It's a safe bet that ocean breezes feel better on skin unencumbered by clothing.
But does nudity enhance games of shuffleboard? Or standing in line for a shrimp buffet among several hundred other naked people?
One way to find out is by taking a nude cruise.
Though niche, that kind of vacation does exist, and it's popular enough to have sustained one company, Texas-based Bare Necessities—the "Big Kahuna of nude cruises," according to the Points Guy—since 1990.
As with other themed cruises, the travel company buys out departures from major lines like Norwegian Cruise Line to offer clothing-optional sailings, usually to warm-weather destinations such as the Caribbean, with the occasional European voyage aboard smaller vessels, not that size matters.
According to the NSFW Bare Necessities website, the schedule for 2026 includes the annual Big Nude Boat cruise in February to the Caribbean aboard the Norwegian Pearl—a ship that can carry more than 2,000 passengers—and, in July, a "Nude Luxury Tall Ship Adventure" in costal Spain and Portugal's Azores islands aboard a 100-passenger sailing vessel.
Needless to say, this is one luxury experience that will not require you to dress up.
Is nude cruising some kind of sex thing?
Bare Necessities isn't the only company that arranges nude cruises, but it is one of the few that takes pains to differentiate its offerings from clothing-optional cruises geared toward swingers, partiers, and other seekers of hanky-panky on the high seas.
Couples-only swingers cruises, sometimes euphemistically labeled "lifestyle cruises," are their own thing. They have names like Desire, Temptation, and Bliss, and are expressly intended for cruisers into, well, cruising. You can browse an array of options at Castaways Travel.
(Fair warning: Clicking any of the links we're sharing here will likely mean you'll see bare butts, so proceed with caution. Or eager anticipation. You do you.)
There are also a bunch of nude cruises aimed specifically at gay men. The queer-focused travel site Nomadic Boys recently posted a rundown of notable upcoming sailings in that category. Not all of them are simply about hooking up, either.
In contrast to some of the hedonistic sailings mentioned above, a so-called naturist cruise, such as what Bare Necessities specializes in, is "strictly non-sexual," the company asserts. Instead, the purpose is simply to promote fun, freedom, and body positivity for adult passengers of all sizes and all ages (above 21, of course).
So decide what type of naked experience you want and make sure you book the right one for you.
Here are six other important rules to follow during a nude cruise.
1. There are times you'll have to put clothes on.
When the ship is docked alongside the port, all passengers must be dressed—especially on stateroom balconies visible from land and neighboring ships (a reminder people on regular cruises apparently need, too).
Likewise, casual attire is required for sit-down meals in the ship's dining rooms, per the Bare Necessities FAQ page, though the "self-serve buffet is a clothes-free area."
And by casual attire, they don't mean lingerie, fetishwear, or bathrobes. It's not gonna kill you to put on a T-shirt and shorts for 45 minutes, OK?
Public announcements let passengers know when they're free to disrobe or need to cover up. Except for the circumstances above, you should be able to go bare whenever the ship is at sea or anchored offshore. Take a dip in the pool, play the slots in the casino, throw strikes in the onboard bowling alley, scream in frustration at the terrible Wi-Fi—all without wearing a stitch.
And if, by the way, you don't feel like stripping down, you don't have to. "Clothing-optional" means you can opt to wear clothes if you want.
2. Put a towel down whenever you sit.
This is a tried-and-true tenet of nudist etiquette and a nonnegotiable for the bare-bottomed. No matter where you go on the ship, carry a towel with you to sit on should you stop at any barstools, pool loungers, or upholstered chairs and sofas.
On Bare Necessities trips, each stateroom is supplied with a fresh beach towel every day for this very purpose. More stacks of towels can be found at common areas throughout the vessel. For the love of heaven, use those towels.
3. Don't take photos or videos of people without permission.
In fact, don't ever do that. On a nude cruise, though, everybody is especially vigilant and you're liable to have your electronic device confiscated for the duration of the trip.
4. Keep your hands to yourself (and off yourself).
Fondling and other sorts of sexual touching, whether of yourself or others, is not permitted in public areas. Even the cruises for swingers advise customers to get busy in private.
On non-sexual naturist cruises, solicitation for sexual acts is against the rules as well.
And on a related note . . .
5. Don't get too excited, if you know what we mean.
"Men can't be overly excited," a Bare Necessities staffer told Business Insider of the company's rules for passengers. "We say that if they start to feel things moving around down there, jump in cold water, or think about baseball."
6. Crew will not be losing their uniforms.
Cruise line employees will remain clothed during the voyage.
And if ever there was a time to consider upping the amount you tip, this is it.
For more information about the Big Nude Boat cruise and other clothing-optional sailings from Bare Necessities, go to CruiseBare.com.