Behind the Scenes of Bliss Cruise with Cruise Director Malcolm | Bonus Episode

Behind the Scenes of Bliss Cruise with Cruise Director Malcolm | Bonus Episode

In this special bonus episode of The Swing Nation Podcast, the top-rated podcast about non-monogamy and swinging, Dan and Lacy sit down with Malcolm, the Cruise Director onboard Bliss Cruise — the world’s largest swingers cruise charter.

Malcolm shares the story of how he landed one of the most unique jobs in the lifestyle travel industry and what it’s really like helping manage thousands of lifestyle guests at sea. From coordinating massive theme nights and entertainment to navigating the unique energy of a full-ship lifestyle takeover, he gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Bliss Cruise such a one-of-a-kind experience.

The conversation also dives into practical advice for passengers — including how to make the most of your trip, common mistakes first-time cruisers make, how to navigate the packed schedule onboard, and tips for balancing relaxation, socializing, and playtime during the week.

Whether you’re a Bliss Cruise veteran or thinking about booking your very first lifestyle cruise, this bonus episode is packed with insider insight, fun stories, and helpful advice straight from the man helping run the party at sea.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This podcast is intended for adult audiences. Over the age of 18, it contains adult language and situations. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast as long as Oli does, and not of any employer, organization, committee, or other group or individuals. This podcast is not intended to be taken as professional advice.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Welcome to the Swing Nation Podcast, a podcast by swingers for swingers, where we look to educate others and push back on the negative stigmas and misconceptions associated with our lifestyle. Come with us and share our pineapple journey as we travel the globe, interview the act of first, learn and grow together. Join the nation.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Hi, I'm Lacey with the Sway Nation podcast, and we're here on board Bliss Cruise. And I am here with Malcolm. Hello. He is the cruise director on every Bliss Cruise we I've ever been on.

SPEAKER_02 0:57

So I don't have you been all of them since our first one in uh November 15th.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Wow. So can you tell us a little bit about yourself and like how in the heck you got into this role?

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Um I used to let's see, back in the day I worked at Club Meds, um, if you're familiar with those. And then I used to work as the cruise director for Atlantis Events, which is like Bliss, but it's for it's a gay cruise uh charter company. And I did that for 25 years. Um and then I think when I was there like uh 18 years, whatever, um, Bliss was forming, and their first cruise was actually, I think, on a silhouette here, um, celebrity silhouette, and celebrity told them you you need your own cruise director, as opposed to the regular ship cruise director, because uh the ship cruise director, you know, was like good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Well, they they're a little vanilla, but also they're restricted by corporate rules.

SPEAKER_03 1:47

That's true.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

And I can say, fuck shit, damn, kind of the whole nine yards, like, how y'all doing? Who got laid today? Yeah, so it was much easier like that. So um, but I would say at initially they were a little concerned with me because I was coming from a gay cruise. They're like, you know, is um it's the the lifestyle is similar but different. Yeah. And it was like, I'm not here with agenda, I'm just here to make sure you guys have a great time. And so it was nice. So I think after a while was sort of like just have a good time and enjoy yourself. And so I know I love it. It's great because I mean I did I will say the first cruise I was on, I didn't understand all the meet and greets. And someone's like, um, they're here. Why do you think they're on this cruise versus vanilla cruise? Oh yeah, it's how to how to meet and say hi to everybody and stuff like that. Yeah, it kind of forces people to talk about exactly, and then like you know, the difference between uh swing a cruise skate cruise, Star Trek Charter, Baptist Cruise versus a regular cruise is on a regular cruise, you come to have your vacation amongst all these other people, and on a charter, just like on Bliss, you come to have your vacation with everybody else. So that's what you want to be here for.

SPEAKER_03 2:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

So and um I'm originally from Maryland outside Washington, DC. I live in Fort Laurerdale for all Florida. I have five older brothers who are all really annoyed that I'm the one working on a swingers' cruise.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

That's hilarious. So do you do anything else or is this your just your gig?

SPEAKER_02 3:05

Um my other job. So we do three cruises a year. My other job, I work for a company called Backroads. It's a number one active travel company.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

We do hiking and biking trips all around the country.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

And they just support you doing this?

SPEAKER_02 3:15

Oh, yeah, no, it's a but they're totally different companies. So those are groups of like 20 people, 23 people, and we do I do hiking trips in the Cotswolds in England and Bavaria and Palm Springs and uh Austria and Germany, all over the world.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Do they find like I could imagine like being on one of those trips like, do you know that he's gay cruises? Like I can imagine it would be a topic of focus.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

When I used to do the gay cruises too and do both jobs, it was the running joke was like, Oh, gay cruises, I'm sure those are fun. Tell us about the swing cruises.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

So it even still is usually I wait for the conversation. It's usually like probably it's a six, a five-night, six-day trip on the hiking and biking trips. And usually by night four, what else do you do? Well, um, I'm a I work as a cruise director for a swinger cruise company. They're like, What? I'm like, everyone raise your hand. Yeah, you will not write a letter to the office that Malcolm had inappropriate conversations at dinner.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

And like, what is truth is people are very interested in this.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

I there were three couples who were from my back road strips who have come on bliss cruises.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

I love that.

