Olivia Cruisers? Carribean Sun Cruise October 30th

[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.

[Gemme]

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.

It all comes down to this in the end, doesn't it?



Someone's been living with Medusa.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by Jackhammer

I'm a licensed plumber... I cant help but wonder

Now sounds like a good time for me to bitch about the weird screaming pipes in my building. Whenever I, or anybody else in the building, runs the water for more than about 90 seconds the pipes all screech for a good 5 minutes afterward.

Not your fault, obviously. You've never been here. But I'd like you to let me know if I am going to die a horrible death from screeching pipes (hey! anything is possible!) or if we should all collectively continue to ignore it.

[waxnrope]

You guys are just full of it

[Kobi]

I can see all the forms of phobias, and inclusion/exclusion and probably a few isms as well.

What I cant seem to get passed is ....what do you mean I am stuck on a huge ship with thousands of people I dont know in the middle of nowhere for a week? Not even dealing with the poo issue....thanks Jack.

Maybe a harbor cruise or a day sailing trip hugging the coast? Anyone?

[MysticOceansFL]

It's not that I have money to burn but I'm not going to make my choices of where I want to enjoy my vacation do to someone not being able to go on the Olivia Cruise If you have a problem or a situation with the cruise line then choose and pick another one and friendships shouldn't be based on what or where someone goes anyways! I get the impression that most of people are trying to "play" the you pick them we"ll not be friends with you, because of your choices" and that tells me that you never really were friends to begin with now was ya?

[Julie]

Originally Posted by MysticOceansFL

It's not that I have money to burn but I'm not going to make my choices of where I want to enjoy my vacation do to someone not being able to go on the Olivia Cruise If you have a problem or a situation with the cruise line then choose and pick another one and friendships shouldn't be based on what or where someone goes anyways! I get the impression that most of people are trying to "play" the you pick them we"ll not be friends with you, because of your choices" and that tells me that you never really were friends to begin with now was ya?

Mystic,

I have read each and every comment on this thread, and from what I gather, I do not believe this has anything to do with a popularity contest.

It comes down to commonalities with people. Personally, I would not be friends with a Racist. They would not fit very well in my community and I would do what I could to educate, to inform them what this does to our global community when they speak this way. The same holds true in "our" community. If we support organizations that are "exclusive" and not "inclusive" then we are in fact perpetuating the same bigotry. If I allow people in my "world," who support such things, such as racist organizations or even organizations who are not supportive and inflammatory toward my community, then I am in fact perpetuating the same thing. I will however, offer my voice as a means to educate.

I do not know you personally, but most likely would not invite you into my inner circle. Not because you are not lovely, but because you support such organizations. I would not attend a party which served Coors beer - Even though Coors changed their policy, I still will not allow it in my house.

I also boycott the Michigan Womyns Music Festival - And I have no time for those that support an exclusive organization.

Julie

[The_Lady_Snow]

Originally Posted by MysticOceansFL

It's not that I have money to burn but I'm not going to make my choices of where I want to enjoy my vacation do to someone not being able to go on the Olivia Cruise If you have a problem or a situation with the cruise line then choose and pick another one and friendships shouldn't be based on what or where someone goes anyways! I get the impression that most of people are trying to "play" the you pick them we"ll not be friends with you, because of your choices" and that tells me that you never really were friends to begin with now was ya?

This is kinda ridiculous, to assume that people are posting their opinions so that all their friends follow like sheeple and not go on a vacation if that is what they wanted to do.

If (insert name) decided tomorrow that she was going on and Olivia Cruise, I would be like

I would more than likely talk to her about it, and our friendship would change since she is supporting a place I do not for it's policies. I don't know to what degree it would change but I am pretty positive that I would not just kick her to the curb without having some kind of dialogue.


Once again I find it odd that you are reading some subliminal message that is saying if pick a side or you are out the club.

Really odd.




PS

Can someone PLEASE point out the phobia, inclusion/exclusion ism's comments?????? PLEASE

[Billy]

Originally Posted by MysticOceansFL

It's not that I have money to burn but I'm not going to make my choices of where I want to enjoy my vacation do to someone not being able to go on the Olivia Cruise If you have a problem or a situation with the cruise line then choose and pick another one and friendships shouldn't be based on what or where someone goes anyways! I get the impression that most of people are trying to "play" the you pick them we"ll not be friends with you, because of your choices" and that tells me that you never really were friends to begin with now was ya?

We are not talking about ANOTHER cruise line here .....We all have that option ..The point I was trying to make is YOU and I are not welcome on this ship ....Why would you go and make reservations on a ship you are not welcome on and take the chance of NOT getting your money back or even making it off the dock because you don't want to be a follwer ..This has nothing to do with being a follower ..The facts have been posted here very clearly ...If Me and My butch and trans brothers are not WELCOME period , I am not going ...Has NOTHING to do with I won't be your friend if this person goes or that person goes ...I'm starting to wonder if we are reading the same thread

[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>
Add sender to Contacts

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!

[The_Lady_Snow]

I don't get it why every fucking time someone or we as a community try to speak of trans issues or transphobia it turns into this.

Why does it seem as soon as to much trans talk happens this whole fear runs amock in whatever thread that lesbians are being attacked..

I have asked several damn times where the hell is all the divisive, phobic statements against lesbians and ism's being said.

Cause god damn it, some of us have some trans folks in our lives who get tired of every time a discussion happens the accusations of lesbians not wanted arises..

Ridiculous.

[BullDog]

Snow if you are referring to my post I said what my position on including transwomen was and didn't accuse anyone of anything.