Don’t forget about the Olivia experience! You’ll be on board Holland America’s ms Westerdam with 1,900 lesbians looking to make new friends, appreciate incredible Olivia signature entertainment programming, and dance the night away every night!
Book your unmissable lesbian cruise in the Caribbean with Out Travel, enquire for further details.
Accommodations for 8 days/7 nights on the ms Westerdam
Dine in five restaurants (Rotterdam Dining Room, Lido Restaurant, Terrace Grill, Pinnacle Grill*, Canaletto*)
Bars and lounges throughout offering premium alcohol and soft drinks along with the Explorations Café featuring specialty coffee drinks (beverages are an extra charge)
Culinary Arts Center powered by Food & Wine Magazine
Two swimming pools and Jacuzzis
Casino, fitness center, internet café, full-service Greenhouse Spa, Signature Shops
Gratuities, port charges/taxes, which are covered in NDA fees
Stateroom amenities featuring luxurious beds with euro-top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens, Elemis bath products, deluxe bathrobes, Egyptian cotton towels, massage showerheads, 5x magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers, flat-panel TV and DVD player, secure safe, complimentary fresh fruit on request, 24-hour room service, ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown
Olivia’s signature programming, entertainment and staffing assistance throughout
*Specialty restaurants have a nominal cover fee
Currency
All ports of call accept $USD.
Languages
Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico. However, English is widely used and spoken in all ports of call.
Being Gay in the Caribbean
The islands of the Caribbean are home to many gay- and lesbian-friendly countries. Puerto Rico has many gay-friendly resorts as well as a great nightlife scene, and it has the benefit of being protected by U.S. anti-discrimination laws. In addition, the U.S. Virgin Islands have become a mecca for gay and lesbian travelers and you will find the locals are very respectful throughout the islands.
Climate
The climate in the Caribbean will range between 73°F-84°F (23°C-29°C) during the day and 66°F-75°F (19°C-24°C) at night. February is generally considered the dry season. At night it can get breezy, but mostly you’ll be fine in shorts and a t-shirt.
If you are a U.S. Citizen, you DO NOT need to get a visa. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.
Vaccinations
Please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.”
Holland America Line’s luxurious ms Westerdam features wide decks for strolling, great sea vistas, and spacious staterooms—many with private verandahs—for relaxing. Thinking of getting a spa treatment? The Greenhouse Spa & Salon offers hot stone massages, facials and steam rooms. Restaurants range from casual to elegant, including the relaxed Lido Restaurant and the reservations-only Pinnacle Grill. And if you want to document your experience as you go, The Digital Workshop powered by Microsoft Windows allows you to show and tell your vacation memories through email, blogging and social networking.
Some of the in-room amenities you’ll enjoy:
• Signature Mariner’s DreamTM bed featuring finely woven cotton linens
• Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage
• 100% Egyptian cotton towels
• Premium massage showerheads
• 5x magnifying make-up mirrors
• Salon-quality hair dryers
• Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoos and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure
• Complimentary fresh fruit on request
• Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-room beverages
• Flat-panel TV and DVD player
• Ice Service, Shoeshine service
• Nightly Turndown Service
• 24-hour room service
Seating & Dining Times
You will be assigned a dining time when you book your reservation which will either be first seating or second seating dinner. Restaurant hours will be listed in your daily program.
Solos Seating
We will have a special solos dining area for those traveling alone.
Rotterdam Dining Room
The Rotterdam dining room features five-course menus offering classic preparations, regionally inspired cuisine and vegetarian/vegan options. This restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch on our At Sea Days, and is the main restaurant for dinner nightly.
The Pinnacle Grill
The Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s specialty restaurant, is a great addition to your dining options. Spoil yourself with exquisite menus featuring Sterling Silver beef and fresh seafood options (nominal cover charge).
Canaletto Restaurant
Canaletto Restaurant serves dinner and features authentic Italian cuisine (nominal cover charge).
