If you read this every week, you were probably born between the mid 1940s and mid 1960s. We didn’t plan it this way – it’s just that Bob and I belong to the Baby Boomer cohort, and we end up dealing with people like us.

A few times a year, we end up at a conference, or a webinar, where some industry expert tells us we need to work harder to attract affluent Gen Xers and Millennials. For clarity, these are people born between 1970 and 2000.

That’s probably a good strategy, but we’ll stick with our current clients.

It’s not that we DON’T want younger people as clients – quite the contrary – we greatly appreciate it when you refer your kids, nieces and nephews to us. We find the overwhelming majority of our clients to be genuine people that are a pleasure to deal with. Nice people generally attract (and in our case, refer) other nice people.

The reason we don’t want to put a whole bunch of effort into attracting a younger clientele is pure (and somewhat ruthless) arithmetic. Like any business, we have limited resources to grow, so we have to be deliberate and strategic about how we allocate those resources. We do have some Gen X and Millennial clients, but frankly there aren’t very many of them (in the population in general). The post WW2 Baby Boom went bust in the mid 1960s. There just weren’t that many people born in the 1970s compared to the previous two decades.

This trend rebounded a bit in the 80s and 90s, but there are still WAY more Baby Boomers than any other cohort. The other hitch is that we sell luxury products. Many of our clients don’t consider themselves affluent, because most of them are of humble origin, worked hard, lived within their means, and now can afford a nice vacation.

So while the travel industry chases those people born in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, Bob and I are more than happy to deal with folks born before that. Our people. The people that have time to travel, and the means to travel well.

The criticism of this viewpoint is valid – “in 30 years, you won’t have any clients left”. True – but in 30 years (should we be both be lucky enough to still be here), we’ll be the ones calling a travel agent – probably a Millennial.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

MEDITERRANEAN IN WINTER WITH WINDSTAR

If you’re going to the Med for scenery, cultural, and historical attractions, then it is substantially less busy in the winter months. Yes… you’ll have to wear a jacket, but you won’t be competing with thousands of others at every shore attraction. Windstar’s 320 passenger yacht, Star Legend, is in the Mediterranean year-round. Here are a few examples:

Athens to Rome departing November 6 for 8-days

Visit Athens, then travel the Corinth Canal, Delphi, Corfu (overnight), Crotone, Sicily (overnight), Naples, and finish in Rome.
Balconies $4679

Barcelona round-trip departing December 30 for 9-days

Visit Palma de Mallorca (overnight), Cartagena, Gibraltar, Malaga (overnight), Valencia
Balconies from $5019

Rome to Venice departing March 18 for 8 days

Visit Napes, Messina, Dubrovnik (overnight), Zadar, and Venice (overnight)
Windstar anchors right outside the walled City in Dubrovnik, and you’re there overnight!
Balconies from $5199

TAUCK EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES

Dutch Christmas Markets from Amsterdam to Brussels for 8-days

Visit Amsterdam, Gouda, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Delft, Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels
2024: December 20 or 27 from $3890
2025: December 6, 13, 20, 27 from $4190

Family Sailing from Paris to Normandy for 8-days

Take your kids or grandkids to learn the important history at Normandy.
Visit Paris, Vernon, Giverny, Les Andelys, Caudebec-en-Caux, Normandy Beaches, Rouen, Versailles
Get a private car tour of Paris, a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, a private tour of the Monet Museum, see Monet’s Gardens, the Castle of King Richard the Lionheart, Omaha Beach, the D-Day museum, Joan of Arc Square, and the Palace of Versailles.
2025: 6 departures in June & July from $5490

CRYSTAL CRUISES

Crystal excels in unique itineraries, and special entertainment features.

Travel with GLORIA GAYNOR departing Quebec on October 26 for 14 nights

Visit Quebec City (overnight), Boston (overnight), New York (overnight), Norfolk, Jacksonville (overnight), Nassau before arriving in Fort Lauderdale.
Fares from $8700

South America departing Buenos Aires on February 22 for 11-nights

Visit BA, Balneario (Brazil), Sao Francisco do Sul (Brazil), Santos (overnight), Ilhabela, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janiero (2-nights).
Fares from $6600

Reykjavik to New York departing September 17, 2025 for 13-nights:

Visit Greenland, 2 stops in Newfoundland, Sydney, Halifax, Boston (overnight), New York (overnight)
Fares from $6540

LAND CRUISE WITH COLLETTE

Thailand from Bangkok to Phuket for 15-days

Visit Bangkok, fly to Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, fly to Phuket, fly back to Bangkok
See the street life in Bangkok, take a private boat trip Bangkok, see the reclining Buddha at Wat Po, Grand Palace of Siam, do a Tuk tuk Ride, see the archeological sites at Sukhothai, visit the Golden Triangle, take a boat ride on Mekong River, visit the Opium Museum, experience the Buddhist Temples in Chaing Mai, see an elephant sanctuary, and relax on a tropical beach in Phuket,
2024: October 24 for $3699, December 27 for $3549
2025: February and March departures: $3799. September – December: $3699

NORTHERN LIGHTS in Alaska for 7-days

Visit Anchorage, Prince William Sound, Talkeetna, and travel the railroad to Fairbanks
2025: February & March departures for $3999

National Parks of America from Phoenix to Rapid City, SD for 12-days.

Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Buffalo Bill Center, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, Lake Powell.
Departures May through October from $4999 per person.

In Case You Missed It:

Destination Spotlight on TAHITI: https://pamperedcruiser.com/tahiti-destination-focus/

WINDSTAR Vendor Focus: https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive. This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so: