R Family Vacations

Last updated
R Family Vacations
Type LGBT travel
Industry LGBT tourism
Founded2003
Headquarters
Nyack, New York
,
U.S.
Key people
Gregg Kaminsky (co-founder) [1]
Kelli O'Donnell (co-founder) [1]
Rosie O'Donnell (creative input)
Productsall-inclusive cruise-ship-based vacations, events, related products
Website rfamilyvacations.com
Norwegian Dawn, the de facto official ship of R Family Vacations. NYC Norwegian Dawn.jpg
Norwegian Dawn , the de facto official ship of R Family Vacations.

R Family Vacations is an LGBT vacation entertainment company that provides luxury cruise ship trips with a focus on inclusive activities for children and services including same-sex marriage ceremonies. They are a subsidiary of Tzell Travel Group. [2] [3]

Contents

History

In 2003, Rosie O'Donnell and her then partner Kelli Carpenter-O'Donnell partnered with travel entrepreneur Gregg Kaminsky to launch R Family Vacations catering to both gays and lesbians, "the very first all gay and lesbian family vacation packages" where "gays and lesbians can bring their kids, their friends, and their parents." O'Donnell is not involved on a day-to-day basis, but provides marketing and promotional advice and is credited with the idea for the company when she filled in as a last-minute replacement headliner on a gay cruise being promoted by Kaminsky. [4] [5]

Maiden voyage (2004)

The Norwegian Dawn docked in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Norwegian Dawn 22.JPG
The Norwegian Dawn docked in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

On July 11, 2004, the first cruise was held aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines's Norwegian Dawn with 1600 passengers including 600 children. [6] By the third year, the cruise was selling out to a maximum capacity of 2,600 passengers. In addition to traditional entertainment and recreational activities, the company partnered with Provincetown’s Family Pride, a 25-year-old Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for GLBT families, [7] to host discussions on "adoption, insemination, surrogacy, and everything else that would be helpful to gay parenting. Metropolitan Community Church, the predominantly GLBT Christian denomination, had clergy on board to perform wedding ceremonies and conduct interfaith services and there was also discussion groups for kids and a panel discussion where teens could share their experiences of growing up with gay and lesbian parents. [7]

2007

In 2007, the company considered making Bermuda one of its stops. Recalling a 2004 incident between Norwegian Cruise Lines' all gay cruises and Christian "protesters chanting anti-gay slogans" in Nassau, Bahamas, [8] Kaminsky claimed that Bermuda, which he incorrectly believed had tourism as its main industry, would face economic repercussions if a similar event occurred in the British overseas territory, [9] which has long held a reputation for being anti-gay [10] and only the year before the local legislature refused to even consider outlawing sexuality-based discrimination. [11] While the trip was supported by Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transportation Dr. Ewart Brown, [12] it was opposed by one of his close political allies, Andre Curtis, the organiser of a controversial "Faith-Based Tourism" initiative, [13] who organised some eighty churches into an interfaith group called "United by Faith" to oppose the planned visit [9] alongside local African Methodist Episcopal churches. [14] R Families decided to change the itinerary to replace Bermuda with two stops in Florida and a private island. Kaminsky stated

"If we didn't have kids on board and there were protesters, we would go, but we did not want to expose kids to that hatred while they were on vacation." [15]

2008

Ross Mathews singing karaoke on R Family Vacations cruise with Rosie O'Donnell, in July 2007. Ross Mathews July 2007.JPG
Ross Mathews singing karaoke on R Family Vacations cruise with Rosie O'Donnell, in July 2007.