The Lido Restaurant
The Lido Restaurant is a full-service buffet featuring cuisine from around the world. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night snacks.
Dive-In at the Terrace Grill
Dive-In at the Terrace Grill offers grilled meat, chicken and portabella burgers on brioche, gourmet hot dogs, crispy French fries and a taco bar with all the fixings.
Patti Labelle has sold over 50 million records, and is on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Singers” list. The recipient of numerous awards, including two GRAMMYS, Ms. LaBelle was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Apollo Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and she was honored with the World Music Awards’ Legend Award.
Patti LaBelle’s work as a humanitarian is also legendary. As a supporter of equal rights and an ally to the LGBT community, she received the GLAAD Media Excellence Award in 2007. She remains an advocate for adoption, foster care, Big Sisters and the United Negro College Fund, among many other initiatives. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Ms. LaBelle became a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association.
It’s a small wonder that she has time for anything else in between recording and touring, but she has also shared her passions by authoring five books, creating a line of sauces and marinades called Patti’s Good Life and even a designer bedding collection. It seems there isn’t anything she can’t do!
Karen Williams is one of today’s hottest comedy stars — with an awesome personality, stunning good looks, and a sterling reputation for delivering laughs each and every time! She is known for her quick repartee, insightful commentary, audience rapport, and sheer likeability! She is a comic craftmaster, a gifted actor, a multitalented writer, and an inspirational lecturer, whose HaHA Institute attracts clients from the public and private sectors. Armed with her “healing with humor” philosophy, Karen is a modern-day alchemist and motivational humorist, whose audiences revel in her cathartic laughter and whose peers consider her a comic’s comic!
As a solo entertainer, Karen delights fan-filled audiences from San Francisco to South Beach to Sydney. An international comic favorite – who showcased her talents at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal several times – Karen Williams is a star entertainer and headliner with Olivia Lesbian Cruises and Resorts, where she’s garnered some 150 laugh-filled trips around the globe!
Karen is a featured comic in “We’re Funny That Way,” the hilarious, internationally-acclaimed film shot at Buddies in Bad Times in Toronto and shown regularly on HBO. She was also a nominee for the 1999 GLAMA Award for her irreverent comedy CD, “human beings: what a concept” (Uproar Records).
Comedy writer and former television host of the New York variety show, “In the Life,” Karen sharpened her comedy teeth as a ghostwriter at Columbia Pictures. Her humor writings appear in numerous anthologies, including Joke Stew(Andrews McMeel Publishing); Revolutionary Laughter (Crossing Press); Out in All Directions (Warner Books); and Out, Loud & Laughing (Random House).
Karen graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a personally-designed major in “Humor and Healing.” She earned a Master of Education degree from CSU’s Adult Learning & Development program. Founder and CEO of the International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts, Karen has successfully branded HaHA Institute as the go-to resource network for educational programs, workshops and seminars focused on the healing power of humor.
Karen taught Stand-Up Comedy in the Dramatic Arts department of Cleveland State University; studied improv at Second City Chicago; and directed inaugural comedy classes at Second City in Cleveland. Karen continues to perform comedy worldwide and star in television commercials while teaching acting and improvisational comedy at ProModel and Talent Management, training students to compete at IMTA (International Model and Talent Agency) Conventions in New York and Los Angeles.
Her hilarious one-hour solo comedy special “I NEED A SNACK” — filmed live at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood — aired regularly on LOGO TV and is available on DVD. “LAUGHING MATTERS” is an award-winning documentary film showcasing Karen’s star quality and highlights her social activism.
Curve Magazine calls Karen Williams “…a laugh riot!” The Sydney Morning Herald proclaims that Karen Williams is “ferociously funny, with perfect pace, timing and structure.”
Gina broke onto the American comedy scene with her performances on Last Comic Standing, where she made it to the final 10. She is known for her regular, hilarious appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Madame Yashere, The Surly Psychic.
