If you aren’t a nudist, then you might have some assumptions about how nudism works that are wrong.
I know I did, until I read this fascinating thread from a nudist cruise passenger about their experiences on a Bare Necessities nude cruise.
It is interesting to see what these cruises are really like, even if you’ve no intention of ever sailing on one.
So, here’s a look at some of the common misconceptions of nude cruises that the passenger (and others) has cleared up.
1. Nudism Cruises Aren’t Sex Cruises
Nudism is a movement all about being positive and comfortable in your own skin – it is nothing to do with sex. People often assume that nude cruises are sex cruises, even if they aren’t advertised in that way, but it’s not true – and anyone who books onto a nude cruise expecting orgies will be disappointed.
You aren’t even supposed to book a nude cruise in order to look at other people – it’s about you, and being free to relax without wearing clothes.
Most people who are on a nudist cruise keep to themselves, and just enjoy the freedom that the cruise offers. It doesn’t mean people don’t have sex in the privacy of their own rooms – but probably no more than they do on a regular cruise where people wear clothes.
2. ‘Excitement’ Is Not Common
One of the most common questions in that Reddit thread is what happens when a man gets ‘excited’ since people think it is bound to happen, but actually it doesn’t. Nudists don’t think about these things anywhere near as much as non-nudists do, apparently.
So if a man was visibly enjoying the sights on a cruise a little bit too much, then it would be expected that he’d try to hide it – it’s not something to show off at all.
Again, nudism is not a sex thing – so someone who did get a bit too excited would probably be very embarrassed and would do what they could to calm things down as quickly as possible.
3. Everyone Is Extremely Hygiene-Conscious
Some people assume that having uncovered bodies wandering around the cruise ship and using the facilities is unhygienic, especially without the protective barrier that underwear and other clothes can provide.
People wonder if the cruises are a bit smelly because of the sweat, or how unclean the sun loungers and chairs around the ship can get.
But it’s not something to worry about. Everyone on a nude cruise is extremely careful about hygiene, and they always follow the rule of putting a towel down on any surface before they sit on it.
It’s not a recommendation, it’s a rule, and it’s one everyone sticks to so that they don’t pick up germs from other people.
I imagine it’s a lot of extra laundry for the cruise ship to deal with, but worth it to avoid having people sitting down with their bare behinds.
4. There’s A Mix Of Attractive & ’Unattractive’ People
There has long been an assumption that nudism resorts are full of unattractive people. I’m not really sure where it comes from, but it was definitely a common question that was asked in that thread.
But it’s not a complete misconception either. The nude cruiser said that, at his own estimate, it was likely to be around 20% attractive people, 20% average, and 60% unattractive.
That should be a reassuring thing, because again these aren’t cruises where you go to look at other people. Instead, you should be able to feel comfortable and confident enough to relax on the cruise even if you would consider yourself part of the ‘unattractive’ group.
It’s worth noting that the cruise lines do, according to some people in that thread, hire models for the cruise. That’s likely just to make sure there’s more of a mix of ages and body types onboard, but don’t feel intimated by it either since it’s all just about enjoying yourself for who you are.
5. Nudism Isn’t Enforced
Nude cruises don’t enforce nudity on guests – anyone onboard is welcome to wear clothes at any time, if they want to.
It’s not really common for anyone to book onto a nude cruise and not get naked, though. Nude cruises cost more than a regular cruise, so unless they were a voyeur then there’d be no reason for them to pay that money just to stay clothed. And voyeurs don’t really take nude cruises anyway.
6. Clothing Is Required In Some Areas
There are some parts of the cruise ship where clothing isn’t optional, mainly in the more formal dining venues such as the main dining room or the speciality restaurants.
Guests can dine in the buffet without getting dressed, again as long as they put a towel down on the chairs. And the bars and nightclub are clothing-optional too.
But most evenings on a nude cruise have a mix of clothed and naked people, just because some are enjoying dinner and don’t want to be constantly getting dressed and undressed.
Guests also have to be dressed as the ship is in port, and for around 30 minutes before and after, just to make sure the ship is far enough away from the shore.
7. Staff Aren’t Nude (Generally)
Staff on a nude cruise won’t be naked – they will be the same regular crew on the ship and they will remain clothed for the duration of the cruise.
There may be a couple of exceptions if there are any entertainment acts on the ship who are nudists or who just want to get comfortable and try it as part of their act.
But most crew will have to stay dressed regardless, for safety reasons.
It’s worth noting that nude cruises are optional for the crew – if they don’t want to work a nudist cruise then they don’t have to.
8. Nobody Is Embarrassed
People don’t tend to get embarrassed on a nude cruise, mainly because there are so many different people with different body sizes and shapes onboard.
A lot of people think it would be embarrassing to get undressed around so many others, but according to the passengers it just quickly becomes second nature.
It’s one of the more appealing parts of a nudism cruise – it’s all about accepting yourself and others, without judgement or worry about how you look.
9. Sensitive Body Parts Don’t Get Hurt
This is a minor point, but someone did ask it in the Reddit thread – you don’t need to worry too much about hurting yourself when you don’t have clothes to protect any parts of you that, shall I say, dangle down?
There is a mildly increased risk of having body parts exposed to the ship, and if you’re clumsy then I guess you should be more careful, but the people on a nude cruise are generally quite aware of their surroundings and where they are walking, and they give each other plenty of space.
So getting caught in a closing door or the folds of a sun lounger shouldn’t be an issue, as long as you pay attention!
Final Word
While I’m not a convert, I do like that nudism cruises sound very respectful and are all about body-positivity.
I’ll stick to clothed cruises for now (interesting fact – they’re referred to as textile cruises in the nudist community!) but if you are interested in a nudist cruise, I’d recommend Bare Necessities as a travel company.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
