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Who are Friends of Bill W. and Dorothy on cruises?

June 14, 2022
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3 min read
Circle of chairs of different colours
Who are Friends of Bill W. and Dorothy on cruises?
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If you've ever sat scratching your head over the "Friends of Dorothy" and "Friends of Bill W." get-togethers listed in your cruise ship's daily newsletter, you're not alone.

Many people have asked, "Who is Bill W. on cruise ships?" No, Bill's not an avid cruiser, but many of his pals — and Dorothy's — are.

Friends of Bill W.

A sign for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance/Getty Images)

Bill W. refers to Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. "Friends of Bill W." is code for AA meetings, inviting recovering alcoholics to meet during their sailings, especially if they find it difficult to be around others who are imbibing.

On a cruise, Friends of Bill W. join together on board to support one another in their mission to abstain from drinking. The term Friends of Bill W. allows for anonymity and gives AA attendees a subtle way to find one another and continue meetings on vacation.

Friends of Dorothy

Friends of Dorothy is another name for LGBTQ+ meetups. (Photo by Prasit photo/Getty Images)

The "Friends of Dorothy" are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

It's rumored that Dorothy refers to the main character from "The Wizard of Oz," played by gay icon Judy Garland. Due to the movie's affinity for rainbows and Dorothy's unconventional band of misfits, the film and its star have resonated with the LGBTQ+ community for decades.

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Although Friends of Bill W. meetings still regularly appear on vessels' onboard schedules as such, it has become somewhat stilted to refer to LGBTQ+ gatherings as Friends of Dorothy meetings. Instead, they are simply called what they are, similar to meetups for solos, teens and other passenger groups. The get-togethers are typically held in an onboard bar or lounge, sometimes hosted by a member of the ship's entertainment staff, allowing LGBTQ+ passengers to meet each other and socialize.

Got more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

Featured image by Getty Images/Science Photo Libra
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.