ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996                  TAG: 9603010024
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: Friday Something
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER

AT SEAS, NUDE IS NOT RUDE PACKING FOR A VACATION? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BOTHER! INSTEAD, YOU CAN TAP INTO THE TRUE MEANING OF TRAVELING LIGHT - CALL BARE NECESSITIES TOUR & TRAVEL (AUSTIN, TEXAS) OR TRAVEL AU NATUREL (LAND O' LAKES, FLA.) AND BOOK A NUDE CRUISE.

Make it a family vacation, all together in the altogether. And don't fret about being busted in your birthday suit. Once a ship enters international waters, the stripped-down look is perfectly legal.

No more sand in the bathing suit or unsightly tan lines.

No need to dress for dinner, though it's a choice. And when it's black tie only, you can take that literally.

(Pity the poor waiters. The shock of serving nudists can be a little tough on the ships' staff. They're offered the option of taking the week off, though none ever has.)

Nude vacationing - or ``clothing-optional'' travel -is one of the fastest-growing segments of the North American travel industry. The naked truth is that 40 million Americans admit they've skinny-dipped. Who knows how many closet bathers-in-the-buff there are.

Just think - when you invite your friends over to see slides of your vacation, they won't make excuses, and no one will nod off while the lights are out.

But, hurry! Bare Necessities' [(800) 743-0405] last ship this year takes off - er, sails - today. But, then, it's not like you have to pack. All you need are the bare necessities.

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