A Caribbean ‘Nakation’ Is Coming

Nude tourism or nakation is growing in popularity.

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. May 29, 2015: About 3,000 happy ‘nakationers’ or nudists will descend on the Caribbean this Fall. Florida-based Bliss Management says it will launch a seven-day, clothing-optional Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale for 3,000 happy nakationers. Cruisers must wear clothes in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, but “anywhere else on the ship they can go without clothing when not in port.” The cruise, departing Nov. 29 aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, is geared toward “sexually-open and adventurous” people and will offer opportunities for partner swapping among consenting adults, a spokesman said. But there are rules: Sexual activity is allowed only in designated areas such as cabins and “play rooms,” the website says. Nudity is allowed on four decks, but clothes are required in bars and restaurants, and you must wear a robe or cover-up in hallways and elevators. Already, most of the cabins have been booked, with prices starting at $1,000 per person for an interior room. Ports of call will be Casa de Campo and Samana in the Dominican Republic and Labadee, Haiti. The company says its “adult, clothing optional cruises are for carefree couples looking for fun and exciting adult vacations, ideal for adventurous adults who want to explore different cultures and countries with freedoms unlike any other cruise.” The American Association for Nude Recreation says about 30,000 people went on 45 nude cruises in 2010. Clothing-optional travel is big business, with a bottom line of about US$400 million annually. Atlanta-based tour operator VacationExpress.com says it has also seen an increase in clothing-optional requests. “Hedonism is top tier in Jamaica, and it’s an all inclusive,” Placeres Dieppa said recently. “It’s known for being more on the nacation side, less on the optional.” Bliss says it already has another planned for Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, 2016 to stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Marteen and two for the spring and fall of 2017.