SEYCHELLES LGBTQ+ BOAT CRUISES

Two people hugging and smiling with a tropical island in the background

Seychelles

As a tourist visitor to Seychelles, your gender identity and your sexual preferences are your business. If you don’t identify as a gender-binary, heterosexual person, that should not be of any interest to anybody. It is only if your behavior is deemed unacceptable that you might face reproaches, which could also apply to heterosexual couples behaving inappropriately. To date, we have never heard of any issues experienced by our travelers due to their sexuality. That said, along with just a smattering of other African nations, Seychelles is also one of the few to have passed laws that actively protect lesbian, gay and bisexual employees from discrimination in the workplace on the basis of their sexual orientation.
OCTOBER 28 marks a special occasion for Variety Cruises as LGBTQIA+ activist Constantine Venetopoulos and part of the 3rd generation of the family that founded Variety Cruises in 1949 joins our "STRAIGHT FRIENDLY" 7-day adventure in the Seychelles, offering insight into what it's like to lead the cruise company with the vision A BETTER WORLD AT SEA. Guests will have ample time to connect with others from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, discover the historic and cultural links the Seychelles have to offer in terms of gender history and together explore and understand the destination's approach on such matters. Constantine and guests on board will be joined by a host who will ensure signature activities including classic highlights such as a OFF-BROADWAY AT SEA night and more.
Constantine helps lead the GENDER EQUALITY pillar of VARIETY CARES' foundation, has been a volunteer councilor for THE TREVOR PROJECT since 2011 (the leading suicide prevention line for LGBTQIA+ youth) and is the director of the film DRAW WITH ME which was the first documentary on transgender history to be presented at THE UNITED NATIONS during the 50th anniversary of the Stone Wall riots.

Massive granite rocks and coral fringed beaches create an air of drama and beauty while seamlessly fusing land and sea. Explore Paradise by Yacht.

LOCATION

Seychelles

TRAVEL PERIOD

28 Oct 2023

BOAT

Pegasos

DURATION

8 days

PRICE

From €2590 / per person

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SEYCHELLES LGBTQ+

GALLERY

DAY BY DAY

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Coctail in a coconut with a sea view in the background

Day 1 | Saturday

MAHE/VICTORIA (INTER ISLAND QUAY) - ST. ANNE

Join us and your fellow sailors for a welcome drink on board before we sail out of Port Victoria towards Sainte Anne. We know you’re eagerly awaiting your first opportunity to swap clothes for swimwear, and to dive into the inviting ocean. This is it. Spend some time soaking up the sun before drying off in time for the evening’s welcome dinner.

Day 2 | Sunday

ST. ANNE - CURIEUSE

From Sainte Anne to Curieuse, the latter an uninhabited island home to the Giant Tortoise. Get ready for a day of fun and exploration with our optional walking tour through mangroves, followed by a lunchtime beach barbecue under the trees. In the afternoon, enjoy the beach and sea activities, or simply lie back and take it all in. This evening join us for a beach party with DJ on board / a movie under the stars on deck. Overnight at anchor.

Day 3 | Monday

CURIEUSE - COUSIN ISLAND - ANSE LAZIO

This afternoon we’ll visit Anse Lazio, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But first we’ll swing by Cousin Island, a nature reserve since 1968 and home to quarter of a million birds, as well as turtle-friendly nesting beaches. Afternoon sail towards Anse Lazio, ready for suntanning and snorkelling. We'll spend the evening at anchor, and we invite you to join our on board tea dance. Come dressed to impress.

A serene beach with clear blue water and palm trees, visited on a Variety Cruises excursion

Day 4 | Tuesday

ANSE LAZIO - ARIDE - ST. PIERRE - BAIE ST. ANNE/PRASLIN

Morning sail to Aride, where island rangers will escort you to the top of this island. Bring your camera, the view from here is one to capture. Aride is home to many indiginous bird species which our guides will point out along the way. At lunch we’ll sail onwards to St. Pierre Island for an afternoon of more swim and snorkel stops before cruising into the sunset - quite literally - on our way to Baie Sainte Anne. Here we’ll spend the night at dock enjoying a Creole evening together. *Aride island often closed by local authorities during Southeast Trade winds (from May to September as a guideline). It may also close at short notice during strong winds. During this time, weather permitting, Variety Cruises Captain will be calling at equally beautiful locales, visiting Cote D’Or or Anse Georgette.

Palm trees in the lush and tropical Vallee de Mai, Seychelles

Day 5 | Wednesday

BAIE ST. ANNE, PRASLIN - FELICITE - LA DIGUE

Vallee de Mai is known as the green heart of Praslin. It’s often described as a Garden of Eden, brimming with nature including many endemic palms. Look out for the sea coconut weighing up to 20KG and sometimes called the ‘coco fesse’, or ‘coco buttocks’ because of the shape it resembles. We’ll sail on from Baie Sainte Anne to either Felicite or Grand Soeur for snorkelling, followed by an evening sail to La Digue. Overnight in port, entertained by a dazzling laser and light show as part of an ultimate after-hours music themed experience.

A view of the beautiful Grand Anse beach in La Digue, Seychelles

Day 6 | Thursday

LA DIGUE - MOYENNE ISLAND

Most of today is spent in La Digue with plenty of things to do, depending on your mood. Join our optional excursion to L’Union Estate Farm for a tour of a coconut oil mill, go on a souvenir shopping spree at the island’s main village, La Passe, or soak up some rays at Anse Source d’ Argent beach - another stretch of sand known as one of the world’s most beautiful. What can we say, the Seychelles will treat you well. Late afternoon sail to Moyenne Island, overnight at anchor.

Day 7 | Friday

MOYENNE ISLAND - MAHE - INTER ISLAND QUAY

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? Today is your final opportunity on this trip to dive into those sparkling waters as we take a guided tour around the island followed by a lunchtime barbeque on deck. Late afternoon we’ll set sail back to Mahe followed by our wow moment, a Captain’s Dinner with a twist. Let us show you our rainbow colors in an OFF-BROADWAY PRIDE night, as we overnight in Mahe. Don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes and your Broadway extravaganza themed outfit!

Day 8 | Saturday

MAHE/VICTORIA (INTER ISLAND QUAY)

Mahe, Victoria (9AM)
Rise and shine for a final breakfast together before it’s time to disembark. Now’s the time to share contact details with new-found friends, and perhaps to discuss booking another cruise with us to meet again. We’d love to sea you on board again soon!

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Dates & Rates

In case of severe weather conditions our expertly designed routes are adjusted ensuring your safety & comfort by applying our rich marine knowledge, garnered since 1949.
STAY FLEXIBLE - ADVENTURE ON.

HIGHLIGHTS

Giant tortoises, rare bird life and pristine beaches

A small granitic island providing a safe haven for a number of endangered bird species, notably the Seychelles fody, Seychelles warbler, Seychelles magpie robin and Seychelles blue-pigeon. Dense concentrations of nesting seabirds show no fear of humans, allowing for fabulous photo opportunities.

Praslin Island and the largest seed in the planet

Discover Praslin, home to the UNESCO-protected Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve and it's coco de mer trees, the largest seed in the planet kingdom. The island is also home to the rare black parrot.

A bird's-eye view of a Variety Cruises ship sailing in the sea with a tropical island in the background

Yachting in the Seychelles

Back on deck, enjoy deck-side BBQ; take out the kayaks, snorkel or swim from the ship's swimming platform and marvel at hundreds of species of rainbow-hued fish, as well as manta rays, spinner dolphins and green and hawks-bill turtles. or dip into the mini-spa on the lower deck for some seaside pampering. Step in tune with nature or swim with the turtles while enjoying an intimate floating home that offers every comfort.

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