I was doing some internet research on different types of cruises, since I will be going on one soon. The trip was booked, but it didn't stop my curiosity about other cruises, especially the very expensive cruises on Cunard's QE2 and Queen Mary. Cunard is known to be the "high class" cruise company.
Interestingly, class system exists in Cunard's ships. I've been on a few cruises (not from Cunard) in the past, and even though people pay different prices for the cabins and luxuries they can afford, the restaurants within the cruise ships do not limit the type of people who go in. However, within Cunard's boats, people who pay for the highest price range cabins get to be in the best restaurant (with more choices and better services), while those who pay less, get to go to restaurants that are not as "high class" in food selection and services.
At first, I thought it was a bad rule to implement, since people who can afford to go on QE2 or Queen Mary will not be poor, to say the least. And presently it is beyond year 2000 - class system is mostly out. However, after contemplating the issue, I can understand why it was implemented, based on personal experience (not cruise related).
Take, for example, where I live. In the first few years people were courteous and quiet, and hardly anyone would litter the place. However, as newer people moved in, there were more noise and more litter. Some of these people also have kids. When they have parties, they are loud. They also bring their guests to the pool and sauna area, where they splash like crazy, and strip naked to enjoy the sauna heat. It is difficult to enjoy the facilities when these people are around. They also do not put their garbage in the chute properly, nor would they sort out appropriately recyclable waste in the right bins.
These new neighbours may or may not be rich. However rich they are, it is hard to consider them "first class". What distinguishes a person from "high class" from the normal class, is their etiquette.
It's not about how much money a person has, but about how considerate a person is. Does the person care about others enough not to create too much disturbing noise? Does the person care about others so that he won't litter public facilities?
This is why there are differences between people from "old money" and those who are from "new money". This sounds like talk of discrimination, but from what I hear, "new money" people have the type of ego that promotes selfishness while being inconsiderate to others. To say it in another way, they have terrible manners.
Good etiquette gives a person self respect and gains the respect of others, whereas selfishness promotes the class system (as no one want to be around those who are not considerate of others).
