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VACAYA has announced their all 2026 VACAYA Caribbean cruise and it’s sure to be a great one! It’s Valentine’s Day 2026 and there’s NO BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE than with a picture-perfect and musically-inspired sailing from everyone’s favorite starting point – fabulous and super-LGBT-friendly Fort Lauderdale!
For nearly a decade, VACAYA has redefined the LGBT+ cruise experience, creating an inclusive haven where adventure, connection, and freedom converge to form unforgettable memories. As they embark on their 2026 Caribbean Cruise, they’re turning up the volume with a thrilling new twist where the beats guide the journey, every moment dances with possibility, and the sea becomes your stage for extraordinary discovery.
Welcome to The Rhythm of Freedom as VACAYA sails the beautiful 2,678-guest Nieuw Statendam from Holland America at their best South Florida rates in years! Over seven nights together, you’ll visit Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay. And to top off our island visits, you’ll have two glorious shenanigan-filled Sea Days under the warm Caribbean sun.
Whether at sea or on land, VACAYA blends fresh, exciting music genres with beloved beats that’ll make this voyage UNFORGETTABLE!
Sailing Roundtrip from Queer-Friendly Fort Lauderdale
Four Incredible Ports of Call
The Romantic Sparkle of Valentine’s Day
Over 2,600 Friends from around the World
Savor every moment with a Beverage Package
Day 1 – Sat 14 Feb 2026
Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA – Depart 3pm
Day 2 – Sun 15 Feb 2026
Shenanigan-filled Day at Sea
Day 3 – Mon 16 Feb 2026
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos – Arrive 7am / Depart 3pm
Day 4 – Tue 17 Feb 2026
San Juan, Puerto Rico – Arrive 1pm / Depart 10pm
Day 5 – Wed 18 Feb 2026
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas – Arrive 7am / Depart 4pm
Day 6 – Thu 19 Feb 2026
Relaxing Day at Sea
Day 7 – Fri 20 Feb 2026
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas – Arrive 8am / Depart 3pm
Day 8 – Sat 21 Feb 2026
Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA – Arrive 7am / Disembark by 10am
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2026
BOARDING 11AM
DEPART 3PM
VACAYA’s back, baby! And Fort Lauderdale has never looked better than it does on this love-filled Valentine’s Day! Get on board, get settled, and get ready for a fabulous mid-afternoon Sail Away Celebration on the upper decks. Then tonight, gear up for first party, which is all about love… THIS IS ME: VD EDITION! Wear a little somethin’ somethin’ that lets other Vacayans know who you are and where you’re from, but do it in RED, PINK, and WHITE!
SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2026
Knowing Day 2 is a Sea Day, did you just dance all night long?!? We bet you did! So, today, sleep in, get up when you want, and then hit the pool decks. Both our Lido and Sea View Pools will be hopping today as Vacayans continue to get to know each other. If you’re looking for a good recovery option, The Spa is where you’ll want to be! This afternoon, VACAYA will also have their first session of bingo AND their first V-Dance. So, buckle up, Buttercup, and get ready for a day filled with shenanigans from start to finish!
MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2026
ARRIVE 7AM
DEPART 3PM
Welcome to Grand Turk, the enchanting gem of the Turks and Caicos Islands! Prepare to immerse yourself in a paradise of stunning turquoise waters and pristine sandy beaches. This beautiful island is a haven for adventure seekers and relaxation enthusiasts alike. Snorkel in vibrant coral reefs, home to colorful marine life, or take a leisurely swim in the calm, crystal-clear sea. Explore the charming local culture at the National Museum, where you’ll discover the island’s rich history, or stroll through the picturesque streets lined with colorful colonial buildings. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor fresh seafood at beachside restaurants and sip on refreshing cocktails as you bask in the sun.
TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2026
ARRIVE 1PM
DEPART 10PM
Start your afternoon exploring the historic and beautiful Old San Juan, where cobblestone streets lead you to vibrant plazas and colorful colonial buildings. Visit the iconic El Morro fortress for stunning ocean views and rich history. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local café, sampling traditional Puerto Rican dishes like mofongo or tostones. As evening falls, stroll along the waterfront at Paseo de la Princesa, soaking in the lively atmosphere. Dine at a seaside restaurant while savoring fresh seafood, then unwind with live music in a local bar. Experience the warm island spirit and vibrant nightlife in this captivating city – a VACAYA favorite!
WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2026
ARRIVE 7AM
DEPART 4PM
Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, is a gorgeous tropical destination renowned for its picturesque harbor and vibrant atmosphere. Explore the historic architecture and charming streets lined with boutiques, offering local crafts and duty-free treasures. Visit the famous Blackbeard’s Castle for a glimpse into piracy history, or relax on the beautiful beaches like Magens Bay, known for its soft white sand and crystal-clear waters and rated among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Adventure seekers can indulge in snorkeling or sailing to nearby cays. Charlotte Amalie is a delightful blend of culture, adventure, and relaxation.
THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2026
Your second Sea Day is all about relaxing after three consecutive port days. So, find a lounger at the pool and relax before the evening fun begins. Or… check out The Spa and kick your relaxation up a notch (or five). There’s nothing better than a 90-minute deep tissue massage to get that blood pumping and ready for the biggest party of the week tonight!
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2026
ARRIVE 8AM
DEPART 3PM
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have an entire island to yourself (well… with 2,600 of your newest besties)? Today is the day as VACAYA hits beautiful Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island – the perfect final stop of your adventure together. This tropical paradise offers Vacayans a range of activities, from snorkeling and kayaking to relaxing in hammocks under swaying palm trees. Indulge in delicious barbecue at the beachside picnic area and enjoy a day of fun and relaxation in this serene oasis. After your day at the beach, you’ll return to the ship for their final signature V-Dance, SHE’S A MESS!
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026
ARRIVE 7AM
DISEMBARK BY 10AM
Is your cruise already over? Noooo. That can’t be. But in reality, our fun together has come to an end. Thankfully, it’s Saturday. So, we encourage you to stay at least one extra night in Fort Lauderdale and enjoy all this LGBT+ haven has to offer. Please ask us for options.
Holland America is known for redefining cruise luxury, and with Nieuw Statendam, they’ve hit a high note! We’re amped to bring you this cutting-edge Pinnacle Class ship, where modern elegance meets next-level excitement. Your VACAYA experience on Nieuw Statendam will be a mix of music festival and cutting-edge signature entertainment – all pulsing with the VACAYA DNA you know and love!
Designed with the sleek curves of musical instruments in mind, Nieuw Statendam is a floating masterpiece that feels simultaneously fresh, innovative, and classic – just like the beats you’ll experience on board. From gourmet dining at Rudi’s Sel de Mer and Morimoto by Sea to the electric vibes of the Rolling Stone Lounge and the soulful energy of B.B. King’s Blues Club, every venue pulses with energy. And let’s not forget the show-stopping two-level World Stage, where epic VACAYA performances and immersive visuals will blow you away!
On board Nieuw Statendam, every detail is designed to ignite your senses. Whether you’re chilling in stylish staterooms, soaking up the sun on the open deck, or diving into VACAYA’s one-of-a-kind onboard experiences, this is your playground! With a crew ready to cater to your every whim, endless ocean views, and the perfect mix of relaxation and exhilaration, it’s time to embrace the freedom, the music, and the magic of this VACAYA adventure! Let us show you our favorite parts of the ship…
Holland America’s Pinnacle Class ships redefine the modern cruise experience, offering a seamless blend of timeless elegance and cutting-edge innovation. This is a class of ship that doesn’t just take you to destinations – it transforms your time at sea into a destination of its own.
When you cruise on Nieuw Statendam with VACAYA, your time is your time to do as you please. Fill your sea days with onboard activities. Follow dinner with top-notch LGBT+ entertainment in the state-of-the-art World Stage and then dance under the stars at VACAYA’s theme parties. OR do nothing at all. The choice is entirely yours.
Let’s start with the fact that Nieuw Statendam’s award-winning crew is trained to the highest service standards. They’re outgoing, engaging, and committed to ensuring you have a fabulous time. And they’re extremely LGBT+ friendly. By the end of our cruise, we have no doubt you’ll love each and every officer and crew member!
Two big pools? You betcha! The Lido Pool is where VACAYA roars to life, with VACAYA’s ever-changing pool gaymes, V-Dances, and signature parties. If you’re looking to relax, the aft facing Sea View Pool is the perfect place to hang.
The biggest names in LGBT+ and straight allied entertainment will appear in this fantastic venue, which features a stunning wrap-around LED screen.
