Imagine coming home from your next cruise with no tan lines.
Swimsuits are standard attire on many cruise ships, but some voyages don’t even require those. Nude cruises allow travelers to sail the high seas au naturel – and pack light. The American Association for Nude Recreation promotes the cruises as “a unique way to experience nude recreation, offering members options beyond traditional resort or club settings,” president Linda Weber told USA TODAY.
While the dress code might be non-restrictive, it doesn’t mean the sailings are a free-for-all on board; there is some etiquette that passengers should be familiar with before boarding. Here’s what to know about nude cruises.
What is a nude cruise?
“A nude cruise is a chartered sailing aboard a major cruise line, offering nudists and naturists the opportunity to enjoy a clothing-optional environment while traveling with like-minded individuals,” Weber said.
AANR partners with Bare Necessities Tour & Travel, which offers the Big Nude Boat cruise. The 2026 installment on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl ship departed from Miami on Feb. 9. Scheduled stops include the Bahamas, Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba and more, according to its website – with built-in “Nude (Days) at Sea.”
A 2027 cruise will visit the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and other ports aboard the Norwegian Jewel. Fares start at $2,000 per person based on double occupancy.
Weber noted that AANR does not endorse or promote sexual activity, and that some sailings marketed as nude cruises actually fall into the “lifestyle” or swinger category. “Prospective cruisers are encouraged to carefully review cruise offerings to ensure they are booking a cruise that aligns with AANR’s standards,” she said.
Weber said her husband found Bare Necessities’ cruise a decade ago, and she was drawn to the setting – a change of scenery from those on land – combined with international travel. “I have met so many people from all over the world and was immersed in what I called the ‘land of my people,'” she said.
She’s heard similar sentiments from other passengers. The sailings offer guests a “chance to meet other naturists in one area and really get to know them because you are on the ship for a week to almost two weeks in some cases.”
Are guests nude the whole time?
They can be – mostly. “Guests are generally nude throughout the ship, with the exception of time spent in port and in the evening dining rooms, where attire is required,” Weber said.
Bare Necessities noted that even guests staying on the ship in port must be clothed when the ship is alongside – including on balconies – until the vessel leaves and the crew announces that guests are free to disrobe, per an FAQ section on its website. “When the ship is at sea or anchored in a port, passengers can be nude unless announcements have been made to the contrary,” the company said.
Guests can wear casual attire in the dining rooms on the Big Nude Boat, but bathrobes are not allowed. Self-serve buffets, on the other hand,
are “a clothes-free area.”
What other rules do nude cruises have?
Bare Necessities asks that travelers sit on a towel while nude (or in a thong or G-string). “A fresh beach towel will be provided in your stateroom each day for that purpose,” its website reads. “Stacks of smaller towels will be placed throughout the ship outside of common areas in case you arrive without one.”
Lingerie and “fetish-wear” are not permitted, and no photos or videos of others on board may be taken without consent. Guests must also adhere to “no photo zone” rules.
A full list of policies can be found online.
Weber said the cruises are many guests’ first experience with social nude recreation. “Staying in touch with fellow travelers, it is common to hear how life-changing the experience was,” she said. “Many choose to book the following year while still onboard.”
Nathan Diller covers cruises and other travel news. His work has also appeared in the Washington Post’s travel vertical, By The Way, DCist and elsewhere. He is a Columbia Journalism School graduate.
Contributing: Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA TODAY
Yes, there are nude cruises. An expert explain what you should know.
