Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While recognising the diversity of images of the sea even within
the Western culture, it is possible to highlight certain recurring
themes in the imaginative geography of the oceans. The first,
and perhaps the most pervasive vision, is the sheer vastness of
the sea.
Cruises
Large-scale ocean-going vessels
Cruises are a well-established form of tourism that provide the opportunity to
visit multiple destinations within a region, while the accommodation comes
too. This avoids complex transport and accommodation bookings and the
need to unpack and repack luggage on a regular basis. A cruise ship is a 'float-
ing hotel' (Dowling, 2006). The UK and North America are the two main
source markets for cruise passengers, while the Caribbean is the leading des-
tination (Peisley, 2008). The industry has seen significant growth in recent
years of as much as 15 per cent per annum (Dowling, 2006). In 2007 there
were 740 ships providing 102,000 beds and accommodating 16.4 million pas-
sengers worldwide (Peisley, 2008). Cruise ships vary in size, from under
10,000 tonnes and 200 passengers to over 70,000 tonnes and over 2000 pas-
sengers (Chin, 2008; Dowling, 2006), with the largest vessels now able to
accommodate over 3500 passengers (Dowling, 2006). The average capacity of
new ships in 2006 was double that of 2000 (Peisley, 2008). Cruising has
grown in recent years as it has become more affordable (Chin, 2008). Given
that the speed of vessels is relatively slow compared to air travel, purely in lit-
eral terms cruising might be considered slow travel. However, there is doubt
that it meets the criteria of slow travel, notably the low-carbon criterion (dis-
cussed in more detail below). There is also doubt about the experiential
aspects. While there is plenty of scope for socializing with other passengers
and crew, the interaction with places visited is much more limited in scope as
excursions are often organized by the cruise company and can be somewhat
staged. Indeed, Dowling (2006, p8) suggests 'ships are now destinations in
themselves and ports of call, in many cases, have become secondary', while the
on-board experience is carefully managed (Sheridan and Teal, 2006).
Also, in the context of sustainable tourism, Chin (2008, p8) highlights the
highly unregulated nature of cruise operations, due to the 'inherently border-
less environment' of the open seas. The industry has been criticized for, among
other things, economic leakage, tax avoidance and lack of regulation through
flying flags of convenience and poor labour regulations (long hours and poor
pay) (Chin, 2008; Dowling, 2006). The ocean cruise industry has been
excluded from slow travel predominantly due to potentially high carbon
impacts and low potential for engagement with destinations on the journey.
Small-scale river, lake and inshore coastal vessels
Aside from the ocean-going cruise sector and major river cruises, there is a
smaller-scale cruise sector that tends to focus on relatively short excursions of
