Half Moone Cruise Terminal (Norfolk’s downtown cruise embarkation building) is the building referenced throughout this page.
“Friends of Dorothy” is the long-running, semi-coded name for the casual gay social hour you will find on most cruise ships. It is not a guided tour, a party, or a panel. It is a low-pressure first-night drink with whoever else on the ship wants to wave hello. The format is consistent across lines. What varies is the name printed in the daily schedule, the time, and how easy it is to find.
This page is a quick reference for what each major cruise line calls the gathering, when it usually happens, and where on the ship it tends to land. If your line is not listed, the rule of thumb at the bottom of this page will get you there. This guide is part of our Friends of Dorothy in Norfolk hub for gay cruisers stepping off at Half Moone Cruise Terminal, but the per-line information here applies on any sailing, from any port.
A Quick Note on the Phrase “Friends of Dorothy”
The phrase predates cruising. It comes from mid-20th-century gay slang, when openly identifying as gay carried real legal and social risk. “A friend of Dorothy” — a reference to Judy Garland’s character in The Wizard of Oz — was a quiet way to identify yourself without saying anything that could be used against you. Cruise lines began listing the meetup under that name in the 1980s and 1990s. Some have kept the original wording; others have moved to more direct language like “Gay Meet & Greet” or “Pride Gathering.” Both refer to the same kind of event.
Mainstream Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Line
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” — Carnival is one of the few major lines that still prints the original phrase verbatim in its daily Fun Times schedule.
Typical time: First sea day, 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
Where on the ship: A quieter lounge such as the Alchemy Bar or a smaller piano bar — not the main atrium.
Notes: Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunshine have sailed seasonally from Norfolk’s Half Moone terminal. Carnival is generally reliable about listing the meetup, but if you do not see it, Guest Services can confirm or set one up.
Royal Caribbean
Listed as: “Our Big Gay Group,” “Gay Friends,” or occasionally still “Friends of Dorothy.”
Typical time: First sea day, around 5:00 PM.
Where on the ship: The Schooner Bar is the long-standing default on most Royal ships.
Notes: Look for it in both the printed Cruise Compass and the Royal Caribbean app. On larger Oasis- and Icon-class ships, it can be easy to miss if you are not specifically looking.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” or “Gay Meet & Greet” depending on the ship.
Typical time: First sea day, around 5:00 PM.
Where on the ship: The Atrium Bar, the Maltings Whiskey Bar, or a similar smaller venue.
Notes: NCL ships have called Norfolk and continue to do so on select itineraries. The Cruise Norwegian app lists the event when scheduled.
Princess Cruises
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” or “Gay Get-Together.”
Typical time: First or second sea day, late afternoon (4:30 to 5:30 PM).
Where on the ship: Crooners Bar or Wheelhouse Bar.
Notes: Listed in the Princess MedallionClass app. Princess calls Norfolk on Canada/New England and repositioning sailings.
Holland America Line
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” — Holland America has kept the original phrase consistently for decades.
Typical time: First sea day, 4:30 to 5:00 PM.
Where on the ship: Crow’s Nest, Ocean Bar, or Explorations Lounge.
Notes: Holland America stops in Norfolk on Canada/New England itineraries, especially in spring and fall.
Celebrity Cruises
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” or “Gay Gathering.”
Typical time: First sea day, around 5:00 PM.
Where on the ship: Sky Observation Lounge, Cellar Masters, or a similar adult-focused venue.
Notes: Listed in the Celebrity app and the printed Celebrity Today.
MSC Cruises
Listed as: “Gay Meet-Up.”
Typical time: First or second sea day, evening.
Where on the ship: Varies — often the main atrium bar.
Notes: MSC is less consistent than U.S. mass-market lines about listing the event by name, particularly on European-deployed ships. Ask Guest Services on embarkation day if you do not see it.
Disney Cruise Line
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” on adult-focused or longer sailings.
Typical time: First sea day, evening.
Where on the ship: The District (adult area) on most Disney ships.
Notes: Disney does not always list it on short Caribbean sailings dominated by families. Longer voyages and Disney Magic transatlantic crossings are more reliable. Ask the cruise director.
Premium and Luxury Lines
Cunard
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy.”
Typical time: First sea day, late afternoon.
Where on the ship: Commodore Club or Chart Room.
Notes: Cunard is reliable about scheduling and listing the event in the Daily Programme.
Oceania Cruises
Listed as: “Friends of Dorothy” or “Gay Gathering.”
Typical time: First or second sea day, around 5:00 PM.
Where on the ship: Horizons Lounge or Martinis.
Notes: Smaller passenger counts mean turnout is smaller, but Oceania is consistent about listing it in Currents, the daily printed program.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Listed as: Not always pre-scheduled.
