The Cult of Cruise Ships: Loyalty, Exploitation, and 'Poop Cruises'

The Allure of the Cruise Cult

• 🚢 Cruise ships are described as floating cities or communes that offer a sense of predictability and surrender amidst life's chaos, mirroring the appeal of many cults.
• 🏖️ Passengers are drawn to the idea of leaving problems on land and being taken care of, with a prepaid experience that offers structure and a release from everyday life.
• 🛳️ The industry has exploded since the 1800s, with major lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean competing for patronage through escalating extravagances and loyalty programs.

Employee Exploitation and Hierarchy

• 🚨 Cruise ship employment involves a stark hierarchy between crew and officers, dictating living quarters, dining access, and even where employees are allowed to be on the ship.
• 💼 Employees, particularly those in lower-paying roles like housekeeping, often work grueling hours (7 days a week for months on end) with little to no time off, and their passports are confiscated to prevent them from leaving.
• 🎭 Performers are encouraged to socialize with passengers, blurring lines and creating a sense of aspirational relatability, while also facing pressure to perform and avoid illness through pre-recorded tracks.

The Darker Side of the Seas

• 💰 Carnival's overhaul of its loyalty program from cruise nights to spend-based tiers is seen as a manipulative tactic to extract more money from dedicated passengers.
• 🚽 The Netflix docuseries 'Train Wreck: Poop Cruise' highlights the Carnival Triumph disaster, where an engine fire left thousands stranded without basic amenities, leading to unsanitary conditions.
• ⚖️ Cruise lines exploit open registries to avoid U.S. labor laws, leading to significant labor exploitation and minimal accountability for incidents occurring at sea.

Passenger Culture and Rituals

• 🧳 Stereotypes of cruise passengers include families with disposable income, 'yepies,' and those over 55, with different lines catering to distinct demographics.
• 🤝 The concept of 'shippies' marrying each other highlights the insular nature of cruise ship life, where shared experiences create strong bonds and a sense of belonging, often with high exit costs.
• 🍹 The encouragement of all-you-can-drink packages and a 'no land, no rules' mentality fosters a hedonistic party culture, where passengers may shed normal standards and engage in risky behavior.

Culty Verdict

• 🤔 The cult of cruise ships is ultimately categorized as a 'watcher back' cult, where individuals are aware of the system's flaws and potential downsides but choose to participate, often for the escapism and predictability it offers.