Three-time award winner for “Best Female” at the Black Comedy Awards, Gina’s bombastic delivery, infectious personality and cheeky observations have wowed audiences all over the world. She was named one of the top ten rising comedy talents by The Hollywood Reporter.
Gina hails from London via Nigeria and shoots from the hip. Her unique take on being both a cultural insider and outsider never fails to raise the roof. Following an early career as a Lift Engineer, Gina made her comedy debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 1995 to an almost sold out show.
Since those early heady days, Gina has continued to take the comedy world by storm and is now one of the most highly sought after comics in the UK and the US. Some of her TV appearances have included her one-hour comedy special Skinny B*tch, Are We There Yet, Stand Up in Stilettos, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Last Comic Standing, Chelsea Lately, Def Comedy Jam and The Celebrity Fame Academy. Gina also played a series regular on the UK series Married, Single, Other.
Her radio shows have ranged from her BBC Radio London show to the critically acclaimed radio sketch show, The Powder Room. Feature films have included Kiss Kiss and Mr. In Between. She has appeared on the West-End stage inThe Vagina Monologues and has written several plays for BBC Radio 4 and sketches for Richard Blackwood’s Channel 4 series. She has performed in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Toronto and The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas.
Gina currently resides in Los Angeles and tours non-stop around the world.
Emmy award-winning actress and comedian, Judy Gold is best known as the star of her two critically acclaimed long-running Off Broadway hit shows. Judy’s most recent show, The Judy Show – My Life As A Sitcom ran in 2011/12 at The D-R-2 Theater in New York and will be part of 2013 season at The Geffen Theatre. The NY Times made it a critic’s pick and called it, “Highly entertaining! Brash, buoyant & infectiously nostalgic.” The Huffington Post said the show is, “Comedic Gold. A funny & fantastic ride! It’s the ultimate laughter-through-the tears tale.”
Judy was nominated for the 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award for The Judy Show, as well as a 2006 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance for her previous show, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. In addition, the show won the 2007 GLAAD award for “Outstanding New York Theater.” The New York Times called this one-woman show “fiercely funny, honest and moving.” A book based on the show was nominated for the prestigious Quill Award.
Judy will be seen on The Food Network’s Celebrity Chopped this spring. Judy recently appeared on 30 Rock, has co-hosted The Anderson Cooper Show, and is a guest star in the upcoming series finale of Showtime’s The Big C. Judy is the host of Nick’s new comedy show, NickMom Night Out and she appears frequently on The Wendy Williams Show. Judy has been in the cast of Nora & Delia Ephron’s Off-Broadway play, “Love, Loss and What I Wore.” Gold can be seen regularly on Tru TV Presents World’s Dumbest. She has guest-hosted ABC’s The View, where she appears regularly along with Current TV’s Say Anything with Joy Behar for which she has also guest-hosted. Judy has recently appeared on TFN’s The Next Food Network Star and on TLC’s The Next Great Baker. Judy hosts a monthly radio show on Sirius/XM called Hatched by Two Chicks. Judy is also the host of the Funny People series at the 92nd St. Y, and is a frequent contributor to The Moth. Judy has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Dr. Oz Showand starred in an episode “The Glades” on A&E and “Are We There Yet?” on TBS. She was the host of HBO’s At the Multiplex with Judy Gold from 1999 – 2009; she also hosted Comedy Central’s100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time and the GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS, which aired on LOGO and VH1. Her TV specials include a half-hour comedy special for LOGO and she is featured in the HBO documentary, All Aboard. Her stand-up specials include Comedy Central Presents: Judy Gold, Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd Stands Up, and Judy’s HBO half-hour special, which received a Cable Ace Award. Gold was seen in the smash hit film The Aristocrats and the documentaries Making Trouble and I am Comic.
Gold won two Emmy awards for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She was nominated twice for The American Comedy Award’s funniest female stand-up. Judy has written for Wondertime Magazine, Momlogic.com andThe Advocate. Gold is an instructor at ESPA Primary Stages where she teaches Solo Performance.
