Source: Gabriel Goldberg/VACAYA

LGBTQ Tour Operator VACAYA Announces 'Close-to-Home' 2021 River Cruise

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VACAYA, which made waves in 2019 with its inaugural east coast LGBTQ cruise that included an overnight dock in Provincetown, returns in 2021 with another domestic offering.

With international travel disrupted for the foreseeable future, the VACAYA team has decided to keep its next offering 'close to home' with an eight-night adventure roundtrip from easy-to-get-to and seductively gay-friendly New Orleans up the Mississippi River (November 14-22, 2021).

VACAYA, once again, is making history as the first U.S.-based river cruise in LGBTQ travel history. The company has chartered American Queen Steamboat Company's spacious American Duchess, a uniquely American, boutique-style paddlewheeler. An included pre-night hotel stay at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside affords guests the luxury of a short walk from the hotel to the city's historic French Quarter.

[READ: "My LGBTQIAPK Week at Sea with VACAYA"]

VACAYA cofounder and New Orleans native Randle Roper shared, "Luxury river cruising has taken Europe by storm and now LGBT+ travelers can sail the rivers of America with VACAYA. It's a level of luxury cruising that's been difficult to find in the States – comparable to five-star brands like Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis that VACAYA Luxe guests have grown to love. Those new to river cruising will quickly discover why it's become passionate adventurers' new 'favorite way to travel,' and we're thrilled to continue taking our guests to exciting new places that have never been available to them within the world of full-ship LGBT+ charters."

VACAYA cofounder Patrick Gunn adds, "One of VACAYA's missions is to offer our guests the opportunity to give back to the communities we visit through our ReachOUT program. On the New Orleans Cruise, we'll focus our efforts on supporting local LGBT+ and Black-owned businesses along the river. And that'll make a big difference in these times of great need."

VACAYA is offering multiple deals to entice new and repeat travelers – from Student, Military, and First Responder Pricing and Pay-In Full Discounts to a Best Rate Guarantee.


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