglta.org/ IGLTA is the world’s leading network of LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses.
To learn more about this specific cruise experience, see Heidi’s YouTube postings starting with https://youtu.be/pYYvkDrxge8. She’s provided a lot of useful information with many photos.
Having read this, are you ready to wave goodbye to your worries? OK – Sea you soon!
Another Perspective from Transpreneur Gwen Patrone.
She says “I love cruises and my most recent (2024) was Caribbean. As a bikini clad 163 cm curvy beauty, I’m used to being the subject of stares and whispers. Most likely have never encountered a transwoman so I’m viewed as an oddity. Yet, as unique learning opportunities, I hope that should they meet another like me, they’ll have had a positive experience.”