SPEAKER_02 4:10

Because they were like, wait, what?

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

And they went home and said, and I they've come like Malcolm, you remember us? I'm like, yeah, I remember.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

That's awesome. Yeah, that's really cool. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

So if someone someone was to ask you what exactly a bliss cruise is, what would be your definition?

SPEAKER_02 4:26

Bliss cruise is uh cruise is for the people who are on the lifestyle uh swingers. Um it's like I was saying um earlier about like with the lifestyle I learned, it's just not about the sex. It's also about acceptance. And I would say when you go to the pool deck and everyone's naked, every body type is there, and everyone says hi to everyone. Um I always like to use an example of I did a pool game once where um you had to the men were blindfolded and the women were were naked, and you had to feel the wife's breast to guess which one was the wife, and there was a lady up there with a double mastectomy. And I was just like good for her.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

I have a cold, sir, I'm not going outside. Yeah, no. I mean, granted, she won the game. Flat out. You're gonna flat out. But it was just the acceptance in her feeling so comfortable. And I see, you know, people wearing outfits at night that I in any other world you'd be like, yep. But here you can wear and do anything. It's great.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

The other day at the pool, a guy had on a pink cage on his um things. Yeah, and he was a little bit overweight, but I was like, you know what? Good for him. Yeah, no, there's I'm so happy that he feels so comfortable out here in his pink cage. I don't know what the correct word for that is, but you can use your imagination. Yeah, but I was so proud. I mean, like, it's not my thing, but like, good for him that he can be out here with all these people and confidence. That's it.

SPEAKER_02 5:43

I mean, every body type is out there and everyone says hi to each other. And I would say it if I can say this in the right way, that it's not all like these stunning models and beautiful people. It's your average show and regular people on regular phone, but everyone are all hanging and getting together and so it's a friendly, very welcoming thing. Also, about a third of our guests are not swingers, they want to come on a clothing optional adult cruise. And uh, some of them become swingers afterwards because it's kind of like you don't have to, and it's a you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. And a lot of first timers too, like we do a lot on day one and day two, we do a lot of seminars and uh uh um question and answer meetings for first timers to tell them, like, hey guys, just because someone goes, Hey, how are you? It doesn't mean they want to have sex with you.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Yeah, and you don't have to face it.

SPEAKER_02 6:31

Just because they're all really friendly, because hey, they're not used to people in the elevator of a regular cruise going, Hey, how you doing? Nice to meet you. You're going down, you know, and just because someone says hi doesn't mean they want to do your wife.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

Yeah, and even if they do say they want to do your wife, you can politely say no thank you. And that's fine as well.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

And that's also just a reminding, especially for a style, is that like there's a whole it's a big thing about consent in the lifestyle world. Like, you know, just it's not like bang boom, it's like no, no, it's different. Take, you know, whatever you want. No one's gonna make you do anything you don't want to do. So I really love it. And for me, everyone's I always say it's everyone's really welcoming and happy go lucky and having a good time with it.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yeah. I guess another question I have is just from somebody on the inside, I guess the staff. Every staff member I've ever talked to seems very happy to be here. Is that your same experience?

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Yeah, because it's a fun job, and you're working with people who are happy to be here. I mean, but like even the cruise line staff, like the on the on this ship on Celebrity, the cruise line staff loves having us on board because people come on board happy. Yeah, on a regular cruise, the line is like 40 people, just automatically people coming in to complain about stuff. So generally, everyone is very happy to give the staff, the bliss staff that comes on board. A um they also get to interact with the guests and they have to have fun, and also, I mean, the name badge also sometimes is a little power, so it's even more of a hi, how you doing, what do you need, and stuff like that. And no one really has major requests that are gonna be taken care of, so and it's nice to be able to take care of. And for coming on a vacation where you don't have to worry about where are you going, what are you doing, what are you, and then everything's taken care of, taken care of for you like that.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

Yeah, every experience I've ever had, they've always seemed so welcoming. Yeah. I tell the story of the last list we did the fetish dinner, and we were one of the last ones to leave. And I looked over and the the waiters were hitting each other with the floggers, and I ended up talking to her, and they before the the dinner, they had they had got flogged by Elise and them. And so um they had the videos and they were so excited to just show me what they got to do.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

Yeah, and if you've seen the uh in the gift shop, we bring in a trunk show, a whole bunch of like fetish gear and outfits and so forth. And on the last day, they have an hour where they um before they open that the um crew can come up and buy stuff where they they take a bunch of it downstairs and have a cruise sale. And all the vibrators and everything are sold out for they don't get that down there. I mean they're down in their cabins all the time going there.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

Well, we had a waiter or waitress last time, and she was away from her husband six months of the year, and she was like, This seems so wonderful, you know. She was definitely interested because she spent so much time away from her husband. So I hope she got a vibrator.

