Tom Stieghorst
Contrary to what you might read elsewhere, I generally find cruise tourists to be a pretty well behaved bunch.
But there are exceptions. And within the exceptions, there is a range running from mildly clueless to oblivious to a few people who are rude and obnoxious by nature.
Recently, five Arctic travel associations put together a list of behaviors for guests visiting polar regions and interacting with the native populations. It's a good list to heighten sensitivity for those clients that don't come to it naturally.
The list, found here, includes some things that I consider simple common sense or decency. Don't walk on graves, for example, and don't litter.
Engage the people and cultures with respect should be another no-brainer. But seeing customs, hearing language, or viewing clothing or accessories that are different from one's own sometimes puts visitors on the defensive.
As the guidelines say, "an open mind leads to the best experiences."
Some of the guidelines are of the "look before you cross," type, such as the suggestion to ask before you take photos of people. Some people love it; others are mortified.
The guidelines say never photograph children. I would say just to be diligent about asking beforehand. Some people couldn't be prouder to have their kids recognized, while others imagine the worst consequences of having pictures of their kids posted where strangers can see them.
Never give presents to children is another guideline. A visitor's generosity can easily be misinterpreted.
Finally, there are two guidelines that would go a long way to making cruise visitors welcome anywhere. One is for visitors to think of themselves as ambassadors for their country. The United States in particular could use some good representation abroad these days.
And for cruise visitors who often arrive in big groups, the guidelines say to exercise some self-awareness. "If you are part of such a group, consider how you can contribute to the best possible interaction, for example, by avoiding blocking roads, entrances and exits," the guidelines said.