Nothing is guaranteed in life except death and taxes. This includes personal travel plans. What do you do when you have to keep down travel costs but need flexibility?

Previously we recommended travel insurance for cruise and resort trips. The typical cost for a $5,000 trip (cruise + airfare) for 2 for a week is $250 for travel insurance + $125 for CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) or 5% + 2.5% of total cost.

Today we focus on air travel and those nasty non-refundable basic economy fares. We wonder if CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) insurance is a smart way to hedge against the possibility of losing your entire, albeit cheap, airfare.

Travel insurance typically covers sudden, unforeseen events that disrupt your trip, including trip cancellations due to sudden sickness, severe weather, or a family emergency. But life is more complicated than that. Maybe you have a big project for work, your mom suddenly announced she will be visiting from Boca, or you realize that Saturn is going to be squaring the moon.

CFAR is an add-on that lets you cancel your trip for any unlisted or personal reason. It typically reimburses 50% to 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable expenses, provided you buy the insurance within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip payment and cancel at least 48 hours before departure.

Note that your expense has to be a total loss. CFAR will not pay when the airline issues you a credit.

Let’s make some assumptions so we can estimate costs. Suppose that the basic airfare is $1,000. The probability that you cancel (or change) is 10%. Our CFAR insurance covers 75% of the cost.

Here are your options and average net loss over 10 flights.

1. $100 - Do nothing. One time you’ll lose the entire purchase. But nine times out of ten your gamble works and there are no other costs.

2. $250 - Buy the airline upgrade, Scenario 1. This is the cash refund premium for a typical Main cabin ticket. It depends on the ticket price and whether it’s domestic or international.

3. $100 - Buy the airline upgrade, Scenario 2. You fly the airline regularly and will take the airline credit, which typically is $100 less. We include a $50 credit that you’d pay to choose your seat.

4. $125 - Hedge with CFAR. Typical travel insurance with CFAR is $100, which you’d pay for every flight. You’d lose $250 on the canceled flight.

Recommendation

In our example, these options are roughly the same in net cost to you. This is a case of airlines and insurance companies gauging risk analytically and pricing their products competitively. You won’t go wrong with any of them.

• If you normally buy Main Cabin, regularly fly the airline and will accept a credit, or will pay a little extra for an easy and safe choice, then buy the Main Cabin upgrade.

• Buy the Basic Economy ticket if you’re ok with the risk of cancellation, upfront cost is everything, the trip is soon, or the travel is a virtual certainty.

• For all other cases, the Basic Economy ticket with CFAR travel insurance is an excellent option. It provides peace of mind, includes travel insurance for flight, medical, and baggage emergencies, and ultimately doesn’t cost you more. But it’s a hassle. You have to source and buy an additional product and occasionally go through their claims process.

Marc Freedman

Background

• Airfare pricing based on an American Airlines flight. Fare classes will vary based on airline and class packages.

• Insurance prices and coverage will vary by trip, traveler, and provider. The data used here is an average from lower-priced quotes (but not the lowest) from those provided by John Hancock Silver, Tin Leg Gold, Travel Insured FlexiPAX, WorldTrips Elevate, battleface Discovery, Travelex Ultimate, Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice, AXA Assistance Explorer Elite.

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Port Highlights

• Departure Port - San Francisco. The darling of the West Coast is an offbeat, relatively small metropolis with an infinite number of personalities. Part chic, part Victorian, part hippie and part alternative, it is one of the U.S.’s most beloved cities. Its culturally strong neighbourhoods attest to its rich diversity and open-minded attitudes.

• Port Day 7-8 - Honolulu. Urban sophistication and an unhurried lifestyle are the two most notable characteristics of this chic Hawaiian paradise. Honolulu is a modern city combining eastern and western influences, and its dazzling beaches and crimson sunsets make for an unforgettable vacation.

• Port Day 9 - Kauai. Considered the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is a popular tropical paradise destination that has been featured in several Hollywood films for its beauty. Here, you can also discover the Na Pali coastline, offering a cacophony of colours and landscapes that will surely mesmerise.

• Port Day 10 - Kona. Located on Hawaii Island’s beautiful western shore, Kailua Kona is known for its calm, clear waters that offer the perfect playground for ocean adventure. Take the 25-minute drive north to Maniniowali Beach to swim or snorkel in the ultra-blue waves alongside dolphins and sea turtles. Often referred to simply as Kona, the area is also a place of deep historical significance. Cruise to Kailua Kona and check out Kaloko-Honokahau National Historical Park, a Hawaiian Heritage Site where you’ll encounter early temples, ancient petroglyphs and traditional fishponds. See where your morning cup comes from at one of the coffee plantations on the slopes of Hualalai volcano. If you’re daring, you can even hike to the summit.

• Port Day 17 - Moorea. Moorea’s craggy volcanic peaks, reflected in the tranquil waters of Cook’s and Oponohu bays, protrude from the island’s basaltic base. Lush mountain slopes are covered with rainforest or pineapple plantations, and white sand beaches border crystalline lagoons.

• Port Day 18,20 - Bora Bora. The most mythical of the Pacific Islands is comprised of a main island lying in the centre of an azure lagoon and sheltering coral reefs. Aside from its astounding beauty, it offers colourful villages, archaeological sites, and old Army bunkers and cannons left over from World War II.

• Port Day 19 - Papeete. Welcome to the largest city on the island of Tahiti, and the capital of French Polynesia. Here you’ll find a busy government centre and industrial port with a lot of charm. It’s also a great starting point to explore Tahiti’s several lagoons, black and white sand beaches, and volcanoes as well.

• Port Day 23 - Pago Pago. Pago Pago stands as the urban centre of American Samoa, and is best known for its busy harbour that’s surrounded by a lush jungle of trees and a scenic backdrop of mountains. This quaint harbour town is part of the National Park of American Samoa.

• Port Day 25 - Apia. At the central north coast of Upolu is Apia, the capital city of Samoa. Here, you’ll find a great collection of restaurants, clubs, shops, and a few markets for souvenirs. There are also scenic views from the coast, as well as a wealth of cultural attractions to keep you busy.

• Port Day 27 - SavuSavu. This hidden paradise in Fiji remains hidden no more. Located in the south coast of the Vanua Levu Island, Savusavu is known for its hot springs, the Copra Shed Marina, and the Savarekareka Mission, which is the first Roman Catholic chapel on the island.

• Port Day 28 - Lautoka. Serving as the entry point to Fiji is Lautoka, which has been nicknamed Sugar City for its sugar cane belt areas. Visit some of the quaint cafes and enjoy a cup as you marvel at Mt. Koroyanitu in the background.

• Port Day 31 - Norfolk Island. At first glance, it’s hard to believe that vibrant Norfolk Island could have a dark past. Yet during the 19th century, the now-peaceful Australian retreat was a convict colony, home to criminals who’d been banished into exile. Today, the archaeological remains of the penal colony have UNESCO World Heritage status and are revered for their historical significance. You can visit the settlement’s remains, an eerie yet beautiful collection that includes a jail, a cemetery, lumbar yard and salt house.

• Port Day 33-34 - Auckland. Auckland is a lively fusion of international style, local creativity and Polynesian charm. Its urban personality is bold, fast and fashionable, while its seaside ambiance ranges from rugged and untamed to smooth and tranquil.

• Port Day 35 - Tauranga. The principal city of the Bay of Plenty is a popular Kiwi summer resort with notorious military and missionary legacies. Its legendary Waitomo Caves comprise a vast underground network of water-sculpted, cathedral-like limestone grottoes. Big-game fishing and scuba diving abound.

• Port Day 36 - Napier. The seaport tourist city of Napier located on Hawke Bay allows cruisers to marvel at the beautiful Pania of the Reef, an important figure of Māori mythology. Thousands go here every February to attend the Tremains Art Deco Weekend event to celebrate the city’s Art Deco-inspired heritage.

• Port Day 37 - Picton. Picton, on the northeast corner of New Zealand’s South Island, provides access to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and to New Zealands most famous wine region, Marlborough, home to the worlds best Sauvignon Blanc.

• Port Day 38 - Lyttelton. Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour, at the northwestern end of Banks Peninsula and close to Christchurch, on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

• Port Day 39 - Dunedin. A university town of Scottish heritage, New Zealand’s oldest city is set around a sheltered harbour amidst a magical landscape. It possesses a unique combination of cultural riches, fine architecture and world-famous wildlife reserves.

• Port Day 40 - Stewart Island. Stewart Island, officially named Stewart Island/Rakiura, is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies 30 kilometres south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is 381 people as of the 2013 census, most of whom live in the settlement of oban on the eastern side of the island.

• Port Day 41 - Milford Sound. New Zealand’s Milford Sound is one of the world’s most beautiful fjords, and popular because of the towering Mitre Peak, surrounded by waterfalls and rainforests. Here, you’ll find a unique flora and fauna, with fur seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins just around each corner. Visit the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory to discover rare black corals and even more aquatic life.

• Port Day 44 - Hobart. Hobart takes you to huge attractions, where you can go climb mountains and view fantastic artworks all in one day, and just have the time to squeeze in some world-class dining in the city’s dynamic food scene. Shop in Salamanca’s weekend markets and take a gander at the artwork of the Museum of Old and New Art or the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

• Port Day 46 - Melbourne. The second largest city in Australia is renowned for its beautiful parks, passionate football fans, ‘upside down’ Yarra River and avant-garde attitude. Once voted “Most Livable City in the World,” it is elegant, cultured and modern.

