"I can't believe we're going to Amsterdam!" Jo said to her husband of 5 years, Ian. "I've always wanted to go!"
Ian had surprised Jo with this trip for their 5th wedding anniversary. They would travel by boat from North Shields, near their home in Newcastle to Amsterdam overnight, then return after a day in the city.
This particular boat sailed on a Friday night and had a legendary reputation as a wild party ship. The trip took 16 hours, leaving at 6pm on the Friday night, crowds of young party goers would flock on for a cheap weekend away.
The couple settled in the bar once try were on board and had dropped their bags off in their cabin. The bar was filling with the usual crowds of Stag and Hen parties, already drinking and starting to chat each other up, already thinking of the end of the night.
Jo and Ian were enjoying watching this as they had their first couple of drinks, they both enjoyed a good night out, this wasn't the sort of trip you would go on if you were looking for the quiet life.
Ian had been to Amsterdam a couple of times, for his 30th Birthday with some friends, and when a bit younger on a stag do.
"So did any of you lads sample the delights of Amsterdam?" Jo asked with a coy smile.
"What delights are you talking about?" He replied in mock innocence.
"Oh come on!" She went on. "Someone must have paid a little visit, or smoked some of the local gear."
"Well a couple of the lads went with girls." He answered. "But I can't tell you who, it's the lads law you know!"
Jo smiled, she knew she'd get it out of him eventually, once they'd sunk a few more drinks.
By 10pm most of the bar were now pretty well gone, the drink had been flowing for 5 hours now. Jo went to the ladies, then went out onto deck for a cigarette. There were a few girls out on deck in the cold night air.
"Who are you out here with?" One of them asked Jo.
"I'm on here with my husband." Jo replied. "It's a wedding anniversary treat. How about you?"
"We do the trip every year, girls weekend away." The other girl answered. "It's nice to get away from the Husband for a couple of days!"
"And to get a shag!" The first girl said.
"Well you might, but I don't!" Said the 2nd girl.
"She forgets these things." The first girl continued, as if her friend wasn't there.
"Ok so I did once!" The girl admitted. "But not every time like you do!"
The girls carried on with their friendly bickering while they smoked. Jo was smiling to herself with the way they went on. They were very open about their extra marital affairs, she would never have gone on like this herself, even if she had have cheated.
"So is it easy to pull on here then?" Jo asked them, unsure of what else to say to them.
"Piss easy!" One of them said. "This place is full of blokes on the lookout for girls."
"Anyone single can get a shag on here." The other chipped in. "You'll start seeing all the couples start disappearing soon, a couple of our mates have already got men."
"Are you all married?" Jo asked, amazed that they all seemed so ready to cheat.
"No, there are a few single girls too." One said. "Although the married ones can be worse once they've had too much to drink. You know how these things go!"
Jo finished her cigarette and went back inside to join Ian.
"I've just been chatting to a couple of girls outside." She told him. "They were telling me all about the naughty stuff that happens on the boat."
"Oh yeah." He replied. "What did they say?"
"Just all about all the sex that goes on." She continued. "Most of their friends had already copped off with lads. They reckon it's the easiest place in the world to get a shag!"
"Bet you wish you'd come with your mates then!" Ian quickly replied, trying to wind her up.
"Oi!" She shouted with mock horror. "You know I'm a good girl, I don't do stuff like that."
"I know, I'm kidding with you." He went on. "A couple of the boys got off with girls when we came over, it was only the hopeless ones that missed out that visited the prostitutes the next day."
"Didn't you get any offers?" Jo said, trying to get more out of him.
"I did." He admitted. "I didn't take it up though, you know I don't cheat."
Jo sipped another large Vodka and watched the antics on the dancefloor continue. The girls were right, people were now coupling up, finding partners for a quick one nighter before the weekend was over. One of the girls Jo had met was now dancing with a man, his hands roaming over her bum as they ground together.
"That's the girl I was talking to outside." Jo told Ian, pointing her out. "Naughty girl, she's married."
"Ooh, that is naughty!" He said. "Still, I'm sure they'll have a good night!"
Jo gave him a slap on the leg, mockingly annoyed at him seeming to intimate that what she was doing was ok. Ian and Jo had discussed cheating a while ago in their relationship. He had made it pretty clear that he would never stray, but had shocked Jo in saying that he didn't mind her sleeping around.
She had declined the offer but the thought had kind of excited her. They'd had more conversations about fantasies as time wore on, Ian telling Jo how much the thought of her having sex with other men turned him on. They had talked about swinging, swapping partners, threesomes etc but had always backed out, preferring to leave it as a fantasy. The thought was in her mind again now though, the sight of the people dancing and snogging on the dancefloor had her mind wandering.
The couple drank more, feeling pretty drunk now. Jo went outside again for a cigarette and was this time approached by a man.
"So have you not found yourself a man for the night yet then?" He asked her.
"Who said I was looking for one." She replied, looking him over as she replied.
"I thought everyone one this boat was looking for a good time!" He went on.
"Well I'm having one with my husband." She said, making sure she put him in his place.
"Sorry love." He said. "I had a feeling you might be married, but you've got to try!"
Jo smiled at him. He was a fairly decent looking man, in reasonably good shape too. Had she have been single, he would have been in with a shout!
"And besides, the married women are usually the worst!" He finished.
"You're the second person who's said that tonight!" Jo laughed. "Is it really that bad on here?"
"Pretty much!" He went on. "I've been on a few times and have got lucky everytime."
"Lucky boy." She said. "I guess all year married woman can't have any standards then!"
Jo was flirting with him a bit now. She didn't mean to but she was enjoying this, and was quite attracted to the man.
"I'll pretend you didn't say that!" The man said, playfully nudging her shoulder with his. "I've seen all kinds of stuff happen on here, threesomes, wife swapping. One girl even ended up hosting a gangbang in her cabin!"
"Fuck off!" Jo said, not believing this part could ever happen.
"Trust me, it happened." He said.
Jo wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. Her mind was racing now though, she was getting quite turned on by all this sexual talk.
"Were you there then?" She asked him.
"Yes." He predictably replied. "She had about 10 blokes in the end. I went down there with a couple of mates, it was a proper good night that one."
"I bet it was." Jo said, almost thinking out loud. She wasn't sure what else to say now and made her excuses before hurrying back to Ian.
"You and your husband give me a shout if you want a little extra company tonight." He said in parting.
Jo went back inside absolutely amazed at what she had just heard. Her head was full of it now, she couldn't believe she had been propositioned for a threesome by a complete stranger. Plenty of men had tried to chat her up before, but no-one had ever suggested anything like this to her.
Ian got them another drink while Jo wondered whether to tell Ian what had happened. She couldn't decide what his reaction would be if faced with an opportunity like this. Her guess would be that he'd be happy to go with it, so would have to consider if she could do it or not. How would she feel after when she had sobered up? Would it damage her marriage.
They drank a couple more, it was nearly 1am now. Many of the people in the bar now were very drunk, including Jo.
"I got propositioned when I was outside." Jo blurted out to Ian.
"Did you?!" He asked her, excited to hear what had happened.
"This fella tried to chat me up." She told him. "He knew I was married too but still gave it a go."
"Well I don't blame him." Ian said, giving his wife a compliment. "I'd chat you up if I saw you on your own!"
"He was telling me all the stuff he's seen on here." Jo continued. "Not sure I believe half of it!"