In January 2008, Pink Pea, a production company, announced that "Dottie", "the star of Dottie's Magic Pockets — the first children's program for kids in gay and lesbian families" will be part of the entertainment. "Dottie", portrayed by actor Jen Plante, appeared on the cruise to the Mexican Riviera, March 15–22, 2008 and marked the first time the LGBT families and friends will be "entertained by the main character of a kids' show that is set in a lesbian household".[ citation needed ]

Later growth

The company expanded from cruises to include resort stays, adults-only vacations and a Broadway cruise. [16] As of early 2020, the company had hosted more than twenty thousand guests on its excursions. [17]

All Aboard: Rosie's Family Cruise

A documentary film about the trip looked inside the lives of some of the 500 families that cruised from New York to the Bahamas. The documentary, All Aboard: Rosie's Family Cruise, debuted 6 April 2006 on HBO. The film was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Of the experience O'Donnell stated "We didn’t really realize the magic that was going to take place. People who had never met another gay family met other families and it was powerful." [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosie O'Donnell</span> American comedian

Roseann O'Donnell is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series Star Search in 1984. After a series of television and film roles that introduced her to a larger national audience, O'Donnell hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, between 1996 and 2002, which won several Daytime Emmy Awards. During this period, she developed the nickname "Queen of Nice", as well as a reputation for philanthropic efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT community</span> Community and culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

The LGBT community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBT community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon</span> American feminists and gay-rights activists

Dorothy Louise Taliaferro "Del" Martin and Phyllis Ann Lyon were an American lesbian couple known as feminist and gay-rights activists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Birch</span> American lawyer and businessman

Elizabeth Millen Birch is an American attorney and former corporate executive who chaired the board of directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force from 1992-1994. She served as the executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT organization, from January 1995 until January 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT tourism</span> Tourism marketed to LGBT people

LGBT tourism is a form of tourism marketed to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. People might be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity at times, but less so in areas known for violence against LGBT people.

<i>Gay USA</i> American TV series or program

Gay USA is a weekly one-hour news program "...devoted to in-depth coverage of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues" on a local, state, national, and international level. It is taped in the studios of, and aired by, Manhattan Neighborhood Network in Manhattan, New York. It airs on Manhattan Public-access television cable TV and Free Speech TV, and is available worldwide as a podcast at the show's website or to subscribe via iTunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT marketing</span>

LGBT marketing is the act of marketing to LGBT customers, either with dedicated ads or general ads, or through sponsorships of LGBT organizations and events, or the targeted use of any other element of the marketing mix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the Bahamas</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Bahamas face challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. While same-sex sexual activity is legal in the Bahamas, there are no laws that address discrimination or harassment on the account of sexual orientation or gender identity, nor does it recognize same sex unions in any form, whether it be marriage or partnerships. Households headed by same-sex couples are also not eligible for any of the same rights given to opposite-sex married couples.

The Bay Area Reporter is a free weekly LGBT newspaper serving the LGBT communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is one of the largest-circulation LGBT newspapers in the United States, and the country's oldest continuously published newspaper of its kind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jahero</span>

JaHeRo is the video blog (vlog) started by Rosie O'Donnell on her website Rosie.com answering fans questions, giving behind the scenes information and serving as a video diary. Originally featuring only O'Donnell and her hair and make-up artist Helene Macaulay they were soon joined by her writer from The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Janette Barber. O'Donnell, her producer Barber, and Macaulay created unscripted video blogs Monday through Thursday prior to taping, during which they answered user-submitted questions. Called Jahero, composed of the first two letters of each of their first names, they occasionally had short cameo appearances by View co-hosts Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Barbara Walters. Jenny McCarthy appeared once briefly, as has Hasselbeck's mother-in-law and O'Donnell's mother-in-law, her wife Kelli's mother. Kathy Griffin also appeared, where she read some of the questions. It became so popular that O'Donnell and her creative team considered an "on the road" version of the video blog utilizing fan-submitted suggestions. O'Donnell was the front runner for the "best celebrity blogger" category in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards which she won.

<i>All Aboard! Rosies Family Cruise</i> 2006 television film

All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise is a 2006 American made-for-television documentary film that follows Rosie O'Donnell and her family along with several other families on the first-ever cruise designed for gay parents and their families. It was arranged and planned by Rosie O'Donnell and her life partner Kelli O'Donnell. The cruise ship set sail on July 11, 2004, and the film debuted on April 6, 2006 on HBO. The film was released on DVD-Video on June 13, 2006. The film went on to be nominated for three Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Travel</span> Travel company

Olivia Travel is a travel company that sells cruises and resort vacations marketed towards lesbian customers. It was founded by Judy Dlugacz in 1973 as a women's record label, Olivia Records. It offered its first all-woman cruise in 1990 and remains the only company in the world offering cruises catering just to lesbians. Like its parent company, Olivia takes its name from the heroine of a pulp novel by Dorothy Bussy who fell in love with her headmistress at a French boarding school.

