First-ever British royal couple to vacation with an all-LGBTQ+ travel company
VACAYA (the first large-scale adults-only vacation company designed for the entire LGBT+ community and their ally friends) makes history with news that Lord Ivar Mountbatten and his husband, James Coyle, will be the first-ever members of any royal family to vacation with an all-LGBT+ travel company.
Recently, VACAYA Co-founders Randle Roper and Patrick Gunn received an unexpected email. Nothing in their combined 30 years of producing LGBT+ travel events had quite prepared them for what was inside that email: news of VACAYA had reached the British Royal Family!
Through his team, the only out and proud member of the British Royal Family, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, had reached out to express interest in attending VACAYA’s 2023 Polynesia Cruise with his husband, James Coyle.
VACAYA CEO Randle Roper shares, “That email was definitely a shocker. When you wake up in the morning and grab that first cup of coffee, you never expect that an email from the team supporting the British Royal Family is waiting for you in your Inbox.”
VACAYA CMO Patrick Gunn adds, “Here at VACAYA, we’ve always known life has a funny way of bringing people together, and now… our team and our guests will end up rubbing elbows with a member of the British Royal Family. All of us are super excited to welcome Lord Ivar and James to the VACAYA family.”
With his choice to travel with VACAYA, Lord Mountbatten makes history as the first member of any of the world’s royal families to take a vacation with an all-LGBT+ travel company.
Although Lord Ivar and James will be guests on this 15-night VACAYA Luxe sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii to Papeete, Tahiti, they’ve agreed to speak as part of VACAYA’s line-up of guest speakers and entertainers, joining singers Ann Hampton Calloway and Marty Thomas, as well as comedians Julie Goldman, Brandy Howard, and Alec Mapa, among others.
Lord Mountbatten is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Alexander Pushkin, the famous Russian poet. He is second cousin to King Charles III. Surrounded by friends and family, Lord Ivar and James married in September 2018, tying the knot at their 100-acre Georgian estate, Bridwell Park, which they own and operate as a bed-and-breakfast in the county of Devon, England (approximately 3 hours west of London).
Coming Up for VACAYA Guests
About VACAYA Luxe Experiences
VACAYA produces three different types of LGBT+ vacation experiences: big-ship cruises, resort trips, and small-ship luxury cruises. The small-ship luxury cruises fall under the VACAYA Luxe brand. From Indian spices and Mayan ruins to Antarctic penguins and European dreamscapes, VACAYA’s discovery voyages immerse guests in the authentic flavors of the world’s most exciting popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations – all in first-class style and luxury. Sailing boutique-style expedition and riverships, VACAYA Luxe is unapologetically exclusive – welcoming to all, of course, but built for discerning travelers seeking intimate experiences, splendid accommodations, and unparalleled service. The VACAYA Luxe rhythm is bold, refined, intimate, exotic, treasured, calm, cool, grand. A chance to live life to the absolute fullest. To explore the various VACAYA experiences, visit https://www.myvacaya.com/discover/vacaya-experiences/.
About VACAYA’s 2023 Polynesia Cruise
15 Luxurious Nights. 2 Extraordinary Pacific Destinations. A journey of a lifetime. It’s been well over a decade since any LGBT+ travel company has sailed the Hawaiian Islands as a full-ship charter. Not only can VACAYA guests experience the undeniable beauty of Hawaii, but they’ll also sail the Pacific to French Polynesia, as well. Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island are on tap, but it’s the 3 days and 2 nights VACAYA will spend in Bora Bora (“the most beautiful place on earth”) that will be truly unforgettable. For more information about this VACAYA Luxe adventure, visit https://www.myvacaya.com/trip/polynesia-cruise/.
For more information, visit us online at VACAYA.com, on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube, and on TikTok. Book online directly with VACAYA @ VACAYA.com or consult your travel agent.
