thanks Denise. That was interesting. I had heard that cruises were booking up faster than usual.

I really wonder how much of this is due to PR/Spin/Marketing to make people THINK it and then make it that way? If we perceive the vacation we want won't be available we do tend to book early!

Kathy,

You make a very interesting point in your comments. Perception, supply and demand!

I heard an item on the radio this AM that Gen Xers (age 25-40) are out spending Boomers (40-60) on leisure travel by a margin of $2100 to $2000 (rough). It would be interesting to know if the Gen X folks are cruising more, too. Boomers still dominate in the aggregate because of their large population. But, the reporter said, the entire travel industry is taking notice of the trend. My perception of the economy (which is about the same as a blind man holding on to the left rear toenail of an elephant and trying to decide what he's got hold of) is that I'm having a much harder time finding engineers (telecomm, network, software) than I was three or four years ago. Back then a variety of "body shops" (temp hire folks) had large pools of good people. Now those pools are substantially diminished. I'm told the reason is that these engineers have found permanent work. I'm also finding college recruiting much more competitive than it ws a couple of years ago.

Well, I suppose this means the economy is picking up. Ted is a college professor and he tells me on of the seniors has a job offer as a chemical engineer for $62,000, fresh out of school, no real experience, good grades, good kid but, jeez, that's what the starting salary for engineering professors with a Ph.D. is.

This is a bit off topic, but the Wall Street Journal has been predicting a labor shortage since the early 90's, due to the fact that the Baby Boomers will be retiring and Gen. X is a much smaller generation and can't fully replace them. Corporate America has been trying to "out run" this trend by down-sizing, but the difference in size of the generations may not let that work forever.

As to booking cruises, I don't think the lux lines were ever much into the last minute discounts. And now, with Radisson, the discounts are appearing many months ahead of sailing, and disappearing as sailing time gets closer --- just as the artilce would imply.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

This just makes me so grateful that I booked my cruise when I did -- more than eight months in advance. At the time I was nervous about doing so, wondering if I was going to watch the price drop as time went by (I didn't realize then that RSSC extends price reductions to those already booked). Instead, the price went up several hundred dollars only two weeks after I booked, and rose from there, until it was sold out! I can only say...PHEW!!! And I got SUCH an phenomenal deal, people can't believe the amazing deal I got. :D :D

Yeh, well the GenXers are actually just the tail-end of the baby boom--the very late segment of a cohort always gets the short-end of the stick. It's the Gen-Yers who will really tell the tale--the so-called "echo boom"--they will prosper as we boomers have, some day.

The GenXers are busy being obsessed with fancy baby strollers and nannies and SUVs right now. Most of them won't be ready for luxury cruising for a while! Like my next-door neighbour says, "you guys have all your stuff already, now we have to get our stuff!" LOL

Wendy;
Boy did you say a mouthfull just then!!!

That is want my dughter keeps telling me "She wants HER stuff RIGHT NOW!!! LOL

(Wish I owned a Credit Card Company)! LOL!!

Wendy - we're Gen-Xers that prove the exception to the rule, then! ;)

Masaki

Yes Masaki you are. But just wait until that baby arrives! Your lives are definitely going to change in ways that you can't imagine yet.

Let's hope you manage to keep cruising with your child.

Masaki,
We found that while newborns created an immediate change in life focus, the big lifestyle change came when our oldest started school. So, be ready for the "aftershock" when your oldest starts school!
Greg

That's depressing guys. :(

I agree it's probably going to be tough cruising with the kids - I may need to shanghai the grandparents into helping on occasion. :)

Masaki