Dominating Iris

The Pleasure Cruise

Promptly at six the next day, a limousine picked up Amanda and brought her to the harbor where The Pleasure Cruise docked ready for embarkation.

She wore a hot pink casual shift and let her hair down as Valerie had suggested, and painted her lips with red lipstick, a gift from her last birthday, but never used.

The cruise manager welcomed her with a refreshing cocktail and asked her to surrender all phones and other gadgets like cameras. The gadgets were to be safely stored and returned to their owners by the end of the trip.

"We do not allow calls or any form of external communication unless it's an emergency. No photos or videos should be taken during the trip, I'm sorry. This is for everyone's safety and privacy. What goes on during the cruise, stays on the cruise." He explained.

He led her to a luxury suite and introduced David, her personal butler for the duration of the cruise.

It didn't take long for Amanda to figure out that her butler was gay. David was charming and friendly. He helped her get settled and showed the amenities inside her suite. The gamut ran from edible lubricants to a basket full of sex toys— she ogled at the curiosities with shock. Flustered, she asked David to take her on a tour around the ship instead.

While they strolled to the lounge, David recited a briefer which he'd obviously memorized. "The Pleasure Cruise is a safe place that caters to pleasure seekers, freedom lovers, and of course, those who could afford it. A ticket to the cruise is quite expensive, but its value cannot be found in all the luxury you'll see around the ship— it is the cost of freedom.

"Guests are mostly solo travelers, a few are couples, a few small groups here and there. That's because socializing with other guests is key to enjoying the trip— joining in adult games, shows, and parties— sex, booze, and all that jazz— everything but vanilla. Make new friends, and you're good.

"There are only two rules for guests," David continued, "All sexual activities must be consensual, and the entire affair must be kept in absolute confidentiality. Guests are required to use aliases and can assume a character they choose— they can be whoever or whatever they want during the trip...

"Nobody cares for your social status, your gender preferences, cultural background, and other social construct the outside world consider important ... here, only pleasure counts." He said.

"Wait... if I understand correctly— this is like a hedonist retreat, am I right?" Amanda said.

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you knew that." He blushed. "But yes, it's somehow like that. Our guests subscribe to the hedonistic philosophy that promotes the pursuit of pleasure. But here, the highlight is more on sex. So don't be surprised when you see people make out or take it all the way just about anywhere. Actually, wearing undies is optional. You'd want to be ready for action, wouldn't you?"

Shocked, Amanda felt she'd just signed a deal with the devil and failed to read the small print. She hadn't had sex for so long she couldn't even remember the last time she got one.

The only reason she would have dinner with another man involved business, and nothing else— let alone romantic. She realized she had just embarked on a journey into the unknown... taboo, even.

"Oh... um... okay, I get it, but does everyone here subscribe to that philosophy? Although I am not a prude, I've never had sex with strangers, or do it out in the open. This is actually so new to me, David, please bear with me."

"You are probably a special case, Ms. Amanda, but invitations to the cruise have always been strictly exclusive.

"The cruise is a judgement-free and safe place for all our guests. We abhor moral bigotry— we promote freedom and mutual consent. Guests who do not agree or abide by these rules will be sanctioned, barred access to social gatherings and activities— or in extreme cases, kicked off the ship.