In the mood to move and groove? Holland America enhances the cruise experience with innovative live music venues like B.B. King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, and the Rolling Stone Lounge, offering live performances that celebrate diverse genres and iconic hits. Here, they’ll mix VACAYA artists with Holland America’s entertainers to get you on your feet.
We invite you to explore the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, a serene escape where the soothing sounds of tranquility complement luxurious treatments, calming thermal suites, and a rejuvenating hydrotherapy pool. It’s your oasis for renewal, perfectly in tune with the rhythm of relaxation. At every turn of your sailing, you’ll find ways to fully restore yourself. Emerge renewed, relaxed, and rejuvenated from each spa experience.
Whether a suite, a verandah stateroom, or an interior oasis, Nieuw Statendam has a stateroom to suit every Vacayan’s needs. Staterooms are built for feel-good comfort, with everything you need within easy reach. After a busy day of sightseeing or activities, there’s no place like your Nieuw Statendam home-away-from-home to recharge.
Guests will have an option to join Club Orange* to experience a new level of Holland America luxury and feel like a VIP with an array of thoughtful amenities and insider privileges. A special package of benefits is being curated for VACAYA and we’ll communicate details at a later date.
*Extra charge.
Discover culinary highlights from all over the world and let yourself be inspired by varied and high-quality cuisine aboard Nieuw Statendam. With no set meal times and no seating arrangements (other than for the ship’s award-winning fine dining restaurants), you’re free to eat whenever and with whomever you’d like as you explore new culinary territory and experience exclusive gourmet moments.
One of the things we absolutely love about Holland America (along with nearly all cruise lines today) is their goal of eliminating food waste altogether – a mighty task if ever there was. To accomplish this goal, portion sizes have decreased. But no worries… you can always order another portion. To help Holland America meet their objectives, no matter where you dine, we just ask that you eat what you take.
For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch, or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. Behind the scenes, Holland America’s Culinary Ambassadors, a group of world world-renowned chefs, along with Holland America’s talented onboard executive chefs, have worked to bring each dish to perfection. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes. Enrich your journey with an extensive selection of wines, carefully selected by our Wine Curator. Complimentary for all.
Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido Pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads; Homestead, serving up comfort classics; Distant Lands, featuring global cuisine; Sweet Spot, for ice cream creations and desserts; Roasting Pan, hand-carved meats, fish, and other hearty entrees; Perk, freshly brewed beverages and chilled juices; Quench, premium coffee, beer, wine, and soda available for purchase; Rise, savory quiches, croissants, and sandwiches, and more. Complimentary for all.
Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with Holland America’s trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portobello mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea. Truly. Complimentary for all.
At New York Deli & Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Culinary Council member Ethan Stowell has also contributed signature pizza recipes to the menu. Enjoy your pizza or made-to-order deli sandwiches overlooking the Lido Pool. Complimentary for all.
Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of the finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks – meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality – as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes from James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council member, David Burke. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated, and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor. Extra charge.
Hands down our FAVORITE specialty dining restaurant onboard. Praised by Condé Nast Traveler for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire, and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. Extra charge.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Holland America Line’s Global Fresh Fish Ambassador, brings his innovative style to Morimoto by Sea, an Asian specialty restaurant onboard. With a focus on fresh fish and seafood, this new restaurant features a menu of artfully presented dishes and exclusive alcoholic beverages. Extra charge.
Put your feet up and relax and enjoy a cappuccino, toast with a freshly tapped beer, marvel at the diverse cocktail menu, or enjoy a small aperitif with a view of the sea. Nieuw Statendam awaits you and your companions in a wide array of bars and lounges. If you want to feel good, you shouldn’t constantly think about your travel budget. Especially not when it comes to your own personal enjoyment. So… as VACAYA has done since DAY ONE, all of Holland America’s beverage packages will be available for purchase both in advance and on board.
The Lido Bar is located on the Lido Pool deck of the Holland America Nieuw Statendam cruise ship. The Lido Pool is a glass-enclosed pool with a retractable roof that allows for swimming and sunbathing year-round. The Lido Bar serves drinks and refreshments to the pool area.
Gather around and sing along as Holland America’s and VACAYA’s pianists play your favorites. Singing along isn’t just fun – it’s a chance to connect and create unforgettable moments with your VACAYA friends.
Raise a glass to breathtaking sunsets in this iconic lounge, where sweeping panoramic views meet the smooth sounds of ambient and chillwave music. Let the beats and the vistas create a vibe as unforgettable as the journey itself.
