The main question in exploring both the political economic and cultural aspects of cruise ships is how these companies look to attract the American public to board a cruise ship and what tactics are used to create a package that boasts both adventure and luxury, excitement and safety....the great American vacation. The answer to this question has a great deal to do with control, on both the economic and political sides.

The true essence of a cruise is to participate in an incredibly controlled and heavily organized type of enjoyment. When on a ship, although there is the option to spend a great deal of money on a variety of activities, these activities are limited to what is actually on the cruise itself. Modern cruise ships do come complete with a multitude of recreational choices—from casinos to health clubs to a variety of pools, bars and restaurants, but in the most simple understanding of a cruise vacation, the passengers are still confined and controlled by what the cruise lines dictate is the appropriate idea of fun.

Unlike a vacation to a foreign country, or even to a resort community in a tropical destination, there is no opportunity for cruise participants to go off by themselves, take an adventure, maybe even get in a little trouble. Cruise ships are all-inclusive and all encompassing trips—no personal opinion, creativity or intuitive needed.

To take this idea of the controlling of culture that takes place in the themed space of the cruise ship, it is also important to understand how the cruise industry controlled and modifies the cultures of the places that they travel to, simply for the benefit of being able to cater and market to the middle class white Americans that they hope to attract onto their boats. Through the on shore trips to places such as cultural dance shows, “traditional” restaurants or touristy shopping districts in ports of call all around the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico, the cruise ship companies are able to limit and control the type of culture that participates are able to see. You would be hard pressed to find an advertisement for a Carnival or Disney cruise that boasted, “Come one and all, and see the poverty stricken and hard working residents of Cozumel! Eat where the real working class of Antigua frequent! Come visit the nightclubs and bars of downtown Nassau, alone and without people who look just like you!”

Obviously, cruise lines do not feel that these would be the type of promises that would fill there ships with good, wholesome Americans, simply looking for a good time in the warm weather. Instead, to attract these type of people, cruises regulate the amount of ethic culture that can be seen in these ports of call, and represent an entire people and culture through easy to digest excursions. Just like the onboard activities that are offered on cruises, wrapped up neatly into consumable packages, so to are these native cultures molded and controlled to be sold to the American public. Back.