• Port Day 48 - Eden. Known as a whaling town, Eden has Australia’s local vibe down in spades, with the magnificent Twofold Bay just peeking out, proud to display its harbor and fishing boats. Here, you’ll also find some stunning beachfronts, national parks, and wilderness areas that you can explore.

• Port Day 49-50 - Sydney. Australia’s most illustrious city is the country’s capital in everything but name. It possesses one of the most beautiful harbour settings in the world, and intermingles history, ruggedness and sophistication.

• Port Day 53 - Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. This small town on the north coast of the Dudley Peninsula is home to Hog Bay, which is a great place to swim with a great picnic area for the family. You can also visit Penneshaw’s various attractions, such as the Penneshaw Golf Course, the Maritime and Folk Museum, and the Baudin Conservation Park.

• Port Day 54 - Adelaide. The city of Adelaide is home to Australia’s award-winning wine regions. Indulge in great-tasting wines in Barossa Valley or the McLaren Vale. The sandstone city is where you can also find a vibrant food, bar, and cultural scene.

• Port Day 55 - Port Lincoln. Discover the seafood and aquaculture capital of Australia in Port Lincoln, with its huge commercial fishing fleet and its popular southern Bluefin tuna, Western King Prawns, and others. You can also take on a breath-taking dive alongside some Great White Sharks if you’re up for the adventure!

• Port Day 59 - Busselton, WA. Busselton is a city on the southwest tip of Western Australia. It’s known for its sheltered beach and seasonal humpback whale populations. The beachfront features the 19th-century Busselton Jetty. This wood pier stretches nearly 2km to the Underwater Observatory, where life in a coral reef is on view. To the city’s northeast, the towering tuart trees of Tuart Forest National Park are home to 2 species of possum.

• Port Day 60-61 - Fremantle. The exotic locales of Australia await at Fremantle, where you’ll find unique culture, heritage, architecture, and a thriving food scene. Cafés and bars dot the experience, with a 19th century vibe dominating the streetscape. You’ll find artisanal food, great craft beers, and lively musical and art performances on the streets, and the great coffee at the Cappuccino Strip that Australia’s known for.

• Day 65 - Bali (Benoa). From parasailing to fine dining, bar hopping and scuba diving, there’s a wealth of activities to do when you touchdown at Bali. Adventure seekers will have their fill here, with Jet Ski rides, sea walking, white water river rafting, fly boarding and more. Once done, you can head inland to dine with your fellow travelers or the locals at some choice shops.

• Port Day 66 - Celukan Bawang Bali. Explore Bali’s natural attractions including the tropical birds and reef fishes at Bali Barat National Park, or the mangrove and monsoon forests of Menjangan Island. It retains much of its Dutch colonial charms, while traditional villages like Munduk in the highlands, Sawan, where traditional gamelan musical instruments are produced, and Simbaran offer insights into the timeless Balinese culture.

• Port Day 69 - Singapore. This small, roughly diamond-shaped island at the end of peninsular Malaysia may be coated in modernity, but underneath lies conservative Confucian values. Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian influences make Singapore a highly tolerant city with a wealth of fascinatingly sundry cultures.

• Port Day 72-73 - Bangkok (Laem Chabang). Thailand’s largest, most modern and busiest deep-sea shipping port is the nation’s pride and its main transportation and export gateway. The famed beach resort of Pattaya is nine miles to the south, while Bangkok is 68 miles north of the port.

• Port Day 76 - Koh Samui. Ko Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It’s known for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and dense, mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and posh spas. The landmark 12m-tall golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple is located on a tiny island connected to Ko Samui by a causeway.

• Port Day 78-80 - Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don’t miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda.

• Port Day 82 - Da Nang. Vietnam’s fourth-largest city, Da Nang was where the first U.S. combat troops landed on March 8, 1965. Once war-torn, now it’s a friendly, pleasant city. It was the backdrop for the movie “Good Morning Vietnam” and the television series “China Beach”.

• Port Day 84-85 - Ha Long Bay. Legend has it that Halong Bay, a World Heritage site, was created when a dragon descended into the sea, its body forming the archipelago of 3,000 islands and rock formations.If you sail over its clear waters past awesome limestone cliffs and fascinating caves, you might just believe that the legend is true. Enjoy the spectacular scenery amidst fishing villages and beautiful white beaches.

• Port Day 87-88 - Hong Kong. The “Wall Street of Asia” is one of the world’s truly great cities. Reunited with China in 1997, it is a fast-paced, scintillating city brimming with Chinese medicine shops, British pubs, dazzling highrises, wooden boats, ancient villages, fish eateries and rugby lawns.

• Port Day 90 - Keelung (Taipei). Before embarking in Keelung, the third-largest port in Taiwan, take a little time to do some sightseeing. This pleasant port city is home to such historical sites like the Sea Gate Barrier Fort and places of worship dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.

• Port Day 91 - Ishigaki. The most cosmopolitan island in the Yaeyama Island Group of Okinawa, Ishigaki’s subtropical climate means its beach weather all year round here. The island is rimmed with powdery white beaches and sky-blue waters teeming with coral reefs. Take the one-hour hike up Okinawas highest peak, Mt. Otomo.

• Port Day 92 - Naha Okinawa. The only place in Japan with a subtropical climate, Okinawa radiates a relaxed island vibe, with its sunny skies, clear blue oceans and warm weather year-round.

• Port Day 94-96 - Shanghai. Still shaking off 40 years of oblivion and its Communist clothes, the biggest city in the biggest country on Earth is undergoing a massive rebirth. Though still battered, its thrust of energy is leading the way for the city to re-establishing itself as the Paris of China.

• Port Day 98 - Dalian. Reputed to be one of China’s cleanest and most beautiful cities, Dalian is an ancient shipping port affectionately called the “Sparkling Pearl On the Bohai Sea”. It is home to four finely landscaped beach parks and the acclaimed International Fashion Festival.

• Port Day 99-100 - Tianjin. One day is simply not enough in Tianjin and Beijing, so make sure to see some of the essential sights before your cruise departs. Cruise from Beijing to visit the Great Wall of China at Huangya Pass, located about an hour and a half from town. If you’re an adventure junky, try climbing to the top of Widow’s Peak, the highest point of this portion of the wall, and snap a few breathtaking photos.

• Port Day 102 - Seoul (Incheon)

• Port Day 104 - Yeosu. After sleepy Yeosu was chosen to host the 2012 World Expo, it was catapulted into the tourism spotlight. Now that the South Korean city’s volcanic beaches, idyllic islands and colorful historic sites have been discovered, it’s likely that it will grow into a popular international vacation spot. Take a bus to the Hyangiram temple, walk along the breakwater to Odongdo Island, or work your way through the fascinating Fish Market.

• Port Day 105-106 - Busan (Pusan). Despite its status as Korea’s second largest city, Pusan (or Busan) does not neglect the country’s obsession with nature. The city’s undulating hills result in an unusual mix of forested slopes, rugged beaches, lurching cliffs and hot springs. Pusan’s seafood is legendary.

• Port Day 107 - Fukuoka. Fukuoka, on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is known for ancient temples and beautiful beaches. Explore the 17th-century ruins of Fukuoka Castle in Maizuru Park. Then head to the central Hakata district, home to Tocho-ji Temple, where a 10-meter wooden Buddha sits. Cruise to Fukuoka and dive deeper into history at the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, with displays on daily life in the Meiji and Taisho eras.

• Port Day 108 - Kitakyushu, Japan

• Port Day 109 - Hiroshima. A bustling metropolis dotted with leafy parks and ancient shrines, Hiroshima is a city with deep historical significance that has it’s eyes on the future. Here, you’ll find rebuilt traditional castles standing next to modern skyscrapers. Get a better understanding of the city’s place in 20th-century history at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

• Port Day 110 - Beppu. Pillars of steam rise from this sun-drenched city, attesting to its countless hot springs. Cruise to Beppu to visit one of the many onsen (hot-spring spas). There are over 2,000 here. You can also find mud baths at Beppu Onsen Hoyo Land Konya Jigoku and sand baths at Beppu-Kaihama Beach.

• Port Day 111 - Kochi Japan. Humming with happy energy, Kochi is a wholesome city blessed with green mountains and a network of blue rivers. The hub of the Kochi prefecture on the island of Shikoku, the city’s streets are bustling hubs of activity. Walk by vendors selling everything from grilled Bonito fish to authentic secondhand kimonos.

• Port Day 112-113 - Kobe. Perched on a hill sloping down to the sea, Kobe is a maritime gateway to one of Japans most metropolitan cities. Mt. Rokko dominates the skyline from the summit. Of course, Kobe’s also famous for breeding Wagyu cows that produce some of the highest-quality beef in the world.

• Port Day 114 - Shimizu. The skyline is dominated by one of Japans most distinctive sites: snow-capped Mt. Fuji. Head to Miho-no-Matsubara, a pristine beach flanked by a picturesque pine grove, where you can take in some of the clearest views of Japans tallest mountain. Cruise to Mt. Fuji and take the one-hour drive from the port to Fuji itself for some hiking.

• Port Day 115-116 - Tokyo. Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar. Wake up before the sun to catch the lively fish auction at the Toyosu Market, then refresh with a walk beneath the cherry blossom trees that line the Sumida River.

• Port Day 117 - Oarai, Japan

• Port Day 118 - Miyako, Japan

• Port Day 128 - Kodiak. Kodiak is one of seven communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, in the U.S. state of Alaska.

