Travel5 min(s) read
Published 19:07 14 Mar 2026 GMT
A man who attended a nude cruise with more than 2,000 passengers has revealed what really happens on board if someone gets a little too excited.
While the idea of being surrounded by thousands of naked strangers at sea might sound shocking to some, regular passengers insist that these cruises are not about sex at all.
In fact, experienced nudists say the environment is far less sexual than many people assume, and there are strict expectations about how guests behave.
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One nudist shared his experience after attending a week-long cruise organized by Bare Necessities, which cost around $2,500 for seven days at sea.
The passenger described the experience on Reddit, explaining that he is "an experienced nudist" and felt "very comfortable from the beginning" of the trip.
However, many people online were curious about how the cruise handles awkward situations like someone getting aroused.
One user asked: "Maybe not specific to the cruise, but nudism in general... I'm assuming boners just happen, since it happens in everyday clothed life, too. Are they frowned upon or just accepted in this environment?"
The cruiser explained that it rarely happens. "This cruise is very non-sexual, so a man would want to hide it somehow. Non-nudists think about this a lot more than nudists do," they said.
When another user asked about the official rule, the passenger reiterated that it is not something that usually comes up: "As I said above, this is something that non-nudists worry about a lot more than nudists. I’ve been a nudist for ten years and I’ve almost never seen one.
"Since this cruise is not a sex-positive event, the man would be expected to conceal it," they added.
Despite common assumptions, many passengers say the appeal of nude cruises is simply the freedom of being naked while doing everyday activities.
When another user asked why people take part if the experience is not sexual, the cruiser explained that the appeal is similar to swimming or relaxing without clothes.
They questioned whether the person had ever gone "skinny dipping," explaining that it feels "great" to be nude while swimming, dancing, or walking on the beach.
"If I’m candid, I don’t mind seeing naked women, so that’s nice too," they shared. "It’s the same reason men don’t wear shirts to go swimming or on the beach. It’s a great feeling. I’m sure some people have an exhibitionist thrill, but I don’t.
“Also, I’m not sure that a naked person among 2,000 naked people could be considered an exhibitionist," they added.
Even on a nude cruise, there are still rules about when and where passengers can remove their clothes.
According to the Reddit user, guests are not allowed to be nude while the ship is near land. Typically, the captain announces when the vessel is far enough away from shore, and it is safe for passengers to undress.
There are also restrictions around dining areas and photography. The cruiser explained that staff members remain clothed at all times and that passengers must wear clothes in certain spaces, such as buffets and dining rooms.
They also revealed that privacy is taken very seriously. "Almost no one had phones with them outside their cabin," they said.
In addition to this, they added that in the evening, the atmosphere on board reportedly becomes a mix of styles. "After 6PM, there was a strange mix of nude, normally dressed, and women dressed in sexy clothes, like see-through blouses," they shared.
Unlike nude cruises, some adult-only voyages are designed specifically for couples interested in exploring the swinging lifestyle.
On those trips, areas known as "red rooms" are sometimes set up where guests can experiment sexually with consenting partners.
Kate Shelor, a Las Vegas-based intimacy coach who has worked on Temptation cruises, explained how these rooms are prepared each night.
"They bring all their own people, and they will choose a large space on the cruise ship for this, and they bring in brand new mattresses," she said. "You'll see them loaded onto the ship as you're boarding. As well as tonnes of clean sheets."
She added that the room is transformed before guests arrive. "They will make this room up every night with tonnes of mattresses on the floor, plastic covers, and then sheets on top. There's towels and water. It looks sexy with sexy lighting."
Participation is optional, with some guests choosing simply to watch or socialize.
In contrast, nudist cruises are designed to avoid sexual activity and instead focus on liberation and relaxation.
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