Dick Goldhaber wrote:

Ref, I go back to 1969. I recall there being The Italian Line, Home Line,
and Holland America. To the best of my knowledge none of them were publicly
traded companies so perhaps there was no onus to turn a profit for the
stockholders.

That doesn't say that there were not money making things going on, only back
then the profits went to the purser. The purser owned the bingo game, all
of the liquor on the ship, and even the deck chairs. On The Italian Line
you reserved your deck chair for $1.00 a day.

But cruising was different then. People expected to dress on formal nights,
and they stayed dressed for the evening.


Not only cruising. I went out to some midtown Manhattan's clubs on a few
nights last week. Over 50 percent of people I observed, I'd say, were in
jeans. So many people are wearing jeans. Go to the mall, go anywhere,
jeans are everywhere, across many generations.

I'm for dressing to match personality, mood, ambiance, space, etc. So, I
think the jeans everywhere and casual popularity isn't as interesting as
people dressing to their various aspects of their personalities and
presenting them in social situations. I don't particularly like jeans (I
still call them dungarees) and it is interesting that when people have
many choices they'll gravitate to the same type of product.

Dressing the same in different situations is reflected in today's time
in many social situations and establishments. Cruising is just part of it.

Sometimes I long for the "good old days" and other times I am thankful for
the conveniences that modern cruising offer.
--


Sometimes it takes hindsight to realize the value in something. 15 years
from now many will long for something that exists now that many may not
value or even recognize currently.

Ben S.

DG in Cherry Hill, NJ



"RTCReferee" wrote in message
...

*bicker* wrote:


One of the things to keep in mind, when considering the
answers to your question, is that many cruise lines aren't
interested in providing an experience reminiscent of the
past. For example, there were no rock walls, rollerblade
tracks, or ice rinks on cruise ships of the past.

Our first cruise was in 1984. There was a jogging track on the top deck

and a

large, separate volleyball court with scheduled games. We didn't care

then (or

now) about jogging, but volleyball was definitely on our agenda.

I'm curious, when you speak of "the past," with regards to cruising, how

far

back do you look?