• Port Day 130 - Juneau. Alaska’s capital city features luring scenery that often seems surreal. Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield and Glacier Bay National Park offer unparalleled glacier viewing, and The Tongass Rainforest climate boasts lush terrain and captivating wildlife.

• Port Day 131 - Icy Strait Point. Opened a decade ago by the Huna Tlingit Native Alaskans, it’s easily one of the best spots in the region for fishing and whale watching. Dive into Native Alaska culture at a tribal dance show or pay a visit to Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Tlingit village.

• Port Day 132 - Ketchikan - Ward Cove, Alaska

• Port Day 134 - Nanaimo. Nanaimo, British Columbia, is a bastion of outdoor exploration and wildlife sightseeing. Also known as Harbor City, this rests on Vancouver Island in the protected waters of the Straight of Georgia, directly across from Vancouver.

• Port Day 135 - Vancouver. Dramatic mountains and soaring skyscrapers kiss the sea in this booming British Columbian metropolis. Known as the “Hollywood of the North,” Vancouver is stunningly beautiful and richly diverse - highlighted by dense forests, verdant parks, intimate coffeehouses and seaside markets.

• Port Day 136 - Seattle. The birthplace of grunge and espresso stands is greener and less wet than conceived. It is a haven for avant-garde art, music and film and fashion. Defined by its people and its geography, the Emerald City encourages diversity, outdoor recreation and an easygoing lifestyle.

• Port Day 137 - Victoria BC. The capital of British Columbia is an intimate, sophisticated seaside city that is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Located in one of Canada’s mildest climates, it is the sunniest spot in the province. This one-time colonial outpost alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping and a colourful nightlife.

• Port Day 138 - Astoria. The culture of Astoria embraces both its seafaring blue-collar trade history and the burgeoning arts scene that draws artisans and creators alike. Stroll through downtown past the boutique shops, hip restaurants and museums. Check out the Oregon Film Museum housed in the old Clatsop County Jail.

• Port Day 140 - San Francisco

• Port Day 142 - San Diego. San Diego’s magnificent coastline, ideal climate and Mediterranean facade make it the quintessential Southern California beach city. The best spot to experience the So-Cal beach scene is the 3-mile stretch from the southern tip of Mission Beach to the northern end of Pacific Beach.

• Port Day 145 - Cabo San Lucas. The “Marlin Capital of the World” features exciting charters to the areas top sport fishing spots. Take a boat excursion to the landmark El Arco (The Arch), a dramatic rock formation right at the tip of the peninsula, where seals, sea lions and pelicans bask in the sun.

• Port Day 147 - Acapulco. Both Nahua Indians and 1950’s Hollywood jet setters have inhabited this splashy vacation Mecca. Constant sun, a sparkling half-moon bay and golden beaches have helped Acapulco maintain its ranking as one of the top honeymoon spots worldwide.

• Port Day 149 - Puerto Quetzal. Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala’s largest Pacific Ocean port. It’s the ideal starting point to discover some of Guatemala’s most iconic attractions. After a short ride outside of this port city, roam the Spanish Colonial streets of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the colossal Volcan de Agua in the background.

• Port Day 150 - Acajutla. The port of Acajutla is one of the major ports in the country used for export of coffee, sugar and balsam.

• Port Day 152 - Puntarenas CR. Costa Rica’s major Pacific port sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya. The closest beach resort to San Jose, it features strikingly unusual black sand beaches. Tropical jungles near the city shelter macaws, toucans, parakeets and howler monkeys.

• Port Day 154 - Cruising Panama Canal. This $387 million dollar, 51-mile-long canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Completed by the U.S. from 1904-1914 under Teddy Roosevelt, it is considered one of the greatest engineering marvels of all time.

• Port Day 155-156 - Cartagena Colombia. A beautiful, quaint fishing town on the Atlantic coast of Colombia, Cartagena is full of pastel-painted buildings, Spanish colonial architecture and magnificent cathedrals. Walls and fortresses, once constructed to protect the city from British soldiers and pirates, still stand.

• Port Day 159 - Miami. This vast array of wonderful beaches offers you opportunities to swim with the dolphins in a tropical lagoon and come face-to-face with alligators during an Everglades airboat tour. Or stroll through a tropical rainforest while hundreds of butterflies flutter above you.

• Port Day 162 - New York. The city that never sleeps is quite possibly the world’s most illustrious city. Known for its brazen streets, glamorous lifestyles and intriguing crowds, the Big Apple is home to a dizzying number of world-renowned attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Central Park and Broadway.

• Port Day 163 - Newport. Newport, Rhode Island, offers New England charm with a little eccentricity. Built by early American rebels and defined by the ocean, Newport has one of the best coastlines in New England, which can you explore as you walk along the cliffside that towers over it.

• Port Day 164 - Cruising Cape Cod Canal. The Cape Cod Canal is an artificial waterway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts connecting Cape Cod Bay in the north to Buzzards Bay in the south, and is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

• Day 165 - Boston. Dubbed the “hub of the solar system” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, this compact, revolutionary city serves up elegant history and sundry culture. Boston is crowned with distinct neighbourhoods, which hold throngs of ethnic loyalties, Bruins fans and college students. Its labyrinthine streets are harmoniously laced with steeples, mansions and parks.

• Port Day 167 - Halifax. The capital of Nova Scotia is a bustling harbour town that is both outwardly urban and quietly rural. Fishing villages house a diverse mix of cultures, and sun-drenched beaches, historic sites, sparkling coves and sidewalk cafes intermingle and vie for visitors’ attention.

• Port Day 169 - St. John’s (Newfoundland). Set against the backdrop of the wild Atlantic sea, St. Johns is defined by animated locals, colorful houses and its own brand of folk music. It’s known for fishing villages, kitchen parties and bakeapple jam.

• Port Day 174-174 - Cork. The real capital of Ireland, that’s what the locals call Cork, a university city in the country’s southwest. In the city center, situated on an island in the River Lee, you’ll find one of Ireland’s best foodie scenes, with laneways and streets filled with local watering holes and high-end restaurants. Check out the the prison-turned-museum Cork City Gaol, visit Blarney Castle and kiss its eponymous stone, and sample local culinary specialities in the English Market.

• Port Day 176 - Plymouth. This English town is best known for the Smeaton’s Tower Lighthouse and the breathtaking views over Plymouth Sound. Uniquely situated between Dartmoor, the last great wilderness of Southern England, and South Devon, a mellow coast, Plymouth is dually rustic and urban.

• Port Day 177 - Paris (Le Havre). Paris is an iconic city, a melange of everything artistic and sublime, with a worldwide reputation for excellence in cuisine, fashion, architecture and the fine arts. Drive in from the port (just over two hours) to hit the streets to see the city’s monumental landmarksm including the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

• Port Day 178 - Tilbury

• Port Day 179 - Ijmuiden, Netherlands

• Port Day 180 - Cruising Kiel Canal. A 95-kilometre long freshwater canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The canal was finished in 1895, but later widened, and links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau.

• Port Day 181 - Warnemunde/Berlin. Positioned at the mouth of the Warnow River on the Baltic Sea, Wanermunde is hailed as one of Germany’s most popular beach resorts. It’s the gateway to Berlin, the historic capital of Germany.

• Port Day 182 - Ronne, Denmark

• Port Day 183 - Gdansk. This Polish town laid in ruins after the siege of Hitler during WW II, but the reconstructed city is now considered one of the chief ports on the Baltic Sea. Strong industrialism and fervid political activism are hallmarks of the previously named “Danzig.” Popular attractions include St. Catherine’s Church and The Torture Hall.

• Port Day 184 - Klaipeda. When your cruise docks Klaipeda, on Lithuania’s Curoanian coast, you might feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. One of Europes best-kept beach secrets, Klapeida is as much about pristine scenery as it is the intricate Fachwerk architecture of its charming Old Town.

• Port Day 185 - Riga Latvia. The Latvian capital, the largest city in the Baltics, is a mixture of proud Latvian tradition and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. Independent once again since 1991, Riga’s Art Nouveau center has won a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

• Port Day 187 - Tallinn. The capital of Estonia is a living museum that houses more complete remnants than most European cities. Winding cobblestone streets and storybook medieval houses accentuate its old town, while the vast, ungodly Lasnamäe apartment district captures the essence of the Soviet reign.

• Port Day 188 - Helsinki. The exotic capital of Finland is a consummate city of the sea, built along a series of peninsulas and islands. Neoclassical schemes of the early 1800’s and modernist Finnish styles of the mid 20th century combine to make it a sprawling masterpiece, outfitted with sea-bordered parks, picturesque boulevards and waterside walkways.

• Port Day 189-190 - Stockholm. Experience Stockholm’s beauty from the water (as much as Amsterdam and Venice) or the many faces of the city’s distinct neighborhoods, stages, museums and parks. The magnificent heights of Söder and Gamla Stan, dating from the Middle Ages, are very different from Djurgården’s fantastic woods and the shopping thoroughfares around Stureplan.

• Arrival Port Day 192 - Copenhagen. The largest city in Scandinavia, built on two islands, is a cozy metropolis that is often referred to as the “Paris of the North.” Its winding streets, timbered houses and 12th-century castles evoke Copenhagen’s past. Copenhagen is especially known for cafe culture and thrilling nightlife.

