The BEST gay cruises in Asia for 2024 / 2025

Sail away, sail away, sail away…

We all know that Enya classic – you know the one – the lyrics had you googling where the Orinoco is, checking Maps for where the Yellow Sea is, and singing “from Peru to Cebu, feel the power of Babylon…from Bali to Cali…“ For us, it's always a song we associate with cruising the oceans, exploring waters new out in the vast blue – just like Pi Patel and his tiger on board that wreck in the middle of the Pacific in the Ang Lee 2012 movie: Life of Pi.

There's nothing better than a gay cruise, especially in our favorite continent – Asia. We're always super excited to see a growing number of them popping up. We've sifted through them all and put together this comprehensive guide to the best gay cruises in Asia.

For our guide, we've split them up into two parts: the first for exclusive gay cruises and the second for cruises where there is a gay group amongst a larger charter.

01

INDONESIA: Everything to Sea naked gay cruise

Various dates throughout the year

When you're not enjoying the freedom of body and spirit, you have the entire Indonesian archipelago to behold. Thousands of islands, big and small, surrounding you, awaiting discovery. Some are uninhabited, others are just home to an assortment of unusual creatures, especially the Komodo Dragons!

Despite it being a relatively short trip, there is a lot packed into the itinerary, from snorkeling in the sea to hiking through the Indonesian islands. This trip allows for lots of lazy days on the beach and stargazing from the boat. It's a journey that doesn't take a lot out of you, yet gives you such an other-worldly experience.

One of the highlights has to be the trip to Namo Island, famous for its red sandy beach. The contrast of the flaming ground against the soft green mountains in the background is a picture-perfect treat. Of course, the real adventure is swimming through the Rangko cave where the crystal clear waters sparkle so brightly, you can see it light up the darkness of the cave, whilst dodging the friendly resident sea turtles.

The boat itself is super luxurious, with expansive decks to relax on, spacious cabin rooms, attentive staff, and a stunning dining area. It's perfect for meeting and interacting with your fellow passengers. It's made from wood in the traditional “Bugis” style, which avoids using any nails. Bugis-style boats have the ability to last forever, as long as you look after and preserve them well – leave them to neglect and they begin to rot (kind of like our Seby on a grumpy day…).

Everything To Sea is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code SAILNOMADICBOYS at checkout.

02

SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, THAILAND: Atlantis Cruises

11 November – 20 November 2023

After exploring the fascinating city of Singapore, you'll set sail for another visually awe-inspiring city, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. If you're not so keen on more architecture and shopping, you could explore the nearby Batu Caves and temples instead. The next stop is the stunning Langkawi Island, where a day on the beach is the perfect antidote to all that previous sightseeing and the partying that's probably taking place on board!

Luckily there are a number of full days at sea where you can really enjoy all the amenities that the Norwegian Jewel has to offer, before getting the chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Cambodia's most popular seaside destination, one of the most gorgeous gay islands in Thailand (Ko Samui) and finishing off in the super-gay city of Bangkok!

As we mentioned, the journey is just as fabulous as the destinations on this cruise, which takes place on a luxurious ship that's packed with entertainment and dining options. There are comedy shows, cabaret, drag nights, drag karaoke and lots of parties for meeting new friends, as well as two swimming pools, six hot tubs and endless loungers to work on your tan. A gay cruise is truly the best of all worlds when it comes to relaxing, partying and seeing epic destinations.

03

VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA: Brand G Jewels of Vietnam and Cambodia

October 31 – 12 November 2024

Spending 13 days across Vietnam and Cambodia allows you to get an in-depth and comprehensive flavor of each country. The trip starts with a 3-night stay in a luxury hotel in Siem Reap before embarking on the cruise. The cruise itself is 7 nights aboard a luxurious ship, complete with delicious meals, an incredible gym, and plenty of space to lounge around. The final two days are spent in a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

The ship's design takes after the French colonial era, with a sophisticated and comfortable interior. Plush seating, spiraling staircases, and wide-open spaces are to be found within. As for the trip itself? Highlights include visiting seaside towns like Long Khanh Island. Stopovers allow you to wander around the markets, try out the different local food and buy a few souvenirs.

The excursion to Phnom Penh is a surprise highlight. It has a fantastic gay scene we had no idea about. We also recommend visiting the Killing Fields (Choeung Ek). It's an extremely harrowing experience, but one we think everyone should undertake and learn about some of Cambodia's darkest days. We also love the gay scene of Saigon and highly recommend checking out some of the bars and clubs here on your final 2 days of this trip.

BrandG is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount for this cruise. Click the button below to check availabilty and prices.

