Bikini exposure on cruise?

[PizzieDuster]

OP, you are thinking of booking in 9/13? And this is your first question? Thank goodness the only pic posted here of women in bikinis was of Aerial.

If you really want to just graze by the food, check out this thread...yums Good stuff! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=886187

 

[heatherbelle]

I have to say on the Med cruise I was on last year, there was a group of rather dashing young men wearing speedo's. It made my holiday LOL.

So on a Med cruise you might find more people of both sexes wearing less. On beaches in the Med topless sunbathing is the norm, you will find it every where in all shapes and sizes. So if this offends people you need to stay away from the beaches. Wherever you visit around the world people have many different cultures and people just need to accept.

In many parts of Europe going naked is part of their culture and they don't think twice about it, hence the swedish couple. Parts of Europe also have nudist beaches, but these tend to be away from the main tourist areas.

I think most people treat the ship like a hotel. Swim wear around the pool area and cover up else where.

 

[jennypenny]

Is it really necessary to jump on the OP?

to the OP: I've never noticed anything horrible on a DCL cruise. If you do alaska, you won't see a lot of adults swimming but the kids all swam anyway so you'll see teens in bikinis. I think you're biggest problem is your assumption that you can avoid the swim deck. It's a main deck. That's where the quick service food, buffet, drink station, sail away party, coffee bar, etc. is. I don't think avoiding the swimming areas is a workable plan.

And if your beliefs also include avoidance of alcohol, a cruise is tough. I don't know how recovering addicts even attempt a cruise. I find, even on DCL, the alcohol push is too much.

good luck

 

[lmhall2000]

OP...you will be fine, I respect your position and admire your sensitivity to it...my girls are pretty much the only ones who go to the pools..dressed very conservatively...they are not alone. I think the September cruise would be a good bet...and do not listen to those who say avoid the Med...we took our family there and had the best time..we were there for the history! Not that we purposefully avoided their beaches but we went for the culture first and foremost...Pompeii, Amalfi coast, Cathedrals, piazzas, museums, Pisa etc...an amazing trip!

There are enough family beaches that you can avoid the clothing optional ones...and honestly, there just are very very few women who can pull off a bikini, I have yet to see a supermodel on the ship. We just do not hang by the pool bc it is rather crowded, we are blessed to have our own pool that has much more swimming fun han those on the ship, our girls may get in once or twice but then hate being elbowed constantly, it is like sardines! Not fun.

 

[swfmco]

Interesting topic, and I commend everybody for keeping this above board. However, I think we are missing a couple of things:

1) A couple of people mentioned Alaska as a good alternative. The pools remain open, correct? While there might be more of a tendency to cover up, I can imagine the colder environment might lead to issues with ladies sporting the eraser heads, as opposed to the slow fades. Any insight?

2) A lot of the discussion has been about the status of women on the warmer itineraries. On the flip side, do ladies have concerns about potential issues with men showing too much? I can imagine there being quite a few banana hammocks on the European itineraries or large amounts of body hair that young kids would not understand. Especially given the fact that kids are at eye level with "stuff", a large piece might be off putting.

Thoughts?

 

[kcashner]

Is it really necessary to jump on the OP?



And if your beliefs also include avoidance of alcohol, a cruise is tough. I don't know how recovering addicts even attempt a cruise. I find, even on DCL, the alcohol push is too much.

Thank you --I've been debating whether to say something in support of OP. We honestly didn't see any more on the Med cruise or TA than on any other. DCL did make it clear that while on the ship, swimwear was required. As to beaches, they politely discussed which were "family friendly" vs." European style." In the Caribbean, the only place we had any issue was in Orient Beach (clothing optional).

People have all sorts of ideas as to what is appropriate to them, and you will see some skimpy (to my way of thinking) suits on the pool deck...but not elsewhere. The main buffet and the fast food outlets are on the pool deck, but you can get to them while avoiding the pools themselves (especially the buffet). Most people on Disney are...discreet....but there are always a few.

