Once a traditional, stuffy form of holiday, the typical cruise is moving away from formal dining and balls to more relaxed pastimes like buffets and buffness!
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, delegates heard how naked cruising could sweep the travel and tourism industry in 2010.
Naturists holidays are growing in popularity with a number of operators offering a range of holidays for people to enjoy in the buff.
Norwegian Cruise Line General Manager Stephen Park told a cruise industry panel debate at WTM 2009 that naked cruising is poised to take off as cruise companies continue to diversify in the light of increasing competition.
“Niche cruising is something we will be seeing a lot of in the future,” he said. “Whether you’re a music lover, a nature lover or a naturist, there will be a cruise for you.”
MSC Cruises UK and Ireland Chairman Pete Pate agreed niche theme cruises would continue to grow, particularly in the UK as the sector attempts to attract the 80% of the UK market which has not been on a cruise holiday.
“Given the rate at which we are growing and the range of cruises offered it’s an idea which can not be ruled out,” Pate said. “However, MSC Cruises has no plan to launch a nudist cruise at present.”
Naked cruising currently exists in the US with Texas-based Bare Necessities first chartering a Costa Cruises vessel to take 2,200 naked passengers around the states in 1991.
Owners Tom and Nancy Tiemann now have three vessels and have just finished their 38th cruise, carrying more than 40,000 naked passengers in all.
So how does it actually work? Apparently passengers can choose to be naked anywhere on the ship – be that in the pool or at the blackjack table – but must put clothes on if opting for formal dining, although shorts, t-shirts and flip flops are perfectly acceptable.
The crew is not generally required to follow – erm – suit and passengers, who tend to be around the 45 and 55 year old age group, are mostly married or coupled with professions ranging from company CEOs to Priests.
Bare Necessities stresses that these cruises aren’t about sex, the rule is not to do anything outside your cabin that you wouldn’t do at home.
World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said: “The cruise industry is growing so fast that it needs a variety of themes to attract new holidaymakers to the sector.
“Nudist beaches are popular all over the world, so why not naked cruising?”