SPEAKER_02 9:09

Yeah, and also like you know, like in the lifestyle too, I always say it's all about communication, and it is it is rules, each couple has different rules and sticking to the rules, and that's when you don't if you if everyone sticks to the rules and have open communication, you don't have any problems. Yeah, and you've also known how to separate love and sex, they're two different things. And in the stringer world, having sex is like having a cocktail in the straight world. I mean in the vanilla world, basically. Yeah, um, but yeah, so that's just a big thing, and and in one sense, it's I want to say it's a bit of a more of a maturity level because you know how to separate the two. And like, you know, a random blowjob in the bathroom stall is a random blowjob in the bathroom stall, it doesn't mean anything to our relationship. Correct. You know, correct.

SPEAKER_01 9:51

I totally agree with that. Yeah, okay. Can you give me we're gonna do do's and don'ts? Let's start with do's. Okay. If somebody has never been on a bliss cruise and they're watching this and they're ready to book, what what are a few key points that you can tell them you you need to do this, you need to be prepared with all these things before you do say hi to everybody.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Just because you're saying uh hi doesn't mean they want to have you want to have sex with everybody. Everyone is really friendly and open because the lifestyle is just not about sex, it's about openness and friendliness and accepting everyone. So do say hi to everyone. Do go to all the meet and greets, do um Mike and Lily are on board uh two of our hosts. They play a lot of fun party games. Do go to those because it's a great way to meet other people. Do go to us some of the seminars we have. They're great ways to have, like, for example, like uh Dr. Bow does uh live interpersonal, like ways, different types of sexual uh positions and stuff, and any issues and stuff. That she's there, like you have a therapist in the middle with like 10 couples, how to do things and reaching different orgasms and so forth like that. So those are things you're not gonna get in a regular world that cost a lot more money if you're trying to find your own personal someone do that. So a lot of things you would that are here available for you. Um do go out and try all the different restaurants. Do when you when you go to dinner at night, they always ask if you want to join another table. Say yes for sure you do table, you meet other couples of uh tables that are like six, eight, and twelve and stuff like that. Oh say hi to everyone. You never know who's gonna be your best friend, not just a sexual partner for like a couple nights, but a new friend.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Yeah. Um that's what I tell people a lot. I think that they when they're thinking about the lesson, they think about the sex. Yeah, and the truth is like we went to a the um speed dating here a few years ago, and we met several couples, none of which we act really wanted to have sex with, right? But we met familiar faces, and it's been years, and we walk into a meet and greet, and there's no one there we know, but we recognize that that friendly face. And it's just nice to be like, hey, good to see you again. So it's nice to have a welcoming face, even though you may not want to sleep with them, it's just having that person there. So doing the dinners, doing the meet and greets, the speed dating, all those things are what kind of help you exactly.

SPEAKER_02 11:58

And we did like um last night we I've done it a couple times now is a bisexual couples um dinner. Yeah, so it's bisexual female, bisexual male. Yeah, which in in in the swing of roll, it's still a bit of a like it's not very a lot of the bisexual guys are not as open, you know, because they still feel the stigma of it. So it's getting a little like more accepted. So what we do on this dinner is like it's a set menu, and after the first course, all the women get up and switch seats and go to another table. After the next course, all the men get up, switch seats, go to the table. And then after the third course, everyone gets up and all the women go to tables and all the men go to tables. And they last night they were like so happy because they actually actually got to talk to people. Yeah, and if like you said, they may not have sex with them, but they meet new met new friends who all have the same vision.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

Yes, it's uh it feels so nice when you walk in and don't you you don't think you're gonna know anybody and you recognize someone, it makes you feel good.

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Do bring costumes for the park for the shows and stuff for the events, they're great. Do uh do pool games, just do it, do everything and have be fun with it. Sometimes if you don't want to participate, go watch it. Talking to the person next to you about what's going on at the pool.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

No, I totally agree.

