Modesty on a Cruise Ship
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Question
I wanted to ask: we are planning a cruise on a religious cruise ship. Is it permissible for my wife and me to enter the pool together with everyone, of course, on the side? And regarding head covering, is there any leniency in this? And is it permissible to walk around the ship without stockings, like all the women there? Thank you in advance.
Answer
Hello,
The obligations of modesty do not change, even when on a cruise ship or abroad.
Mixed bathing of unrelated men and women is one of the worst breaches of modesty.
Head covering or any other part of the body that is required to be covered is obligatory everywhere.
[If indeed the situation is that 'all the women there' are dressed immodestly, I do not think there is any permission for a Jewish man to be there, even if he does not enter the pool with them].
Source
The Gemara in Gittin, page 90, brings as an example of breaches of modesty: and bathes with people. And they asked about this: with people, could it be? And Rashi explains there: with people, could it be - if so, there are grounds to assume she is a harlot, and she is forbidden to him. Therefore, the Gemara explained: rather in a place where people bathe. And Rashi explains: she enters their sight after their exit when they are dressing.
And about this, it is said in the Gemara: it is a commandment from the Torah to divorce her, as it is said: "because he found in her something indecent and sent her out of his house".