Olivia Cruisers? Carribean Sun Cruise October 30th

[nycfem]

From:
"Olivia GuestServices" <GUESTSERVICES@OLIVIA.COM>
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Hello -

Olivia strives to provide an all Lesbian environment but we have had MTF transgendered guests join us on our vacations. Although we do not discriminate, you will find that your presence is upsetting to some of our guests. Some will confront you directly asking "why are you on my Lesbian vacation?" I imagine it would be even harder for our guests to accept someone FTM.

I know this is discouraging, but it is important for you to understand because it disrupts the Olivia experience we work hard to provide for our guests. If you have any questions or need anything more please feel free to e-mail me at guestservices@olivia.com or call 800-631-6277, option 2.



Thank you,



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeri Umble
sr. director, customer care


olivia
434 brannan street
san francisco ca 94107

415.962.5700 tel
415.962-5713 fax

feel free
www.olivia.com

[Corkey]

Separatism is alive and well. They will get none of our money.

[Blaze]

Which goes to say that is why we were left with our suit cases left on the dock while we tried to understand why we were not allowed on board... ~Shakes Head~
And then tell us that we could reschedule another time??? We were on vacation, we have paid vacation hours, we can't just show up back to work and say, well can't go right now, so I'm going to work now and can you let me have next month off?!!!
We went camping instead! And this was 8 years ago, and they still haven't changed... Sad, so sad...

[betenoire]

Are there any inclusive LGBTIQ cruises? I know that Rosie's (ex? I don't keep up with celebrity gossip but I feel like I heard that somewhere) wife is the founder of one and I -think- I heard that one was inclusive - although it is for families.

If there was something like that I would be interested.

Oh, and add me to the "oh HELL naw" column on the subject of Olivia. I know where I'm not wanted.

[citybutch]

I would be interested to hear about the cruise line Sweet. They do a lot of activism... building schools, fixing computers, etc... to the depressed countries they visit... That's a part of their philosophy of cruising...

Anyone know?

Here is their link:

http://discoversweet.com/

Originally Posted by betenoire

Are there any inclusive LGBTIQ cruises? I know that Rosie's (ex? I don't keep up with celebrity gossip but I feel like I heard that somewhere) wife is the founder of one and I -think- I heard that one was inclusive - although it is for families.

If there was something like that I would be interested.

Oh, and add me to the "oh HELL naw" column on the subject of Olivia. I know where I'm not wanted.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by citybutch

I would be interested to hear about the cruise line Sweet. They do a lot of activism... building schools, fixing computers, etc... to the depressed countries they visit... That's a part of their philosophy of cruising...

Anyone know?

Here is their link:

http://discoversweet.com/

Who can travel with Sweet?
Sweet loves our allies in all shapes and flavors. So while our vacations are designed for lesbians, anyone who looks at what we do and thinks it looks like fun is welcome to join us.

Their FAQ

I would be interested to know if that's just talk or if they mean it, though. Like if someone who had actually been on one of their cruises could give us the skinny on things - that would be nice.

[SassyLeo]

Originally Posted by citybutch

I would be interested to hear about the cruise line Sweet. They do a lot of activism... building schools, fixing computers, etc... to the depressed countries they visit... That's a part of their philosophy of cruising...

Anyone know?

Here is their link:

http://discoversweet.com/

Originally Posted by betenoire

Who can travel with Sweet?
Sweet loves our allies in all shapes and flavors. So while our vacations are designed for lesbians, anyone who looks at what we do and thinks it looks like fun is welcome to join us.

Their FAQ

I would be interested to know if that's just talk or if they mean it, though. Like if someone who had actually been on one of their cruises could give us the skinny on things - that would be nice.

I have never been in a Sweet vacation, but I have heard they are very open and progressive.
I did take a look at the photos they have on their website, and while I do not know, obviously, how everyone in the photos identifies...there is definitely a variety of folks: http://discoversweet.com/photos/

[nycfem]

I never knew this, Jack, and feel strongly about protecting oceans and sea life. It should have been common sense but I really hadn't thought about it. Now that I read what you wrote and google and see just how damaging cruises are to the environment, no more cruises for me, that's for sure. Glad you posted this- I will share with others.

Originally Posted by Jackhammer

Today’s cruise ships carry on average between 3,000 and 7,000 people including the crew. A moderately sized ship on a week’s voyage can generate more than 200,000 gallons of human sewage – enough to fill 10 backyard swimming pools – a million gallons of gray water, 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, more than 100 gallons of hazardous waste, and eight tons of solid waste, including ground up food waste. And almost all of it gets discharged into the environment either straight into the ocean or incinerated onboard and the ashes thrown overboard with a small amount hauled on shore.




