Go Big or Go Home?

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As you may have learned from the news or your personal travels, domestic air pricing has spiked while delays and cancellations have increased.  

Many have answered by cruising closer to home, from ports like Los Angeles, Galveston or New Jersey.

Some would-be travelers don't live close to any home ports and have decided to skip the chance to return to cruising despite recent headlines about cruising now being open to everyone.

Instead of that drastic misstep, "Let's see what's behind Door Number 3."

Imagine the lovely Carol Merrill standing before huge sliding doors which open when she waves her arm on cue from Monty Hall to reveal a large diorama representing a dream cruise through Europe!

For those too young to understand that cultural reference, I was a big fan of "Let's Make a Deal" when in grade school.  I would run home at noon to watch the last 20 minutes with Mom while I scarfed down some Campbell's Bean With Bacon Soup or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich along with Nestle's Chocolate milk, before running back to school to play basketball or four-square before the afternoon bell rang.

It always seemed exciting to see the lucky contestant win a trip to some far away destination with amazing landscapes and buildings.  Sometimes, the set represented a place I had learned about in my Social Studies class but often showed places I never knew existed in real life, outside of fantasies in movies and TV shows.

Travel always seemed better than showcases of fashionable furnishings and appliances, chic wardrobes or certainly a Zonk.

Perhaps that's how I came to love travel.

It certainly is one of the pleasures I get selling cruises, all-inclusive resort stays and packaged tours.

I love sharing that thrill of unveiling a dream destination.

Why not, as a narrator for another of my favorite childhood shows used to say, "Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear!"???

Right now, despite the record inflation at home, the dollar is quite strong against the Euro, meaning our travel dollars go further in Europe.

Beyond that, air prices to Europe are relatively affordable.  Sure, they are higher than at the bottom of the Covid pandemic when demand ebbed to new lows.  But they are comparable to the last 40 years, especially after you factor in modest price increases over time, much less the relatively high increases in the price of gas at the pump or eggs at the grocery store.

It now seems that Green New Deal policies, repackaged with other labels like "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," are inevitable, and with those will by necessity come higher travel prices.  After all, that's an effective way for governments to control our behavior, through financial incentives, whether by taxes or regulation, that increase prices for what behavior they wish to curtail.  That's why a pack of cigarettes now costs over $10.  It works better than prohibition.

I personally don't put travel in the "sin tax" category, but that doesn't mean the wealthy rulers don't consider international travel to be their exclusive domain.  That's how it has been through most of history.

Ergo, I say travel to Europe and other dream destinations while you can.

You may never have a better chance than right now!

There are many incentives for cruise ships large and small.

You may have thought you missed the chance, but some river cruise lines continue to offer reduced or even free air on select cruises.  In fact, Ama Waterways recently expanded their 20th Anniversary Sale offer to include a few early season cruises in 2023.

Ocean ships also have some air programs that might work for you.

Why not see what's behind door number 3?

"Better service leads to better trips!"

Wes