Back in 2008, my partner and I went on a gay cruise through South America. Imagine it: three days in Rio during Carnival, a week of revelry on the high seas, and a fabulous finale in Buenos Aires. It was pure bliss—or at least, mostly bliss.
At the time, a cruise ship full of LGBTQ+ travelers docking in port was still a novelty in many places. While everyone we encountered was friendly, I couldn’t shake the feeling that one misstep by any of us might leave a lasting negative impression. The stakes felt high!
My partner and I weren’t exactly living large—our budget limited us to an inside cabin on the cruise—but we decided to splurge on a “nice” hotel for a few nights after. Apparently, half the guests from the ship had the same idea. By 10 a.m., the hotel lobby was packed with hungover travelers, politely waiting in line to drop off luggage before check-in time.
Then they arrived. A couple behind us decided that waiting in line was beneath them. One of them brandished their VIP ultra-diamond-titanium-whatever status with the hotel, demanding early check-in. The clerk, who was remarkably patient, explained that early check-in depended on availability—and at 10 a.m., there simply weren’t any rooms ready.
But these two weren’t having it. They raised their voices, mocked the clerk’s intelligence, and even made snide comments about her accented English (we were in Buenos Aires!). Their full Karen energy was on display—double-barrel gay edition. Eventually, security intervened and escorted them away.
When it was finally our turn at the desk, I felt the need to do damage control for the community. I apologized to the clerk for how she’d been treated, told her no one deserved to be spoken to that way, and casually mentioned how much we appreciated her professionalism. We ended up chatting about travel and the cruise while she processed what I assumed was a placeholder for us to come back at the official check-in time.
Except it wasn’t.
With a warm smile, she handed us two keys—to a suite. A massive suite with stunning views and access to a rooftop pool just steps away.
“Enjoy your stay,” she said with a wink.
And enjoy it we did. So, to the entitled couple who screamed their way into obscurity: gracias, darlings. That suite—and that view—were unforgettable.
