Many of you will contact us asking for help “spending our kids’ inheritance”. It’s often intended as a joke, but more often, people hesitate with this idea of spending savings on travel. Much like you, Bob and I try to strike the right balance, so here’s a window in our world.
Bob’s dad once told him and his brothers that when he and Bob’s mom were gone, there would only be debts to settle. There was a small inheritance, but Bob now understands his dad didn’t want to deprive his sons the satisfaction of achievement and making their own way in the world.
So now Bob and I are trying to figure out the balance between enabling our kids (and grandkids) and ticking off things on our own bucket list.
The STATS on Inheritance and How it Relates to Multigenerational Travel
Apparently, we’re not the only ones struggling with this issue:
- Handoff of generational wealth. In the next 20 years, somewhere between $30 Trillion and $100 Trillion will be handed down. That number is too large to fathom.
- The dilemma: People are WAY behind on their bucket list. A Talker Research survey found only 10% of people have completed the amount of travel they thought they would have by this stage of life. 20% are embarrassed by their LACK of travel.
- Travel is Necessary: 72% say travel has a positive effect on emotional well being.
- Multi-Gen and Family Travel. An AARP study found adults over 50 are travelling at a frequency well above pre-pandemic norms, with multi-gen trips leading the way.
What We’ve Learned About Making Travel Memories with our Kids and Grandkids
Here are some things that we are doing to attempt to strike the balance:
- We send our kids/grandkids plane tickets. My younger self wouldn’t have considered this, but tomorrow’s memories have become my most prized possessions today.
- Travel as a LIVING inheritance. You should use your life’s savings to live YOUR life. If you feel guilty, then invite your kids and grandkids along.
- Cruises & Land Tours: Ocean cruises have long been great for multi-gen groups, but there are also products like TAUCK Bridges if you want to explore away from the water.
- We Create Memories: a tent camp in the Sahara, snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands, missing a train in Italy, or swimming in cenotes in Mexico. These stories will last much longer than any THING we could buy our kids or grandkids.
We’ve gotten our heads around the fact that as soon as we die, our kids are going to get rid of all our stuff. The dining room sets and wedding china are all going to good will, because my “prized possessions” are not theirs.
So… that leaves memories. I want to make sure my kids and grandkids have plenty of them. The best part is by creating these memories with them, I get to enjoy my own experience AND create a legacy for them.
It’s double value… seems like a pretty good return on my life’s savings.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
Is it wrong to spend money on travel instead of saving everything for your kids?
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim interviews Bob about a phrase many of our clients say jokingly—but sometimes with real emotion behind it: “We’re spending our kids’ inheritance!”
In Case You Missed It:
WATER LEVELS on the RIVERS IN EUROPE: It’s been a wild summer. What can YOU do if you have a river cruise scheduled?
https://pamperedcruiser.com/river-cruise-low-water-explained-rhine-danube-what-happens-next/
COLLETTE Premium Guided Land Journeys. You can’t go everywhere on a ship, so here’s a look at land-cruises with one of our preferred partners.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/collette-guided-vacations/
EGYPT: Despite all the geo-political headwinds, interest in travelling to Egypt remains at an all-time high. Here’s more information on planning your trip there.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/egypt-its-time-to-experience-it/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
TAHITI: What a great place for a tropical multi-gen trip! Hawaii gets as many visitors in a week as Tahiti does in a year, and Tahiti is only about 2 hours further by plane. Here’s our video blog from when we visited this island paradise:
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
Have something to say about this?
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0WU6wwTtXtQDY8MvoMg66GxvhTPMdrNxzHrtdDByZ1FUipvbpeuDs9wPh3Bs1efAxl
Today’s Travel Opportunities
AMA WATERWAYS on the RIVER
If you’d like to travel with kids or grandkids, then here are two trips where they’ll learn WAY more than in a lifetime of social studies classes:
PARIS & Normandy round-trip Paris departing September – December for one-week
- Experience the museums and chic-urban scene in Paris, and learn about the Allied Landings at the Normandy Beaches.
- Visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Honfleur, Normandy Landing Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon, Paris (overnight).
- Optional 2-night Paris Extension
- 2026: Depart September through November from $4099
- 2027: Depart March through December from $3129
EGYPT for 11-nights (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)
- See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum (with King Tut’s room), Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and a Nile Felucca ride.
- 2026: Departures September – December from $6469
- 2027: Departures year-round from $5839
If you’re looking to travel in 2026, AMA still has some space left, and we can get you additional on board credits.
