Crossing The T's - T-shirts, worn by cruise ship passengers - Brief Article

Cruise Travel, Sept, 2000 by Pamela Kane

What's in a T-shirt? Often, it's a cruiser--whether onboard or onshore. You'll see more T-shirts, per capita, on a cruise ship than almost anywhere else on earth except, perhaps, on the boardwalks of oceanside resorts or on the midways of state fairs in the heartland.

Of course, it's not the T-shirt that's the charm. It's what it says. Your T-shirt sends a personal message--where you've been, what you do, what you're all about. They are, arguably, the most essential piece of social commerce available on a cruise ship. It's unlikely that anyone will ever ask you about the last time you wrestled alligators or played polo, but they will ask, "When were you in Singapore? We were there last year." Or say, "My kids went to Dartmouth, too."

T-shirts can be conversation starters almost anywhere, but nowhere can they be used to better advantage than on a cruise ship, where meeting other passengers and finding kindred souls is at least half the fun. Anybody can buy a T-shirt, the beauty part is the selection. What message do you want to send on your medium (or XL)?

The Philosophy T-Shirt. "First National Bank Of Dad. Closed." "Give Me Chocolate And Nobody Will Be Hurt." "She Who Must Be Obeyed." Philosophy T-Shirts are universal. Even if all your shirt garners is a grin or a "nice shirt" from a passer-by, you've made a connection.

The Cute T-Shirt. These feature adorable kittens (meet cat lovers), the dog breed T-shirt (find other Lab owners quickly), flowers, butterflies, and other gifts of nature. Sometimes they are imprinted with poetry or Bible verses. Cute T-Shirts are rarely seen on men or on women under 60. Can also be called the Nice Lady T-Shirt. Ask wearers to show you pictures of their grandchildren.

The Kids T-Shirt. Other than "My Grandma Went To [Wherever] And All She Brought Me Was This Lousy T-Shirt," which is probably beneath mentioning, Kids T-Shirts serve an extremely useful purpose for the cruising family. It's almost cheaper to buy new T-shirts in every port than to pay for laundry. And it's a lot less hassle than a self-service laundry if, indeed, your ship has one. Shopping beats sudsing any day.

The Lifestyle T-Shirt. These give broad (depending upon the chest size of the wearer) hints as to lifestyle or occupations. "Divers Do It Deeper." "Cardiologists Do It With Heart." "Do It" seems to be the main thrust. A subset of the Lifestyle T-Shirt includes those proclaiming that the wearer ran a 5K (or, in extreme cases, a marathon) or performed some other feat on behalf of a charitable organization.

The Culture Vulture T-Shirt. Museums, ballets, symphony orchestras, public television, and your local library are happy to have you indicate your appreciation of the finer things in life. A related, but separate, genre is the Cause T-Shirt. Guaranteed, you'll find folks who share your interests.

The Loyalty T-Shirt. These present a handy opportunity to display your support of a particular sports team and meet fellow fans. It is not advisable to wear a sports-support T-shirt during a losing season unless you covet derision from other passengers. The single exception is a Chicago Cubs T-shirt, appropriate in any season. A subset of the Loyalty T-Shirt includes those with logos of brandname goods and services such as Gosling's Black Seal Rum, manufacturers of over-priced apparel, or offshore merchant banks.

The Port T-Shirt. These emerge like mushrooms after a soaking rain with each new port visited. If you slept through the port call and can't remember where it was you were supposed to be, check the T-shirts. Then strike up a conversation about just how the port was. Generally, wear Port T-Shirts on cruises where the port is not on the itinerary.

The Hometown T-Shirt. If there's anyone else on the ship from the 'hood, you'll hook up almost immediately. Hometown T-Shirts can also serve as early-warning devices. If you're suntanning topless (this mostly applies to women) and see a Hometown T-Shirt, you may want to reach for your own. Alternatively, if you're engaged in behavior you don't want noised among the neighbors, cut and run.

The College T-Shirt. It's usually advisable to have attended the college emblazoned across your chest or to have offspring attending or recently graduated from that institution of higher learning. Exceptions are made for those who have given endowments in the seven figures. Closely allied is the Country Club T-Shirt.

The Ship's Logo T-Shirt. Ship shops love to sell you T-shirts. They are usually of good quality, usually overpriced, and are worn to best effect on other cruise lines or at your local supermarket.

The Souvenir T-Shirt. Do not confuse the Souvenir T-Shirt ("3 for $10") with any that you intend to add to your own permanent collection, where lasting quality is important; 3-for-$10's are the T-shirts that you give to other people--especially family members, friends, and neighbors--as a small reminder that you were there, and they weren't.

The ne plus ultra T-Shirt Statement. This is an art. When you pack your T-shirts, pack the ones from ports and countries as far away--and as exotic--as possible from the ones you will be visiting. Another true coup is to wear T-shirts from destination ports before you reach those ports. You immediately acquire expert traveler status, and other passengers will seek you out for advice. Giving it is at your option.