Cruise Culture – Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Tourism

In this article, we discuss Cruise Culture as a form of transnational capitalist tourism. We also examine the role that the cruise industry plays in globalized tourism and how it produces space and consumes resources. While cruise ships bring thousands of people to destinations, it also destroys native habitats and affects ecosystems. This article is a response to the globalization of mass tourism and the role of cruise ships in shaping our cultural heritage.

Cruising is a form of transnational capitalist tourism

Mass cruise tourism is an emblematic manifestation of transnational capitalist tourism. It makes use of the neoliberal economy, accumulates capital, and fixes it geographically. In doing so, it also promotes the construction of relational spaces around ports and in the host countries. This creates collisions on multiple levels – economic, environmental, and social. As such, it is problematic for its effect on local communities.

To counteract the influence of this global mobility on local development, destinations must work to reverse this tendency by promoting local mobility. This shift is possible if destination cities use their dependence on global mobility to promote local mobility. The host territories must also promote radical solutions that favor degrowth. These might include the gradual ban on mega-cruise ships and the development of niche cruise tourism industries controlled by local actors.

Among the global trends that have impacted the cruise ship industry are the sharing economy and the collaborative consumption trend. While previously discussed, this phenomenon is also affecting the Caribbean and Canada. In both countries, it is a form of transnational capitalist tourism. And as a result, it has changed how local communities are affected by the tourism industry. It is now important to consider the role of Caribbean cruise tourism in the current economic environment.

Despite the low economic benefits, cruise ship mega-ships have profound social and environmental impacts. These factors make local communities increasingly responsible for the negative impact of mega-ships. In addition to being an economic drag, the impact of mega-ships on local communities could be compensated by a progressive taxation system. The taxation system could be used to hold cruise lines accountable for their impacts and would provide significant economic benefits to local communities.

The MTCI’s proposals to eliminate the mass cruise industry would be detrimental to some destinations. Especially in poor economies, removing mass cruise tourism would harm local communities. This approach would also have significant consequences for communities with weak economies. But removing mass cruises is not vital to most economies. The focus should be on developing new solutions to the problems associated with mass cruises. A better way to address this problem is to address local issues and create new dialogues with the mass cruise industry.

As an example, CLIA data show that Cozumel, Mexico, has over 48 million dollars in salaries associated with tourism. This is approximately 10% of the total income of shipping companies operating on the island. In addition to salaries, CLIA data show that work in this sector is flexible, with commission agents gaining the majority of the income. The CLIA also indicates that hiring in the tourism sector is dependent on commission agents, rather than local employees.

It is a mode of production of space

This article explores how the mass cruise tourism industry operates as an emblematic example of neoliberal globalization. As a means of accumulation, this industry fixes capital geographically and promotes relational spaces around port cities and throughout host territories. Such practices generate collisions at multiple levels, ranging from economic to social. While many of the same issues as those outlined in our previous article are present in the mass cruise industry, this article examines the ways in which the industry aims to overcome these problems.

This culture has spawned a series of counterproductive effects, including the destruction of local environments and infrastructure. In addition to a loss of local business, the mega-ships erode communities by disrupting the natural environment, compromising local economy, and contaminating the planet. To counter the impact of mega-ships, host territories must leverage political and social capital, promoting degrowth as a method of liveability.

It is a mode of consumption

The growth of cruising in a port depends on the ports’ development of activities for cruise passengers. Ports are undergoing transformations that focus on growth. Cruise lines often purchase goods and services from local suppliers. They tend to stay in a port city for longer periods of time and stay in local hotels. Ports can benefit from the growth of cruising by providing additional amenities and opportunities for the port’s residents.

The cruise industry is increasingly competitive, with ports competing to be part of as many cruise itineraries as possible, and in various destination ports. In addition, port-city pressures are putting additional pressure on ports to extend the cruise season. The growing popularity of cruising in the U.S. and China are driving this expansion, but the U.S. market remains the largest. By identifying cruising preferences in these markets, a company can better target the market.