This summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on a dream vacation aboard RSVP’s Mediterranean Odyssey to cover it for LA’s The Place Magazine. Though I am not a member of the gay and lesbian community I would highly recommend RSVP to anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, because of the incredible hospitality and awe-inspiring destinations that I experienced while sailing with them on their 10 day charter cruise around the Mediterranean. We sailed out of Rome, Italy on August 9, 2007 aboard Holland America’s ms Westerdam and returned to Rome on August 19th. Over that short time we visited 8 different cities in four different countries with some of the most spectacular vistas the world has to offer. Below is a day by day account of my journey.
For their cruises, RSVP charters either large cruise ships that hold around 2000 passengers or small clipper ships that hold about 200 passengers for a more intimate setting. The prices range from around $700 to $15,000 per person depending on the cruise and the type of room booked so the cruises are easily affordable by people of all income levels. The passengers are comprised of 90-95% gay men and the remaining 5-10% is made up of lesbians (most of whom are couples).By far, the majority of the people on board are American, accounting for 90% of the passenger population, while the rest are from Canada and other parts of the world.
This summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on a dream vacation aboard RSVP’s Mediterranean Odyssey to cover it for LA’s The Place Magazine. Though I am not a member of the gay and lesbian community I would highly recommend RSVP to anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, because of the incredible hospitality and awe-inspiring destinations that I experienced while sailing with them on their 10 day charter cruise around the Mediterranean. We sailed out of Rome, Italy on August 9, 2007 aboard Holland America’s ms Westerdam and returned to Rome on August 19th. Over that short time we visited 8 different cities in four different countries with some of the most spectacular vistas the world has to offer. Below is a day by day account of my journey.
DAY 1: Arrival
On the first day my fiancé and I arrived in Rome, Italy where we were greeted by Holland America staff who helped us with our bags and led us to the shuttle that would take us to the port in Civitavecchia, about an hour’s drive from the airport. We flew all the way from Los Angeles to Rome in one day so we were exhausted upon arrival. When we got to the Westerdam we received a very warm welcome from the RSVP crew and then went straight to our room where we were met by our cabin steward, Didi. He wasn’t quite finished making up the room but he allowed us to relax while he worked to get our quarters in tip top shape. We really weren’t supposed to be there for another hour, but as we would soon find out, the Holland America staff was very accommodating. Anything we wanted on the trip they helped us to get if they were able, and if they weren’t, they made every effort to make us as comfortable as possible.
The room we had on the ship was quite small but there were plenty of cabinets, closets, drawers and under-bed storage to hold all of our clothes and empty suitcases. We were very fortunate to have a Deluxe Verandah Stateroom which, as the name implies, had a verandah that provided absolutely breathtaking ocean views.
When Didi finished our room we took a much needed nap. We would have turned in for the evening but the media reception was that night and I wanted to attend. At the reception I was introduced to several other reporters, who were also there to write about their experiences onboard an RSVP charter cruise. I also met Rob Pritchard who was our RSVP contact aboard the ship and several other RSVP crew members. I have never met a friendlier bunch than the employees of RSVP. They really went out of their way to make me and my fiancé feel at home even though we were not their typical passengers. I felt quite at ease throughout the entire voyage.
After the reception my fiancé and I explored the ship a bit and discovered the "Explorations Café," an internet cafe which was located in the crow’s nest of the ship. There we were able to send email to our families back home and watch the sun set over the Mediterranean, a truly spectacular sight. After that we called it a night, looking forward to our journey.
Click here to continue to read Mediterranean Odyssey Day Two: Naples…