She has also appeared on Ugly Betty, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Hollywood Squares, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Conan O’Brien Show to name a few.
Gold lives in New York City with her two children. She frequently tours theatres and comedy clubs around the country. Her CD, Judith’s Roommate Had a Baby is currently available.
Michele Balan is a classy woman with attitude. Sometimes the class has to move over for the attitude. She was a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and titleholder of “Last Woman Comic Standing.” Michele was voted one of the “Top 10 Comics” by Backstage Magazine. The San Francisco Bay Times also placed her on their national Top 10 and Broadway World honored Michele at number two in their Top 10 List of cabaret performers.
Michele headlines around the country at top comedy clubs, festivals such as Montreal’s “Just for Laughs,” corporate events, JCCs, country clubs, on cruises, and more! She is appropriate for all audiences…well, maybe not children’s parties! She is a recurring performer on The Joy Behar Show, and has numerous appearances on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed, and E!. Along with her stand-up, Michele writes for many well-known comedians and is a contributor to a variety of magazines.
Often told she was naturally funny, this Brooklyn native left a high-paying executive position at a computer company to pursue comedy and has been performing ever since.
What people say…
“Dynamite” – Cindy Adams The NY POST
“As part of the Nantucket Comedy festival, Balan had the full house in stitches.” – Nantucket Mirror
“Michele Balan is on a roll, there is no stopping her!” – The Friars Club
“You know what I dislike about stand-up comedy—there’s too much standing.” – Michele Balan
There are a number of rooms available aboard the sip, with prices starting from $1,399. Please enquire for further details and availability.
24-Hour Room Service
If you would like to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or a midnight snack in the comfort of your cabin, a room service menu is available 24 hours a day.
Electricity
Cabins are equipped with one standard U.S. 110 and European 220 volt outlet.
Excursions
Exploring our ports of call will be the highlight of your lesbian cruise. Holland America takes pride in offering the best shore excursion options for our guests. Excursions may be booked up to 30 days in advance. We will notify you via email when excursions are available for online booking.
Gratuities
Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maître d’ and other behind-the-scenes crew members.
Internet / e-mail / fax
There is an Internet center on board; minute plans are available. Pricing will be available on board. Guests may also bring their own laptops and purchase a wireless plan.
Laundry Services
Laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services are available. Pricing is available on board. There is no self-service launderette on the ship.
Medical services
There is an onboard infirmary. Medical services entail an additional fee.
Money: Paying for things on board
On board, the currency is $USD. All purchases made on the ship will be charged to your onboard account, which you create when you first check-in.
Phone
Each cabin has a phone. There is an additional fee to use this phone; cost is available on board.
Smoking policy
Please take note of Holland America’s new smoking policy on board. Smoking is not permitted in any of the staterooms or public spaces, including all restaurants and corridors. Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas only which include the Lido deck aft (back) on the starboard (right), outside on deck 9, on the Sports Deck, deck 10, on the Observation Deck, deck 11 and on your verandah.
Solo travelers
Traveling solo? Be sure to attend the Solos Welcome. Here you will meet your Olivia Solos Coordinators who will share your solos program for the week. We plan dozens of activities for our solo travelers, including special designated solos excursions in each port of call. In addition, we organize a special solos dining area for all meals and reserve a section for the nightly shows.
Spa services
Enjoy the luxurious Greenhouse Spa complete with massage, facials and a myriad of other spa treatments. Massages and other services are available for an additional fee.
Special Needs
If you have special medical or dietary needs, please advise us at the time of booking.
Not Included
Airfare
Airport transfers
Boutique, casino, spa, photos and bingo
Internet access, phone, fax and other incidentals
Medical attention
Optional excursions
Soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees, alcohol such as wine, beer and cocktails
Specialty restaurants
Travel insurance
Other incidentals
Operator
Olivia
47 Elizabeth Bay Road
Elizabeth Bay
NSW 2011
Australia
02 8005 1690
email us