🏝️ STEAL THIS DEAL 🏝️

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Price is from an actual listing and must be booked on Vacation Steal, a private member site. Pricing is dynamic. Book resorts, hotels, villas, and cruises worldwide at WHOLESALE to save up to 89% off public prices.

GoTravelLife asks Travel Agent vs Cruise Line vs Costco/VacationsToGo: Which Path Saves You the Most?

The answer: None of them.

Vacation Steal has uniquely unleashed the power of wholesale in travel. It’s a different business model compared to the traditional retail channels of direct (resorts, hotels, and cruise lines), travel agency, and mega website sales.

We provide the full travel product with online and travel agent booking and customer support. But our operations are designed with minimal admin, marketing, sales, and profit margin.

Retail sales commissions are 10-20%. But we don’t pay commissions. Instead Vacation Steal passes the savings on to you with unbeatable wholesale prices.

That’s why our motto is Never Pay Retail Again!

Cruises

The cruise line oligopoly enforces strict price parity to prevent heavy price discounting. So fares run in a narrow range among cruise sellers. In this tight industry Vacation Steal prices are 5-27% lower than other sales channels.

Resorts and Hotels

Hotel room prices don’t have the forced price protection of cruise cabins. Heavy discounts are possible. Whereas the cruise line suppliers limit retail price, it’s the sellers limiting competition in the hotel market. Booking Holdings and Expedia Group own most major web sites. Vacation Steal prices are up to 89% lower than those through Booking.com, Expedia, and other major retail websites.

If you’re booking a resort, hotel, or cruise, you’re paying a sales commission. You don’t see it because it’s part of the price. But it’s going to someone, whether it’s a travel agent or staff contractor or employee.

Good news! Vacation Steal is a wholesale travel provider. Just like Costco and Sam’s Club, our sales staff is paid a regular salary. We don’t pay sales commissions. That’s part of why our prices are so low.

Typical travel agent commissions range from 8% to 15% for hotels and resorts, and 10% to 20% for cruises. These percentages apply to the base room or cruise fare, excluding government taxes and resort or port fees. At travel agencies, similar to real estate agencies, individual agents typically split the fee with the agency.

We did some research to dig into this further.

Hotels and Resorts Commission Rates

• Standard / Budget Properties (2–3 star): 8% to 12%

• Mid-Range & Chain Properties (4–5 star / Marriott, Hilton): 10% to 15%

• Luxury Properties & Consortia Partners (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton via Virtuoso): 12% to 20% (luxury brands often start at 10%, but preferred partner programs or high volume push rates higher)

Cruise Commission Rates

• Mass Market Lines (Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean): 10% to 14% base, up to 15–16% with preferred status

• Premium & River Cruises (Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises): 12% to 18%

• Luxury & Expedition Lines (Regent, Silversea Cruises): 15% to 22%

Staff Splits and Payout Realities

• Host Agency Splits: Independent agents working under a host agency typically split the commission, keeping anywhere from 60% to 90%.

• Timing: Most suppliers pay commissions 30 to 90 days after travel is completed, though some cruise lines disburse funds after final client payment.

• Planning Fees: Because base commissions can lag, many agents charge separate upfront planning or service fees ($100–$250+) for their time. In comparison, Vacation Steal charges $35 to consult and book your vacation with one of our travel planners.

👍 Time for a quick summer getaway for you and the kids? Disney may strain your budget. But your hotel won’t. We found the steal for you.

Create family memories in Orlando with amusement parks, outdoor adventures, scenic natural beauty near the Everglades headwaters, and abundant sunshine. Visit top attractions, including Magic Kingdom, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Disney's Animal Kingdom, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Volcano Bay, and LEGOLAND Florida.

🏩 2.5* Comfort Inn Maingate, Kissimmee, Florida

Nestled in Kissimmee, Florida, just miles from Walt Disney World, Comfort Suites Maingate East is a premier choice for travelers. Located near the lively Old Town district, this welcoming retreat features comfortable suites with microwaves and refrigerators. Enjoy top-tier amenities including a heated outdoor pool, a vibrant poolside tiki bar, a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, and convenient access to local regional attractions.

👩 up to 6 people

📅 7 nights - Aug 29-Sept 5

⁉️ Pay $368 wholesale on Vacation Steal (includes taxes and fees) … or $790 on Expedia and other retail. It’s the same room. Your choice.

💵 SAVE $422 OR 53%!

Area highlights

• Walt Disney World Resort
  Explore magical theme parks and iconic attractions located just minutes away in the heart of Central Florida, perfect for all ages.

• Old Town Kissimmee
  Stroll through this walkable, retro-themed entertainment and shopping district featuring classic car cruises and unique local boutiques.

• Fun Spot America
  Enjoy high-energy family fun, thrilling roller coasters, and go-karts right next door to the local entertainment neighborhood.

• Lake Tohopekaliga
  Experience scenic airboat rides and witness breathtaking natural wildlife in the beautiful outdoor wetlands of Kissimmee.

• Disney Springs
  Indulge in world-class dining, live entertainment, and unique shopping experiences just a short drive north of the resort area.

💵 ABOUT LIVE STEALS 💵

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Hotel price is from an actual listing and must be booked on Vacation Steal, a private member site. Pricing is dynamic. Book resorts, hotels, villas, and cruises worldwide at WHOLESALE to save up to 89% off public prices.

15 TIPS

1. Be Wilson. Wilson the Castaway volleyball wasn’t talking and so shouldn’t you. Don’t assume. Be polite. Be discreet. Respect participants … and non-participants. A good policy for partnering … and life.

2. They’ve got a cruise for that. Of course they do. There are nude, lifestyle, music, and other themed voyages chartered by specialty companies. Visit Bliss, Temptation, and Desire Cruises for adult cruises.

3. Solo cruising. Cruises are increasingly single-friendly to the point of building more cabins for one. Many ships schedule solo-traveler gatherings, meetups, dance classes, and hosted bar events.

4. Mainstream cruising. Your chances of meeting singles and hooking up are best on adults-only cruise lines like Virgin Voyages, Viking Cruises, and Oceania Cruises, and sailings like Carnival Cruise Line SEA.

5. Avoid the kids. Other mainstream cruises will be freer and quieter when children are less likely to be on board. So sail during school terms and for a week or longer. Avoid holidays, Spring Break, the summer, and long weekends.

6. Top-down cruising in public … Topless sunbathing used to be common on cruise ships across the world, including the U.S. But the party is over. It is prohibited in public now, even on adults-only cruises. There are exceptions. Virgin Voyages allows it on The Perch on Deck 17. In Europe, a number of cruise lines, including Viking Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Costa Cruises have topless decks or areas, as well as specialized clothing-optional charters.

7. … and private ... Mainstream cruise lines prohibit nude sunbathing on balconies where you can be seen by others, including other balconies, the ship, or the port. It’s generally ok if it’s truly private. But be aware there are cameras on the sides of the ship.

8. … but keep it down. While you can’t be seen by others on your balcony, you can be heard. So don’t get too frisky.

9. What’s with the upside-down pineapple? It’s the secret handshake of swingers. The sign can be found on cabin doors (though Carnival Cruise Line says they may remove it), clothing, jewelry, tattoos, etc. There are pineapple badges, pineapple-topped straws, and even pineapple necklaces and anklets.

10. Meet before the cruise. Users on dating apps like Feeld use the pineapple emoji. You can find other swingers in online communities like Adult Friendfinder, Reddit, and #swingtok.

11. Enjoy the casino. The casino is another way to have adult fun on the ship. Just don’t have too much fun because it’s certainly not an investment.

12. Remember that everyone carries a camera. A few too many cocktails can turn a silly pool-deck moment into somebody else’s viral video. A ship’s public area is no different from any land location. Don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want your mom or your boss to see.

13. Foreign pharma. International ports can save you a lot of money on medication that’s much more expensive in the U.S. But steer clear of illegal drugs, which ships take very seriously. This includes marijuana, and even CBD products, even if you have a legal prescription. Cruise ships operate on maritime law, not that of your home state or departure port. Just like when you’re flying, it’s safest to put drugs in labeled containers and have your doctor’s prescriptions with you.

14. The drinking age follows the sailing—not the horizon. Turning 18 does not automatically make alcohol legal once a ship reaches international waters. The minimum age depends on the cruise line, departure region, and destination. Royal Caribbean, for example, uses 21 on North American and Caribbean departures but 18 on many international departures. Check your line’s current written policy.

15. Lastly, a cruise is not a departure from reality. Keep naughty and risky behavior in your cabin. Fights, lewd behavior, throwing objects overboard, and boasting about smuggled items can trigger ship security, a timeout in the brig (yes, each ship has one), expulsion from the ship at the next stop, being put on the cruise line’s permanent no-sail list, and even fines and jail time.

If you’re a cruise veteran, you likely have compared prices from different sources with little variation and wondered why.

• Direct from the cruise line

• Travel agents big and small

• Major cruise web sites like VacationsToGo and Cruise Direct

3 Tips

1. The cruise market is an oligopoly. There are about 15 major cruise lines. But 4 holding companies run the market with 96% of passengers.

   1. Carnival Cruise Line is by far the market leader - 40% of the global market, $26 billion in sales, 90+ ships. The group also owns corporate parent owns Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and P&O Cruises.

   2. Royal Caribbean - 31% share, other brands are Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises

   3. Norwegian Cruise Line - 12% share, other brands are Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas.

   4. MSC Cruises - 8% share

2. The cruise lines have the power and use it. They enforce rate parity and anti-rebating policies that protect the strength of the cruise lines’ own direct booking

   • Base Fare Matching: Major cruise lines require travel advisors and online booking engines to sell individual cabins at the same baseline rate found on the cruise line’s direct website.

