There is something about leaving a port and sailing out into the ocean. There is a quality of light reflecting off the sea & a vast expanse of water and sky which is unendingly fascinating. The light changes from moment to moment in a different way to on land. You are moving from terra firma and sailing on the surface of bottomless, unknown, depths. It is really is the most mystical experience. Vast horizons, infinite, subtle, colours of light. Moving, but oddly staying still.
Sailing on a ship is unique. A self contained, man made, island floating above the hidden life below. A triumph of mans skill and technology at the mercy of the elements. The weather & the light changes in moments.
Modern cruise ships are minature, (& not so minature), cities. All human life is there. An infinite number of life stories from the extremely privileged to the much less advantaged. A microcosm of the world contained within a boat. The difference is that the people are always moving onwards. A restless journey to the next port, the next experience for the passengers. A mobile working environment for all the people who cater to their every whim.
It is obviously, by nature, a transient existance. As you float on the surface of the ocean you also float on the surface of life. New aquaintances are made & lives are shared peripherally. Visits to ports are brief. Fleeting glimpses into other lives. Passengers are disgorged onto docksides & have a window of opportunity to experience other cultures. They aren't necessarily good representations of the real lives or cultures because a whole unrepresentative, symbiotic infrastructure has built up around the ports.
They are gateways though and maybe passengers will go back and experience a more realistic & in depth perspective at some time. As for the relationships they really are "ships that pass in the night".
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