A wonderful way to welcome springtime traveling through some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Elegant cities and charming cities as your luxury riverboat travels down the Seine River. Guided by experts, you’ll experience everything from fine art, classic dining to blooming seasonal surroundings.

It’s Program #21265, from May 20 to 30, with prices starting at $3,295 per person. If those dates are already sold out, consider the same program scheduled for September 13 to 23, or from October 6 to 16. For complete info, go to www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/21265/the-best-of-the-seine-river-from-normandy-to-paris/dates

Recent news about a string of violent fights aboard a Carnival ship out of Australia is a shock. In more than 20 cruises since retirement, your travel4seniors.com editor and spouse never witnessed nor heard of this kind of behavior.

Of course, we have seen street fights and other potential dangers in port where the cruise ship docked. With the usual tight security onboard and sensible passengers, our cruises have all been peaceful and enjoyable. So, what can a senior do for self-protection if there’s a repeat of the Carnival violence?

Avoid confrontations onboard, especially at events involving drinking. If you see drunken behavior that may become violent, report it promptly to ship’s security. If a passenger is angry and gets into a physical brawl near you, don't get involved. Turn immediately and walk away for your own safety. If traveling with a group and a member is misbehaving due to drink, escort him/her to a cabin to stay until sober. And as Captain John Paul Jones said: We have not yet begun to fight!

The recent report about a flight from Germany to Newark wasn’t anything new. All senior air travelers have been disrupted often by uncontrolled kids. And in some unhappy examples, drunken adults acting like kids.

When it happens, there are several options for you. If early in the flight and you fear the crying and screaming will continue throughout, ask the attendant to move you to another seat. If you’re flying coach and all those seats are occupied, ask to be moved to an available upper class seat. There should be no added charge, considering your discomfort. If the attendant balks, keep your temper, but insist on the change.

Another way to escape the noise and disruption is to have the right electronics with you on the flight. It could be a smartphone or other gear that has a video screen, radio, movies, books and other recorded materials. Instead of regular earphones, carry larger, more sophisticated sound-blocking ones. Then, if surrounded by noise, clamp on those big circula pads and enjoy your flight.

As springtime nears and families make their plans to visit the world’s most popular amusement parks, they can expect to be greeted by higher fees. This is getting to be an annual, in-your-face happening, and this year is no exception.

Of course, it isn’t just Disney that does it. Inflation, primarily because of the greedy oil and housing racketeers, has been strangling our economy for each of the past three decades. And Disney must do it to compete in today’s business and entertainment worlds. It all brings back memories of when your travel4seniors.com editor first took his kids to Walt Disney World when it opened in the early 1970s.