• Lifestyle group travel makes the ship a safe haven for like-minded people.cruise image by Einar Bog from Fotolia.com
  
  Cruise passengers who wanted to travel with other passengers who shared their lifestyle once were relegated to small groups among mainstream liners or short voyages on small ships. In recent years, however, cruises for gays and lesbians, nudists and even heterosexual swingers have attracted enough interest that groups are able to take over entire large vessels for maximum traveling pleasure and comfort.
  
  

Gay and Lesbian

• Gay and lesbian travelers can choose between a wide range of established cruise operators. For men, the two largest operators are RSVP and Atlantis, both of which serve tens of thousands of travelers each year. RSVP and Atlantis have both garnered reputations for being wild party ships for the young and beautiful, though the companies counter their average passengers are in their late 30s to early 40s and that they attract a wide range of travelers, even some women. Olivia is the big player for lesbians and tends to attract more couples than singles.
  
  All three companies charter large ships serving popular destinations like the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or the Pacific. A newer player, R Family Vacations, launched in 2004 and caters more toward gay and lesbian families with children. For travelers who seek a more low-key vacation, Romance Voyages charters smaller ships and focuses more on cultural destinations than on-board parties. A number of companies also organize gay and lesbian groups to travel on mainstream cruises.
  
  RSVP Vacations
  800-328-7787
  rsvpvacations.com
  
  Atlantis Events
  800-628-5268
  atlantisevents.com
  
  Olivia
  800-631-6277
  olivia.com
  
  R Family Vacations
  866-732-6822
  rfamilyvacations.com
  
  Romance Voyages
  866-456-1269
  romancevoyages.com
  
  

Swingers

• Swinger cruising options used to be limited to smaller ships or groups within mainstream ships, identifying one another by colored wristbands. That changed in 2008 with the launch of YOLO Cruises, shorthand for "you live only once." The company tried its first all-swinger cruise aboard a Carnival vessel, and continues to offer annual ship takeovers on major lines hosting more than a thousand passengers. On board, passengers participate in theme parties and also have designated public playrooms for sex. For these cruises, the ship also allows public nudity in select locations. Trying to entice the crew to join in the fun is strictly off limits, however.
  
  YOLO Cruises
  866-699-9656
  yolocruises.com
  
  

Nudist

• Bare Necessities, based in Austin, Texas, boasts the largest cruise options for nudist travelers. Although it began with just a few dozen passengers on a dive boat in 1991, it since has blossomed into a few thousand passengers filling major cruise ships sailing to destinations like Hawaii and Europe. On board, everywhere except the dining room is clothing-optional, and even there they never require formal wear. For those new to the nudist lifestyle, keep in mind that nudists view it as a freeing experience, not a sexual experience. Expect instead activities such as dance lessons, guest speakers and couple's massages. For those looking for a smaller-scale experience, Castaways Travel organizes nudist cruises aboard river boats.
  
  Bare Necessities Travel
  800-743-0405
  bare-necessities.com
  
  Castaways Travel
  281-362-8785
  castawaystravel.com