Imagine being on a cruise with 2,000 other people, and here’s the twist: it’s a nudist cruise.
This unique experience can undoubtedly raise some eyebrows and, well, potentially other things.
Navigating the nuances of arousal in such an open environment can be a bit of a challenge, particularly for men, since hiding such reactions isn’t exactly easy.
Kat Whitmire knows all about this.
She’s not just any employee; she organizes cruises for Bare Necessities, a company that specializes in nudist cruises.
Their offerings include a massive February voyage on the ‘Big Nude Boat,’ carrying 2,100 passengers, and a more intimate summer cruise.
In a candid discussion with Business Insider, Whitmire shed light on how the crew addresses the issue of, let’s say, unexpected excitement among male passengers.
It turns out there’s an actual rule on the ship: “men can’t be overly excited.”
There are a number of rules on board the cruise ship.Credit: Pixabay
To help men who might find themselves in a potentially embarrassing situation, Whitmire has some practical advice.
“We say that if they start to feel things around moving down there, jump in cold water, or think about baseball,” she disclosed.
This advice aims to provide a quick and effective distraction, helping to diffuse any awkward moments before they become too noticeable.
This topic has indeed sparked curiosity beyond the ship, with a male passenger addressing the question of arousal on Reddit.
He confirmed that incidents of arousal are rare, adding, “This cruise is very non-sexual, so a man would want to hide it somehow. Non-nudists think about this a lot more than nudists do.”
This statement underscores the non-sexual nature of the cruise and the nudist lifestyle in general, suggesting that those unfamiliar with nudism may overestimate the likelihood of such occurrences.
But managing arousal isn’t the only rule on board. Bare Necessities has several guidelines to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety.
Kat Whitmire is a cruise organizer for the nudist-cruise company.Credit: Facebook / Kat Whitmire
For example, passengers must get consent before snapping a photo that includes someone else.
And there’s one place where clothing isn’t just suggested—it’s required.
“In the formal dining room, we have a dress code of ‘no nips, no bits and no butts’,” Whitmire explains.
This rule makes practical sense, especially considering the staff’s need to navigate the space safely with trays of hot food.
Whitmire’s journey to becoming a cruise organizer is as interesting as the cruises themselves.
Initially, she and her husband dipped their toes into the nudist cruise world as models, recruited by a friend who was a photographer on their first voyage.
Over time, their involvement deepened, transitioning from general staff roles to Whitmire landing a job as a sales associate in 2010, eventually becoming a full-time team member.
