Cruise tourism: the theoretical case for 'short-life' occupational communities among on-board hotel workers

Abstract

This paper advances the notion that knowledge of organizational culture is a powerful way of understanding the attitudes and behaviour of 'hotel' workers on cruise ships. Unlike other theories focusing on national traits and characteristics, the present construct emphasizes the importance of the work and work-related factors in establishing an emergent 'culture in practice'. Known as Occupational Communities, these are likely to form when certain environmental conditions are present including characteristics of individuals and organizational structures. Occupational Communities have been identified elsewhere in hotels. Therefore it is argued that because many structural similarities exist between on-shore hotels and cruise ships, Occupational Communities are likely to form in preference to 'espoused' or official cultures.