Dottie's Magic Pockets is a children's show featuring Dottie and her magical friends as they sing, dance, and learn. Dottie's Magic Pockets is the first LGBT children's programming created for gay families, single-parent families, adopted families and traditional families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GLBT Historical Society</span> American non-profit LGBT historical society

The GLBT Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of archival materials, artifacts and graphic arts relating to the history of LGBT people in the United States, with a focus on the LGBT communities of San Francisco and Northern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Bermuda</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT persons. Homosexuality is legal in Bermuda, but the territory has long held a reputation for being homophobic and intolerant. Since 2013, the Human Rights Act has prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT people in Mexico</span>

According to the First National Poll on Discrimination (2005) in Mexico which was carried out by the CONAPRED, 48% of the Mexican people interviewed indicated that they would not permit a homosexual to live in their house. 95% of the homosexuals interviewed indicated that in Mexico there is discrimination against them; four out of ten declared they were victim of acts of exclusion; more than half said they felt rejected; and six out of ten felt their worst enemy was society.

<i>Out & About</i> (newsletter)

Out & About, was a travel newsletter tailored for gay and lesbian travelers. It was founded in 1992. Until the publishing ceased in 2004, the newsletter was putting out a publication rich in detail and tinged with LGBT advocacy.

The LGBT community in Tokyo is one of the largest in Asia. While Japan does not assign as much moral or social weight to sexuality as in the West, it is still difficult for Japanese people to come out in society as being LGBT; the community reportedly experiences homophobia even amongst those in the community. Only 5% of Japanese people report they know somebody who is LGBT.

LGBT cruises are a rising phenomenon in LGBT culture and a growing trend in the LGBT tourism industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantis Events</span> LGBT vacation company

Atlantis Events is an LGBT vacation company that provides LGBT cruises and resort vacations. A 2017 book on LGBT tourism described it as "the most successful LGBT tour operator in the world". Their vacations are designed and marketed primarily for gay men.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Founders". R Family Vacations. 2003–2005. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  2. ↑ Chesnut, Mark. "Travel Planning During the Coronavirus Quarantine?". Passport Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Rosie's High Seas Entertainment And Gay Family Values". HuffPost UK. 2008-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  4. ↑ Guaracino, Jeff (2014-10-16). "R Family Vacations: Going strong and fabulous". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  5. ↑ "How to Choose an LGBT Cruise". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  6. 1 2 Davis, Andrew (2005-01-12). "Getting Away with R Family Vacations". Windy City Times . Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  7. 1 2 Williams, Bradley David (May 2004). "Families, Ahoy!". Out Smart Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  8. ↑ "Bermuda cut from O'Donnell's gay cruise". Associated Press via Yahoo News. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-06-21.(via wayback machine as has expired)
  9. 1 2 Dale, Amanda (March 30, 2008). "Rethink opposition to gay cruise, churches urged". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved November 11, 2008.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Gay cruisers will still come to BDA". Bermuda Sun. April 20, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Hundreds demonstrate against MPs' gay rights 'silence'". Bermuda Sun. June 2, 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  12. ↑ Bourke, Amy (3 April 2007). "Rosie's gay cruise is backed by Bermuda's leader". Pinknews. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  13. ↑ Smith, Tim (April 24, 2008). "UK Christian group critical of faith-based tourism". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved November 11, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ Jones, Glenn (March 24, 2007). "AMEs launch the first salvo against the Rosie cruise" . Retrieved November 11, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ Guaracino, Jeff (July 2007). "Fun For Grown-Ups Aboard Rosie's r Family Cruises". Instinct: 48.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ↑ Shattuck, Kathryn (7 June 2013). "A Bond Forged Over Time on the Open Sea". New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  17. ↑ Robbie, Erica (10 January 2020). "All in the family: 43-year-old Aspen Gay Ski Week adds Snowmass family component". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.