I recently received an advertisement for a river cruise from Amsterdam to Brussels. It piqued my interest so I called for more information. There were six different dates for the spring of 2012. As I began asking questions, the representative informed me there were no openings, but they were adding a trip in late June because of demand. Not only were all the trips booked, but each had a waiting list of twenty or more people. These trips cater mostly to us senior citizens, you know the ones on Social Security and Medicare, the folks politicians view as poor and in need of higher benefits. We are the folks who get discounts on everything from deli sandwiches to movie tickets and bus fares.
I called another travel company. Could this be a trend? It was the same story, most cabins were booked, some trips were sold out ten months in advance.
And did I mention a couple pays about $15,000 for the trip. This is all anecdotal I admit, or did I miss a river cruise stimulus package?
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 