Cruiseship tourists are often from the same class George Bush came from: the country club circuit. Concerned about their class status, cocooned and catered to so that they can add Alaska to their list of "dones" ("We did Costa Rica last year"), and white.

(Lest you think this is pure prejudice, it is! I used to work on cruise ships. Many nice sweet people, and a whole lot of dreary, nouveau riche losers. Bitter? you bet.....)

yours,

Peter T.