'Kaboodle' of drag queens takes over Antarctica on first all-LGBTQ+ cruise to the White Continent
It's difficult enough to dress warmly when you venture to a place as cold as Antarctica, but imagine doing it in a dress, wig and full face of makeup. That's what happened when a "kaboodle" of drag queens converged on the White Continent and planted a flag on behalf of the LGBTQ community.
The event was the climax of the first-ever all-LGBTQ+ expedition cruise to Antarctica, which departed Dec. 7 and was hosted by LGBTQ-friendly vacation charter company Vacaya on Ponant's Le Boreal.
"But what the heck is a kaboodle of drag queens?" you might find yourself wondering. During the voyage, it occurred to passengers that there wasn't a particular word in place to describe a group of the flamboyant performers, so they coined one.
"Because there's no official term for a group of drag queens, we had a meeting with all the queens participating, and they brainstormed various terms," Patrick Gunn, co-founder and CMO of Vacaya, told The Points Guy. "They debated through multiple words, with 'kaboodle' and 'stiletto' being the two finalists. Ultimately 'kaboodle' was chosen."
Generally, the word is spelled with a C instead of a K and means "everything," "all of it" or "the whole shebang." It can mean "a group of things," as well, and given that it's also the brand name for a popular line of makeup cases from the '90s, I challenge anyone to come up with a more fitting descriptor.
As for the other passengers on the sailing, some felt words escaped them when it came to talking about the experience of visiting with like-minded travelers.
"Words don't do Antarctica justice," said passenger Jacob Carson in a statement. "To be part of this historic expedition with Vacaya and my queer family is beyond my wildest dreams."
Le Boreal's captain, Florian Richard, echoed the sentiment.
"For this Vacaya expedition to Antarctica, I had the chance to have my husband along," Richard said. "It was incredible to be able to kiss him in front of all guests and crew, knowing I wouldn't be judged – even though I'm in a 'front page' role."
"It's taken over 200 years of Antarctic exploration to get here, but with Vacaya, the LGBT+ community has now officially left their mark on the 7th continent," said Vacaya co-founder Randle Roper in a statement. "Although we had great fun on the journey, the significance of this voyage is just starting to sink in with the men, women and non-binary explorers who joined Vacaya on this first-of-its-kind expedition. Their adventure with us will be a tale of discovery, friendship and LGBT+ history they'll be able to share for all time."
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.