Topic: Shiny Ship Snobbery?

Why is it that status seems to rear its head so often in the world of cruising? Premium cruise lines; 5-star ships; the latest ship that's as big as a small town; butlers and fine dining. Why are classic ships from a bygone age described by some as clapped out rust-buckets? What is it with the love of the big and shiny?

We used to go camping on a motorbike...

...but I doubt whether fellow campers watched us from the comfort of their motorhomes and thought, "Poor people, I bet they wish they could camp in a premium product..."

Then we had a period of staying in ancient buildings such as a castle gatehouse...


...and a medieval manor house...


...but I doubt if the lack of satellite TV or air-conditioning caused anyone to pity our lower-than-5-star accommodation.

We live in quaint, picturesque Whitstable. But would Milton Keynes be a more 'premium' product? After all, we haven't even got a cinema.

No, it just seems to be something about cruising. But as long as the clapped-out rust-buckets keep taking us to new and exciting places while never letting us forget we're on a ship, we'll stick with them!

QUOTE:

Why is it that status seems to rear its head so often in the world of cruising? Premium cruise lines; 5-star ships; the latest ship that's as big as a small town; butlers and fine dining. Why are classic ships from a bygone age described by some as clapped out rust-buckets? What is it with the love of the big and shiny?

We used to go camping on a motorbike...

...but I doubt whether fellow campers watched us from the comfort of their motorhomes and thought, "Poor people, I bet they wish they could camp in a premium product..."

Then we had a period of staying in ancient buildings such as a castle gatehouse...


...and a medieval manor house...


...but I doubt if the lack of satellite TV or air-conditioning caused anyone to pity our lower-than-5-star accommodation.

We live in quaint, picturesque Whitstable. But would Milton Keynes be a more 'premium' product? After all, we haven't even got a cinema.

No, it just seems to be something about cruising. But as long as the clapped-out rust-buckets keep taking us to new and exciting places while never letting us forget we're on a ship, we'll stick with them!

An interesting post Dave. Staus and snobbery all in one go. I hate anything to do with the word snobbery and must say, haven't given an awful lot of thought to the word status.

Are you sure it's not 'all in the mind'?

I don't cruise in the huge shiny ships or small elderly ships. But that's my choice. Nothing to do with status or snobbery. Maybe some of the elderly ships are rusty 'buckets', and judging by some of the reviews, there may be the odd one sounding as if it's verging on the 'needs sorting out' [not read the term clapped out], I don't know.

If you like the ship, that's fine and as terms of derision go, the only person who can make you feel like that is yourself by taking notice.

Don't know about the shiny ship syndrome, but In my experience, and from my observations, both by watching and talking to people on board, there is definitely a touch of snobbery involved with some cruisers.
At the evening meal, somebody once asked me which part of the country I was from. When I said Essex, straight away a couple of put down remarks were made about Essex. He had great delight in telling me he was originally from Birmingham, but does not associate with that part of the country any more, as he now lives in Windsor.
There have been others, but on the whole I find most cruisers a great set of people.:D

QUOTE:

Why is it that status seems to rear its head so often in the world of cruising? Premium cruise lines; 5-star ships; the latest ship that's as big as a small town; butlers and fine dining. Why are classic ships from a bygone age described by some as clapped out rust-buckets? What is it with the love of the big and shiny?

We used to go camping on a motorbike...

...but I doubt whether fellow campers watched us from the comfort of their motorhomes and thought, "Poor people, I bet they wish they could camp in a premium product..."

Then we had a period of staying in ancient buildings such as a castle gatehouse...


...and a medieval manor house...


...but I doubt if the lack of satellite TV or air-conditioning caused anyone to pity our lower-than-5-star accommodation.

We live in quaint, picturesque Whitstable. But would Milton Keynes be a more 'premium' product? After all, we haven't even got a cinema.

No, it just seems to be something about cruising. But as long as the clapped-out rust-buckets keep taking us to new and exciting places while never letting us forget we're on a ship, we'll stick with them!

Totally agree people turned up their noses when we went on the Ocean Countess,but were well impressed with the Eclipse??? Two different products.Both enjoyable,the OC was a little frayed but she had a charm of her own and delivered a good holiday.The shiny shiny Eclipse/Ruby P. lovely too --but different.

Whitstable? Essex?

Try telling people you live in Croydon!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE:

Don't know about the shiny ship syndrome, but In my experience, and from my observations, both by watching and talking to people on board, there is definitely a touch of snobbery involved with some cruisers.
At the evening meal, somebody once asked me which part of the country I was from. When I said Essex, straight away a couple of put down remarks were made about Essex. He had great delight in telling me he was originally from Birmingham, but does not associate with that part of the country any more, as he now lives in Windsor.
There have been others, but on the whole I find most cruisers a great set of people.:D

That's amusing because when I say where I'm from, I get looks, jokes and comments, and then... 'but you don't sound as if you do'. I don't take that as 'snobbery', just ignorance and I laugh because I am very proud of my area.

I take it this a snipe at me Dave as per the "Celebrity Premium Brand Don't Think so" thread.

QUOTE:

Don't know about the shiny ship syndrome, but In my experience, and from my observations, both by watching and talking to people on board, there is definitely a touch of snobbery involved with some cruisers.
At the evening meal, somebody once asked me which part of the country I was from. When I said Essex, straight away a couple of put down remarks were made about Essex. He had great delight in telling me he was originally from Birmingham, but does not associate with that part of the country any more, as he now lives in Windsor.
There have been others, but on the whole I find most cruisers a great set of people.:D

Must agree by and large cruisers are very good company but you can get some snobs we once heard a comment off 'far to many Northerners on this ship' and a new cruiser being told being from the North he would not know much about coffee?
But as with anything new some people have to be first to try it, the mobile phone industry thrives on it, and there is still an element of I paid loads for this so it must be good, and cruising can offer all that and more for the snobs?

We often experience, mainly from more elderley folk, a negative reaction when asked where we come from. I normally just take no notice and let them believe in their own ignorance.

There is nothing snobbish in enjoying a cruise in the latest cruise ship, there is no status seeking attitude involved in enjoying the facilities of a suite anymore than there is anything demeaning about enjoying a cruise on one of the older cruise ships or having a inside cabin.

The problems arise when people refer to differences between these choices in a derogatory way. People making comparisons or saying what their preferences are; state those things because that is what they are happy with or because that is what suits them. Why is it wrong for any of the above to be used and enjoyed? The answer is nothing is wrong with it and it is only when people with big spoons start stirring that things become misinterpreted and controversy breaks out.

I dislike, as I am sure most of us do, snobbishness but I also dislike it when the opposite occurs and anyone whose views are contrary to others are descried as those of a snob.

We all have our preferences on everything in life and that is natural, could it be that problems only arise when someone points out that those preferences are dissimilar to their own views? . ….Neil