A 74-year-old man takes his wife that he's been married to for 55 years on a cruise twice a year, and he has no intention of stopping.
Ron Lodowski lives in upstate New York with his wife, Susan, and they love to go on cruises as a way to escape to the tropics and enjoy a carefree trip.
While Millennials lead the post-Covid recovery in travel, baby boomers are increasingly booking trips. That's according to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.
In an interview in 2023, Mr. Liberty said Baby Boomers tend to pay more for a cruise (because they prefer higher end accommodations) and they bring their kids and grandkids with them.
"That Baby Boomer is bringing in more of that multigenerational travel, as the grandparents are looking to travel with their kids and their grandkids."
Ron is part of that Baby Boomer generation, and he likes how everything is taken care of on a cruise, "Need a meal? Royal has you covered. Need your cabin or suite cleaned? No problem. Want to see some form of entertainment after dinner? Look no further. Royal Caribbean cruising is one stop vacation shopping."
He didn't start cruising until later in life. His first cruise was in 2008 as a gift to his daughter. While he admits he made a "big mistake" choosing a Carnival cruise as his first cruise, he quickly made the jump to Royal Caribbean and now goes on multiple cruises per year.
"I cruise twice a year, on average, normally, once in March or April and once is September or October," he said.
"Living in the Northeast... these dates tend to extend the warm summer for us instead of having the summer begin in May and end in late August or early September."
I asked Ron for his tips for how to plan the right cruise based on how he likes to cruise with Susan and his family.
Book early
Ron says he picks his cruise based on four criteria: the time of the year, the itinerary, the ship, and lastly the price.
As an example, "With the introduction of the newest Icon and Oasis class ships, the cruise decision based upon ship has jumped ahead of the itinerary."
His first tip for booking a cruise is to book the cruise sooner than later.
"The sooner you book, normally the lower the cruise fare. If the price does decrease, you can always cancel and rebook as long as it is before the final payment date."
The ability to re-book up until final payment to take advantage of a price decrease is available to residents of certain countries, such as the United States or Canada. It is indeed one of the best ways to save money on a cruise.
"I have done this numerous times and have saved thousands of dollars. Better yet? Have your travel agent do this for you. Their charge is nonexistent, and their service is priceless."
Our team recommends using a good travel agent for the service they provide, as well as the opportunity to save money, just as Ron described.
Splurge
Ron approaches every cruise with a sobering but pragmatic view, "Treat ever cruise like it might be your last cruise."
To that point, he doesn't shy away from spending more on cruise extras.
"Enjoy the specialty dining experience, have that extra cocktail after dinner, treat yourself to a suite with all the suite benefits. Or better yet? Go full out and experience the pampering which you will receive from a Royal Genie. You will never forget it!"
While there are a lot of freebies on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Ron sees cruising as an escape.
I asked Ron what he'd tell someone else his age about why they should try a cruise. He joked, "I would first tell them to turn up your hearing aid" and then said he would explain how a cruise can transport you to amazing places.
"Cruising is an amazing experience. You get to travel to beautiful, scenic places and once onboard everything which you might want, or need is taken care of by one of the helpful crew members"
He also emphasized the importance of meeting new friends on a cruise, "And most importantly, unlike land vacations, where people come and go, when you are on a cruise, people you meet become your friends for life. I speak from experience. "
Book off season
Ron's last tip is to look for off season rates, which can save a lot of money compared to peak season.
As a retiree, Ron and Susan can take advantage of times of the year when there is less demand because school is in session, and thus, families are reluctant go to on vacation.
"Off season rates, January thru March and September thru November are usually much cheaper, so why not take advantage of these months?"
"You're retired, so you have no job or family to interfere with your vacation plans. You deserve it!"
Going on a cruise in the months Ron mentions can be a great time to go on a cruise for those added savings.
While the Caribbean is a year-round destination, booking a trip during one month over another could be the difference in hundreds of dollars.
