travel trophies

It always amazes me when the conversation gets around to vacation places and someone announces they have been to 7 islands in the Caribbean or something like that.  Upon closer investigation, I discover they were on a cruise and visited 7 ports.  And if my experience can be the basis, every port in the Caribbean looks, feels, smells the same.  Same trinkets, same food and so on.
This commentary notes this and hopes that after a "taste" the cruise tourist may return to get the real experience.

I wonder about the sample?