Hi EPL,

I have most recently cruised with Atlantis in 2004 (Hawaii), 2005 (Alaska) and 2006 (Caribbean out of FTL). I will be on the Atlantis Baltic 2007. It really depends on what you want, and what you expect from a vacation. I think Atlantis offers an excellent product on premium ships at a high to premium price. Having said that, you get what you pay for. Their dance parties and theme activities are particularly outstanding. They knock themselves out to make the gay vacation experience memorable and enjoyable. You can read a wide range of opinions over at www.cruisecritic.com in the Gay And Lesbian Cruisers section.

Since you are first time all-gay cruisers, I would encourage you to do a lot of reading and ask a lot of questions to determine if this is for you. An all-gay cruise is not for everyone, but I (and many of my friends) find them to be a total blast. I have had a great time on each of my Atlantis cruises, and I have met a lot of wonderful men (and some hardy lesbians.)

The Hawaii cruise has very little time at sea and a lot of time in port. The ship is brand new. I asked the owner of Atlantis Events about the poor to awful service reputation of the US flagged NCL ships during my Caribbean cruise this past March, and he gave us a lot of detail around his regular communications with NCL, the efforts they are making to improve their service levels (including a training center in Maryland), and his pointed interest in ensuring his customers have a great experience in Hawaii in 2007. So I believe that area is being strongly addressed by Atlantis.

Beyond that, it is a beautiful destination, if a little port-heavy for me. The most important things you can bring on any Atlantis cruise are a great attitude, a friendly outlook, and a willingness to try something new. I hope you give it a try, and that you have a wonderful time.