"Please be aware that NUDITY or TOPLESS BATHING may be observed"

[Deb in IA]

We received our form for advance sign-up for Shore Excursions for our Aug 10 cruise.

I was looking at some excursions for St. Maarten, and many of them have a little asterisk. When I looked closer, the asterisk indicates that "nudity or topless bathing" may be observed.

Does this REALLY happen?? Has anyone encountered this?

I was interested in the "See and Sea Island Tour", but it appears that there may be other "things" that may be seen in that outing!!

 

[Michelle]

Now you know why EROS took a cruise, Deb!

Seriously, there are a few beaches on St. Maarten where you'll see some topless bathers. We've had a few posters tell stories of their encounters and for the most part it seemed to be no big deal, and not very widespread. It seems to be pretty intermittent and not all that common.

 

[jeanie]

Years ago, (1991) we went on a cruise that included St Maarten's.
We went to Orient Beach and saw many nude (not just topless) people. The beach is absolutely beautiful and if the nudity doesn't bother you, you really should check it out... We are going back to St Maarten's with the kids but we are not stopping at Orient Beach this time....

There are probably parts of the beach were you won't see any naked bodies but the time I went I had a gentleman standing two feet from me, clearly proud of himself!!

I thought I was sophisticated but boy I was not!

 

[MFan]

Yes, it's definitely true. We've been to St. Maarten twice, once with Carnival before kids and the other with DCL after we had kids. Both times, we went to the Orient Beach and saw nudity there (mostly topless women, but some completely nude men & women). I'd say only a small percentage of visitors (probalby <5%) on the beach were nude, but many walked along the beach so it would be unavoidable. We were told there is actually a nudist camp on one end of that beach. We had no problem with it (that's why we went back because the beach is gorgeous!!), but I know some parents were very concerned.

 

[Carol RN]

Is there "nude" or "topless" bathing in Cozumel or Grand Cayman?

 

[MFan]

No, I don't believe nudity/topless is even allowed in Cozumel nor Grand Cayman. You should be safe in both locations.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

In my experience, this is limited to the French side of St. Martin. I have never seen it on Dutch Sint Maarten. I believe that nude/topless sunbathing is supposed to be limited to one side of Orient Beach. I'm not sure if there are similar guidelines on the other French-side beaches. I have heard one or two reports of people encountering this on the Dutch side, but have never personally seen it.

 

[Towncrier]

We encountered a few topless bathers on the Dutch side during our last visit to St. Maarten in January of this year. We were out on the Golden Eagle Catamaran and they took us to Mullet Bay where I was a bit surprised to see a couple of topless ladies (not in our group). I didn't expect that on the Dutch side.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Both sides of St Maarten do have topless bathing and the French side has nudity as well. These are European customs and the island is adapted from a European culture as well.

The interesting point here is that most European countries allow topless beaches and they find Americans to be rather stifled about it, LOL! It is all in the way you are raised, and certainly the U.S. does not find female topless bathing to be very common here.

How about the Carnival ship that has a "topless" deck on board? I would find that a bit weird, myself, LOL!

 

[ducklite]

I don't think it's so weird, one of the local beaches here in NJ is a nude beach.

If you really have a problem seeing nudity (we're not talking X-rated acts, we're talking people at ease with their bodies) definitely stay clear of Orient Beach.

Anne

 

[Towncrier]

Our friends went to Orient Beach on their 2001 Disney Cruise, well aware of what they might encounter. Upon returning from their cruise, they had only two words for their experience there:
GRAVITY WINS!

 

[pamelajean]

We were on the 06/01/02 Magic and decided to go on the Golden Eagle Catameran (sp?) -- which I HIGHLY recommend -- it was great!

I knew that there was nude bathing allowed on the French side of the island but we were on the Golden Eagle going to a separate little island (cannot remember the name) and did not think we would run into any of it so I said nothing to the kids (DS10 and DD9). If I had thought we would see any I would have prepped the kids in advance. Anyway... after my DD and I had finished snorkling she was sitting on the beach removing her snorkle gear with her back to the direction we had to walk. I was facing that direction as I was helping her and talking to her. I looked up and saw two totally nude men entering the water about 10 yards ahead of us. Think quick!! At first I suggested that we return to see how DH and DS were doing thinking the men would be in the water by the time we returned, but she really wanted to go back to the catameran and get a drink. She turned around and her jaw hit the sand. She pulled me down and said in a loud whisper "Mommy, that man's naked!" Turns out there was a rather lage group of men and women that we had to walk by to get back. So we had a quick talk about cultural differances, that the people were in no way a threat, and how impolite it is to stare! Overall she handled it well and I did not hear her mention it again on the cruise. However, it was the first thing she told my mother when we stopped by her house on the way home!!

I think as long as you explain it to the kids, and don't make a big deal out of it, it won't be a problem. I would prep any kids prior to going to any beach on or around St Martin though-- just in case!

Pam

 

[Deb in IA]

Exactly, Pam. And thanks for your story.

I am not a prude, and I am NOT at all judgemental about other cultures/customs. I just wanted to know how commonly this was encountered, so that I could appropriately warn/prepare our kids, since they are at that impressionable age (DD11, DS7) if this happens to us.

Anyone else?

 

[Fawn]

LOL Towncrier!! Soooo true!

Pam, I can just see my girls doing the same thing!

For myself, I find the topless beaches to be sorta...one sided!

 

[Viking]

Hi Folks,
I'd like to congratulate you on the discovery that there is a world outside the USA
Over here in Germany you will even find people sunbathing topless in public parks like Central Park, NYC. They usually do it in kind of spots remote from the walkways, but they do it. In public baths and at the local lakes or beaches many of the girls also do it. The unwritten law says "It's OK as long as you're just tanning, but as soon as you start moving, put on your top."
Your kids won't be blinded by the view, won't become rapists or perverts. Just take it as an enlargement of their cultural horizon.

 

[pal2pluto]

It could happen anywhere there, I believe. We were at Great Bay Beach in St. Marteen. Of course, I should have known.....my dh was standing with a couple other guys (we didn't know) all staring down the beach. They (guys) must have a sort of "radar" that just senses a topless woman in the vacinity! I never noticed/saw her.!

 

[prymsu]

I have seen topless women at Dawn's Beach in St. Marteen. Also when I was in the Caymans, I personally did not see it, but a friend of mine said there were a couple of topless women, even though this is supposedly not allowed.

 

[Kaa]

We took the See and Sea Tour in 2000 and I don't recall seeing any nudity. That's not to say it isn't out there, but we weren't on the beach long enough to see anything!

 

[mmouse37]

We saw quite a few topless/naked folk at Orient Beach on the Disney Excursion there. They forewarned us.

The nude beach is all the way to one end of the beach but they often take walks and have everything flapping in the the breeze!!! Most of the people you see make you gag...GRAVITY DOES WIN!!! as another poster described so well. They are mostly men and women over 60 with lots of wrinkles!!!

There have also been incidents of topless bathing (rare, but it does happen) on Castaway Cay. The CM's really don't say anything (they are probably embarrased to!!!)

MJ

 

[4crusinransiers]

We have traveled all over with our children. In Southern mexico we encountered topless sunbathers in Playa Del carmen and a few in Cozumel. My sons age's 9 and 11 think is no big deal.
The first time they encountered this however they were 5 and 7 and they made a comment to me"mom look that lady has no top!"
I explained in different cultures (europe) some ladys do not like to wear tops at the beach. That was good enough for them and now its no big deal! I just asked my 11 year old "Chance is it a big deal to see topless ladys when we go to the beach?" his replay was not to me but to DAD! LOL