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Abstract
Foster,
George M. "South
Seas Cruise: A Case Study of a Short-Lived Society," Annals
of Tourism Research, 1986,
13:2, 215-238
Described
is an atypical cruise on
a small ship in the South Pacific. The concepts of
"short-lived societies," "cruise culture,"
& the ship as "environment" are advanced to explain
the behavior of passengers, & the ways in which they relate to each
other.
Passengers are described as an aging, UMc group, still physically
active,
flexible in relating to members of their class, yet cautious in
developing
social intimacies. Self-improvement is seen to be the moral rationale
of many
passengers in justifying a relatively expensive trip. It is suggested
that
expectations & behavior on small cruise ships are distinct
from what is found on large ships.
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