Maybe you want to get a little frisky with your partner in the sunshine. Or maybe you want to work on your tan… without the tan lines… or you just like the feel of the fresh air in parts where the breeze doesn’t normally reach.
No matter the reason, it’s a common thought to see your private balcony on a cruise and think about the possibility of enjoying it in your birthday suit.
If you’re considering this, just know you aren’t alone. In fact, Royal Caribbean — one of the biggest cruise lines on the planet — even addresses this explicitly with a surprising stance.
What to Know About Being Bare on the Balcony
Before getting to what Royal Caribbean has to say on the topic, let’s talk first about what you need to know before you ever step foot on your balcony sans clothing.
There’s little that’s better than your own private balcony on the cruise ship. It is your own little oasis away the thousands of people onboard. It comes with a million-dollar view, and you can step out an enjoy it any time you want.
You should know, however, that it’s not particularly private.
The classic balcony isn’t that large. It’s the width of the room (about 8-10 feet) and only about 4-5 feet deep. It’s enough to fit a couple of chairs and a table, but not much else.
That means your neighbors are very close. There are dividers between each room but they aren’t a complete wall. They typically rise up a few inches from the floor to allow water through. And they don’t go all the way up either, allowing wind to pass through. They may hide one room from another, but if someone wanted a peek, it’s possible.
Beyond the gaps in the dividers, there’s another issue. To allow the nicest view, the protective railing of the balcony is made of glass. This allows you to see out even while sitting down. The only issue is that there is some reflection in the glass. At an angle, you can actually see the reflection of the balcony next to you thanks to a gap in the divider. It’s nothing too easy to see, but if someone was positioned just right, they might be able to see over.
Royal Caribbean’s Surprising View on Going in the Buff
For those reasons, before you go nude on your balcony, we’d suggest stepping out to see if your neighbors are around and just be generally aware of if other people are in the adjoining balconies.
But what does the actual cruise line say about getting some sun where the sun doesn’t shine? Royal Caribbean has a surprising policy.
We recently searched through the cruise line’s “Guest Health, Safety, and Conduct Policy” on its website. This document covers Royal Caribbean’s rules for behavior on the ship. It includes everything from quarantining rules to climbing on railings to curfews and smoking onboard.
It also covers going naked on your balcony.
Specifically, Royal Caribbean makes it clear that “Public nudity is not permitted.” It further addresses the balcony, however, seemingly providing a carve out if you want to go nude here.
“Guests must be appropriately attired including while on stateroom balconies if visible to others onboard, on other vessels or ashore.”
Take a look:
In other words, if someone else could see you being naked then you’re not allowed to do it. If there is no one else around — such as when the ship is sailing in the middle of the ocean — then Royal Caribbean seems to have no issue with being nude according to our reading of this statement.
We checked the policies of other major cruise lines. Celebrity Cruises, which is a sister brand of Royal Caribbean, has the same statement in their policy. Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line don’t seem to mention anything about your dress when on the balcony, though the familiar public nudity statements are included in their conduct policies.
So if you’re wanting to be in the buff on the balcony and don’t want to break any rules, then Royal Caribbean or Celebrity seem to be your best options.The post Royal Caribbean’s Surprising Stance on Going Nude on Your Balcony first appeared on Cruzely.com.
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