First Ever “Cougar Cruise” Not As Salacious As Marketed to Be

Last weekend, Carnival’s cruise ship, Elation, hit the mighty seas for what was branded as the first ever, “Cougar Cruise.”  Parting from San Diego, California and porting in Ensenada, Mexico, this three day adventure was marketed as a ”sexually charged’  trip of dancing, eating and partying for older women and younger men.  According to the trip’s sponsors, The Singles Travel Company and The Society of Single Professionals, the cruise sold out almost instantly AND they had to hire more staff because the phone was ringing off the hook.

Back in September, when news of this themed cruise hit cyberspace, comments flew all over the place – some expressing disgust and fuming at the double standard (had such a cruise been marketed for older men/younger women).  But there was no denying the playful and excited tone to the majority of other comments from women (and younger men).

But feedback on last weekend’s cruise is starting to roll in on various sites.  And commenters point out that there even though there was no mistaking the ‘mischeif’ going down amongst come cougars and ‘cubs’, it wasn’t any more salacious or outrageous in nature than regular singles cruises.  And this doesn’t really surprise me – cause many people falsely assume that cougar’ish behaviour only entails them acting like wild, slutty, uncontrollable creatures of lust.  I mean c’mon - older women can still be mannerly and ladylike, and still have fun.

A conversation I had with a twenty-something male stripper a long time ago suddenly springs to mind.  When I asked him who was wilder - the older women in the audience or the younger ones -  he said that during the show, there was no doubt that the older ones hooted and hollered and acted randier.  But AFTER the show, he said that while the older women normally made polite conversation about the show and left it at that, it was the YOUNGER women who set out on the prowl with an alternative agenda.

I know the term ‘cougar’ still rubs many people wrong – and sometimes, it does me too, mainly depending on the context and how it’s delivered.  But with new TV shows gaining popularity  like Cougar Town and the reality show, The Cougar (made by the creators of The Bachelor), it seems as if this nickname is here to stay, even if it’s still blooming into full definition.

But for the record, regardless of what you think of the term cougar – another Cougar Cruise has been slated for December 2010.  Just in case you’re interested (full details not yet available).  *grin