By Annette Benedetti, sex educator, intimacy coach, and host of the Talk Sex with Annette podcast
Right now, I’m floating somewhere off the coast of Miami on a ship that’s been completely taken over by nearly 6,000 adults who came here to connect, explore, and let go. This is the Bliss Wonderland Cruise, a couples-only, clothing-optional swingers and lifestyle cruise that Bliss is billing as one of the largest lifestyle events ever to set sail, 5,802 guests from 47 countries. And I’m living it.
Here’s who I’m writing this for. If you’re already in the lifestyle, I’ll tell you honestly how this sailing measures up. If you’re lifestyle-curious, swinger-adjacent, or a couple who’s been quietly whispering about maybe trying non-monogamy, a threesome, or your first group experience, I’ll show you what it actually looks like before you ever book. And if you’re a couple who just wants to feel the spark again, to keep the flame alive and be a little braver together, there’s something here for you too. A lifestyle cruise isn’t one thing, and it’s not only for the people you’re picturing.
As a sex educator, I get asked constantly whether these trips are worth it, what really happens onboard, whether it’s intimidating, how much you’re “expected” to do (spoiler: nothing), and whether it could be the thing that finally gets a couple exploring together. So instead of a polished recap after the fact, I’m taking you with me, day by day, in real time.
This is my honest, unfiltered diary from the Wonderland Cruise: what I pack, what I see, what surprises me, what the vibe actually is, who’s really here, and what it’s like onboard one of the biggest lifestyle cruises ever. Check back each day, I’ll add a new entry as the week unfolds.
(Curious enough to sail one yourself someday? You can check out Bliss Cruises Here. And you can book a Bliss Cruise here: My full review will live at the top of this page once we dock.)
Follow along, day by day:
Day 1: Setting Sail
Day 1: Setting Sail
Everyone says boarding is the most stressful part of a cruise. Not this time.
What I did: I’ve only been on one other cruise (also out of Miami), and this boarding beat it. Smooth, well-organized, barely any waiting, and when there was, they kept it comfortable. Once onboard, there were people everywhere to help you get checked in at your muster station and point you where you needed to go. Easy and quick, exactly what you want when you’re hauling yourself onto a floating city for the first time.
The ship itself is gorgeous, huge, beautifully kept, with staff who are genuinely friendly. I lucked into a stateroom with an ocean view and a deck right over the water. Cozy, spotless, and that bed? Unreasonably comfortable, which matters when you’ve got seven full nights. The room’s surprisingly soundproof too; people partied all night and it never once kept me up.
A quick practical note: food has great all-inclusive options (I grabbed a taco bowl the second I was hungry), but booze, specialty restaurants, internet, and specialty coffee are paid add-ons. You can get packages, unlimited booze, soda, coffee. I went with a soda package and a specialty coffee card.
Then the fun started. I hit the pool with a glass of champagne and immediately got to hear DJ Tumbles, who genuinely shocked me, flawless transitions, read the crowd perfectly, had people going by mid-afternoon. That evening I got dressed up and bounced between her promenade dance party, a dueling piano bar (two players, thousands of songs between them, they’ll play anything, comedy included, one of my favorite moments of the night), and the big inaugural “Down the Rabbit Hole” costume party, which was packed and so much fun I danced until my feet hurt.
What surprised me: The warmth. From the boarding line on, people were smiling, talking to strangers, complimenting each other, zero angst, zero intimidation. And the diversity floored me: every age from mid-30s up to 70-plus, every body type, every ethnicity, every style. The sex-positivity is baked in from minute one, but it’s done with consent woven right into the jokes, nothing creepy, nothing that lands wrong for anyone of any gender. As someone who always keeps a survivor-minded eye on how these spaces handle boundaries, I was genuinely impressed. And here’s the thing people get wrong: day one is not a nude free-for-all. Everyone’s a little nervous at first. I saw some toppless folks (and was instatnly reminded I’m pansexual), but it’s far more “fun party with a little extra skin” than anything overwhelming.
For the curious couple: If the idea of nudity or intimacy spaces intimidates you, breathe. You can ease in at your own pace and simply avoid what you’re not ready for until you’re comfortable. Worth knowing: there are clear rules about where actual sex can happen (basically, nowhere crew could see you), which thoughtfully makes room for voyeurism and exhibitionism while keeping everyone who’s exposed to it there by choice. Every single person who approached me, men and women, was kind and respectful. Not one creepy moment, not one lurker. I suspect that’s what happens when most people arrive already partnered and connected; the thirsty energy just isn’t there.
What’s next: I’ll be honest, I tapped out around 11:30 and went to bed before I made it to the playrooms. (Seven nights. Pacing myself.) Tomorrow, more.
