We suppose it makes it easier to pack for your cruise…
In less than a month, one of the most unique cruises you’ve ever seen is setting sail. And what makes it unique is not the route or the ports of call or even the ship. But instead, it’s what this cruise will lack: clothing.
When the “Big Nude Boat” sets sail on its 11-day cruise from Miami aboard Norwegian Pearl on February 9, it will be taking more than 2,000 passengers on a clothing-optional cruise through the Southern Caribbean.
This trip is a charter cruise from Bare Necessities Tour & Travel. Sailing onboard Norwegian Pearl, the “au naturel” trip will make two stops at Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) with stops in Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, and Jamaica in between.
And onboard the ship, it promises to be a very different environment than most cruises.
Sure, in many ways the trip is similar to a traditional cruise. You can hang out poolside, eat a formal dinner, go shopping, or just watch the sea go by as you sit on your balcony.
But unlike most cruises, it is nearly all done in the nude.
According to the cruise’s website, “when the ship is at sea or anchored in a port, passengers can be nude unless announcements have been made to the contrary.” This includes in the ship’s buffet and other spots around the ship. In ports of call passengers need to put on clothing, although private ports typically allow you to go bare, and there are certain shore excursions that are nude-friendly.
Want more things to do? There are also a number of themed parties put on that are specific to this cruise that you won’t find normally.
Theme parties and events include:
- Medieval Lore & Legends
- Light Up the Night (LED dance party)
- Dare 2 Bare Dance Party
- Passenger Talent Show
- Valentine’s Day Champagne and Roses
- Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party
Given the sail dates, there will even be a chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day while on the nude cruise.
How Are There Nude Cruises?
If the idea of a nude cruise — especially on a mainstream cruise ship — is surprising to you, it’s actually not that unusual.
There are themed cruises for everything from poker buffs to music fans to LGBT passengers. So it shouldn’t be a surprise — especially given the sun and warm climate of a cruise — that nude cruising is also an option. In fact, Cruise Bare has put them on for years.
And no, you don’t have to worry about accidentally booking a trip like this if you don’t want to. For these types of cruises, a company will charter the entire ship from the cruise line. Then that company sells cabins, earning a profit for what they charge versus what the charter rate was to rent the ship.
You can’t just book these dates through the cruise line website like you normally would.
What Rules Are There on the Nude Cruise?
If you’ve never taken a cruise like this before, it’s a mistake to think that it’s just a wild time with no rules. In fact, while the feel might be more relaxed, there is a “decorum” that’s Cruise Bare says is strictly enforced.
Rules include:
- Passengers must be dressed when the ship is in port (unless specified otherwise).
- Passengers must be dressed for meals in the dining rooms. Clothing is optional in the buffet.
- “Lingerie, fetish-wear, and excessive genital jewelry” are not allowed at any time.
- No photos or videos can be taken unless you have express consent of the person. As well, there are “no photo zones” around the pools and dance venues.
- Passengers should use a towel or other item to sit on at all times, including in the cabin.
- Sexual activity is prohibited in public areas. This includes “fondling or inappropriate touching of personal body parts or those of someone else.”
In short, the rules are designed to allow passengers to enjoy the freedom of nude cruising in a respectful environment that keeps others as comfortable as possible. Break the rules and it’s made clear that it will be “grounds for dismissal from the cruise.”
For more details on the Big Nude Boat, you can visit the Cruise Bare website here. Prices start around $2,000 per person in our search, though taxes, fees, and gratuity are extra. If you just want the t-shirt, you can visit the cruise’s merch shop here.
And if you’re going on this year’s cruise, we hope you remember sunscreen.