Typical time: Ad hoc or by request.
Where on the ship: Explorers’ Lounge.
Notes: Viking’s adult-only model attracts a slightly older demographic and the line does not run a formal gay social on every sailing. Guest Services or the cruise director will arrange one on request, typically within 24 hours.
Regent Seven Seas
Listed as: Usually arranged on request rather than printed.
Typical time: Ad hoc.
Where on the ship: Observation Lounge or a similar quiet venue.
Notes: Very small passenger counts (around 750 on most ships) mean a formal meetup is not always scheduled, but the cruise director is responsive to requests.
Adventure, Expedition, and Other Lines
Virgin Voyages
Virgin sits somewhat outside the pattern of the other lines. The ships are adults-only, openly gay-marketed, and run regular themed events — Scarlet Night, PJ Party, and others — that are inclusive by design. There is not a separate “Friends of Dorothy” listing on most sailings because the entire ship culture leans that way. If you want a smaller meetup, the Sailor app and the Happenings Cast can point you toward affinity gatherings.
American Cruise Lines
Listed as: Not pre-scheduled.
Typical time: Ad hoc.
Where on the ship: The main lounge.
Notes: American Cruise Lines runs small-ship itineraries on the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic, including calls at Norfolk. Ships carry roughly 100 to 180 passengers, which is too few for a formal scheduled meetup, but the cruise director will set one up if asked early.
Windstar, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal
All of these luxury and small-ship lines will run a “Friends of Dorothy” or “Gay Gathering” by request. None of them are reliable about printing it on the schedule without a passenger requesting it. Email the line ahead of sailing or ask the hotel director within the first 24 hours.
The Rule That Applies to Every Line
Regardless of which line you are sailing, three things are consistently true:
- If a meetup is going to happen, it is almost always on the first sea day, in the early evening (typically 5:00 PM), in a quieter bar rather than the main atrium.
- If you do not see it listed in the daily program or app on embarkation day, ask Guest Services or the cruise director. Most ships will set one up within 24 hours if even one or two passengers request it.
- There is no host, no script, and no obligation. People drift in, order a drink, decide who they want to talk to, and decide for themselves how the evening unfolds.
What to Expect Once You’re There
The format is the same on every line. You will find a small group of people — anywhere from six to thirty, depending on the ship size and itinerary — sitting around a corner of the bar. It is rarely roped off or formally hosted. Sometimes a staff member greets the first arrivals; more often it is self-organizing. Couples, solo travelers, allies, friends-of-friends, and occasionally off-shift crew all show up. Wear what you would wear to dinner. Stay ten minutes or three hours. There is no expectation either way.
A practical tip: the first meetup of the sailing is usually the largest. Subsequent ones tend to be smaller as people pair off into established friend groups or other onboard activities. If you want to meet the broadest cross-section of gay passengers on your sailing, go to the first one.
FAQ
Why is it called “Friends of Dorothy”?
The phrase comes from mid-20th-century gay slang and refers to Judy Garland’s character in The Wizard of Oz. It was a way to identify yourself as gay without saying anything that could be used against you in an era when that mattered. The U.S. Navy famously, and unsuccessfully, tried to investigate “Friends of Dorothy” in the 1980s, assuming Dorothy was a real person. Cruise lines adopted the phrase as a discreet way to schedule gay social gatherings, and some still use it.
What if my ship’s program does not list one?
Ask Guest Services on embarkation day. Most ships will arrange a casual gathering within 24 hours if a passenger requests it. You can also reach out to the cruise director directly — they generally appreciate the heads-up.
Is the meetup only for gay passengers?
No. Allies, friends, and family members are welcome on every line. It is a social hour, not a closed event.
Are these meetups still relevant?
Yes. Even on lines that lean openly gay-friendly across the board, the dedicated meetup remains the easiest way to find your people on a 2,000-to-6,000-passenger ship within the first 24 hours of a sailing. The format has stayed largely the same for forty years because it works.
What if I am sailing from Norfolk?
See our main hub, Friends of Dorothy in Norfolk: An gay cruise Port-Day Guide, for a full daytime walking itinerary from Half Moone Cruise Terminal, plus companion guides on Hampton Roads Pride, the local gay-bar scene, brunch spots, and more.
Related Pages
- Friends of Dorothy in Norfolk: An gay cruise Port-Day Guide (the main hub)
- Solo gay Cruisers in Norfolk: A Self-Paced Day
- Norfolk for Same-Sex Couples: A Walking Day from Half Moone
- Friends of Dorothy: Other Cruise Ports (Companion Guides)
Planning your Norfolk port day? Get answers to 40 of the most common cruiser questions in our Norfolk Cruise Port FAQ — covering walkability, parking, side trips, Naval Base tours, and more.