YACHTING Experiences With WINDSTAR
If you want to travel with kids, but can’t stand the idea of a floating amusement park, then how about a water-sports platform for the kids, and an elevated culinary experience for the adults?
With a maximum of only 342 guests, it’s only a bit larger than a river boat, and as a member of the James Beard Foundation, you’ll enjoy the elevated culinary experience.
CARIBBEAN: San Juan round-trip departing November 29 for 14-days
- Warm weather escapes, Island Hopping, beaches
- Start in Puerto Rico, and then spend the next two weeks visiting US Virgin Islands, Gustavia, Brasseterre, St. Maarten, Great Harbour, British Virgin Islands, St. George’s, Bequia, Mayreau, Les Saintes, and Marigot.
- Fares from $9474
TAHITI: Papeete round-trip departing week for 7-days
- Tropical Beauty, Remote Islands, Dreamy Lagoons… and way LESS CROWDED than Hawaii.
- Start in Papeete, and visit Moorea, Raiatea (overnight), Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight), and Huahine before returning to Papeete.
- Fares from $2676
- Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise with WINDSTAR: https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM
LAND CRUISES with COLLETTE
Here are two multi-gen favorites to explore with kids or grandkids:
ITALY: Rome and the Amalfi Coast for 10-days
- Stay in Rome for 3-nights to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and just to enjoy the sidewalk vibe in Rome. Then on to Amalfi, for coastal townships, beaches, Sorrento, and Pompeii.
- Optional Pre and/or Post in Florence and/or Naples
- 2027: Departures March through November from $3599.
CITY SPOTLIGHT on Washington DC for 6-days
- Visit the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, White House, National Mall, and other monuments and museums, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Arlington National Cemetery, Alexandria, Mount Vernon.
- Departures March through October from $2699
SILVERSEA TRADITIONAL LUXURY
We’re HOSTING a cruise with Silversea in the British Isles! Set sail with KIM from our office, or maybe go golfing with her husband, Jed:
BRITISH ISLES: London round-trip departing August 14 for 11-days:
- Start in Southampton, and then visit Falmouth (Cornwall, England), Fishguard (Wales), Belfast, Liverpool, Invergordon (for Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands), Edinburgh, Dover, Honfleur (France, for the Normandy Landing Beaches).
- Optional golf package with Perry Golf
- Featuring the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Fares from $8700, and a $200 per person on board credit as a thanks for joining us! Can’t wait to meet you all in person!
NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA: Sydney to Auckland departing December 4 for 14-days
- Start in Sydney and visit Hobart, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Stewart Island, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, and finish in Auckland.
- Fares from $11,610
SOUTH AMERICA & PANAMA CANAL: Santiago to Miami departing March 5 for 18-days
- Start in Santiago, and then visit Arica, Lima, Guayaquil, Panama City, full daylight transit of the Panama Canal, Cozumel, and finish in Miami.
- Fares from $11,635
Here’s our latest ship tour video of Silversea’s SILVER NOVA:
REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES
If you want to get to the POLAR REGIONS in comfort and style, here are two suggestions.
ANTARCTICA: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia departing February 19 for 11-nights
- Start in Buenos Aires, then take an included flight to join the ship, and traverse the Drake Passage. There are 7-days of scheduled landings, before returning to Ushuaia
- Fares from $21,499
GREENLAND, CANADIAN ARCTIC & NEWFOUNDLAND: Departing September 13, 2027 for 17-nights
- Start in Nuuk, visit 4 ports in Greenland, then call in at 5 ports in the Canadian Arctic before heading southbound down Iceberg Alley off the coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. Experience L’anse aux Meadows where the first Europeans landed in North America (500 years before Columbus) and stop in at North America’s only French Territory at Saint Pierre before finishing in St. John’s.
- Fares from $17,564
OCEANIA: Small-Ships. Great Food.
Oceania offers a shore excursion credit on every cruise, so that guests can make their own choices about shore activities.
CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: New York to Montreal October 13, 2027 for 12 days
- Start in New York and visit Boston, Portland, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Gaspe, Sept-Iles, Saguenay, Quebec City, and finish in Montreal.
- Fares from $4,999
UK & IRELAND: London round-trip departing May 27 for 12-days
- Start in London and visit Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Lerwick, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Belfast, Liverpool, Cork, Falmouth, and finish back in London
- Fares from $5,580
Your Oceania fare includes SPECIALTY DINING, GRATUITIES, WIFI, and a choice of a SHORE EXCURSION CREDIT or BEER/WINE with meals.
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