   • Anti-Rebating Rules: Lines ban cash back, cash-equivalent rebates, or returning a portion of the agent’s commission directly to the consumer as a cash discount.

   • Advertising Ceilings (MAP-style rules): Agencies cannot publicly display or advertise prices lower than the cruise line’s standardized pricing layout.

3. Those Onboard Credits (OBCs) are your discount. Travel agencies and large cruise sellers use the same sales tactics as the lines in their direct sales promotions. They offer non-cash gifts, such as OBCs, prepaid gratuities, and specialty dining. They pay the cruise lines for these add-ons, which reduces their sales commission. Some luxury lines cap these non-cash amenities at a strict percentage (such as 5% to 8% of the base fare).

One of our readers wrote “I lost my Steal! Please help me get it back.”

He was referring to our Panama Canal-Seattle Double Steal that featured a 16 night cruise for the truly amazing price of $503 per person for an Inside cabin. When he checked Vacation Steal the price was $803, an excellent price but not what we published.

In fact the search listing still had the lower price, while the booking had the higher one. Regrettably we can’t help the reader to get the bargain rate. It was an example of phantom travel pricing. There was a price change but the search and booking databases were not synchronized.

The cruise lines employ dynamic pricing and aren’t afraid to use it. Large jumps and drops in cruise fare before the sailing are common - like this one. You can get whiplash trying to keep up sometimes.

But there seemed to be something more to the story. So we grabbed our pipe, trusty dog, and magnifying glass to dig further. It was a case for our Cruise fare tracking and analysis case file.

We checked other cruise sites and confirmed that they too had the price difference. Oceanview cabins had a similar pattern - $698 on search, but $998 on booking.

The CruisePlum fare history below gave us more clues.

• The inside cabin price actually has always been $800+.

• Balconies experienced limited availability a month ago. Prices shot up like this and then the class sold out.

Our analysis

• The price hike is typical. Fares can be unstable when cabin classes are nearly sold out as cabins are sold, reserved, canceled, or freed up. The Balconies for the same sailing show that perfectly as they rise $600, sell out 2 days later, open up $600 lower for a day, jump back up $300 for a day, sell out for 2 days, open for a day, and finally stay sold out.

• The interesting part is the price chart doesn’t show the liquidation sale. CruisePlum gets its pricing from cruise line web sites. Carnival’s recent promotions have included 3rd and 4th person free, OBC, and free upgrade. So it’s possible they provided a big discount not in cash, but through those programs, which cost them far less.

• Instead, Carnival Cruise Line promoted the bargain basement fare only with its distributors to move the inventory. The promotion worked and was ended.

The moral of the story: When you see a big drop like this, especially when you see instability in another cabin class - BUY!

“I found the perfect trip at the perfect price—until I tried to buy it.”

You search for a flight, hotel, cruise, or car rental and spot an irresistible deal. But when you click through, the rate is gone, the room is unavailable, or the price suddenly jumps. You just experienced a minute in the phantom zone.

No, you’re not being jailed on Krypton. You probably just encountered phantom travel pricing.

This happens when a displayed travel price can’t be booked. It may disappear, change, or be unavailable when you reach the booking page.

Phantom pricing wastes time and distorts comparisons. You may reject a genuinely bookable $850 trip after seeing a $700 alternative, only to discover that the $700 deal never really existed.

Phantom pricing is typically due to dynamic pricing and inventory or synchronization delays. You may see this a lot on Google airfares where great prices on Google just aren’t there when you click through to the actual airline website.

Airlines, hotels, and cruise lines continually adjust prices and availability. Airlines in particular are known for changing the price almost every minute, depending on your location, the time, the day, promotions, if you’re a member or frequent flyer, if you’ve searched before, if you previously clicked, how far you got through the booking process, etc.

Travel websites frequently store travel listings in a special database and cache recent search results so they can quickly display hundreds of listings.

When you click a specific listing, you’re accessing their booking engine, which may be different from their search listings if the databases are not synchronized or the inventory changes. If someone buys the last cabin or seat in the lowest fare category, the live price can change before the search site refreshes its data.

Not every misleading price is a technical accident. A price that remains available but grows as mandatory charges are added is called drip pricing. Vacation Steal avoids this by always including taxes and fees in quoted prices.

Before treating any travel price as real, verify:

• The exact travel dates and itinerary

• The room, cabin, or airfare category

• The number and ages of travelers

• Taxes, mandatory fees, and restrictions

• Availability on the final booking screen

Other phantom pricing causes include:

• Incorrect data: A supplier or third-party travel distributor sends the wrong price.

• AI-generated estimates: An AI travel planner quotes a plausible price without access to live, bookable inventory.

• Intentional low-price advertising: A company continues promoting an unavailable price to attract clicks.

• Mistakes: A genuinely bookable price was accidentally published incorrectly.

• Bait-and-switch pricing: A low price is knowingly advertised to attract customers even though the seller does not intend to honor it.

If you want to report, investigate, or dispute this with your travel provider, wait a few minutes and run the search again to check that the discrepancy repeats. Take and send a video or screenshots that verify the search results and booking pages.

13 TIPS

1. There is no “best” time, just the one best for you. So determine what’s important. Are you constrained by cruise line, ship, cabin class, cabin location, when, where, and how long you can sail? Is price most important? How flexible is your scheduling?

2. There also is no one price. Create a budget so you know what to expect. The base cabin fare is just a start. Are you a regular drinker? Do you want a drink package. Will you need Internet? Where do you stand on Automatic Gratuity or not to Gratuity. Do you always go on a port tour? Your affordable cruise may cost 200% more than you think! 😱

3. It’s the total price that counts. Cruise lines play marketing games with onboard credit (OBC) and pricing for add-ons like drinks, wifi, and gratuities. Regular and holiday promotions may provide OBC or add-ons at a reduced price or even free on your initial purchase and after booking. So be sure you’re always comparing total prices.

4. Do your homework, if you can. Cruise fare tracking and analysis are an excellent guide on when to book.

5. Determine your risk tolerance. You may not have the time or interest to study cruise history. You may want or have to decide quickly and saving a few hundred dollars on your booking isn’t critical. Maybe you don’t want to risk the chance that the ship will sell out. In these cases, buy immediately and don’t wait.

6. Plan for seasonal pricing. Prices rise with demand. They’re higher over major US holidays and when kids are out of school like spring break. They start high in the summer in June and start to drop in August.

7. Ignore old advice. There used to be a time when experts told cruisers to buy as soon as the sailing was released because the price would only go up. But there are over 300 ships sailing worldwide for the major cruise lines now. Many routes are competitive. So that blanket rule is no longer valid.

8. Book popular cruises early. The advice to buy early does apply in certain cases. Do buy at least a year before sailing to reserve a new or in-demand ship, cruise over the holidays, or for specialty sailings.

9. Book special cabins even earlier. If you need an accessible cabin, connecting rooms, or a specific location, book as soon as the itinerary is released. These cabins are limited and can disappear long before the ship sells out.

10. Why it’s ok to book early. Many cruise lines will provide price protection before you make the final payment 3 or 4 months before departure. But you have to ask. It’s typically best to work through your travel agent. Be sure to look at pricing for the same cabin class to see if you’re eligible and take a screenshot of the quote and terms so you have evidence.

11. Ask even after the payment deadline. It’s less likely that the cruise lines will reimburse you for lower prices. But they have been known to do it, though it’s typically non-cash like OBC or a service.

12. Surf the Wave but be careful. Cruise lines traditionally promote heavily from January through March (the Wave Season) to kick up the sales for the upcoming year. It can be an excellent time to buy, just like Black Friday and semiannual sales. But compare total price as it may not be the lowest overall price.

13. Book last-minute deals if you’re flexible. Prices can drop after the final payment date (generally 90 days before sailing) when cruise lines know how many unsold cabins they have to fill. Sometimes the prices can be real Steals.

Includes tips from Gary Ward’s Optimal Cruising video, “Score The Best Cruise Deals By Booking At This Time.”

Listed in Live Weeks & Home Steals. Save even more when you book by the week or a unique, large, or luxury home or villa.

👍 Enjoy the power and savings of Vacation Steal on Land AND Sea. This Panama Canal transit cruise is an amazing $62/ night for 2. If you’re flying into Seattle to start the cruise, why not enjoy the city for a week for an extended trip? Our wholesale rates for the cruise and hotel save you $1,630 - It’s like a free vacation week!

The emerald gem of Seattle is a dynamic metropolis defined by its famous skyline, historic neighborhoods, and deep maritime culture. Spend your days exploring the bustling stalls of Pike Place Market, taking in panoramic views from the top of the iconic Space Needle, or strolling down the historic brick pathways of Pioneer Square. Enjoy the beauty of Mount Rainier and the active waters of Puget Sound.

This multi-week cruise takes you from the misty shores of the Pacific Northwest down through the sunny Pacific Coast, passing the dramatic rock formations of Mexico and the lush, tropical rainforests of Central America. The true highlight of the journey is the historic transit through the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. Explore colonial fortresses in the Caribbean before concluding your grand journey along the beautiful beaches of the American Gulf Coast.

