THE STRIPPING FORECAST
New cruise for swingers promises naughty nautical nights
Clothing optional, sauciness is guaranteed on Mediterranean cruise from Venice
By James Ellis
A new kind of love boat set sail this week as a clothing optional European cruise attempts to attract British swingers.
The Original Group, famed for its high-end, free-and-easy Desire resorts in Cancun, officially launched its Venice Foreplay cruise at London's World Travel Market this week in an effort to fill the seven-night August 2017 sailing with UK cruisers.
The Venice Foreplay Cruise is The Original Group's first adventure at sea. A masked ball is planned for passengers who make it out of their cabinCredit: Desire Venice Cruise
"So far, we've sold about 35% of the cabins, mainly to American couples. We're coming to the UK in an effort to get more British and Europeans swingers to sign up," said Mario Cruz, the cruise's concept manager.
British passengers will only have to pack the bare necessities for the couples-only sailing that starts in Venice and sails around the Adriatic coast and stopping at several ports in Croatia and Slovenia before returning for a night in the famed Italian city.
Credit: Desire Venice Cruise
Clothing is optional on board but intimate relations will be restricted to private areas
Nightly at-sea events will include fancy undress parties, a 'Naughty Nautical' party and a masquerade ball.
While couples on board can wear what they want when they want, sex will not be allowed in the ship's public spaces.
"You will not see people having sex all over the ship. Those who want to experiment can either do so in the privacy of their stateroom, or we have special playrooms on board where couples can be more intimate," said Cruz.
Passengers in the playroom will shed their inhibitions before their clothesCredit: Desire Venice Cruise
"The rest of the areas will be clothing optional, so when passengers are in the pool or on the sundeck, they can take the option of whether to be nude or not. People then do not feel obligated."
Original has chartered the luxury Azamara Quest for the September 2017 sailing that will include appearances by Desire resort stalwarts Holly and Michael from Playboy TV, as well as Canadian sexologist Dr Jess O'Reilly who'll be leading a series of sensual workshops.
The funnel of love: sex is not allowed in the pool but nude bathing is fineCredit: Desire Venice Cruise
To protect peoples' privacy, photography and filming will be banned on board, while land excursions will require guests to be fully clothed.
Cruise writer Dave Monk, of shipmonk.co.uk, said: "It's a great itinerary, starting from the beautiful port of Venice and stopping at incredible places, including the ancient city of Dubrovnik in Croatia – but somehow I think the passengers on this trip will be more interested in the activities on board. It certainly makes a change from shuffleboard and games of bridge!
"Britons are getting more adventurous with cruise holidays, heading to Antarctica and the Amazon as well as the Med and Caribbean, but it will be interesting to see how many are persuaded to abandon their clothes and inhibitions for a swingers' voyage."
Desire's Venice Foreplay is from September 26 to October 3, 2017, with all-inclusive prices starting from £2,250 per person for accommodation in an interior stateroom. See desire-experience.com
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