As to alcohol, I'm not an "anti-drinker," but I don't drink. For most of my adult life I was either working or driving, so I just didn't. I probably have 2-3 glasses of wine in a year. That said, I don't find that DCL pushes alcohol at all. I'm asked ONCE at each venue. If I say no, the server places a napkin on the table (indicating that I've been asked), and I don't see them again. The dining room staff very quickly learns that we won't be ordering--usually we are asked once if we would like that menu, and not again. At the officer's reception and Captain's Gala, there are virgin drinks available. If it bothers someone to have others drinking around them, a cruise is not the place to be. But if the issue is your own choices, DCL is easy and not pushy.

 

[heatherbelle]

Interesting topic, and I commend everybody for keeping this above board. However, I think we are missing a couple of things:



2) A lot of the discussion has been about the status of women on the warmer itineraries. On the flip side, do ladies have concerns about potential issues with men showing too much? I can imagine there being quite a few banana hammocks on the European itineraries or large amounts of body hair that young kids would not understand. Especially given the fact that kids are at eye level with "stuff", a large piece might be off putting. LOL

Alcohol was never pushed onto us, as others have said we were asked once on the first night and after that our servers always had our water and soda waiting for us on the table at dinner.



Thoughts?

Love it, this is so funny, I never thought of that. I didn't notice any males showing too much, but then I was too occupied with the speedo 's. just glad they are no longer in fashion. I hate to think what my DH would look like, with his rather large tummy.

 

[jennypenny]

ok, veering OT...

re:drinking
I guess it's the first few hours on the ship that annoy me. We were asked about buying a wine package twice before we even had lunch. And the amount of roaming wait staff with alcohol at the sail away party seems a bit much. Obviously we still cruise (we're sailing again next sunday ) but I think if you're sensitive to alcohol consumption at all a cruise is a tough vacation.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Several families (the little daughters and their moms and grandmas ) were sun bathing topless in the Med on the boat last summer.

So, OP, I don't suggest you go to Europe beaches any time soon or a Med cruise for that matter haha. We didn't mind b/c well, that's their culture and were fully prepared for the fact that it could be part of this cruise.

On our Bahama cruise, I wouldn't say women were running around in their bathing suits.

 

[bdoyledimou]

That would be nice. I never could figure out why we Americans are so uptight about the body. I also could never figure out why men, a lot of whom have bigger breasts than most women do, can go shirtless, but women cannot. Makes no sense to me. Women get hot too, maybe we'd like to take our shirt off and cool off too, without having to wear tops with uncomfortable straps. Oh well.

I think this was demonstrated in the trial which struck down the claim of obscenity.

It really did not bother me too much I just had to explain to my children that other cultures view the human body as a thing of beauty and don't feel it always needs to be covered up. I admire people who are comfortable with their bodies. I didn't know that about Canada - my ex-sister in law lives in Canada, but I guess that wouldn't really be a great topic for conversation.

i agree that it is a shame that the human body is considered obscene. And that is actually a very recent thing as well -- (last 400 years or so?) Looka t all the old masters art -- which celebrates the human body and it is filled with nudes.

It must be a regional thing because I have not seen any other females without shirts on in my area.
Small kids at the spray park, but no teenagers or adult women without tops.

Its a beach thing here as well mostly -- i have witnessed a lot at festivals and parks -- not in shops/malls etc -- where men ALSO cover up... its really a rights thing more than anything else. i still dont understand the freak outs -- every single human has breasts and they all contain the same parts (unlike the lower 48 so why the freak out?

 

[Torimom]

Banana hammock, like Borat? Please no!!

 

[CMOORE185]

All,

This is my very first post, and that's because I REALLY WOULD LOVE to take my family on a Disney cruise by next year. I am kind of eyeing Sept 2013. I understand that is the least expensive time of the year to go. So, I would very much like to lock in the low rates by July or August and then start paying monthly payments.

First of all, I would like apologize to anyone that I may offend about bringing this up. But, it is a question that has been bothering me about cruises in general, because I (nor my wife) have not been on a cruise before. Also, I am really swallowing my male pride asking this question.