04

THAILAND: GaySail Exclusive Catamaran Cruise

24 – 31 December 2023

Though each cabin has two men per room, we recommend going with a partner. That is unless you're comfortable sharing with a stranger – you never know, it could lead to a lifelong friendship or more!

This cruise is based in and around the famous southwest islands of Thailand, including Phuket (which has an airport and is, therefore, the transport hub) and Phi Phi, which is famous for being the island featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach”.

Highlights from this trip include rainforests, mountains, limestone pinnacles jutting out from the sea, and of course, some of the best beaches we've ever been to. If like us you're into snorkeling and diving, you'll be in paradise on this trip.

Plus, you may have noticed the dates the trip sets sail on…that's right: Ho ho ho! The cruise ship team always makes a fantastic dinner, so it will feel no different than being at home. Then, on New Year's, ring in midnight in Patong with a fabulous gay party!

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

05

INDIA: Brand G Splendors of India and The Ganges Gay River Cruise

15 – 28 October 2024

The cruise takes place on the RV Ganges Voyager – a gorgeous ship built in the style of the British colonial era, but with all the modern amenities and services you might desire. We especially love the elegant East India dining room, where the backs of the chairs look like ship steering wheels and you can dine on exotic local cuisine or western favorites. You can get a workout onboard while watching the riverside slip by from the huge windows or relax in the sun on a lounger up on deck.

Not the whole trip takes place on a ship though, as part of the time, you'll also get to stay in fabulous hotels in the cities of New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. If you've ever dreamed of visiting India during the colorful Holi Festival, this cruise makes all those dreams come true, plus you'll get to explore famous sites such as the fabled pink city of Jaipur, Agra Fort, and Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in Old Delhi. Truly, an unforgettable voyage!

PART 2: Gay groups among other cruises

Ok, ok, so I suppose the gays can't have everything… we've included some cruises that aren't exclusively LGBTQ folk, but usually comprised of a small gay group within a larger cruise. That being said, they are still a fun way to get to know other gay travelers while seeing stunning parts of the world:

06

SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA, THAILAND, SRI LANKA, DUBAI: Pied Piper Gay Group Cruise

23 March – 07 April 2024

The Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of the Cunard cruise line, replacing the famous Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2004. But she's just as elegant and exciting as the QE2! During the days out at sea, you can enjoy the ship's many lush amenities, like the planetarium, nightclub, and luxurious spa. One thing's for sure, you will never forget your time spent on this cruise!

Though we do highly recommend you pull yourself out of the ship's Jacuzzi and go out and explore as much as you can when the ship docks. This gay cruise allows you to meet locals, shop through markets, visit museums and get a real feel for each country's culture, particularly in South Asia (you'll be a master head wobbler in no time!)

This cruise features full days to explore exciting destinations like Phuket in Thailand, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Doha in the United Arab Emirates, before finally finishing up in Dubai. You'll also be well taken care of by your Pied Piper tour host, with multiple exclusive events just for your gay group. As well as seeing amazing places you're sure to also make many new friends.

07

JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA: Pied Piper Gay Group Cruise

16 – 28 March 2024

One of the most fantastic things about the Millenium cruise ship is that it's completely accessible from bow to stern, with attention paid to meet the needs of guests who are visually or hearing impaired, in a wheelchair or traveling with a service animal. What a great initiative! There are also world-class restaurants, Broadway-style shows, a luxurious spa, swimming pools, a basketball court, and a huge rooftop cinema.

When you can manage to drag yourself off the decks of this amazing ship, you'll be exploring the most wonderful parts of Japan, with a stop at the enchanting Jeju Island in South Korea as well. This is often thought of as the honeymoon island for Koreans, and the entire volcanic island is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Global Geopark and Biosphere Reserve.

You'll get to see some of our favorite spots in Japan too, including the ancient capital of Kyoto and the vibrant city of Osaka. A real highlight will definitely be seeing Mount Fuji, although exploring Tokyo is also fantastic, plus the cruise both starts and ends in the country's capital!

For more inspiration:

• Find out what it's like to travel in Asia as a gay couple
• These are our favourite places to go scuba diving in Asia as well
• For more au naturel cruising options, check out these fun nude gay cruises
• As well as some exciting gay cruises to the Galapagos Islands
• Make sure you attend at least one of these biggest gay Pride events in the world
• If you need some inspiration, have a look at these fabulous gay Pride outfits
• And don't forget to pack these must-have gay Pride accessories
• See where the gay Pride movement all began by attending Pride in New York City
• Find out why we love attending Pride in London as well

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