Some passengers appear to want to keep up the "great social divide" and do not like the new egalitarian ships. They take pleasure in making people feel uncomfortable and in various ways to show them that they do not belong.

I am sure that some of you have experienced the bore at a table who lets you know in their first few words that they are in a top of the range suit with hot and cold running Butler. Furthermore they do not feel that anything below a 5 star ship should be allowed in the water nor should any passenger be admitted who does not have

1. Designer clothes (No your M&S or Debenhams suit will not do gents)

2. A degree (and only some of them are acceptable - do not apply if it came from a Uni.which was formerly a College)

3. The correct accent (no Scots, Scoursers, people from Newcastle or Cornwall - or their equivalents in the USA, Canada etc - as this passenger can't understand you and won't even try)

4. A prefrence for Claret over cola (other beverages may be considered dependant on this passenger's personal taste but definately nothing with fruit, straws or umbrellas on)

5. No children (not under any circumstances and this passenger doesn't care how many facilities there are to keep the little brats out of his way - dont let them on in the first place, nor thier parents)

This passenger can and does spend 2 hours over dinner expanding on the list and insists that these dictates are necessary to maintain standards on board ships - mustn't let the riff raff on! (he ends by telling you just how many cruises he has been on as well, so he should know)

Obviously this is an exagerated example (but based in part on fact) to make the point which is where do you feel that maintaining standards ends and unadulterated snobbery begins?

Does anyone have any funny examples of the POSH at play?

Cruise lines line Airtours, Tompson, Carnival and NCL (Freestyle?) are more likely to provide a 'snob free zone' - but of course the 'snobs' get a lot of pleaseue looking down of these!

We go "First" on QE2, at a significant bugetary dent, simply because we enjoy the good life. In QE2 First, we have met people who could buy and sell us out of petty cash! But were they snobs? No! A retired executive who OWNED a shipyard had delightful maritime tales to spin; a VERY senior executive of American Express revealed spending habits of the VERY rich and famous (and how AMEX had to cover them); and a well-known TV star and I discussed the ballistics of the dice-throwers in the Casino on a significantly rolling vessel.

Then on a Carib cruise, we had fractious kids, mediocre food, and "fun fun fun" You only live once, I'll take the former lifestyle any time.

And if this makes me a snob - sobeit!

I was once standing on the dock at Victoria (BC) taking a photograph of the 'Mercury'. I saw a guy also looking wide-eyed at her. He said to me "She's just fantastic", I agreed "I really wish I could aford to cruise on her", he said. I said "Yes, it's not cheap". He said that he wished that he had brought his camera. I said no problem, I'd take his photograph along side the ship and send it to him. (Which I did) He was very greatful.

I waited a while for the man to leave the dock. Then I boarder the Mercury to continue my cruise.

We met a charming couple on a ship who were always pleasant and spoke to everyone at the table, he was on the board of diretors for Marks and Spensor. We have also met yuppies who "did something in the city" who thought they were better than everyone else because they had a bigger bank balance.

By judging a person who may have taken the trouble to dress up nicely for the formal night as being a snob is in fact a snobbish attitude in itself, is there not a saying "you should never judge a book by its cover", I like to dress up to the nines for the formal nights because its almost the last place on earth that you can do that in this day and age, and I am NOT a snob, in fact I have a broad Scots accent that I will change for no one either on a cruise ship or in the work place, but I have to agree with Jules when she says that by having an accent (any accent) for some reason "snobs" make an immediate judgement about you and your circumstances, just like the person who makes the judgement that by dressing up you must be a snob. (It works both ways).

My first three cruises were in inside cabins and I admit that I was not a good sailor in those cabins, it was not until we tried a balcony cabin for a special birthday that I realised that I could be on a ship and feel OK, so now we go for a balcony cabin, so because I like a balcony cabin does that mean I am classed as a snob, I hope not.

You will find snobbery no matter where you turn, we tow a caravan and snobbery exists there as well, not only from the Caravaner’s themselves with one-up-manship but from the caravan bashers, those who literally mock, hate and are downright abusive towards people they know nothing about. So when we cruise we do not form an opinion about anyone until we have actually been in their company and spoken with them. Just like Cambodge says you can also meet very wealthy people who are extremely nice, but obnoxious people can be found from any walk of life.

I have worked all my life, and like to spend my hard earned cash by indulging in some of the luxuries of life, lets face it this is not a dress rehearsal its the real thing so we must make the most of life while we can, however its got to the stage where you are afraid to say that you are going on a cruise or doing anything that in my opinion looks like you are enjoying life to the full for fear of being looked upon as a SNOB, which is a shame because one of the enjoyments of going on a cruise is the thrill of speaking about it.

Yes I thank my lucky stars that I can do what I do and no matter what ship I am on when standing at the rail waving to complete strangers on the quay like an idiot I always feel so priveledged to be in that situation.

I just love ships and the whole presence of being on them, they are living moving things with a soul, and no snob is going to spoil that feeling.

Isn't it sad? For them and for us for having to put up with them.

I am definitely a non-wealthy person - although I am more fortunate than many. My cruises have been in the little inside cabins in the bowel of the ship. I am luckier than those who never got to go, but I don't think I would count myself as a snob - although I have been called such because I like the fun of dressing in tuxes and gowns on formal nights. I also lament that such attire has gone out of popular fashion... and I am criticized for being a snob. I think that is equally unfair... and I think it is a form of reverse snobbery if you will.