A Cruise with the Colors of the Rainbow:

The RSVP Mediterranean Odyssey Cruise

by Annie Tobey

The only mask you’ll need on the RSVP Mediterranean Odyssey is the one for the Venetian masquerade party. The party provides one of many opportunities to have a blast, and to be yourself.

New York women traveling together

“The trip was a combination of wonderful stops, camaraderie, and entertainment,” said guest Kathleen Sheehan. Kathleen traveled with fifteen other female friends from Long Island - six couples and four single women (photo, right). Like the vast majority of the 1,900 other guests, she and her friends enjoyed the opportunity to be themselves in the company of other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) passengers.

RSVP Vacations aims to provide an atmosphere of fun and relaxation. Guest’s ages range from 20s up through retirement age, with an average age of 46. Most of the guests travel with a companion—half are couples and half are singles traveling together—with a few solo travelers sprinkled in. Five to 10 percent of RSVP’s guests are women, a figure they’d like to increase.

Director of Travel Operations and Integration Rob Pritchard notes that RSVP not only desires more female representation on their cruises, they welcome straight friends on the trips, too.

Although women are a distinct minority on RSVP cruises, they are welcomed with open arms by hosts and by their male shipmates. A spirit of friendly camaraderie pervades the ship, among and between genders. Whether joining a group of strangers at dinner or finding people to traverse the port cities with, a new friend is never far away.
The fun!

Amy Armstrong and her wide-open humor

Mindful of the diversity of their clientele, RSVP encourages an atmosphere that is respectful and inclusive, and requests behavior that is tasteful, though not repressed. Music ranges from classical to dance. On-board activities, some presented by RSVP and others by the Holland America Line host ship, ranged from tame and sophisticated—talks on acupuncture and art collecting, movies, and games such as Guesstures, bridge, tennis, and volleyball—to more wild and edgy.

Comedienne Suzanne Westenhoefer

Activities become more rambunctious as the stars come out. Performers you wouldn’t take your grandmother to include the drag impersonations of Mark Alan Smith; risqué cabaret by Amy and Freddy, an RSVP favorite; spirited music by international recording artist Christine W; and stand-up comedy by Ant of Last Comic Standing and by Suzanne Westenhoefer (see photo). Theme parties, tailored for the ship’s itinerary, provide a chance to pump up the spirits, featuring leather, gods and goddesses costumes, masks, and togas.

The personalities shine through the masks!

Performers not only provide great entertainment on stage, they also add a dose of their talent and humor to guest activities. Amy Armstrong (first masquerade photo above), for example, was quick to share her lively, raucous humor at the RSVP theme parties.
The escape

Westerdam cabin

The Holland America ship was a treat. Common areas were tastefully decorated and clean; the pool, hot tub, spa, gift shops, casino, and numerous dining and bar options were poised to provide the best in relaxation and entertainment. Food was tasty and plenteous. Guest quarters were clean and roomy, with many balconies for enjoying the fresh air and sights.

Westerdam verandah

The service throughout was friendly and courteous.
The ports

The seven Mediterranean destinations for the August tour were Naples, Messina, Salerno, and Venice, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Corfu, Greece.
Naples

Although Naples was weak on exciting tourist destinations or shopping - more noteworthy were the noisy streets with bitty cars and scooters zooming fast and close - the side excursion to Pompeii was amazing. To the amusement of the RSVP tour groups, guides pointed out the many phallic symbols that are scattered throughout Pompeii.

Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in wait behind
Messina

Messina on a Saturday afternoon

Messina was cleaner, though my experience was limited because we visited on a day when shops were closed (a downfall of a hit-and-run cruise plan). Amazingly, though, this was a Saturday, highlighting the foreign nature of this trip: can you imagine American retail shutting down on a Saturday afternoon?

On the way to Mt. Etna

Much of the fun during the entire trip was hanging out with the other RSVP guests. Whether sitting down with someone at dinner, introducing yourself at the arranged activities and parties, or sitting beside someone new on a shore excursion, the chances to meet were innumerable - as were the chances to reconnect throughout the trip. (I met Margo and Donna, above, at an early meet 'n' greet with Suzanne Westenhoefer.)

Despite the slow Saturday, the stop at Messina was worthwhile because a side trip to the active Mt. Etna volcano was astonishing and fascinating. The guide (photo below, with a Mt. Etna crater below him) was enthusiastic and eager to share his knowledge with his guests.

Mt. Etna
Corfu, Greece

One of Corfu's many alleys full of shops

Corfu absolutely warrants a second visit. Not only are the history and museums interesting, but the alleyway shopping is a great place to find quality gifts - for friends and family or oneself - without overspending.

A spin around the island in a rented car or scooter is an added bonus.

Art displayed in a Corfu alleyway
Venice, Italy

Venice

Although it’s said that no trip to Venice is complete without a ride on a gondola, I found the vaporetta, public water buses, to be much more effective and economical.

The cost, crowding, and expense of the gondolas seems to detract from their romance. As the photo demonstrates, the conditions may be far from ideal. But then again, I was a solo traveler, so my reaction might be a result of eating too many sour grapes!

Romantic Venetian gondolas?

The canal city was distinctive, and sounded like the Tower of Babel, filled with tourists speaking a multitude of languages. One of the most appropriate Venetian tales for this cruise was of the masks, how Venetians put on a separate public face, literally and figuratively, but shed their masks at home, where they could be themselves.
Valletta, Malta

St. Elmo in Valletta, one of the many impressive, story-filled walls

Valletta, Malta is an impressive array of walled peninsulas. A fascinating side trip is a visit to Hagar Qim, remnants of an ancient civilization, whose stone temples and relics are older than Stonehenge.

Salerno, Italy

The gorgeous Amalfi Coast

At the southern edge of the Amalfi Coast, Salerno provides a terrific launching point for exploring and viewing the area’s breathtaking cliffs and coves.
The future

RSVP Cruisers relax with a beer and good company in Amalfi

The RSVP cruise experience was an opportunity not only for a vacation with terrific sights to see, it was a chance to mingle with a boatload of fun, interesting, and friendly people.

RSVP Cruisers relax with a beer and good company in Dubrovnik

Our cruise hosts provided interesting shore excursions with knowledgeable locals as guides. These excursions, however, were not included in cruise price. Although convenient, they were more expensive than pursuing the sights on one’s own, armed with a handy Fodor’s guide. More guidance on navigating the ports of call independently and even economically would have been helpful to those preferring to venture out on their own, or to those watching their budget.

Traveling overseas is always an eye-opening, educational experience. Not only are the history lessons a useful reminder of mankind’s sometimes discouraging but often triumphant story, but the opportunity to step outside of the American life we are immersed in each day is invaluable. This trip provided a sampler platter of Mediterranean cities, history, and culture. The RSVP setting made the voyage even more enjoyable.

Future RSVP cruises include Barbados Bliss Sail, seven days of island hopping on a clipper ship; Exotic Caribbean, a seven-day cruise on Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam; and Tahitian Treasure Sail, 10 days on board a clipper ship with stops throughout the islands. For details, visit the RSVP Vacations Web site.

My Venetian mask came home with me to decorate my wall. It will serve as a memory of a roaring good time, the many wonderful people I met, and the exciting places I visited. Like the RSVP Mediterranean Odyssey, it will represent the importance of having fun and of being oneself with like-minded friends. V

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