What It’s Like on a Swingers Cruise: My Firsthand Review

It’s not exactly a secret that travel alone can turn people on, but what happens when you go on a weeklong vacation specifically dedicated to exploring your wildest fantasies? Well, that’s exactly what I did when embarked on a trip with Desire Cruises — an adult-only, swinger-friendly couples cruise.

For those who might not be familiar, swinging, also referred to as being in “the lifestyle,” is a relationship dynamic that involves engaging in sexual activities with another couple and/or single people. As you can imagine, non-monogamous relationship styles are considered taboo in mainstream environments, so cruises like this one offer a vacation where swingers can have fun without shame.

I first heard about the concept of swingers cruises about seven years ago when I came across a thread on Reddit. At first, I had mixed thoughts about it, considering that I was in a monogamous relationship at the time. But I was intrigued.

Cut to 2024: I’m single, no longer monogamous, and the swingers cruise was still on my mind. While I don’t have a boyfriend, I do have a “work husband” from Berlin, Jason, who’s down for anything. (I call him my work husband because we both have careers in human sexuality, except he’s in the porn industry and I’m in sex therapy). Earlier this year I brought up the idea of attending Desire’s Greece and Turkey cruise, and it didn’t take much convincing for him to be on board. (No pun intended.)

Here’s What What Makes a Desire Cruise Special

My First Impressions on a Swingers Cruise

As soon as Jason and I arrived at the port in Athens, the first stop of the cruise, we could feel the anticipation from the fellow travelers checking into their rooms.

The typical age range for Desire is 35 to 50, but there were still a handful of people in their 20s, closer to my age. Also, English is the primary language spoken on the cruise, but Spanish is a close second, so you’re in luck if you’re bilingual.

I immediately noticed people already hugging each other, saying, “Welcome back!” and, “It’s great to see you again!” It was clear that the majority of couples on the cruise were repeat attendees. I found that comforting as someone who needs to feel a strong emotional connection before I develop a physical attraction toward someone, and that typically only happens after I’ve bonded with them at least on a few occasions.

From day one, the energy of the cruise felt like an X-rated summer camp, and the fun continued from there.

What I Enjoyed Most About My Experience on a Swingers Cruise

Without a doubt, the nightly entertainment — whether taking place in the entertainment theater, the nightclub, or people’s bedrooms — was the main highlight of the cruise. After passengers had time to explore the designated city we docked at for the day, the evening shenanigans would commence with a specific theme. Some of the themes included “neon glow,” “Greek gods and goddesses,” and, my favorite, “lingerie masquerade.”

The evening festivities always started with a cabaret show featuring pole dancing, singing, “Magic Mike”-type performances, or group dancing. This would help break the ice and get travelers excited for the rest of the night.

If you’re wondering where the steamiest action of the night happened, it was primarily on the fifth floor of the ship inside the “playroom.” The playroom was a ballroom filled with mattresses, silk drapes, curtains, erotic portraits, and dim lighting. There was a wide range of activities happening there: Sometimes I’d see an eight-person orgy in the corner, and other times I’d see a dominant practicing shibari on his submissive. There were people embracing role-play by getting into character and keeping on the costumes they wore during the cabaret show. Some people only entered the playroom to watch, and that was OK too!

Things didn’t stop in the playroom though. In the later hours of the night, I’d walk down the hallway to my room and suddenly hear moaning, spanking, and sometimes screaming (the good kind, of course) from multiple rooms.

What a Swingers Cruise Taught Me About Sex and Relationships

I used to assume that the main point of swingers cruises was for couples to have wild sex with randoms for a week and then go back to regular life. That might be the case for some, but I noticed that most people on the swingers cruise developed really meaningful connections.

Ironically, some of the sexiest moments, in my opinion, happened when everyone was genuinely bonding. My heart was full during those moments, like when Jason found other people who spoke German, and I had the opportunity to practice my language skills with them. I felt so happy during nights when me and my new friends would order 2:00 a.m. room service and spend time talking about the circumstances that led us all to the cruise.

The cruise also opened my eyes to the different ways couples navigate boundaries — how they establish those boundaries among themselves and with others. I initially wondered what might happen if one person in a couple suddenly feels jealous, or what happens when people aren’t interested in hooking up with others? Will it be awkward when they say no?

Let’s be real: Jealousy and awkwardness are feelings that can exist in any relationship And there were times I felt territorial over my date for the trip — and he’s not even my boyfriend! I can only imagine how other couples may have felt. But in those situations, the best thing to do is to process where those feelings are coming from and identify whether you’re feeling a certain way due to insecurity, an unmet need, or another reason to be discussed with your partner.

Speaking of potentially uncomfortable conversations . . . yes, there were times when it felt a little awkward to turn down someone’s advances, but not enough where it ever became an issue. In those situations, you just laugh it off, move on, and proceed amicably.

All in all, I recommend Desire as an ideal swingers cruise for both non-monogamous couples and open-minded monogamous couples who want a vacation in an erotic environment. You may leave with a newfound understanding of non-monogamy or your own sexual preferences. At the very least, you’ll have some spicy stories.

Tatyannah King is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer with five years of editorial experience covering topics related to sex, relationships, mental health, culture, and travel. Tatyannah is also a sex educator, aspiring sex therapist, and international speaker.