Gay and lesbian cruises soar in popularity

Despite last year's shakeup among gay travel companies, gay and lesbian cruises are gaining in popularity. Here's a sampling of offerings in the next year from the major providers. (Note: All fares are per person, double occupancy. Add $200 to $300 more per person for taxes, fees, fuel surcharge and gratuities.)

R Family Vacations: The Rosie O'Donnell-fronted company, which focuses on gay and lesbian families with kids, is headed for Canada and New England this July, a weeklong round trip out of New York aboard the Norwegian Dawn (2,200 passengers). Stops will include Halifax, Bay of Fundy, Bar Harbor, Maine, Provincetown, Mass., Newport, R.I. The voyage is July 13-20; fares start at $999 per person (double occupancy), including port and government fees and gratuities. Visit www.rfamilyvacations.com.

Olivia: The company is celebrating its 35th anniversary with the "biggest Olivia celebration ever," a weeklong trip on Holland America's Westerdam (1,800 passengers) that leaves Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 23. Stops include: Turks and Caicos Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. More importantly, the entertainment includes the Go-Go's, Belinda Carlisle and Sick of Sarah. Available fares start at $1,499. Visit: www.olivia.com.

Atlantis: In January 2009, the company again will hold the world's largest gay cruise (now an annual event), this time on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas (3,700 passengers), a ship that shares the crown for largest on the planet. The weeklong round-trip voyage out of Miami leaves on Jan. 25 and includes stops in San Juan, P.R.; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Labadee, Haiti. The entertainment lineup has not been announced, but performers on previous trips include Joan Rivers, Rosie O'Donnell, Mario Cantone, Margaret Cho, Patti LuPone, Wanda Sykes and Jennifer Hudson. Visit: www.atlantisevents.com.

RSVP Vacations: The next large-ship gay and lesbian cruise will be Feb. 21-28, 2009, in the Eastern Caribbean onboard the Holland America's new Eurodam (2,100 passengers). The round-trip voyage out of Fort Lauderdale stops in Turks and Caicos, San Juan, P.R., St. John and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Available fares start at $1,049. Visit: www.rsvpvacations.com.

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San Francisco Chronicle,  USA -