Gay and lesbian cruise lines pitch in to help Haiti

Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship is docking in Labadee today, an unaffected port on Haiti’s north coast to deliver supplies to the earthquake-ravaged region. Currently chartered with an Atlantis Vacations cruise on board, the planned stop is part of a concerted effort by Royal Caribbean and leading LGBT cruise lines to participate in disaster relief efforts to Haiti as it struggles to recover from last week’s series of devastating quakes.

The owners of Olivia, Atlantis and RSVP announced Friday a joint effort with other prominent members of the LGBT community to raise donations for earthquake relief in Haiti.

Rich Campbell, chief executive officer of Atlantis Events which announced $15,000 in matching contributions for relief said, “Now is the time for us to lend out gay dollars to a compelling human tragedy that knows no gender or sexual orientation.”

Judy Dlugacz, President and founder of Olivia Companies, explained that many LGBT Americans have visited Haiti on gay cruise ships and that “so many of our passengers have been touched by the destruction and poverty in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. It is important that as LGBT Americans, we come together to show our community’s solidarity and support for those living through this unimaginable disaster.”

Olivia Companies pledged an additional $7,500 and offered a limited number of free cruises to those who donate $7,500 or more to the fund. To contribute, go to http://american.redcross.org/lgbt-pub.

In addition to Atlantis and Olivia cruises, Charlie Rounds, President of RSVP cruises (a subsidiary of Atlantis), has also joined the effort.

Rounds believes people on board the cruise ships near Haiti will learn from the experience, though some have worried that relaxing in the country – even on the other side of the island – will be awkward for those vacationing.

“The people in Haiti are suffering whether we’re going out to eat in New York or whether we’re in Haiti,” said Rounds. “The other thing that’s really key is the interest we have been generating on board the ship – it affects people more because they’re there and it’s going to embed a better sense of global issues.”

365 Gay