On November 8, the largest lesbian cruise ever created will kick off in New Orleans. Discover Sweet, the eco-conscious lesbian cruise company, will launch their week-long Western Caribbean cruise with a twist. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in the Katrina relief effort for a few days before setting sail.
A huge party on Bourbon Street is planned to celebrate the launch before the cruise leaves for Costa Maya, a mellow fishing village in Mexico. From there, the Norwegian Spirit will stop at Belize City, known for its Mayan ruins, exotic wildlife sanctuaries and historical architecture. Then the ship will dock in Roatan, Honduras, a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers because of the numerous coral reefs. The cruise finally lands in Cozumel, home of the Chac Tun Cavern.
Celebrities and entertainers will include comediennes Suzanne Westenhoefer, Erin Foley and Chantal Carrere, actresses Cathy DeBuono and Jill Bennett, musicians Jen Foster, Melange Lavonne and Edie Carey, and Kate McKinnon from The Big Gay Sketch Show. Shawnee Harkins, celebrity trainer from Dr. Phil’s Ulitmate Weight Loss Race, hosts a “Sweet Sweat Bootcamp” and light cooking demos.
Guests will also have the unique chance to win a date with reality TV personality and GO cover girl Dani Campbell, 31. A firefighter from Florida, Campbell gained notoriety as a finalist and fan favorite on MTV’s A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. The self-described “futch,” Campbell was arguably the first nationally embraced non-femme lesbian reality star.
The inaugural cruise boasts parties by Club Skirts, the producers of The Dinah the annual mega gathering in Palm Springs and the largest lesbian party in the world. Next year, Sweet events will expand to include Salmon River Rafting and Sweet Kenyan Safari excursions.
Sweet is different than other cruises in their attempt to offset the pollution created by their vacations by being carbon neutral, as well as promoting lesbian well-being. Health, self-esteem and visibility are a priority, and Sweet offers a donation matching program for registered non-profit organizations. They are active participants in fundraising endeavors for lesbian health organizations, especially those fighting diseases and advocating equal rights.
Read GO’s feature on Sweet at gomag.com. For more information and updates on Sweet cruises, check out discoversweet.com.
