Naturist cruises on the increase
Nude cruise specialists report growth in international business
Apr 10, 2007
According to a recent report in Britain’s Sunday Times, nudist cruises are on the increase. Cruising in the buff has been popular with Americans for some time now, but naturist cruise specialists are reporting an upsurge in guests from other countries, particularly Britain, from where some travel agents are booking 50% more clothes-free customers than they were a year ago.
Nudist cruises, or clothing-optional cruises, are always private charters of cruise ships. Some of the most popular are the romantic square-riggers of Star Clippers; Texas-based naturist cruise agent Bare Necessities has been quick to snap up a fortnight on Star Flyer, one of Star Clippers’ three ships, which will be based permanently in Tahiti from late 2007. The lure of the Pacific islands is obviously a strong one, as the cruise has already sold out, with the least expensive cabins going for $3,685 per person.
A naturist cruise to chilly Alaska in July 2007 on Holland America’s ship Amsterdam is also selling like hot cakes and if you prefer the warmer temperatures of the Caribbean, there’s a Carnival cruise in February 2009, on which more than 2,000 passengers will shed their clothes, daily lives and preconceptions.
Castaways Travel, another specialist, is offering a clothing-optional river cruise along the Danube in 2008, on the upscale vessel Viking Europe. The cruise goes from Budapest to Nuremberg and although clothing is advised for shore excursions, it’s not necessary on board. Germany is the perfect destination for a cruise like this, as naturism is very popular here and widely accepted.
Croatia is another favourite destination for cruising au naturel, with a long, hot summer and some of the cleanest, clearest seas in the Mediterranean. Like Germany, the country is very welcoming to naturists and there are naturist resorts, beaches and yacht charters all along the unspoiled rocky coastline. Several companies offer clothing-optional cruise vacations in Croatia on larger ships, including Dutch travel specalist World of the Nudest Nudist (WNN).
So what’s life like on a nudist cruise? You certainly won’t need much luggage. Essentially, you can cast away your clothing for almost all areas of the ship, especially when the ship is at sea. Passengers tend to get dressed when the ship is in port, for dinner in the evening and for the Captain’s gala night. The crew are not au naturel on a clothing-optional cruise vacation. If you’re a nervous first timer, just tell yourself they’ve seen it all before. They have.
Naturist etiquette states that you don’t stare at others; this is all about acceptance, not making people feel awkward. Don’t photograph other people without their consent. Always sit on a towel for hygiene reasons. Finally, don’t assume that just because people are nude, they are there to have sex!