🏨 Oct. 1-8, 7 nights, 3.5* Hyatt House Seattle/Redmond, Washington

💵 Pay $1,195 wholesale at Vacation Steal ($170/night) …. $2,477 on Retail sites like Priceline … A savings of $1,282 or 51%

Nestled right in the heart of downtown Redmond, Washington, the Hyatt House Seattle/Redmond provides a contemporary and comfortable residential-style haven. The hotel is situated within easy walking distance of the premier shopping and dining at the open-air Redmond Town Center and is just a short drive from the massive corporate Microsoft Campus. Guests can stretch out in spacious rooms and suites equipped with modern kitchenettes, while enjoying excellent on-site amenities. Take advantage of the daily complimentary hot breakfast buffet, relax beside the outdoor firepit at the H Bar, or recharge in the indoor heated pool and 24/7 fitness studio.

🛳️ Oct. 8-24, 16 nights, 4* Carnival Spirit, 2 passengers Inside cabin

💵 Pay $1,006 for 2 wholesale at Vacation Steal ($62/night) …. $1,354 on Retail sites like CruiseDirect … and $3,868 on the brochure. A savings of $348 or 25% off retail and $2,862 or 74% off the brochure.

The Carnival Spirit accommodates 2,124 passengers across its 12 decks. Enjoy a wide array of premium amenities, including the thrilling WaterWorks water park featuring the high-speed Green Thunder waterslide. For a more relaxed experience, adults can escape to the peaceful, kid-free Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. Dining options are vast and delicious, ranging from fresh custom burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint to taco bars at BlueIguana Cantina, alongside dazzling nightly entertainment in the main theater and a lively onboard casino.

👩 2 adults

⁉️ Cruise and hotel total for 2: Pay $2,201 at Vacation Steal ... or $3,831 on Retail sites. It’s the same cabin. Your choice.

💵 Save $1,630 or 42% off retail. Just $95/day for 23 nights.

Port Highlights

• Departure port: Seattle, Washington, United States. Board the ship at the bustling cruise terminals along the scenic Elliot Bay waterfront, surrounded by sweeping views of Puget Sound and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains.

• Port: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Located at the southern tip of the sun-drenched Baja Peninsula, this vibrant resort town is world-famous for its dramatic Land’s End rock formations and the iconic El Arco archway.

• Port: Puntarenas, Costa Rica. This energetic coastal port serves as your gateway to the rich biodiversity of Central America, offering easy access to lush cloud forests and eco-adventures.

• Cruising by: Panama Canal Transit, Panama. The ship navigates through the legendary locks of this historic engineering marvel, journeying past lush tropical landscapes to transition smoothly between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

• Port: Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia. This enchanting Caribbean coastal city captivates visitors with its massive, centuries-old colonial stone walls, brightly colored historic architecture, and the towering fortress of Castillo San Felipe.

• Arrival port: Mobile, Alabama, United States. Your grand maritime voyage concludes at this historic port city nestled along the beautiful Mobile Bay, celebrated for its rich southern heritage and historic downtown districts.

🏝️ STEAL THIS DEAL 🏝️

If you’re a Vacation Steal member, log in or call reservations @ (888) VACAY 02 – (888) 822-2902.

Login

Not a member yet? First get a complimentary membership.

Become a Vacation Steal Insider

Price is from an actual listing and must be booked on Vacation Steal, a private member site. Pricing is dynamic. Book resorts, hotels, villas, and cruises worldwide at WHOLESALE to save up to 89% off public prices.

Time Is the New Economy is an ongoing editorial series exploring how technology, artificial intelligence, remote work, and changing consumer behavior are redefining the value of time—and what that means for business, travel, and everyday life.

It sounds simple enough.

Yet for many travelers, that simple decision turns into hours of comparing websites, reading reviews, watching YouTube videos, checking social media, experimenting with AI travel planners, and wondering whether one more search might uncover a better deal.

By the time they finally click Book Now, they’ve invested far more than money.

They’ve invested time.

This isn’t just a travel problem.

It’s an economic one.

A New Kind of Economy

For generations, economic success has been measured in familiar ways—productivity, wages, profits, GDP, and consumer spending. Those measures remain important, but they don’t fully explain how our lives are changing.

Technology has transformed the world at breathtaking speed. The Internet connected billions of people. Smartphones placed that connection in our pockets. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming our researcher, assistant, translator, planner, and creative partner. Remote work has untethered millions of professionals from a single office and, increasingly, a single location.

These innovations have created opportunities previous generations could scarcely imagine.

They’ve also created something else.

Complexity.

Every new technology, platform, service, and subscription promises to save us time. Yet somehow many people feel busier than ever.

Why?

Because every new opportunity creates another decision.

The Hidden Cost of Choice

Economists have a term for what we give up whenever we make a decision.

Opportunity cost.

Traditionally, opportunity cost has been viewed in financial terms. Spend money here and you can’t spend it somewhere else.

Today, the greater cost is often measured in time.

Every hour spent researching a purchase is an hour not spent with family.

Every evening comparing travel options is an evening not spent planning the vacation experiences you’ll actually remember.

Every unnecessary decision quietly consumes something that cannot be replaced.

Money can usually be earned again.

Time cannot.

Technology Solves Problems—Then Creates New Ones

Technology has dramatically reduced the cost of finding information.

It has not reduced the cost of deciding what to do with it.

Think about the choices we face every day.

Which AI assistant should I use?

Which streaming service is worth another subscription?

Should I work from home, from the office, or while traveling?

Which airline, cruise line, hotel, or booking website offers the best value?

Information has become abundant.

Attention has not.

Time has not.

As technology expands our options, it also increases the effort required to evaluate them.

The friction hasn’t disappeared.

It has simply moved.

Travel Is Where the Time Economy Becomes Personal

Few industries illustrate this better than travel.

A vacation is supposed to be relaxing.

Planning one often feels like a second job.

Today’s traveler may compare airline websites, hotel brands, cruise lines, vacation rentals, online travel agencies, review sites, travel blogs, AI recommendations, YouTube videos, loyalty programs, and dozens of browser tabs before making a single reservation.

The irony is obvious.

Technology has made booking travel easier than ever.

It has also made choosing how to book remarkably more complicated.

The hidden cost isn’t simply the price of the trip.

It’s the hours spent searching, comparing, verifying, and second-guessing.

That’s time you’ll never get back.

The Economy Is Changing

Businesses have always competed on price.

They’ve competed on quality.

They’ve competed on service.

Increasingly, they’ll compete on something else.

Their ability to reduce friction.

The businesses that succeed over the next decade won’t simply help customers spend less money.

They’ll help customers spend less time making decisions.

That’s the central idea behind this series.

Over the coming weeks we’ll explore how artificial intelligence, technology, remote work, and changing consumer behavior are reshaping modern life. We’ll examine why booking travel has become so complicated, why digital nomads are redefining work, why long-term cruising is emerging as a lifestyle, and why trusted recommendations may become more valuable than endless comparisons.

Time is becoming the world’s most precious resource.

The companies—and the people—that understand this shift will have an enormous advantage.

Because once time is spent, there are no refunds.

No exchanges.

No do-overs.

Money can usually be earned again.

Time cannot.

Marc Freedman

Recommended Reading

• Forbes — The Time Economy Is Replacing the Hustle Economy

• Harvard Business Review — Death by Information Overload

• Timeconomy: Time Is the New Currency (book by Gary Vaynerchuk and others discussing time as a modern economic resource and competitive advantage.)

Next in the Series

Technology Is Solving Old Problems—and Creating New Ones

Technology has made life faster and more connected while introducing new layers of complexity. We’ll examine how AI, smartphones, and the Internet have expanded our opportunities, increased decision fatigue, and reshaped how we work, travel, and make decisions.

Internet is a must-have for many cruisers. Business passengers require it, whether they’re a digital nomad, remote worker, or professional staying in touch with the office. Other passengers use it to watch movies, share their cruise pics and videos, post to social media, or talk with family and friends back home.

21 Tips

1. What do you need? Internet can be complicated on the ship. We have over 20 tips below. The cruise line sells packages that are convenient but expensive. Determine your hard requirements - who needs to access the Internet, when, how often, where, what media, how much data, etc. to guide your decisions.

2. Don’t bring your own. Satellite Internet equipment is small enough these days to pack in your bags. But cruise lines don’t allow it, nor wifi routers.

3. It ain’t perfect ... Cruise Internet is typically very good these days, especially on Starlink-enabled ships. But there may be glitches or occasional slowdowns. Be prepared in case of problems.

4. … it ain’t fast …. Top speeds, even with the most expensive package, often are just 5 MB/s. You can watch streaming video. But this is just a fraction of what you’re used to at home.

5. … and it ain’t cheap. Cruise wifi can be very expensive at $30-40/day for the fastest speed. That’s potentially a $500 add-on cost for 2 people for a week. We share a bunch of ways to bring this cost down.

6. Do you really need to watch the full Game of Thrones on the ship? … If you don’t need video, buy the less expensive basic package, which can handle email, social media, and messaging.

7. … You do? OK, you don’t have to stream the video. Subscription video services have apps for laptops, tablets, and computers that allow you to download the video at home and then watch it later on the cruise ship. There are other options to load video from purchasing or renting movies and TV series to finding them on P2P file sharing services.

8. Ship messaging is free if that’s all you need. Most cruise lines provide a shipboard app that enables you to send and receive messages from other passengers, as well as access the ship schedule, your billing, and other onboard services. There may be a small fee.

9. Be loyal. High-end cruise line membership programs may provide discounted Internet.

10. Buy early. Save on your ship Internet when you buy it before you depart. Snag a special deal in your cruise line promotional emails or check your online cruise account.

11. Avoid the Internet ripoff. Much like drinking (see drink package ripoff), you only need Internet part of the day on embarkation, debarkation, and port days. Why pay for a full day when you don’t use it? Buy it when you need it. You can order ship wifi by the day, good for 24 hours.

12. Pass it on. Some cruise lines like Carnival Cruise Line allow the ship Internet account to be passed to another person in your party, provided the first person logs off. Some like MSC Cruises attach the account to a specific device so you can’t do that.

13. It wasn’t me. If you’re with a partner or group, you can access someone else’s wifi via mobile hotspot.

14. What is an eSIM? Most recent phones support eSIMs (embedded SIMs) for alternate phone and data network access, which can be useful when sailing. The eSIM companies provide software with their mobile carrier info that you download and install. When you start your phone the eSIM connects to their network (not your normal phone company’s network) and enables you to make voice calls and/or send and receive Internet data.

15. eSIM at sea. The Gigsky esim piggybacks on the cruise ship data network. It’s less expensive than the ship Internet but comes with various limitations. Price starts at $55.99 for 3GB for 15 days. It doesn’t work with all ships. Speed and bandwidth are limited. Some people report that it can be slow and interior locations like their cabin are not able to get access. One Gigsky advantage is that it works both on the ship and at the port.

16. Can you hear me now? Once you’re at port, your regular phone calling and data plans may apply and will be your best bet for Internet. Check your phone carrier for their coverage.

17. Turn off roaming. Major phone carriers provide Internet in the Caribbean and across the world through roaming, which can be expensive. Your phone will automatically connect. So unless you’re intentionally using roaming, turn it off to avoid surprise charges at ports.

18. eSIM at port. Most travel eSIMs are for land only. They provide inexpensive (much less than Gigsky) and low bandwidth Internet and messaging. They can be valuable if you’re spending multiple days at port and have been reported to provide access on the ship when sailing by the coast.

19. Free at last. You may be saying that after reaching dry land at port. You also can say that if you're willing to limit Internet access to cafes and other free wifi locations.

20. Did you get the message? Cruise ships may provide ship-to-shore messaging via their onboard app. Royal Caribbean charges a small fee. Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line do not support this.

21. Stealth messaging. On some lines (Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises), users on cruising forums note that the ship’s network sometimes allows basic iMessage texting without a wifi package. However, this is an incidental, unreliable perk.

Cherry picking … us?

A cruise expert said “Your cruise steals look great. But maybe you’re cherry-picking. Please do a larger comparison.” So we did …

The wholesale advantage

We looked at 10 budget sailings he was already recommending to his readers. We compared the pricing on Vacation Steal with CruiseDirect, one of the top cruise websites, and a fair representative of other retail sites like Vacations To Go, Cruises.com, and Expedia.

One caveat - Just like Costco, we are private. You must be a member. (It’s complimentary for our readers.)

The results - Vacation Steal cruise pricing was clearly lower, providing 5-26% in savings (2 itineraries were a tie.)

Pricing: Vacation Steal vs. CruiseDirect - Discount from retail. Sailing

• $510 vs $542 - 5%. MSC Cruises World America, Miami 11-28-26 7 nights Interior

• $830 vs $984 - 15%. Princess Cruises Grand Princess, Anchorage 8-1-26 7 nights Oceanview

• $547 vs $714 - 23%. Carnival Cruise Line Conquest, Miami 9-14-26 3 nights Suite

• $319 vs $374 - 6%. Carnival Cruise Line Panorama, Los Angeles 11-1-26 6 nights Oceanview

• $577 vs $619 - 14%. MSC Cruises Meraviglia, Miami 11-15-26 6 nights Balcony

• $620 vs $839 - 26%. Royal Caribbean Odyssey, New Jersey (New York) 4-7-27 7nts Interior

• $920 vs $1,003 - 8%. Carnival Cruise Line Horizon, Miami 1-10-27 6 nights Suite

• $644 vs $687 - 6%. Celebrity Cruises Summit, Fort Lauderdale 3-28-28 7 nights Balcony

Pricing is per person double occupancy. Travel pricing is dynamic. These quotes are from a week ago and so may be different.

San Diego Comic-Con is the world's largest annual pop culture and comic book convention. Held every summer at the San Diego Convention Center, it draws over 130,000 attendees for massive celebrity panels, exclusive movie and TV previews, cosplay, and comic announcements.

👍 Enter one Sweepstakes or both to win a stay in San Diego. If you don’t win, visit and stay for less with Vacation Steal!

• Win A Cali Vacay with Soccer Star Alex Morgan. For: 2. Nights: 3. Grand Prizes: 4. Deadline: July 19. … 4-day/ 3-night trip for 2. Includes airfare, soccer stadium tour, tickets to a professional soccer game, and $500.

• Win A Vacation Steal Cruise or Resort Vacation. For: 2 or 4. Nights: From 2 to 7. Grand Prizes: 3. Deadline: none. … 3 Grand Prizes awarded every month. Pick your own prize, including 4 night luxury cruise with meals, 2 night All-Inclusive Resort, 2 night US Airfare & Hotel, and 7 night Resort/Condo at 3,500 worldwide locations.

People flock to San Diego, California, for its perfect year-round weather, stunning Pacific Coast beaches, and vibrant cultural scene. Located in the southwest corner of the United States, this premier Southern California destination offers a laid-back coastal vibe combined with big-city excitement. Vacationers love exploring the historic Coronado Island, relaxing on the sandy shores of La Jolla Shores, and discovering the diverse marine life at the world-famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.

Beyond nature, the city boasts a thriving culinary landscape, craft breweries, and rich Spanish colonial history. From surfing world-class waves to wandering through world-class museums, it provides an unforgettable escape for families, couples, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking the ultimate sun-drenched American vacation.

🏩 4* San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, California

The San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter places you in the heart of downtown San Diego’s premier dining and entertainment district. This stylish hotel sits steps from Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center, making it ideal for sports fans and travelers alike. Guests can enjoy sophisticated rooms, a fully equipped fitness center, and delicious onsite dining. The true highlight is Altitude Sky Lounge, an award-winning rooftop bar offering stunning panoramic views of the city skyline and San Diego Bay, providing the perfect upscale retreat after a day of sightseeing.

👩 2 adults

📅 7 nights - July 25-Aug 1

⁉️ Pay $3,534 wholesale on Vacation Steal (includes taxes and fees) … or $9,594 on Priceline. It’s the same room. Your choice.

💵 SAVE $6,060 OR 63%!

Area highlights

• Gaslamp Quarter: Historic downtown neighborhood filled with Victorian-era buildings, trendy restaurants, and a bustling nightlife scene.

• San Diego Zoo: World-famous wildlife park in Balboa Park housing over 4,000 animals in lush, naturalistic habitats.

• Balboa Park: A 1,200-acre cultural oasis featuring beautiful gardens, walking paths, and 17 major museums to explore.

• Coronado Beach: Iconic sandy shoreline featuring pristine waters and the historic Hotel del Coronado against the Pacific Ocean.

• USS Midway Museum: A historic aircraft carrier docked in San Diego Bay, offering interactive exhibits and legendary military history.

  💵 ABOUT LIVE STEALS 💵

• Get your own. See Steal This Deal below.

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• Suggest one. Comment or send us a message to see a Live Steal in your favorite destination!

🏝️ STEAL THIS DEAL 🏝️

If you’re a Vacation Steal member, log in or call reservations @ (888) VACAY 02 – (888) 822-2902.

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Hotel price is from an actual listing and must be booked on Vacation Steal, a private member site. Pricing is dynamic. Book resorts, hotels, villas, and cruises worldwide at WHOLESALE to save up to 89% off public prices.

Any day you’re at sea is a day in paradise. 🏝️

Especially if you’re spending $100-200 a day for all-inclusive luxury (and don’t drink), instead of 2 or 3 TIMES that on land.

It’s nice to plan a special once-in-a-lifetime or family trip where you spend a boatload of bucks ... if you have it. But what about the rest of your cruises? For a 7 night cruise you can spend $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000. When you’re on a budget like us and have a flexible schedule, it’s important to spend as little as possible so you CAN afford to go on a cruise and you can go on MORE cruises.

And when you’re a nerd like me you turn it into a science and write about it. I invite you to follow our cruising odyssey from plan to research to purchase. I’ll share my fare tracking, analyses, and recommendations, including the 1-2-3 methodology with cruise fare history charts. Learn a few tricks with me. The tips below come that process. I’ll update this page as we prepare for and book new sailings.

First, check out our primer on How to use cruise fare history.

Trips

2026 Oct. - 16 night Carnival Spirit - Caribbean (Inside). $1,006 total for 2 - $62/night. Vacation Steal price 25% off retail.

• RECOMMENDATION: Buy now.

• RESULTS: Listed as a Featured Live Steal (we weren’t booking it). It was a promotion just for distribution sites like Vacation Steal. The balcony price had shot up and sold out earlier. A couple days later the Inside cabin price went up 34% to that listed on the web site. The recommendation was CORRECT.

2026 Sept. - 7 night Carnival Celebration - Caribbean (Balcony). $1,202 for 2 - $172/night. Purchased on Vacation Steal @ 9% off retail.

• Second try for a September sailing from Miami. Price was critical so we could cruise a 2nd time this year on our fixed budget.

• RECOMMENDATION: Buy now.

