The Sixth Annual Gay Men’s HIV Cruise Retreat

October 23 – 31, 2010

Rates from only $439.00 (plus tax)
An eight night cruise for the price of a seven night cruise!!!

For our sixth cruise we are embarking on our most exotic itinerary yet. We will be sailing from Ft Lauderdale on an eight night cruise which will take us to Colon (Panama), Limon (Costa Rica), and Cozumel, Mexico. These are three varied and exciting ports of call. Since our 2009 sailing on the Carnival Freedom was so successful we have chosen the Freedom for 2010. Please note we have not chartered this ship so it is not like an RSVP or Atlantis cruise.

Rather than the usual cruise itineraries our stops are exotic and less visited. In Panama we will have the chance to see Lake Gatun with the famed locks of the Panama Canal or visit with a true indigenous native village. Limon in Costa Rica affords us the chance to trek through dense rain forests with amazing jungle wild life or take a canopy tour above the tree tops. Cozumel is known for spectacular snorkeling, scuba diving and beautiful white sandy beaches. Plus have the chance to visit wondrous Mayan ruins.

Carnival Cruise Line, known as the Fun Ships, offer excellent cuisine, outstanding service, comfortable cabins and suites and a great array of entertainment including Las Vegas Style review shows. Let’s not forget the wonderful water slide, the only cruise line to offer this feature. Pamper yourself in the spa! Try your luck in the casino at sea! Participate in dozens of ship board activities! Or just lie back in a comfortable lounge chair and soak up the sun!

Needless to say, we plan many fun and educational events for our guests. We will of course have private cocktail parties, a themed private disco night, R rated games like the Dating Game plus informative talks by HIV specialists and memorable spiritual workshops such as our Celebration of Life/Memorial that is emotional and uplifting.

We also offer our own private shore excursions just for our group which tend to be less expensive and offer more than similar excursions offered by the cruise line. And waaaay more fun!

Proudly we will have Nelson Vergel, HIV activist and author of “Built to Survive” as a guest speaker. Jonathan Goldman, long term  hot line volunteer for Project Inform serves as one of our hosts and leads a very fun Improv workshop. Partners Dr. Nate Klarfeld and Dr. Grover Lawlis are also a major part of the success we have as they are outstanding hosts and guest speakers.

We hope that you will have the opportunity to join us this year. Leave your cares behind and find yourself among an amazing group of other poz men. The camaraderie and sense of family can not be stressed enough!

"Our Master of Ceremonies" Mark S. King

MARK S. KING is an award-winning author and internet personality who has been an advocate for those living with HIV since he tested positive in 1985.  Among the first volunteers of AIDS Project Los Angeles, King joined the staff of L.A. Shanti in 1986 and served as its Director of Public Relations during the darkest days of the epidemic for gay men (his book, "A Place Like This," chronicles those years with biting humor and candor).  He has designed education programs reproduced around the world and presented at the International AIDS Conference in Geneva. 

In recent years Mark's online video series, "My Fabulous Disease," has become one of the most popular features of TheBody.com, the web's largest HIV resource. He lives in Ft Lauderdale with his partner Ben and attributes his longevity to double chocolate brownies made from scratch.

The early booking rates are valid until May 15, 2010. Rate will be subject to increase after May 16, 2010

Special bonus: Each cabin will receive a $100.00 ship board credit!!

All rates quoted are per person based upon two sharing a cabin.
Please add $228.99 per person in ports taxes and government fees.

Single occupancy rate is double the above rates and add $228.99 plus $159.00 taxes.

Greatly reduced rates for a 3rd or 4th person in the cabin.