So what they don't dump, they burn while folks are enjoying their cruise.

[Laerkin]

I'm a little late getting to this thread, so I apologize if this is repetitive.

I'd like to start by reiterating what was said in previous posts. This is certainly not in any way a comment or attack on the OP.

First, on nycfembbw's post from Olivia GuestServices:

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

From:
"Olivia GuestServices" <GUESTSERVICES@OLIVIA.COM>
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Hello -
...

I know this is discouraging, but it is important for you to understand because it disrupts the Olivia experience we work hard to provide for our guests.

Um, my initial response was "f*** you, Customer Service Jackass". This is completely ridiculous. So if their primary customer base were to suddenly feel "disrupted" by people of color or people with handicaps, would they discourage such customers as well? This answer is so offensive I feel sick.

Originally Posted by Billy

I have got to the point in My life that , if I or My butch brothers are not welcome somewhere , fuck em ! I will take My money and My brothers and go else where ! And if these idiots thought about what they where missing out on, they would see they could be making alot more money and meet some awesome folks that they choose to not associate with ...

I'm with you, Billy. I may not be trans or butch, but people that I care about are so Olivia can keep their cruises and we will have way more fun with our INCLUSIVE community elsewhere.

I am more sickened by discrimination within our community than anything. These people KNOW what it's like to suffer fewer rights, ignorance, law's that attempt to make us 2nd class and yet they turn around and behave this way towards another group within our LGBT community?

Originally Posted by Jackhammer

Today’s cruise ships carry on average between 3,000 and 7,000 people including the crew. A moderately sized ship on a week’s voyage can generate more than 200,000 gallons of human sewage – enough to fill 10 backyard swimming pools – a million gallons of gray water, 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, more than 100 gallons of hazardous waste, and eight tons of solid waste, including ground up food waste. And almost all of it gets discharged into the environment either straight into the ocean or incinerated onboard and the ashes thrown overboard with a small amount hauled on shore.

So what they don't dump, they burn while folks are enjoying their cruise.

Jackhammer, thank you for this information. I've never been on a cruise (more the adventure and off-the-beaten path traveler), but I've considered it a few times with friends.

After reading this, I can say I will now never experience a cruise in this lifetime unless some major improvements are made to how these environmental hazards are handled. I'm disgusted in an entirely new way, now.

And I'm passing this along to my friends and family that do enjoy cruises. If they choose to vacation that way, I want to ensure they're informed about their choices.

Ugh!

[MountainStar]

Wow. I never expected to see so many replies nor see what I saw.

I did book with Olivia and here is why...

My former spouse (who passed away) and I took a cruise together as our last trip. Cal was a TG butch and could easily pass for a guy if he wanted to.

We were treated with nothing but respect. We met some lovely people on the trip. Olivia went above and beyond to assist us since Cal was dying from cancer. Not one person was rude to us. Not one comment from either the Olivia staff or anyone on the cruise.

I knew at that time I wanted to take another trip with them and now I am.

I certainly didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest. All I wondered was if anyone else here might be going. If someone is going feel free to PM me.

Have a good week,

MS

[The_Lady_Snow]

Originally Posted by MountainStar

Wow. I never expected to see so many replies nor see what I saw.

I did book with Olivia and here is why...

My former spouse (who passed away) and I took a cruise together as our last trip. Cal was a TG butch and could easily pass for a guy if he wanted to.

We were treated with nothing but respect. We met some lovely people on the trip. Olivia went above and beyond to assist us since Cal was dying from cancer. Not one person was rude to us. Not one comment from either the Olivia staff or anyone on the cruise.

I knew at that time I wanted to take another trip with them and now I am.

I certainly didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest. All I wondered was if anyone else here might be going. If someone is going feel free to PM me.

Have a good week,

MS

MS

I am glad you and yours had a great vacation, and that you have wonderful memories!

I hope you have a great time and you come back with more beautiful memories!

Happy Travels!

[SuperFemme]

atlantis, aquafest and RSVPvacations all have cruises that cater to the Queer/Lesbian community.

[Strappie]

Originally Posted by MountainStar

Wow. I never expected to see so many replies nor see what I saw.

I did book with Olivia and here is why...

My former spouse (who passed away) and I took a cruise together as our last trip. Cal was a TG butch and could easily pass for a guy if he wanted to.

We were treated with nothing but respect. We met some lovely people on the trip. Olivia went above and beyond to assist us since Cal was dying from cancer. Not one person was rude to us. Not one comment from either the Olivia staff or anyone on the cruise.

I knew at that time I wanted to take another trip with them and now I am.

I certainly didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest. All I wondered was if anyone else here might be going. If someone is going feel free to PM me.

