Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US Und.) a male homosexual who picks up partners on the street.

1950

Goldin et al. DAUL 53/1: Cruise, n. (West and Pacific Coast) A male oral sodomist who makes street pickups. ‘That cruise we robbed looked like a bum but he went for four C’s (four hundred dollars) on the shake (extortion).’.

2. (gay) a quick glance that assesses a passing individual in sexual terms.

1978		R. Price Ladies’ Man (1985) 240: Donny gave me a shot in the ribs. ‘Your first cruise’. [Ibid.] 243: Most of the guys passing gave him a heavy cruise.
1999		Guardian Guide 31 July–6 Aug. 93: Were you or were you not on a gay cruise?