If any corner of the world is synonymous with paradise, it's French Polynesia's scattered, sparsely inhabited islands, buttercream palm-fringed beaches, and glass-clear waters. The region is best visited by water, yet, when it comes to cruising, the islands around Tahiti remain surprisingly uncharted territory: the region welcomed 110,000 passengers in 2024-compare that to the Caribbean's 15 million or the Mediterranean's 5.8 million for the same period.
Desperate to focus on anything other than competently running a railroad, Amtrak made news this fall by arresting a couple hundred men for "public lewdness" in Penn Station, the implication being that they were cruising the bathrooms there for sex. This caused a minor uproar. New York's Rep. Jerry Nadler sent a letter demanding Amtrak, "Cease ... targeting members of the LGBTQ community ... on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation."
My aunt turned 80 last weekend, and to celebrate, a bunch of us flew out to the West Coast to visit her. While planning the trip, I realized that where we were staying was just a short train ride from a fairly popular gay bathhouse I'd been curious about for a while. I figured the day after the party would be the perfect time to finally check it out.
"Many crew members and avid cruisers can tell you about seeing 'pier runners' sprinting down the dock only to watch in horror as their ship pulls up its gangway and sails off into the sunset without them."
Bert Hernandez, President of Silversea, emphasizes, 'These reunion voyages embody our ethos. They bring together a close community, curated luxury, and unique shoreside and onboard experiences designed to connect travelers in meaningful ways.'
Cruising with my grandparents on a massive ship meant prioritizing their needs, slowing down, and utilizing accessibility services to improve our overall experience.
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