A nudist cruise is a cruise for nudists or those who enjoy the nudist lifestyle, sometimes also called naturalists. These cruises are effectively “clothing optional” in most situations, and those who are passengers on this type of cruise can wear as much or little clothing as they want. Certain times on this sort of cruise, however, the passengers may be required to wear clothing and the staff and crew working on this type of cruise are usually required to wear clothing as well. A nudist cruise can be an “adults only” cruise or may be available for family members of any age.
Sometimes called a nude cruise, a nudist cruise is a passenger leisure cruise in which the passengers are not required to wear clothes at all times. These types of cruises often appeal to people who are part of the nudist or naturalist lifestyle. Individuals who are part of these lifestyles often view human nudity as a natural part of existence, and believe that it is unnecessary to “hide” their bodies under clothing. As nudist colonies and resorts became increasingly popular toward the end of the 20th century, other forms of nude leisure activities arose as well, such as the nudist cruise.
Passengers on a nudist cruise are typically allowed to wear as much or as little clothing as they are comfortable with, except for certain situations. Many cruises will require clothing in formal dining areas, and passengers are usually required to wear clothing when entering and while in a port. The staff and crew members of a nudist cruise will typically not be nude, however, since many activities aboard a ship, such as cleaning and preparing food, would be potentially unsafe or unsanitary while nude. Other than these limitations, however, passengers on a nude cruise can be nude whenever and wherever they please.
A nudist cruise will typically offer many of the same features and activities that other cruises offer, only the passengers do not have to wear clothing while enjoying them. These include activities like dancing, playing shuffleboard, swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling and diving, and playing cards. Some nudist cruises are exclusively for adults and may establish this rule either to ensure adult passengers are more comfortable or to allow passengers to engage in certain adult activities, such as swinging, though this depends on the cruise. A nudist cruise can also be designed and planned for entire families to enjoy, much like many nudist colonies and resorts.
