Auf See

Setting sail, embarking on new shores, expanding horizons – not least these promises have led to a sustained boom in the international cruise industry, which has grown faster than any other tourism sector since the 1990s. However, cruises are a relatively young tourism phenomenon, with their history beginning only at the end of the 19th century. With large, multifunctional ships, cruise lines have managed to appeal to a wide audience. At the same time, the "giants of the sea" have increasingly become the subject of public discussions: environmental organizations criticize the ecological burdens, while international labor organizations point out the working conditions on board. This volume does not simply view cruises as a tourism phenomenon. The contributions, resulting from a student research project, explore the various dynamics that this form of travel unfolds in relation to questions of myth and history, economy and ecology, the world of work and technology, mobility and (over-)tourism, media and materiality, globality and locality, politics and lifestyles.