Just days before one of its ships was set to leave Miami for a Caribbean cruise featuring a cast of drag performers, Carnival Cruise Lines reversed a decision that had banned guests from dressing in drag outside of the ship’s theater. The cruise leader also offered to provide full refunds to anyone who wanted to cancel their cruise.
The cruise line said that the original ban resulted from a “miscommunication” with cruise organizers Al Ferguson and Chuck Scott, owners of AlAndChuck.travel, the LGBT travel agency that booked the “Drag Cruise.”
“When the group was presented to us we were advised that only the performers would be dressed in drag during the private events,”Carnival CEO Gerry Cahill said in a letter. “We sincerely apologize for the miscommunication and for any unintended offense we have caused.”
He added, “anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so.”
The Drag Stars at Sea cruise features performances by more than 30 drag queens from Logo’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. Just a week before the departure date of the cruise, Vicky Ray, Carnival’s vice president of guest services, sent an email to passengers of the cruise ship “Glory” informing them that, unless they were performing on stage in the main theater, they would not be permitted to dress in drag on the ship in order to “present a family-friendly atmosphere.”
“Although we realize this group consists solely of adults, we nonetheless expect all guests to recognize that minors are onboard and refrain from engaging in inappropriate conduct in public areas,” the email said.
Initially, AlAndChuck.travel supported the rule because it was about safety, not discrimination.
“Carnival’s ‘no costumes rule’ is not meant to be an insult to the gay community,” said Ferguson. “It is in response to the post-911 world we live in. It is meant to protect passengers and guests – not to marginalize a few.”
Several would-be passengers within the LGBT community were upset with the Sarasota-based travel company’s support of the ban, but once the ban was reversed, the controversy surrounding it died down.
Ferguson did not immediately return calls for comment.
The Drag Stars at Sea cruise aboard the Carnival “Glory” was scheduled to stop in Nassau, St. John, St. Thomas, San Juan and Turks and Caicos.
