This story follows the series 'Jen Finds Herself and Jeopardy', and its follow-on series 'Jen's Family Four Years On' and then 'Jen's Friends and Family Ch. 01.'
In October, the family had a week-end get together at Meg's. Jackie and Betty came up from University, as did Christine and Jen from their cottage, and, for Saturday evening dinner, Helen and Eve were invited too.
Some time previously, during some intimate time together, Yvonne and Jackie had talked about going as a group on a Clothing Optional cruise. Later, Yvonne had discussed it with Meg, who found it intriguing, although was not certain about being naked when there would be a lot of men around - also naked. But, after doing some research, she had warmed up to the idea.
So after dinner, as they sat around finishing the wine, Meg brought up the topic. "Our business has had a great year, and we have some decent profits. In addition, Yvonne and I made money out of buying George out of the business, basically using his own money. So I am proposing that if we were to forego buying Christmas presents and pooled that money, then topped up from the company, we six could afford such a trip. There's a great one in January from Florida, with quite a lot of totally naked sea days. Helen and Eve, if you have the funds, we would be delighted to have you come with us; it's just we can't run to treating you."
Helen laughed. "First, we wouldn't expect you to treat us. Second, we were looking at one in January too, because closing the B&B then would not be an issue. And we have had a second Hedonistic weekend since that first one you were all at, and have two more planned before Christmas, and they are very profitable. Those weekends fill us up when we would otherwise be empty, so, yes, we could run to it."
And as they discussed the details and dates, it turned out that Helen and Meg had found the same cruise from January 8th to 22nd starting and ending in Tampa, Florida.
Betty looked up. "I think it's a great idea, but do we have to be naked all the time?"
Yvonne spoke up. "On the open decks, it's optional. But in the indoor main dining rooms and indoor bars, you have to dress, and of course on shore excursions. Although one resort the cruise stops at does allow for being naked. And walking around the inside of the boat means wearing a cover-up of some sort. So evening entertainment - dinner, dancing, that sort of thing - is dressed and apparently a lot of people like to dress formally for that, just as a contrast."
"And, you have to sit on a towel if you are nude at one of the outdoors bars or restaurants." added Helen. There was some other general discussion and questions, but a lot of support for the idea.
Afterwards, Meg smiled. "Well, I'm glad we're all in agreement, as I put a hold on some cabins, to be confirmed by the end of the week. It's a sort of suite. Four cabins for two people each, facing a common sitting room and with a balcony off the sitting area. The door from the hallway opens into the sitting room. Two cabins have port-holes, but the other two are inside ones." Meg produced some print-outs she had taken from the web site to provide more data.
"Everyone looks so attractive," said Eve.
"Don't let it fool you, there'll be a lot of people who should never be seen naked, and, don't forget, many of them will be men." responded Yvonne.
So Christmas was a lot quieter than usual, with no presents being exchanged, but it was all in a good cause. And January 5th saw them board a plane for Tampa, change at Washington Dulles airport in DC. They read that morning's papers feeling very smug, as a major snowstorm was forecast for the UK in the next 48 hours.
Although it is 8 hours flying time to Washington from Heathrow, with the 5 hour time difference, the local time in DC was only three hours later than their take-off time. A two-hour lay-over and two and a half hours more flying and they were in the warmth of Tampa in February. They took a shuttle bus to their hotel which was not far away. Needless to say, by 9 p.m. everyone was ready for bed, as that was 2:00 a.m. of the next day in the UK.
The next day, two days before boarding, they called a mini-van taxi and travelled down to St. Petersburg to the Salvador Dali museum. Betty didn't quite know what to make of the paintings there. All of them were impressed with the building itself. One of the museum staff pointed out how the hand rail of the staircase, which came out of the floor, up the spiral staircase, around the landing on the upper floor, and back down to the ground on the other side of the stairs, was made in one piece. He explained how it was lowered into the building by helicopter before the domed roof was built above it.
After a couple of hours there, they got back in the van and drove, via Treasure Island and the Gulf Boulevard, up to Clearwater Beach. Taking their driver's advice they tried the Buffet at Shepherd's Hotel, right on the beach, and pigged out on seafood, salads and all sorts of goodies.
Yvonne ate so many oysters; Meg asked her if she was stocking up on aphrodisiacs. Yvonne response was, "Why should you complain if I am?" and, of course, everyone laughed.
They drove back over the long straight causeway that links the Clearwater Beach area to Tampa and both Betty and Eve were fascinated to see the pelicans flying alongside them as they did.
On the Sunday, they went to Busch Gardens and had their fill of roller coasters, as well as riding the train and seeing all the African animals roaming around apparently 'free' in the Safari Park.
And then, finally, it was January 8th. Processing of boarding started at noon, and when they arrived in the hotel shuttle bus at 12:30 there was already a line-up. Their cases where taken from them as they got out of the bus, and they were told they would be in their cabins by 5:00 p.m. latest.
The processing worked quite efficiently and by 1:00 they were sitting in a large holding room, waiting for clearance to actually board when cabin preparation was complete. Then, it was a long walk up a sloping gangway to the main deck where the restaurants and bars were. As they stepped into the lobby, they were presented with a complimentary glass of champagne.
They wandered around and found the main cafeteria serving lunch. There were various food stations, one for salads, one for hot selections, one for sushi, and so on, and as they had breakfasted early, they decided to have a small lunch. Helen and Yvonne raided the sushi, Meg, Christine and Jen had salads, Jackie opted for an omelet, and was fascinated to have it cooked to order and impressed with how much stuff she could load on it. Betty and Eve both went for a Korean stir-fry.
They all thought it was wonderful, with the biggest advantage that they neither had to prepare it nor clean up after. Refreshed, they found their cabin, which was on deck 11, port side, amidships. The door from the hallway opened into a sitting room, with couch and armchair seating for 8, two small tables, and a few stools. Either side of that area, two cabins. From the opposite end of the sitting room, a sliding door led out to their balcony.
One cabin on each side of the sitting room had portholes that looked out on to their balcony, whereas the other two cabins had none, but were equipped with concealed lighting that made the room seem less claustrophobic. Each cabin had a small bathroom, with a sink, a toilet and a small shower cubicle. The way the ship was in the harbor meant that they were facing the dock, and from their height, they could see the traffic pulling up and unloading passengers.
A note on one of the tables advised them that there was a compulsory lifejacket and muster drill at 3:30 - before sailing - and telling them where their muster point was. Their lifejackets were in their closets in each cabin. On the other table were 4 complimentary bottles of wine from the travel company that had chartered the boat for the clothing optional cruise.
Each cabin had been set up with a double bed. Meg soon spotted that the beds were actually two singles pushed together, so that the cabin could also be two singles in layout if requested. The beds themselves were on metal frames, and so their suitcases, left open, could be slid under the beds once unpacked, out of the way.
Their muster point was on deck 5, the main open deck, and they soon found it. After being 'accounted for' and shown how to put on the life jacket, and then trying it on themselves, they returned to their stateroom and found their cases had been delivered. They quickly unpacked and then went up to the top open deck just as the ship sailed, around 4:30. The drink special was a gin and pineapple juice cocktail with lime juice and tonic, and they found it wonderfully cool and refreshing.
Meg had purchased the drinks packages which gave them each up to 10 drinks a day, on production of their cabin key card, which also served as a payment card for paying for any incidentals. The cards had an elastic attached to each of them so they could be worn on the wrist when wandering around 'au naturel'.
