Preface: The Joke Is on Me!
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. The Economics of Cruising
Cruising to Alaska: A Case Study
Cruises Compared to Land Based Vacations
Other Ways Cruise Lines Make Money
Cruise Categories
Consolidation of the Cruise Industry
Exploitation of Workers on Cruise Ships?
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Signs at Sea: The Semiotics of Cruising
A Primer on Semiotics
The Cruise Ship As a Sign System
Cruises and Pilgrimages
Names of Cruise Lines and the Perceived Elitism of the Cruise Experience
Taking Photographs and Using Video Cameras
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Sociological Analysis of Cruising
Cruise Demographics
Gender and Cruising
Carnivalization Theory and Cruising
The Sociology of Dining
Time Budgets and the Busy Life at Sea
New Trends in Cruising
Conclusion
Chapter 4. A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Cruising
The Compulsion to Cruise
Sea and Psyche
The Paradise Myth and Cruises
Cruise Liners As Floating Utopias
Hedonism and Pleasure Seeking
Cruise Taking As Regression in the Service of the Ego
The Gourmet/Gourmand Problem
Unconditional Love
The Agony of the Choice
Escaping the Boredom of Everyday Life
Behind the Facade: Daily Life of Crew Members
The Ship As a Labyrinth: A Speculative Theory
The Cruise Travel Agent As Fairy Godmother
Conclusion
Chapter 5. Selling Smooth Sailing: Advertising and Marketing Cruises
Interpreting Advertisements
What Can Be Analyzed in a Print Advertisement?
Cruise Advertising in the August 2002 Travel + Leisure Magazine
Commonalties in These Cruise Advertisements
Two Cruise Line Brochure (Catalog) Covers
Conclusion
Chapter 6. Cruising (on) the Internet
Cruising the Internet for Cruises
Categories of Cruise-Related Web Sites
Internet Cruise-Only Travel Agencies
Cruise Line Web Sites
Conclusion
Chapter 7. Notes from a Cruise Journal
References
Index

Ocean Travel and Cruising

A Cultural Analysis