Have a good week,

MS

Mountainstar,

I'm sorry this happened on your time and thread. I do wish you a happy cruise. I also am sorry for your loss. I know you will go on this cruise and have the time of you life. You will have memories from the past and will get to gather new memories. I truly wish you great travels!!

[nycfem]

We went on a Rosie Cruz to the Caribbean (r family vacations, now run by the ex, Kelly). Funny enough, we were by chance in a cabin beside another butch femme couple and their daughter. There were definitely singles and couples without kids too. We were told in casual conversation that R Family Vacations is more down-to-earth than Olivia (in talk of comparing between those who had been on both). I don't know specifically about their trans policy but the cruise had a very diverse feel to it. Some queer families brought grandparents, kinda touching to me! Also for that specific cruise, Rosie had impulsively invited the whole audience to go on the cruise we were on when she had been on the View. Off-air, the audience was told by Rosie's people that Rosie would pay for them to go on Rosie's cruise or, if they felt more comfortable, a "regular" Carnival cruise. So it was cool that the straight families that did go made that choice. Anyway, it's the only cruise I've ever been on so I can't compare it to other cruises, but it was rather magnificent.

Originally Posted by betenoire

Are there any inclusive LGBTIQ cruises? I know that Rosie's (ex? I don't keep up with celebrity gossip but I feel like I heard that somewhere) wife is the founder of one and I -think- I heard that one was inclusive - although it is for families.

If there was something like that I would be interested.

Oh, and add me to the "oh HELL naw" column on the subject of Olivia. I know where I'm not wanted.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

We went on a Rosie Cruz to the Caribbean (r family vacations, now run by the ex, Kelly). Funny enough, we were by chance in a cabin beside another butch femme couple and their daughter. There were definitely singles and couples without kids too. We were told in casual conversation that R Family Vacations is more down-to-earth than Olivia (in talk of comparing between those who had been on both). I don't know specifically about their trans policy but the cruise had a very diverse feel to it. Some queer families brought grandparents, kinda touching to me! Also for that specific cruise, Rosie had impulsively invited the whole audience to go on the cruise we were on when she had been on the View. Off-air, the audience was told by Rosie's people that Rosie would pay for them to go on Rosie's cruise or, if they felt more comfortable, a "regular" Carnival cruise. So it was cool that the straight families that did go made that choice. Anyway, it's the only cruise I've ever been on so I can't compare it to other cruises, but it was rather magnificent.

That's so cool!

I tell you - I love Rosie.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

From:
"Olivia GuestServices" <GUESTSERVICES@OLIVIA.COM>
Add sender to Contacts

Hello -

Olivia strives to provide an all Lesbian environment but we have had MTF transgendered guests join us on our vacations. Although we do not discriminate, you will find that your presence is upsetting to some of our guests. Some will confront you directly asking "why are you on my Lesbian vacation?" I imagine it would be even harder for our guests to accept someone FTM.

I know this is discouraging, but it is important for you to understand because it disrupts the Olivia experience we work hard to provide for our guests. If you have any questions or need anything more please feel free to e-mail me at guestservices@olivia.com or call 800-631-6277, option 2.



Thank you,



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeri Umble
sr. director, customer care


olivia
434 brannan street
san francisco ca 94107

415.962.5700 tel
415.962-5713 fax

feel free
www.olivia.com

does this qualify as he shouldn't come?

[Isadora]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

does this qualify as he shouldn't come?

Wow. Really? Did you mean to come across as accusatory and nasty or is it just me? I have never seen this. Sad. I read the whole thread. I had no idea. Lots of things change over the years. I bet all the butches I watched play basketball on the cruise would be horrified.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Isadora

Wow. Really? Did you mean to come across as accusatory and nasty or is it just me? I have never seen this. Sad. I read the whole thread. I had no idea. Lots of things change over the years. I bet all the butches I watched play basketball on the cruise would be horrified.

It's just you. That's okay though, I forgive you for thinking that. I really was simply reposting the info because I felt it answered your question.

[Isadora]

sad sad sad

I really am saddened by this. It is like the closing of windows and doors...the blocking off of community. I won't go on Olivia for many reasons again but I did have fun on the one I went on and no one was treated badly that I saw or heard of...

*shrug*

[Gayla]

Originally Posted by Isadora

sad sad sad

I really am saddened by this. It is like the closing of windows and doors...the blocking off of community. I won't go on Olivia for many reasons again but I did have fun on the one I went on and no one was treated badly that I saw or heard of...

*shrug*

It's been awhile since I've thought about Olivia as anything other than the cruise people but when I stop and remember what they used to be, to me personally, it is sad. They did really important things that had a very formative effect on me.