Overview

Welcome to the 2012 HIV Cruise Retreat.

Our annual cruise includes a happy, vibrant mix of men and women with an amazing blend of education, adventure and mutual support you’ve never experienced. This will be a week you’ll never forget!

We sail over Halloween which is sure to make this festive event even more festive. We sail from Ft Lauderdale October 28 – November 4, 2012. Our ports of call will include St Thomas (the shopping capital of the Caribbean), St Maarten (half French and half Dutch) Grand Turk (fabulous beaches and snorkel/scuba) as well as lovely Princess Cay for a day of swimming, snorkeling, a fabulous beach barbecue, and sipping exotic cocktails.

This is not a fully chartered ship like a RSVP or Atlantis cruise. But we are a large group with our own scheduled private group activities including cocktail parties, disco nights, plus R (maybe X) rated games, which are very well received. Join our private excursions designed exclusively for our guests, which tend to be less expensive than similar excursions offered by the cruise line. And waaaay more fun!

This is truly a unique travel experience for people living with HIV, the only one of its kind. Our special events offer the chance to bond with your fellow group members whether it is one of our many private social events or an educational workshop. But our activities nurture your mind and spirit too, with workshops, treatment updates, and a Celebration of Life event that helps us support each other through an uplifting remembrance of past friends.

Our exceptional voyage deserves remarkable hosts, and we have them.  Paul Stalbaum, a former support group leader, HIV counselor and activist, continues his amazing stewardship of the cruise as coordinator and travel agent.  Speakers and workshop leaders include Mark King, author and creator of the blog My Fabulous Disease on www.thebody.com, and partners in life Dr. Nate Klarfeld (past president of Stonewall Library and current radio host) and Dr. Grover Lawlis (noted psychiatrist) as well as Tom Donohue, founder of “Who’s Positive”. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for the National Association of People With AIDS.

Returning for his second voyage as cruise M.C. this year is blogger Mark S. King, creator of the video series “My Fabulous Disease” on TheBody.com about his life as an HIV positive gay man.

Our guest speakers are renowned HIV authorities. Returning is Nelson Vergel, famed speaker, author and activist. His lectures are a must see! Joining our team for the first time is Dr. Ellie Schocket, HIV doctor based in Ft Lauderdale. Dr. Schocket’s specialty is as a colo-rectal specialist. His presentation “The Happy Hiney” is both informative and funny!

The HIV Retreat Cruise is a week to be remembered.  We hope our terrific memories this year will include you!

Testimonials from past travelers:

“The cruise is very therapeutic for me. When I went on my first one, it was to learn more about my medical condition. Now I go each year to see the wonderful friends I’ve made over the years”
- Steven, Phoenix

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to sail each year with this group. Since I live in a very small, rural town it is essential for me to be around other people with the same condition and have the chance to discuss so many things. When I return home, my outlook is improved and puts things more in perspective” Sam, Alabama

“For me it’s feeling fully alive again and never limiting your possibilities. What an incredible experience meeting and bonding with so many wonderful people. The feeling of family is intoxicating.”
- Greg, Philadelphia

“I feel this cruise has done as much for my health and well being as anything the doctor could give me”
- Jonathan, Vancouver

“As a HIV+ lesbian, I didn’t know where I would fit in.  The men on the Gay Poz Cruise Retreat welcomed me and my partner with open arms. The combination of educational, spiritual and social events left me absolutely refreshed…”
- Patti, WI

Itinerary

Dates: October 28 – November 4, 2012

Our Eighth Annual GLBT Poz Cruise will be over Halloween, one of the year’s most festive holidays. The 3 year old, elegant,  and truly gorgeous Ruby Princess will be our home away from home. We will sail roundtrip  and have the chance to visit very diverse ports. We will visit lovely St Thomas, the shopping capital of the Caribbean, with dozens of pure white sandy beaches.

Our next stop is St Maarten, which is half French and half Dutch. He you may want to visit the world famous clothing optional beach, Orient Bay Beach. The third stop is the quaint and charming island of Grand Turk with some of the finest snorkel and diving in the world. Also will spend the day on beautiful Princess Cay where we swim in turquoise, aqua waters, relax on powdery white sand beaches and enjoy a wonderful barbecue lunch.
 
