Can you sunbathe topless on a cruise? Only on these 3 lines

Tan lines are the worst, but is topless sunbathing allowed on cruise ships? One of the newer cruise lines sailing the seas has brought it back aboard its ships, but the phenomenon is rarer than you might think.

In the early days of cruising, topless sunbathing was allowed. There were designated decks where passengers could go to make sure certain body parts were able to see the sun, away from prying eyes. But, through the years, there are several cruise features that have largely been banned, and those include topless sunbathing decks.

Most mainstream cruise lines — including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line — no longer allow it.

The main reason is that the industry's largest passenger contingent is from the United States, where travelers are more modest when it comes to showing skin. However, there is still a small handful of cruises that allow topless sunbathing. Unsurprisingly, the majority cater to Europeans, who are generally more comfortable with the practice.

So, if you're looking to avoid those pesky tan lines on your next voyage, here are three lines where you can engage in topless sunbathing on a cruise.

Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal still does allow topless sunbathing on its outer decks, but the line is largely unknown to Americans.

Specializing in Mediterranean voyages around the Greek Isles and Turkey, Celestyal is a two-vessel brand that mainly caters to Europeans who prefer a medium-sized ship experience. The largest of the line's ships carries just 1,664 passengers.

Costa Cruises

Topless sunbathing is allowed on Costa Cruises ships' top decks, by the pool and on cabin balconies.

Costa, which is operated by Carnival Corporation, is a line with a heavy Italian influence and ship designs similar to several vessels in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Like Celestyal, Costa is not widely known to Americans, but that could change with the rollout of Costa by Carnival, an effort designed to both introduce the product to North Americans and to address Costa's surplus capacity in China, which still is mostly closed to cruisers due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

Virgin Voyages

A relative newcomer to the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages, the brainchild of English business mogul Richard Branson, has a special area on each of its ships (The Perch on deck 17) where topless sunbathing is allowed.

The line is progressive in many ways, offering a food court-style buffet, mermaids in drag, free fitness classes (don't miss the 80s-style VHS Workout) and a diverse team of singers and dancers that actually look like real people. There's also a tattoo parlor on board.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise