Both Danny and Sven insisted Steve and I should try the LGBTQI+ (add as many letters as you want) activity on board. A nice way to meat other unicorns on board Royal Caribbean‘s Serenade of the Seas while on the Northern Europe cruise on the Baltic Sea. As you can tell from the title, it wasn’t what you could call a success. Why not?

I believe both the cruise people, including the cruise director who was obviously part or rainbow as ourselves failed at this little ga(y)me.

What happened?

On day 1, leaving Stockholm, there was a ‘LGBTQ Mix & Mingle‘ at The Safari Club. The Safari Club is a big bar / karaoke / dance space at the rear of the ship.

So how did the cruise fail us? It wasn’t ‘organised’ at all. Where in the club? I missed a ‘formal’ introduction to each other. Steve and I walked several times by a group of four guys who were obviously gay, playing pool. After several attempts we went for drinks and the four followed. But still no interaction.

At one point a couple came and yet no interaction. Then a twink passed by but was probably put off by the age of the other attendees. Before you start accusing him ageism: how would you react at his age?

So that’s where we failed ourselves. Gays have the reputation of being sociable, but it turns out we’re not. It’s very ‘labelling’ to ask someone “are you here for the LGBTQ Mix and Mingle?”.

So that’s why we failed ourselves. We should have asked and started conversation.

But the cruise people could have provided a spark to start the engine. So that’s how the crew failed us.

Positive note

Fortunately at one point someone did show initiative and some guts. Bert and Boon, and American-Malaysian couple, came to us and started a nice conversation. It ended as a pleasant evening and we saw each other at the gym and in the corridors a couple of times.

On our next cruise, we’ll have to be more courageous.

There were other ‘Mix & Mingles’, but after day 1 we didn’t really bother. We had a look one night when it was at Vintages. But as there was a party going on downstairs, we didn’t stay. How can you talk?