Thots and Perspectives: A Swinger Lifestyle Podcast
We've put together some information about the cruise that we've seen asked frequently. We put some information about things to pack and frequently asked questions.
Packing List
(1) Having a whiteboard is super helpful in communicating at sea where the internet can be pretty spotty and everyone uses a different messaging app. Or for leaving messages for people when you don't have/remember their contact info.
(2) Robes are helpful for going to/from the playroom or when you just can't be bothered getting dressed to get pizza at 2AM.
Robes
(3) Magnetic hooks are pretty helpful for hanging things in your room. The walls and doors are all metal. There are good for hanging your robe, Sea Pass card or flogger.
Magnetic Hooks
(4) If you're planning on cruising more than once, these luggage tag protectors are super useful and much nicer than stapling the paper tags to your bag.
Luggage Tag Protectors(5) A party light is nice for the atmosphere of your cabin.
(6) Speaking of music, a portable speaker is a necessity for entertaining and for getting ready in the morning.
JBL Flip 5(7) You can hang a shoe organizer and your magnetic hooks to hold all of your stuff, especially in the bathroom where the space is small but you'll need a lot of stuff at hand to get ready.
Shoe Organizer(8) A laundry bag is helpful to throw all of your stuff in at the end of the day, so it's not lying on your cabin floor.
Laundry Bag(9) Hydration is key, for obvious reasons. This is the best tasting rehydration powder we've found. We just mix it in one of the plastic water bottles you get on the ship.
Hydrant Electrolyte Powder
(10) A European plug adapter is helpful because it can convert the European plug to an American plug to give you an extra outlet. This on also has USB ports for your cell phone and personal massager. Surge protectors, however, are banned.
Plug Adapter(11) A waterproof blanket can be helpful for keeping your bed dry, after all, you're going to be sleeping in it for the whole cruise. It might also be helpful if you're having friends over even if you tend not to need one yourself. This one was designed by Carol and David at The Sexy Lifestyle podcast.
TOP Waterproof Blanket(12) Name necklaces are going to be helpful if you plan on meeting a bunch of new people (which you should!). We used some leather cord and also some beachy decorative beads.
Name Necklace Beads (13) A wrist lanyard is pretty helpful for holding your Sea Pass card--we frequently find ourselves without pockets. You can also put your "slut cards" in a plastic sleeve with your Sea Pass Card.
Wrist Lanyard
(x) Other items to consider:
- Petty cash for tipping the bag guys cruise at the cruise terminal, the cabin steward, and workers on excursions.
- 1 bottle of wine each (e.g. 2 per cabin).
- Listerine. (interesting info)
- Breath Strips.
- Vaginal Wash (external). Regular soap might be irritating depending how often you are bathing that area.
- Passport.
- Costumes.
- Medications.
- Your favorite condoms. Consider a latex free brand. There are condoms provided on the boat too.
- A large format poster for your door, so people know what you look like. We do a 16x20" collage.
- "Slut cards." These business cards have your names, preferably a face photo, and your contact info. Leave a space to write in your cabin number (especially if you plan on going to more cruises or handing them out at parties/clubs).
FAQ
(1) What should we wear to dinner?
You can really wear whatever you want. No one cares. No, really. You can show up in your flip flops or in full costume. Most people dress up for dinner on formal night. We generally wear something beachy to dinner and change in to our costumes afterward, but this is not a rule. They will give you a "modesty towel"/"towel of shame" if you genitalia is hanging out when you go to dinner.
(2) How does the beverage package work.
You can choose to pay for each drink individually or buy a drink package for unlimited drinks through the whole cruise. The November 2023 cruise premium drink package is $1176 for two people. The drink package discounts for regular cruises do not apply to the chartered Bliss Cruise. We did get a discount for buying early on 1 of the Bliss Cruises but not for any of the others. They say you have to buy the package for everyone in the cabin but we've also heard that you can call and get an exception.
(3) What are the theme nights?
The theme nights are released a few months before the cruise. You can bet on a Formal Night, Glow night and Fetish night, the others will be random. Not everyone dresses up for every theme night, but more people dress up and the costumes tend to be more impressive than theme nights at clubs.
(4) Where can we talk to other cruisers before the cruise?
There are Facebook Groups for individual cruises, there are also usually associated Telegram groups for more risque stuff that you can get invited to from the Facebook Group. Start by hitting up the Bliss Cruise Official Group. You can also go on SLS and see the ship decks, there is a ship layout where you can see where your neighbors are (if they are on SLS and make their room). Once you're on the ship, it's easy to meet people. Try to go to the meetups (e.g. under 40s, Hallpass, etc) and attend some of the events (Speed Dating, Swinger Games).
(5) Is there a bag limit?
They generally recommend up to 2 bags and 1 carry on per passenger. As far as we are aware, this is not a "rule" and is not enforced. We've heard of some couples bringing six bags without any issues.
(6) How much wine can we bring on the ship?
1 bottle of wine per person, e.g. 2 per cabin.
(7) Can I bring a hair dryer or straightener.
Yes. Hair dryers and straighteners are the 2 exceptions to the 'don't bring anything that generates heat' rule.
(8) Can we just have sex with just ourselves or just watch others in the playroom?
Parallel play or just being with your own partner is common in the playroom. Standing there and watching (gawking), particularly near an active bed is frowned upon in the Couples Playroom. You're probably better off asking people if you can watch--there's a 95% chance they will say yes, and then you can just sit on the corner of the bed and oogle all you want. If the drapes are closed around a bed in the playroom, those inside want privacy.
The Fetish playroom generally encourages watching. The other playrooms are generally more relaxed regarding watching. The couples playroom is nude, towels or robes only--no street clothes. You must enter and leave the couples playroom as a couple--no threesomes 😢.
(9) What kind of excursions are there.
There are all of the normal excursions and usually a lifestyle option. The lifestyle option is usually a nude beach or nude snorkeling.
(10) What podcasts talk about Bliss Cruise?
We've met several other podcasters on the cruise. The podcasters that explicitly talk about the cruise include: 4OUR Play, The Sexy lifestyle, Swinger University, and 2Hotwives. We haven't met Sapphic Swingers but theirs' was the podcast we listened to before our first cruise.
(11) Where can you be naked? Is the whole boat nude?
The pool deck is nude optional once you are 3 miles from port--there will be a ship wide announcement when this happens. The couples playroom is nude/towel/robe mandatory and the others are nude optional. The spa (thermal suite/Persian Garden) also tends to be nude optional in our experience. You must be clothed inside the ship otherwise. Pasties and a g-string are considered "clothed." A fishnet/sheer top or bodysuit also tends to be considered "clothed" in our experience.