Note: Prices below include $347 per person in port fees and taxes.
Pre-Paid Gratuities are 177 USD per person for guests in Suites and 147 USD for all other stateroom categories. 100% of these gratuities go to onboard staffers, including your stateroom attendant, the culinary services staff, the behind-the-scenes hotel services staff, and the myriad department heads who work with their teams around the clock to create a flawless VACAYA experience for you.
Solo guests in their own stateroom pay double gratuities and single port taxes/admin fees. The one exception to this is with our Single Ocean-View Staterooms; for these rooms, you pay single gratuities and single port taxes/admin fees.
The fare for 3rd, 4th, and 5th guests is 597 USD each in all staterooms and suites (plus applicable gratuities and port & admin fees).
Room descriptions, sizing, and view specifics have been provided to VACAYA by Holland America Line. Room layouts and views (including obstructions) can vary within the same category. For rooms with a capacity greater than 2, the additional bedding is a combination of sofa beds and/or upper berths.
Be “In The Know” about Obstructions: The standard cruise industry definition of an obstruction or partial obstruction is if the view of the horizon is interrupted when an average height person (170cm or 5’7”) is standing at the balcony’s handrail. If the horizon line is blocked in its entirety, the view is considered fully “obstructed.” If any part of the view of the horizon line is blocked by a lifeboat, overhang, support beam, or any other fixed apparatus (not including moveable cleaning equipment), the view is considered “partially obstructed.” If the horizon line can be viewed in its entirety when standing at the handrail, the view is not considered to be obstructed in any way.
Rooms designated as “Feel the Beat” Rooms are on the deck directly below the dance floor, or near a lower-deck venue we anticipate running later into the night. These rooms are perfect for anyone who tends to stay at our parties until the last beat drops. Rooms that are on lower floors beneath the dance floor may also feel vibrations from the bass and occasionally hear the music itself, but that will typically be at a much lower level than the “Feel the Beat” Rooms on the deck just below the dance floor.
Because this is a charter event, Mariner Society benefits (complimentary upgrades, discounts, free drinks, etc.) do not apply. If you’re a member of HAL’s Mariner Society, you can, however, still earn loyalty points in the program for this VACAYA sailing by requesting the credit directly with Holland America Line.
There is one question every traveler across the globe universally faces: should I purchase Travel Insurance? It’s natural to ask yourself, “should I spend the extra dollars to protect my vacation investment?” Or do I leave it in the hands of Lady Luck and hope for the best. At VACAYA, we’ve always believed Trip Insurance is critical to the vacation planning process. That’s why we took special care to integrate the purchase opportunity into our online booking process.
Nothing breaks our heart more than hearing from guests who elect not to purchase insurance, but then something tragic – a death, the loss of a home, etc. – happens and they’re unable to attend the event. As painful as it for them, VACAYA is unable to be your insurance in those moments. And as sad as the stories are, we’re unable to break their Terms & Conditions with you. The reason for that per VACAYA is because to maintain their Seller of Travel licenses and to comply with all regulations, we must administer our Terms & Conditions equitably across all guests. Failure to do so risks VACAYA’s very existence.
We and VACAYA recommend a “Cancel For Any Reason” or CFAR policy for everyone, and for good reason: if you decide you don’t want to travel after the cancellation penalty period has begun, this type of insurance covers you against total loss. It’s also a great way to help honor your Social Contract with VACAYA.
So go ahead and buy that bucket list trip, but protect your health and your investment by purchasing Trip Insurance. ❤️
Please review VACAYA’s Terms and conditions before contacting us to book this 2026 VACAYA Caribbean cruise.
Pricing, availability and itinerary for this 2026 VACAYA Caribbean cruise are subject to change. Neither Purple Light Vacations nor VACAYA will be responsible for any inaccuracies.
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We just booked our second cruise within the past year through Purple Light Vacations due to their outstanding service. Jonathan Geen is not only highly professional, he is enjoyable to work with. What is the one thing we all want from the service industry, and especially dealing with travel and vacations-- timely and helpful assistance. Jonathan was quick to respond to any question or inquiry, whether by email or phone, any time or day of the week. He went over and above to make sure we were taken care of, and even provided information about places he didn't even book for us. Purple Light is now our go-to firm for travel and vacations.
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Purple Light Vacations
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Phone: (619) 324-1444
Fax: (619) 765-3033
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