Why You Should Never Go Nude On Your Cruise Balcony

The cruise balcony is your own private paradise with a million-dollar view. And while it’s usually only about 20-30 square feet of space, there are some people that refuse to cruise unless they are sailing in a cabin with a balcony.

There’s a feeling of freedom that comes from a cruise balcony. Just knowing that at any time you have your own little quiet space to sit and watch the waves go by is calming — especially when most other places on the cruise ship have people all around you day or night.

And with seemingly no one else around, some cruise passengers do take the opportunity to have a little fun in the “privacy” of a balcony. In a Cruzely survey, nearly 10% of passengers admitted to having public sex on a cruise ship, which explicitly included the cabin balcony.

If you’ve thought of getting down outside your cabin, or simply wanted to get a little sun on those parts that normally don’t see daylight, there’s one thing you should know: that quiet balcony isn’t as private as you think.

Why Your Cruise Balcony May Not Be So Private

Step out of your cabin onto the balcony and it looks at first glance like no one would be able to see you unless they were out in the water. After all, there are dividers on both sides of the balcony blocking anyone’s view. But a closer looks shows that’s not the case.

While every ship can be a little different, the partitions between balconies actually have a bit of room for prying eyes.

The bottoms of the partitions are raised off the ground to allow for any water to flow through. So if you were laying down on the balcony, then the cabin next to you might be able to see something. Meanwhile, the top of the partitions can sometimes be relatively short to allow wind to pass over them.

That’s not all. Space between the ship’s wall and the partitions allow any prying eyes a clear view into your balcony from next door. We don’t know of anyone that would purposely look to try to catch a peek, but if you are walking in and out of the cabin, there is a small period of time where you can see straight into the other balcony, similar to a stall door in a restroom.

But there is one more way to see into adjacent balconies that you wouldn’t normally think of — the reflection.

If you have a balcony with a glass railing, then the reflection gives you a perfect view of the adjacent balconies whether you want to see them or not. Just sitting outside minding your own business on the balcony you can see a reflection of the next door cabin. If you aren’t careful you can catch an eyeful… or someone can catch an eyeful of you.

Don’t get us wrong. We understand why some people would want to be a little risque on their cruise balcony. But going nude — or more — isn’t as private as you might think.

How to Enjoy Your Balcony Without Being Seen

So say you still want to take advantage of the balcony in your birthday suit — or with a partner — even if it runs the risk of being seen by someone else. In that case, there’s a simple suggestion to limit the potential embarrassment. 

First, you can simply head out ahead of time and listen to hear if any of your neighbors are outside on their balcony. If not, then you know that you’re in the clear. And keeping a towel or robe close by gives you something to cover up with if you do hear their door open.

As well, if you want to make love in the fresh air on the balcony, then it’s smart to wait until later in the evening to do so. Under darkness (and with your balcony light off!), it’s much harder for anyone to catch a look at something you don’t want them to see.

Have you ever accidentally seen something on a cruise balcony? Tell us your story in the comments below.

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