Gay and Lesbian Family Travel

R Family Vacations Charts New Waters

As more states take steps towards recognizing gay and lesbian marriage—and, by extension, families—it seems surprising that there is still only one tour operator dedicated to family-friendly gay travel.

In 2003, Kelli Carpenter partnered with 13-year Atlantis Events vet Gregg Kaminsky to create R Family Vacations with the support—and brand name recognition—of Carpenter’s then-partner, and now wife, actress Rosie O’Donnell. Carpenter-O’Donnell and Kaminsky continue to run the company, which remains the only tour operator of its kind, providing travel opportunities for gay families as well as singles and couples.

The first cruise set sail in 2004 to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Dawn, and voyages to Halifax, Alaska, the Eastern Caribbean and Florida/Key West followed. (A documentary about the maiden voyage, All Aboard, was nominated for three Emmy Awards in 2006.) In all, R Family Vacations has lead seven cruises, two in 2008 alone: one trip to the Mexican Riviera, and one to New England and Canada. A return trip to Alaska is already in the works, as are land-based holidays. “We do have a lot of requests for non-cruise vacations,” Kaminsky says. “I think we’ll be seeing some all-inclusive resorts in the future.”

“It’s risky business, chartering an entire boat and going out and selling it,” Kaminsky says. The risk has paid off. The most recent sailing had 2,300 people on board. “We get lots of repeat customers, good press, and happy guests.” Kaminsky says that the unique nature of R Family Vacations, combined with the overall quality of the product, means that agents can get plenty of repeat business when they book clients on R Family trips. “Their clients continue to book year after year,” he says. “It’s great business for agents.”

Although family-friendly, the trips are not just for children. “We design the cruises with everyone in mind,” Kaminsky emphasizes. To that end, much of the entertainment in the evenings is usually geared towards adults. Recording artist Sheena Easton, along with several Broadway stars, were on the most recent trip. For the kids, “Dottie” (as played by Jen Plante) from the children’s video series Dottie’s Magic Pockets—the first children’s program geared towards kids in gay families—was onboard the March cruise to Mexico.

The nature of these vacations let “families make new friendships, enjoy workshops [and visit] the ports that are welcoming to the LGBT community,” says Joann Mignano, the press representative for the company. “R Family Vacations is truly the most inclusive LGBT vacation offered. All of our vacations are designed for gays, lesbians, their families and their friends.”

An interesting side note: Although the cruises have always made clergy available to perform wedding and commitment ceremonies, the recent trip to Canada was able to include legally binding ceremonies, thanks to Canada’s recognition of same-sex marriage. The CBC reported that “about a dozen” American couples were married when the Norwegian Dawn docked in Saint John, New Brunswick on July 15. For more information, call 866-732-6822.

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