Introducing GaySailAway's New Arts and Culture Associate- Shane Craig

Image: Shane Craig in Japan

Profile on Shane Craig

Age: 21
Home City: San Francisco
Number of Cruises: 15+
Area of Expertise: Arts and Culture
Places Traveled: U.S., Mexico, Hawaii,
Caribbean, Europe and Japan
Languages Studied: English, French and Japanese

We're excited to welcome Shane Craig, GaySailAway's latest edition to our growing family. Shane is a seasoned travel and cruising enthusiast, having sailed on over 15 cruises and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe and Japan. He's currently a student at San Francisco City College studying Art History and LGBT studies.

Shane grew up in San Diego and has always loved fine art. During his world travels he's visited Premier Art Museums in London, Paris, Florence, Athens, to name just a few. If he had to choose a favorite museum it would have to be the Louvre which just happens to be in Paris, one of his favorite cities. At 8-years-old Shane astounded doges at the Muse de Orsay with his understanding of Impressionism. In June he led a Museum Tour of New York with his boyfriend Cameron, who's an art major at U.C. Berkeley. Not only did they tour the city's finest museums and galleries, they also took in La Cage on Broadway.

We asked Shane what his favorite ship is. "I love Celebrity's Mercury. I've sailed on it many times with my family to Mexico. It's small but beautiful". And what are his favorite destinations that he's visited while cruising? San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he loves to walk around Old Town and take pictures of the colonial architecture and the Hawaiian Islands where he loves to snorkel. What are his favorite places that he's visited that were not on a cruise? Easy!...Tokyo, Japan and Santorini, Greece.

Shane has been out since 16, growing up spending time between his divorced parents, one home with his gay dad and step-dad and the other with his mom, step-dad and twin-sisters. Today he's active in the Bay Area LGBT community where he's been a monthly contributor since age 16 to BettysList.com, the Bay Area's most comprehensive networking site for Lesbians and Gays. At Betty's List he provided his insight into growing up gay in San Diego living with both his families.

Professionally, Shane has helped curate art exhibits at the Good Vibrations Gallery in San Francisco and has led discussions on coming out and safer sex practices to community groups. Shane also works for Agenda9, an event's marketing and design firm, where he is an Events Coordinator. At Agenda9 he has helped produce San Francisco Pride Parties, San Francisco Pride Parade Floats and has helped stage film festivals and shows at the Castro Theatre, including Margaret Cho's West Coast Premier of her film Bam Bam and Celeste.

Shane and Actress, Comedian and LGBT Activist, Margaret Cho

Shane will be contributing postings to GaySailAway the Blog on the best arts and culture destinations. He will be hosting a GaySailAway Gay Group Cruise to Europe in 2011 focused on Arts and Culture with his boyfriend. More to come on this exciting cruise.

If you have any questions for Shane please email him at shane@GaySailAway.com.