Our two days at sea are filled with private ship board activities exclusively designed for our group.

Pricing

All rates quoted are per person based upon two people sharing a cabin.
Single occupancy rates are 50% additional for inside and outside cabins
and double the rate for balconies and suites.

Please add $99 per person for taxes.

Rates include $50.00 per cabin ship board credit!!

Need a roommate? Shares can be arranged for all cabin categories marked with asterisk.

Third and Fourth person rates available upon request!

In order to participate in our events you must make reservations directly with us. Unfortunately people booked through a different source will not be invited to participate in our group activities. Sorry but no exceptions!

Currently no fuel charge exists but Princess reserves the right to reinstate should the cost of a barrel of crude oil stabilize over $67.00.

Once on the ship $80.50 per person per week gratuity charge will be added to your room bill.

Gallery

Video

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Payments: Princess Cruises will require a deposit of $250.00 at the time of reservations. Suites do require a 20% initial deposit. Final payment will be due August 7, 2012 and will be automatically charged to your credit card unless you notify me in advance to use a different form of payment. Any and all check payments should be made payable to Cruise Designs.

2.  Documents: Each person must have a valid U.S. passport, a passport card or an enhanced driver’s license. Canadian and residents of other countries will need to check with their consulates to see if a visa will be required.

3. Pre-cruise hotel: The Schubert Resort is once again out hotel. Please call them direct at 866–763–7435 and mention that you are with the Cruise Group. Their web site is www.schubertresort.com.

4. Cabin Assignments: At the time of your deposit the best located cabin available will be assigned to you. From time to time you may not get a cabin number immediately. This means that the cruise line has guaranteed your rate but temporarily can not assign a cabin number. You are guaranteed to get the cabin category that you have selected but you may have to wait a while for it to be assigned.

5. Cashless Society: When checking at the pier you will need to leave a credit card imprint. Anything you purchase on the ship will be charged to your cabin account. Cash is not accepted anywhere except the casino. Should you not have a credit card, you will need to leave cash deposit from which you may draw.

6. Ship Board Activities: The first night of every cruise we host a welcome cocktail party exclusively for our guests. This is the first time the entire group will have a chance to meet and mingle. We will make many useful announcements. Other private events are also planned for the week. Full details of our daily itinerary will be made available to you upon check in on the ship.

7. Dining: We have confirmed a block of tables together at 8:15PM each evening. Since the tables are ours, you may feel free to move from table to table each evening. We encourage this so that you get the chance to get to know as many people as possible. Dining the rest of the evenings is casual meaning slacks and shirt or polo type shirt. Breakfasts, lunches and all meals in the Mediterranean buffet are always casual. You may request other dining times if you wish but you will not be with the rest of the group. We find it a great bonding experience if the entire group dines together.

8. Room Mates: We offer those who are traveling alone the opportunity to be paired up with other solo travelers. You may select from an inside cabin as well as the lowest priced window and balcony cabins. We match people up based upon cabin type booked, age range, smoking preferences, etc. We guarantee to find you a roommate and do the best we try very hard to find compatible roommates. You will be given the opportunity to find a roommate on your own or through our private Yahoo group up until the final payment date. After that I must assign roommates and you will be sent an email introducing you to your bunk mate.

9. Shore Excursions: The ship will offer many excursions to purchase. We however, will offer at least two or three of our own including a chartered catamaran for swimming, snorkeling and fun. Our trips are usually lower priced and include more than what the ship will offer. Information regarding our excursions will be sent to you about 60 days prior to sailing.

10. Gratuities:A daily charge of $11.50 per person will be added to your cabin account to serve as tips to porters, waiters, cabins stewards, and pool boys.

11. Getting to the Ship: You should fly into Ft Lauderdale airport and try to arrive before 12 PM. It is best to take a taxi which is about a $10 ride. The pier is only 10 – 15 minutes from the airport. When flying home also try to find a flight around 12 PM.

Reservations

Download our Reservation Form Here