SPEAKER_02 13:04

Okay, so don't uh don't do anything without someone's permission. That's a big thing. We always like to talk about consent. So never do anything without someone's permission. Um don't be don't this is going back to a dude. Don't be afraid to say hi. Don't be afraid to try something new. Don't be afraid. If you've never been to a playroom, um, don't be afraid to go into it and just kind of wander around and see it. For me, it's like when I would go to a new town and I would go to a new bar and I kind of be nervous, I would kind of go one night and just kind of see where everything was. So when I went a second time, I was like, okay, I got the deal. Yeah. So things like that. So you don't have to jump in. So don't do too much too soon if it's a new thing for you.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

And you could take breaks. We met a guy last night, he was a very overwhelmed. And if it's too much at the pole, go go sit on your balcony for an hour and kind of regroup and then try again. It's there's a lot of people, and especially if you've never done anything in the life, so it can be overwhelming, and I think that's okay.

SPEAKER_02 14:01

Yeah, because that's the whole thing of like you think coming in, like, oh, so if I'm on this trip, I gotta do sex with blah. Like, no, so don't do anything you don't want to do. Everyone has so many different, you know, that whole so many different fetishes and desires and needs in this world. Some people just want to sit and watch, some people just want to hang out on the side, you know, and stuff like that. So um, yeah, so yeah, don't don't feel you're the only person here because everyone is the if you're having issues or feeling uh weird or it's not quite gelling right away, there's someone else's same thing. So definitely go those meet and greets and all those activities and stuff like that, and you'll meet other people.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah, and if one of you is more introverted, for example, I'm definitely more the introvert. I'm my husband is the one that kind of starts the conversation, and then I can jump in. So you play to each other's strengths. If you're a couple, you know if he's more outgoing or vice versa, you know, it takes you have to re-especially if you've married 20 years and you haven't dated anybody, it takes a while to kind of relearn these skills. So rely on each other and your strength and strengthen it, you're all over the thing. Strength strength. Strengths, yes, um, and you'll get through it, it'll be okay.

SPEAKER_02 15:06

Yeah, and don't come on board if it's your first time unless you've had the conversation. And that is you both are on the same page. Because you never want to be where, like, oh yeah, we just thought we'd try this out. Well, did you talk about what you're gonna do? What's you know, it's just kissing around, it's just flirting around. Can we play? Are we only playing together? What how far along are we playing? We're doing full swap, soft swap. So don't come here and not have whatever what's our game plan. So going back to communication rules between the couple and what's going on.

SPEAKER_01 15:35

Yeah, you know. And I suggest you don't change them in the middle.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

No, we got a lot of cruises, we have three cruises a year, so don't change the middle.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

You know, stick with it, go back, have conversations, talk about how you feel.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

And you're not the only couple that has gone through this journey. So a lot of people have had that journey of like going from like extremely vanilla to multi-flavored.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

And you can tell people that you don't have to you don't have to be embarrassed, you don't you can say, This is the first time we're real nervous. Like we met a couple the other night, we took them to the playroom for the first time. We we had our clothes on, nobody was having sex, or I mean other people, not us, but we walked them through it and stopped. That's I mean, yeah, exactly. They'd been married for 25 years, she had never seen anybody else even have sex. So you just find you just talk to people and you'll find somebody that's willing to kind of help you along, or find another couple that is also new, and you can kind of figure it out together.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

That's why baby, that's that's my big don't don't assume you're the only one having these feelings. Don't assume you're the only people couple that's having this experience. Everyone else has been there. Yes, so exactly. They found you and you made it easier for them to enjoy it. For sure.

SPEAKER_01 16:37

Yeah, yeah. Okay, Malcolm, thank you. You're very welcome. My pleasure. We've been trying to do this for a while.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Yeah, we keep missing each other.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

So thank you. Um, if someone is watching this and they're interested in a cruise, what would what are they what are they doing?

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Well, we go to uniblisscruise.com. Um, it has all of our cruises. We do three cruises a year. We have a great website, is all the information in there. Um, and and you can always call the office if you have any questions about anything. We have a lot of people happily talk to you through everything. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions because that's makes you more comfortable being here. Yeah, so a lot of information there. We also on our on our website is make you see what's happening and give an idea of all the shows we do, all the um the theme parties and the activities and stuff like that, and also some of our seminars that we do. So it's a great way to give it. It's just not uh going to um you know a playroom, it's a whole full lifestyle experience for you. So definitely definitely come join us. I mean you'll love it. For sure. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Okay, well, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 17:34

All right, thank you guys. Thank you very much for having us. Come back and come see us on the Blitz Cruise. Okay, bye.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

If you've enjoyed our podcast and want to support us, we have a five-star review wherever you're listening. If you want to see more of our content, you can find links to Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, OnlyFans, and more in the show notes. Come join the conversation with us and other Twitter content creators on our Twitter Society Discord server. If you have questions or feedback, email them to us at dustwination at gmail.com. Make sure you head on over to dustwination.net and keep up to date on all things at TwinAsion. We thank you so much for joining us, and we'll see you next time. Goodbye.