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Abstract
Careen Mackay
"Are
we having fun yet?" An ethnographic study of a group cruise tour
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State
University,
2003, 242 pages
Using an
overlooked segment of
the tourism
industry--cruise tourism--as a backdrop, the primary purpose of this
study was
to observe and document the behavior and
interactions
of individuals who engage in a group cruise tour. My hope in pursuing
this line
of research was to refine our understanding of group leisure in general
and group cruise tour in particular. A secondary purpose was
to explore
how being a member of a cruise tour group contributes to a meaningful,
pleasurable vacation experience that cruisers want to repeat.
By focusing at the
intersection
of space
and group tour, I found not only
did
physical distance from home play an important role but also the playful
qualities of cruise ship space fostered social interaction and the
opportunity
to spend time with like-minded individuals; the presence of other group
members
and the group leader provided psychological and emotional safety nets
for group
members; and, the space provided an opportunity to explore, if not
re-order, personal
priorities. This re-ordering or exploration enabled a shift towards
self-expression and fulfillment of personal desires that contributed to
allegiance with the group and the motivation to return.
Furthermore, by fusing
ethnography and play
not only was I able to present empirical support for play as a lens for
providing insight into tourism,
but also I
was able to highlight play's flexibility as a conceptual tool. However,
I found
that negative experiences do not necessarily mean that individuals do
not have
"fun." Indeed, these types of dialectical contradictions play a
central role in repeat. Not only
do they
foster playful social interaction between and among group members, they
have a
symbiotic effect that made it easier to build and cement friendships.
In
addition, although slipping into play was easier for some than others,
I found
that repeat cruisers, or "old timers," slipped into the play
experience more easily because they had learned the process, honed the
necessary
skills and "knew the ropes." Finally, I found that play is not
limited to the young, healthy and fit. Indeed, for many older cruisers
not only
was this group tour a central play experience in their lives, but also
the
meaning of the experience extended beyond the physical boundaries of
the cruise
ship.
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