When Celebrity Summit pulls into port with an all-gay cruise, Sybil Barrington will be waiting to roll out the welcome mat.

Female impersonator Mark Anderson, better known as Sybil, said that tomorrow's arrival of a gay cruise to Bermuda was long overdue.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," he said. "It really is about time. I'm glad they are coming here."

The ship left New Jersey on Sunday and is scheduled to arrive in Dockyard, where it will stay for three days.

In celebration, the Island Restaurant Group (IRG) will be holding a gay-friendly party featuring Sybil in Hamilton's Rumbar at Latin.

"We're trying to roll out the welcome mat," he said. "[IRG president] Phillip Barnett said he wanted to do something, and I just jumped at the chance."

The 8.30 p.m. show will include comedy, lip-synching to popular songs and lots of audience participation.

The last gay cruise scheduled to visit the Island was met with the promise of protest.

In 2007, a gay cruise organised by talk show host Rosie O'Donnell's company, R Family Vacations, was cancelled over fear of protests by local church groups.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown then said he understood their decision, and urged them to reconsider.

"Bermuda is a democracy that welcomes people of all races, colours, creeds and sexual orientation," he said.

Mr. Anderson, who has travelled on gay cruises as a tourist and as a performer, said that they were no different from any other cruise.

"Gay people come to Bermuda all the time," he said. "They're always here. It's just that this time they're coming in a group.

"The gay community is a humble, peaceful community. We're not running around shooting people, we're not robbing people, we're not assaulting tourists.

"People have a right to be outspoken about anything, but honestly I'm tired hearing about it."