Anyway, because I believe strongly about modesty and that I am male, I am a little concern of women in bikinis walking all over the ship. Now, I understand that if I am near the pool deck, of course I would encounter this. I would definitely avoid this area during the trip. Besides, I would be just happy grazing by the wonderful looking food.

Nevertheless, do women walk around all over the ship in their 2-peice? (in fact, is there a 'dress standard' for swimsuits? No thongs, right?)

Or, am I "safe" if I just stay away from the pool?

Just trying to control my eyes!

Jim

Jim, I have been on 5 disney cruises, about to go on #6. I find the way people dress is no different than what I see at the public pools where I live. You are probably going to see some thongs or very small bikinis. To be honest I find the way some men dress more insulting than the way women are dressed, but that may be because I am a man and dont't really care to see another man showing his stuff. So my advice is to keep your head down and enjoy the cruise.

 

[disneyholic family]

Love it, this is so funny, I never thought of that. I didn't notice any males showing too much, but then I was too occupied with the speedo 's. just glad they are no longer in fashion. I hate to think what my DH would look like, with his rather large tummy.

big bellies don't stop any of the speedo wearers on my side of the world

 

[SweetSpot]

We've seen it all and truthfully none of it was over the top. Most people are respectful. On our Panama Canal cruise everyday for 15 days there was an middle aged woman laying on her stomach on the edge of the adult pool. Drew the attention of many but she also covered up everytime she left the pool area.

We've also seen young women in thongs and men in tiny speedos but everyone blends in after a while and you hardly notice. People do leave the pool area and return to their room in their bathing suits, especially children. You must coverup to eat in the buffet but otherwise I never seen rules posted about walking on the open decks or halls in a bathing suit.

 

[MND]

All,

This is my very first post,
Just trying to control my eyes!

Jim

Great First Post!!!

Mike

 

[heatherbelle]

big bellies don't stop any of the speedo wearers on my side of the world

Gosh Beth, I hope your not in the UK.

 

[torontodisneyfan]

All,

Anyway, because I believe strongly about modesty and that I am male, I am a little concern of women in bikinis walking all over the ship. Now, I understand that if I am near the pool deck, of course I would encounter this. I would definitely avoid this area during the trip. Besides, I would be just happy grazing by the wonderful looking food.

Nevertheless, do women walk around all over the ship in their 2-peice? (in fact, is there a 'dress standard' for swimsuits? No thongs, right?)

Or, am I "safe" if I just stay away from the pool?

Just trying to control my eyes!

Jim

I am positive I am going to get slammed for this post but without wanting to seem like I am bashing the OP, I just don't understand a few things about this post...

When one "strongly believes" in something, what other people do or don't do (in this case, wear or don't wear) should not affect anything. These are your beliefs, what you base your life on...what you will instill in your children...

Or is it really about not wanting to be tempted? "Just trying to control my eyes!" indicates to me that perhaps your beliefs aren't as strong as you may think they are.

Everyday we all encounter attractive, sexy, beautiful people. That is part of life. What is also part of life is dealing with it like an adult.

 

[TDC Nala]

two words...Alaska cruise.

Seriously, if you are going to avoid the pool areas because there might be females in two piece bathing suits there (that will mean the entire pool deck most likely) you may want to really look at the Alaska itinerary. Because if you are cruising the Caribbean, you will then probably encounter women in two piece suits on the beaches in port. You will also have to avoid Castaway Cay.

 

[realfam]

Really..........this is your concern,,,,,on a Disney cruise Really.......

 

[gilsan]

I am positive I am going to get slammed for this post but without wanting to seem like I am bashing the OP, I just don't understand a few things about this post...

When one "strongly believes" in something, what other people do or don't do (in this case, wear or don't wear) should not affect anything. These are your beliefs, what you base your life on...what you will instill in your children...

Or is it really about not wanting to be tempted? "Just trying to control my eyes!" indicates to me that perhaps your beliefs aren't as strong as you may think they are.

Everyday we all encounter attractive, sexy, beautiful people. That is part of life. What is also part of life is dealing with it like an adult.

Well said