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

July 26, 2022
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3 min read
Bikini top in water, underwater view
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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.

(Photo by cdwheatley/Getty Images)

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.

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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:

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

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  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.