Cruise Culture: Thoughts on the Nature of mass tourism
I broke completely from my standard of independent travel and curiously stepped trip to the mass consumer. Instead hostels to find out local buses and roads food stalls, it was planned a sumptuous cabin, endless buffets and events. Instead of young and independent travelers, it was celebrating family anniversaries, birthdays and quinceañeras.
And while you can not get to your goals on a cruise (more on that shortly), you learn a lot about people. I discovered that there is a distinct cruise culture, a culture that makes watching incredibly interesting people. Because for many people a cruise is their only form of travel, it was interesting to hear about the traveling and the world of those who it highly sterilized by and seen in the trading experience.
Because a cruise a resort-meets-Disney World on the sea.
things that make me Amazed
First there was formal night, a night in which you dress up a "nice dinner." It was prom adult as go. Everyone was spick and span - I even saw people in tuxedos. The families were portraits (including the classic "Back-to-back mother / daughter-shot"), and teenage girls celebrating their quinceañeras ran around in prom dresses and tiaras. I remember overhearing say that formal night on a cruise it is the only time of the year covered a guy. But what interested me very much, that for so many people, which seemed like a great event despite the overrated cheese factor. I can not understand why people loved so much really. There is only one formal night on a cruise. You receive lobster instead steak, and it is not like those pictures they take are free.
I felt that the people of a big deal in the night made because you were to a big deal out of it Second.
, I was amazed that cruises were such family events. My cruise buddy Jason, an experienced cruiser than I, told me that there are actually only a few boats for singles or young people. Most ships are usually of families or older adults are populated. Thinking about all my cruise experiences, I can see that. the nature of the family was What I found really interesting here: tons and tons of large, extended families. Our cabin was surrounded by a family that took seven rooms. At dinner a family took on three large tables. Everywhere I looked, I saw large families. Cruises, it seems, are where families go to travel. I think it is the new family reunion
Since cruises for as many people cost a lot, it made me wonder. Do people know that they could go for far less to Paris? Takes care of it at all? Or they do intersect, because it is a simple, organized way to get everyone in one place?
For most of the people I spoke with, a cruise was just a simple and easy way to organize a large family gathering than a massive trip to Paris.
and speak in the people, what I learned was really that travel and holidays were also words for them. That was her holiday, but in her mind, which was also traveling. Forget the fact that they are "the Resort" never left - was for most people on a cruise this trip
And I think that is unfortunate .. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a holiday but to think that a mass consumer objective headline is the same as travel is not a good thing. Just like after Vang Vieng headline and say: "I have been to Laos" is not really true, as is a cruise port headline or an all-inclusive resort. It sterilizes the goal and tucked the local culture. Experience not really Mexico, if you are in Señor Frogs, but it was amazing to me how many people brought the idea expressed that "Mexico is awesome!", While there.
I think there is a distinct difference between travel and holidays. The first is to learn about the world, relax on the latter.
The Dark Side of Cruise Culture
On the one hand, I think cruise culture is interesting, because it is always to have fun, a drink in hand keep, eat, and meet new people. It is a very happy and lively atmosphere. And that's good
But it is the dark side to cross cultural. It is insular. For many people, a cruise is the only chance to get out and see the world. It might be the only chance to experience other cultures, especially since most Americans not travel much. And what I did not like about the cruise was that it was so directed inwards, with everything designed to never look outside of the vessel. I liked how it was not focused on learning about the goals that we went.
In Haiti, my Haitian guide in Labadee when I (Royal Caribbean private resort began to wonder where a double, barbed- wire fence keeps out people and us) about life beyond the wall, he was visibly uncomfortable to discuss it as if it was a taboo to discuss "things that happen there."
Well, we do not need a discussion about Haitian to have Mexican or Jamaican policy (the three ports of call on my cruise), but I do not see why cruises not at least might have some basic information about their ports the call to. There was nothing in our daily directions to our destinations. (Jason confirmed that this has happened on many other ships.)
In a way, I like the ports of call felt completely irrelevant were. If it is to inform travelers about their goals no effort, why not just park the boat somewhere near to the beach and stay there? Why make a show of it?
We Americans not travel much. Our news programs do not seem to amount to report on what Miley Cyrus does. I know that this offensive is to appear, and I mean to not be, but cruises have a certain "Middle America" to feel it. (I use this term because "Central America" is often synonymous with bland, cookie-cutter consumption.) Cruises are a very commercialized and sanitized experience; They gloss over the reality of each target a bubbly, to create-not-need-to-think-about-it image. This is something I really hate about American culture. It is often very insular, and this seemed to perpetuate this attitude.
I met people who had never traveled on a cruise. People who went on cruises two or three times a year. And while there is nothing wrong with enjoying a cruise, what I have learned on the ship, is that cruises cater to a superficial, turn-off-your-mind form of travel. (Writing this post made me realize that exactly I saw the same thing on my old Carnival cruises, so I try not Royal Caribbean to single out.)
I am happy that people leave their homes. This is a step in the right direction. I'd rather have someone on a cruise than at home. But while we all need a vacation, cruise companies could at least offer to stop them some basic knowledge about the ports of call. Shit, print out the Wikipedia page for heaven's sake. Anything is better than nothing.
Instead, I felt that many of the people on cruise ships knew little about the world outside the US, and cruises were more than happy to oblige them, and support this attitude. Note: Not all cruises like these. There are many wildlife and nature cruises, have the scientists and lectures on it.
Many people write off cruises because of sanitized to Disney feel to them, and I picked up definitely on the carefree atmosphere. I will definitely go on a cruise again because I enjoyed tuning out. For once enjoyed traveling not me. (And in this vein, all-inclusive resorts are probably in my future, too.) There's nothing wrong with sitting desiring the pool with a drink in hand. That's all I wanted.
But for this family, whose only experience of the country, this is a cruise? can go, it should at least the opportunity to learn more about the local culture, so that family away beyond with some knowledge of the local that it has zip line tours, some ruins, and cheap drinks.
Then perhaps assuming again, I am that people care and want to learn more about their ports of call, instead of drowning in their brains frozen Piña Colada.
they could not, what could be why cruise ships do not offer anything more than mindless entertainment.
But this thought depresses me too much.
I rather think it would still hope.
0 Response to "Cruise Culture: Thoughts on the Nature of mass tourism"
Posting Komentar