It would be hard to find a more privileged group than the passengers on this ship. Recreational travel alone is a luxury. Recreational travel on a small (600+ passengers) cruise ship known for gourmet food and service-oriented staff is downright hedonistic. And yet, the most upper class members of this group are recognized in a myriad of over-the-top ways.

As we checked in at the cruise terminal in San Francisco, we were immediately directed to one of three lines: those with suite accomodations were directed to the line with gold carpet underfoot; those with concierge cabins trod the blue carpet while mere stateroom guests traversed drab grey floors. Somehow, guests from the gold row never had to wait, while the grey guests spent at least 15 minutes in line.
Once on the ship, more honor awaited the upper classes: special cocktail hour and dinner with the captain for example, and unlimited access to the spa facilities.

This same class stratification occurs other places as well. Airline passengers traveling first class board and exit first, are served food rather than pretzels and enjoy carefully guarded rest rooms. Michelle Singletary comments in her recent Washington Post column “Fly, and you see the wealth disparity on full display.”

All men are created equal, except for those who are most privileged? While it can certainly be argued that good marketing mandates recognition of those who pay more, what message of entitlement is being conveyed with such preferential treatment? What cultural value are we validating?