On a regular cruise, you see all sorts of attire. Some women opt for bathing suits that only cover the absolute essential bits while some men wear Speedo-style suits that leave little to the imagination.
But, on mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean (RCL) -), MSC, and Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) -), nudity, even at the pool deck or on adults-only sundecks, is not allowed. And, when you are indoors, outfits can vary, and some spaces, like the main dining room or specialty restaurants, actually require you to dress up a bit, and pants, shirts, and shoes are required.
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That's not the case on one very special cruise that sails each year from Florida. The Big Nude Boat is an actual clothing-optional cruise. Yes, there are places on the ship where you need to be dressed, but aside from when the ship is docked in port, clothing is optional on the pool deck and other outside spaces as well as in select areas on the ship.
This year's "Big Nude Boat" trip will take place on Carnival Pride. But while the cruise takes place on a Carnival ship, it's not a Carnival-sponsored trip. Instead, it's a charter -- a situation where a company buys out a sailing to put on its own programming.
Carnival's crew will still perform their usual tasks (perhaps while trying to avoid eye contact more than usual) but much, if not all, of the entertainment on the ship will be provided by the Bare Neccessities, the company chartering the ship.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
What Does a Nude Cruise Look Like (So to Speak)
The Big Nude Boat cruise will sail from Tampa on Feb. 25 for a weeklong itinerary. The charter company picked Tampa for two very clear reasons.
"With easy access from nudist resorts in Florida and a top-rated International Airport, the Port of Tampa is the perfect place to begin and end our bare cruise," the company shared on its website.
In past years, the company has actually sailed longer itineraries, but after two years of two-week cruises, the 2024 sailing has been scaled back based on customer needs.
"This cruise is the perfect fit for all of our bare cruisers with limited Nakation time. Bare Necessities will again offer special workshops, lectures and Bare Fest events (costume parties) to make your bare cruise experience even better," the company added.
Sailing on the Big Nude Boat is not cheap. The lowest class of interior room costs $1,200 per person with double occupancy required. You can sail solo, but you still have to pay for the second person. A balcony cabin with an unobstructed view starts at $2,525 per person. None of the listed fares include taxes and port charges (roughly $150 per person).
What Happens On a Nude Cruise?
In a lot of ways, it's a regular cruise with a lot more nudity. You don't have to be naked, but there are some times you do have to wear clothes.
"When the ship is at sea or anchored in a port, passengers can be nude unless announcements have been made to the contrary. When the ship is docked alongside in port, all passengers must be dressed throughout the entire vessel, including balconies, until the ship leaves port and an announcement is made that nudity is again permissible," the company shared on its website.
In addition, while the buffet will be clothing optional, any meals taken in the main dining room or specialty restaurants have specific clothing requirements.
"Casual attire is fine in all of these venues. Bathrobes are not permitted in the dining room. When in doubt as to what is appropriate attire, simply confirm that breasts, bottoms and genitalia are fully covered by clothing that is not considered to be fetish-wear or lingerie," Bare Neccessities added.
No pictures are allowed on the ship without express permission from the person being photographed. In addition, the company requests that everyone "sit on a towel" while nude or near nude (and towels are being provided for that purpose).
The cruise operator also made a couple of other rules very clear:
- Fondling or inappropriate touching of personal body parts or those of someone else, overt sexual activity or any solicitation for sexual acts is strictly prohibited.
- Lingerie, fetish-wear, and excessive genital jewelry are not appropriate at any time.
- Dangerous or rude behavior will not be tolerated at any time.
Clothing may also be required on some excursions while in port. There will be some nude options and at the ship's day at Carnival's private island Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras.
