When a gay cruise ship - the MS Leeward - docked in Belize back in February of 1998 with 860 gay men onboard it stirred a storm of controversy and protests.
This morning six years later another cruise ship chartered by homosexuals quietly docked in our waters and more than a thousand lesbians entered the country.
This time there were no fiery protests, no angry mobs, but there were plenty of gay girls not ashamed to show their sexual preference - Keith Swift got a look at the lesbian cruise.
Keith Swift Reporting,
[Two females in open embrace and kissing]
For these two women, two lesbians, that kiss sealed in the open at the Tourism Village was the perfect end to what they call a perfect vacation. They are two of the 1,800 lesbians who quietly sailed in on Holland America's 'Zuiderdan' today. 14 hundred came off the ship and all said Belize was great.
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #1,
"Belize is a beautiful country and we had a terrific time. We did some cave tubing which was a blast and it was beautiful and friendly people."
Keith Swift,
"Did people know you are a lesbian?"
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #1,
"I think it was pretty obvious. I don't flaunt it but I hope it doesn't matter."
Keith Swift,
"You guys are holding hands now. Were you guys doing that today? Showing open displays of affection?"
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #1,
"We were holding hands but nothing too crazy and we didn't get rocks thrown at or nothing like that."
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #2,
"We had a great time. It's definitely a great city."
Keith Swift,
"Did you guys have any reservations about coming here: a third world country and generally homophobic?"
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #2,
"Coming over here we had no idea that was the case until we talked to you. That's not something that we knew and even if it was I don't think it would have mattered. We are comfortable with who we are and it wouldn't have made a difference. It's about us having a good time - not about us being lesbians."
And even the other 'Zuiderdan' lesbian passengers who weren't in couples said their experience in Belize as open lesbians was positive.
Group of Other Lesbian Cruise Passengers,
"It was great. We knew we had trouble a few years back but we had no negativity."
"We had a really good time. We snorkeled; we lay out on the beach, and then did some shopping. We had a great time."
Keith Swift,
"Did people know you were lesbians?"
Group of Other Lesbian Cruise Passengers,
"I have no idea. I didn't go up and ask anybody but it might be obvious."
"They were paying more attention to our money because we came here to shop so there is nothing wrong with our money and they took it. That's great."
And they say if you take from their pockets then don't take out your bible - because they came to spend money and have fun - nothing else.
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #2,
"I understand it's a very religious community and from where I come from religion is about loving one another and loving everybody no matter who they are. You can categorize however you want to, call us lesbians, it doesn't really matter. It's about love."
[Showing diamond ring] "I have an engagement diamond ring and we are married. We are together for forever." [Kissing]
Lesbian Cruise Couple Number #1,
"We are Belize - bians (Belesbians). We are lesbians and proud of it."
This was the ship's maiden voyage to Belize. It left Belize at 6 this evening for Guatemala and will return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday.