Sep
18
Who’s having sex at sea?
Filed Under cruise surveys
Well, probably not Sarah Palin or Stephane Dion, who seem to have their hands full dealing with issues like credibility and declining popularity in election campaigns on both sides of the border. However, it seems like a good number of you are rocking the boat, and that the old folks are coming out on top.
At least, that’s what a new survey from Tripharbour.ca and Leger Marketing says about adult Canadians. According to the survey, 12% of Canadians admit to having had sex at sea. This means that nearly 3 million residents of the true, north, strong and free are now proud members of the “Naughtycal Mile Club,” an elite organization reserved for those who can still hoist the mainsail in 10-foot seas.
Given that Canadians live most of the year in a frozen state of suspended animation, it’s not surprising that a growing number are searching for romantic places like cruise ships to deal with their frigid relationships. In fact, some 28% of them claim they have been on a cruise. However, what I want to know is if only 12% of cruise-going Canadians are having sex at sea, what are the other 16% doing – watching CNN?
In any event, it seems that younger Canadians are pulling down the national “sex at sea” average. 
According to the survey, 58% of cruise-going Canadians aged 45 and older are making waves at sea, while only 33% of younger Canadian cruisers are rocking the boat. It could be that the sea air, salt water and endless sunsets have a stronger effect on older folks, but I suspect it has more to do with the Viagra. After all, as the TV commercial advises, if your erection lasts more than 48 hours, call your doctor or just pole vault up the gangplank onto a cruise ship.
Now, I always thought French-speakers were more romantic than Anglophones. However, according to the survey, only 22% of Quebecers have had sex at sea. In contrast, some 57% of couples from Ontario and 55% from British Columbia have steamed up the portholes. So while English Canada may be coming out on top in this challenge, I hope my 
friends in Quebec will not take these results lying down…ehh… on the other hand, maybe they should.
But there is hope for the future of l’amour sur la mer. More than a quarter of Quebecers said they would be more likely to have sex aboard a cruise ship than at a land-based resort. So if we can get more of them off the beaches in Miami and onto a cruise ship, we stand a good chance of making big waves and increasing our membership in the Naughtycal Mile Club.
While younger Canadians are pulling down the national sex at sea average, it’s not for a lack of imagination. When asked what they thought was the most adventurous place on a cruise ship for a tryst, 
Canadians aged 35 and younger were 67% more likely than older cruisers to choose somewhere other than their cabin such as a life boat, the pool/hot tub, and on the bridge. Thankfully, no one selected the engine room.
In addition, nearly two-thirds of men surveyed fantasized about having sex outside the cabin – I suspect mainly in the sports bar while watching NFL football!
In all seriousness, these are the findings of a Leger Marketing poll of 1,030 Canadians conducted on behalf of Tripharbour.ca from September 5 to 8 of 2008. We’ll be putting the survey findings and questions on our website in the near future, and asking people from across North America to join in with their own responses. In the meantime, don’t forget to do your part to increase our national sex at sea average and give the people at Statistics Canada something to get excited about.
Comments
14 Comments so far
You show such innorance and stupidity in the statment “Given that Canadians live most of the year in a frozen state of suspended animation”
Obviously you have never been to Canada. The weather is comparable to New York City.
PB
Great giggle to start my day. I promise to do my part to increase the national average on my next cruise. Can’t wait until you post the survey online so we can add to the findings!!
LOL! I hope you contact me the next time you do this survey — at my age, I will definitely add the doctor’s office as my most adventurous place to have sex!!
“proud members of the “Naughtycal Mile Club,” an elite organization reserved for those who can still hoist the mainsail in 10-foot seas.” LOL! That is too funny! Thanks for the chuckle! Great read and very interesting. So Dave - my question to you as an intrepid cruiser - well, you must have stumbled upon adventurous amours in your travels at sea, yes?
Hi Peter.
The line about a frozen state of suspended animation is just a joke playing on the stereotypical view of Canada as a frozen tundra. Some rather giddy prose, I thought! Having said that, I did spend 32 years of my life in Montreal, and I have good friends that I visit in Saskatoon. I’d have to say that NY winters are somewhat warmer than both those locations, as much as I love them both!
Hi Pat. Yes, I’ve seen some naughty behaviour on the high seas. For example, I’ve seen a couple being very, very romantic in the hot tub at 2:00 in the morning (I happened to be in the tub with them!!), and another on the sun deck in a chaise lounge. But people tend to be pretty well behaved on most ships unless they over indulge in alcohol. Speaking of which, I once saw a young woman stand up, drink a tall glass of tequila at her dining room table as a “dare” from her mates, and then collapse into the table and smash everything to pieces. Needless to say, it was a Carnival party cruise from LA to the Mexican Riviera!!
One of my favorite posts thus far, I am startled and amazed at the percentages. Do they offer sex clinics or workshops on any major cruise lines? It might be an interesting way to get young people involved in learning a bit more about themselves and each other and encourage them to explore new horizons. Seems like a fitting adventure for those at sea.
What a hoot! At one point I laughed out loud in my cubicle so my boss came by and looked over my shoulder. She saw the title “Who’s having sex at sea” and must have thought I was into some kind of porn site. Anyway, I let her read it, she smiled, and I still have my job!!!
Hey Paul.
Sex clinics at sea sounds like a great idea — are you volunteering to run the course?!
BJ:
When they contain risque words like sex, I promise to flag future blogs with the phrase “this material contains words that may be get you fired if your boss sees what you reading!”
Commodore,
To answer your question…SIGN ME UP!
and as for BJ, a simple NSFW (not suitable for work) might suffice.
Cheers
AHOY, Commodore Dave: Quite obviously Peter B. does not know that you are neither “innorant” nor “stupid” in your description of most Canadian winters. The frozen tundra is a kind term to identify most long winters experienced in the provinces.
If Peter were paying attention he would note that you now enjoy the best of all worlds; Toronto in the Summer and Florida in the winter. Keeps one active for those Sex at Sea survey questions, eh? Perhaps a fitting theme for an upcoming cruise?
Another fantastic blog Commodore, I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure to make to statistic list, but I can believe the stats as cruises can be a very romantic setting!
Commodore,
How is it that you know so much about this subject.
The detail is impressive and one has to wonder how much
you personally have contributed to the statistics.
The only problem as I see it is the lack of time you must have for other onboard activities and the opportunity to see the countries you visit.
Keep it up!
First Mate:
What countries? Have I missed something?!!!!