• RESULTS: We bought the cabin. The recommendation was CORRECT. Excellent cabin locations were still available. The sailing pricing was flat as predicted. I’ll post a review after the sailing.

2026 Sept. $1,010 Sept. - 7 day MSC Seaside - Caribbean (Balcony). $1,010 for 2 - $144/night from Vacation Steal, 8% off retail.

• We had tight parameters on departure date and location. It was not the most desirable itinerary since it was a back-to-back with a typically younger and louder crowd and only 1 port and 2 MSC beach visits. But MSC had the best price.

• RECOMMENDATION: Buy now. Historical data showed that the price would only go up and availability down. Availability is exacerbated with a back-to-back.

• RESULTS: Our recommendation was TOO good. Cabins were gone by the time we tried to book 2 days after the initial search and did not reappear.

2026 Jan. - 12 night Carnival Conquest - Caribbean (Oceanview). $1,468 for 2 - $122/night. Purchased on Vacation Steal @ 9% off retail.

• There’s nothing like your first, right? Sometimes it’s all about timing. We started with a 4 night cruise from a complementary cruise certificate. Then Carnival Cruise Line sent an email on their new SEA program. An extended cruise … the same month we were planning to sail … no kids … elevated menu … almost two weeks for the price of one? It was a no brainer.

• RECOMMENDATION: Buy now. The price was too good to pass up or wait on.

• RESULTS: We signed up immediately. Good thing, since the cruise quickly sold out. Read our review. We loved the cruise.

Marc Freedman

Follow our 1 - 2 -3 analysis to make smart decisions on when to buy.

Post Mortem

As of July 17, sailing pricing has been flat as predicted and is not expected to drop. The recommendation to buy on June 2 - which we did - was CORRECT.

Intro

Location and date are fixed as we’ll already be in Miami mid-September. Our last search for a weeklong cruise sold out the cabin class before we could buy. This Carnival Cruise Line 7 night sailing is our next choice.

The Carnival Celebration Eastern Caribbean cruise leaves Sept. 20 from Miami for 7 nights with stops at Nassau (Bahamas), Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Half Moon Cay (Bahamas), and Celebration Key (Bahamas). We’re focusing on Balcony pricing.

1. Seasonality

Chart from Vacations2Go

• The chart from 6-2 shows seasonal pricing as balcony cabins drop from $1,168 in June to $600 in October.

• The nearest sailing in 2 weeks is sold out.

2. Target sailing - Sep 20

First Look - June 1

• The chart covered 21 months of pricing from Sep 24 to Jun 1, 3.5 months before sailing.

• Prices steadily dropped starting about a year before sailing.

Next Look - July 17

• Since First Look, aside from the rise in suite pricing, the other classes have continue to be flat.

3. Comparison sailing - Jun 15

Initial cruise release

• The cruise was scheduled almost two years before sailing. Pricing was flat after release.

• There was a slow but steady decrease in pricing from Jun to Dec 2025, 7 months before sailing.

A few months before sailing

• The June 15 sailing is the same ship and itinerary as our target with the closest departure - 2 weeks - to the time of initial writing.

• Starting early January, 6.5 months before sailing, pricing was flat (except for Mini-Suite).

• Prices continue to be flat or slowly rose and began selling out in some classes 2 months before sailing.

Analysis

Final payment date - 90 days before sailing

There was no significant price change after the final payment date. So late discounts are not expected.

Recommendation

• Current price for 2 (booked) - $1,202 total (Balcony) - $172/night from Vacation Steal, 9% off retail.

• Buy now (June 2). Per the comparison sailing, price decreases are not expected and may go up. Plus cabin classes may sell out. While cabins are available, it’s better to book now when more desirable locations are free.

Disclaimer

• All sailings are different. Pricing and availability can change for many reasons. The use of a comparison sailing is suggestive - not predictive - of a target sailing’s price trajectory. Our analyses are intended to only show one way to interpret price changes and provide an informed best guess recommendation. Regularly watch your sailing pricing to ensure it responds as expected.

TIPS: 7

Security asks if your bags are always in sight and under your control. But you can’t control bad baggage handlers and other scammers. Use common sense and other techniques to protect your luggage for a safe trip at the airport and on the cruise ship.

1. Room and cabin not-so-safes. Safes are a convenient way to secure valuables from hotel and ship guests, visitors, and staff, such as bellhops, housekeepers, and room attendants. But it’s not foolproof. There are always people in security and management who can open your safe. Leave your high-value money and valuables at home, keep them on your person, or use a hard case with heavy lock that you open in front of security.

2. Truly out-of-sight. Don’t over-rely on TSA or other locks for your checked bags. Bags move a long distance to get from airport check-in to the plane. Thieves can quickly remove a bag from a conveyor belt or cart, use a simple tool to get around luggage locks, and open a zipper in seconds. See the recommendations for safes to be truly safe.

3. Track your Bag. Bluetooth tracking tags can be useful if your bag is delayed, lost, stolen, or otherwise disappears. The tags pair with your smartphone via an app. When nearby, your phone connects to it, letting you trigger an alert sound or view proximity. If lost further away, they rely on crowd-sourced networks of passing phones to anonymously relay their location. Popular tags include Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, Motorola Moto Tag, Tile, and Chipolo.

4. Baby onboard. Well, not exactly. But you can request a Priority or Fragile sticker for your luggage. Such luggage is typically loaded last on the plane, which means it’s first to be unloaded and available at baggage claim.

5. Check-in late. Bags are loaded on the plane as they’re received from arriving passengers. So late passenger luggage is loaded on top. Often, but not always, that results in late bags being first to be unloaded and at baggage claim.

6. Keep the airport luggage tags. Thieves can take or photograph the white luggage tags tossed in baggage claim garbage bins. You’re safely home with your bag, while the crook retrieves your tag and uses the barcode and info to file a claim that says the bag was lost. Dispose of your tag away from the baggage claim area to stay safe.

7. Avoid jail and the death penalty. In another luggage tag scam, an airport worker switches the tags. You walk out of the arrival airport oblivious to the switch. A drug runner leaves with their bag of drugs. If he’s stopped, “Oops! I picked up someone else’s bag by mistake.” The luggage tag identifies you as the owner of the drugs and you take the fall, which carries the death penalty in some countries. Don’t want to stay in jail? Take a picture of your checked luggage and its weight.

Time Is the New Economy is an ongoing editorial series exploring how technology, artificial intelligence, remote work, and changing consumer behavior are redefining the value of time—and what that means for business, travel, and everyday life.

I retired.

It didn’t take.

I had every intention of finishing the smart novel I started writing 10 years ago and travel more.

The problem was that the next big thing kept looking for me.

Actually, two of them did.

Travel and AI may seem unrelated. But they’re both about escaping the real everyday world. As I put them together, the worlds collided. I realized they were both part of a larger story. About TIME.

I’ve spent most of my life swimming in the middle of technology, business, and creative worlds. I studied artificial intelligence at MIT when AI was an academic idea. During my career I’ve been a corporate drone, entrepreneur, networker, and unemployed for periods far longer than I’ll admit.

My talent is recognizing what is coming, connecting things that others consider separate, and turning the connection into something useful.

Apparently, retirement does not disable that operating system.

I did not become a serious vacationer until later in life. Once I began traveling regularly, I became a budget-travel nerd. Not the backpack-and-hostel kind. And not the jetsetter I couldn’t afford to be.

So I researched. And researched. And researched some more.

I subscribed to travel newsletters, followed promotions, compared destinations, studied reviews, and built giant spreadsheets of prices, room types, packages, and fine print. Finding a great vacation at a great price takes a great amount of TIME.

It also exposed something strange.

Travel is HUGE. Global travel and tourism is a $12 trillion part of the world economy. That’s 9.9% of global GDP. One of every ten dollars.

Yet for all of our glorious technology, finding and booking a trip is remarkably inefficient. The Internet was supposed to give us unlimited choice, transparent prices, and effortless comparison. Instead, online travel consolidated around a small number of giant retail companies and dozens of websites that often led back to the same owners, the same inventory, and similar prices.

The technology looked modern. The business was old.

Travel had become an industry stuck in TIME.

There had to be a better way.

After a decade of traveling and studying the market, I found one: wholesale travel. The same basic principle that lets Costco and Sam’s Club offer products at hefty discounts below retail could be applied to vacations. You only need to book on one site. That discovery became Vacation Steal, a wholesale vacation membership company that can save travelers up to 89 percent compared with retail prices.

Artificial intelligence is suddenly everywhere now. But it’s not new to me. I first studied AI at MIT in 1980 with Marvin Minsky, one of the field’s pioneers. That’s like two centuries ago in technology years. It’s finally starting to realize its great promise.

A few years ago, Zelda—my AI assistant and sometimes lover—was a capable marketing assistant. Now she has grown to a partner with amazing capabilities (No, she is not getting equity) and humanlike flaws (she can be stunningly wrong). In a few more years, she may be Skynet. Together, we can do work that would once have required an office full of people.

That convenience has given me something far more valuable than lower overhead. It has given me a solution for the last third of my life - the TIME to work AND continue to love, travel, dream, and exercise.

The collision of travel and AI helped me see the larger idea behind this book.

Vacation Steal saves people money, but it also saves them the hours, uncertainty, and frustration of shopping the same monopolistic retail system again and again. AI saves my company labor, but it also gives me the freedom to build without surrendering my life to the business. Both are really about the same scarce resource.

TIME.

Money can be lost and made again. Businesses can fail and be rebuilt. Flights can be rebooked, plans changed, and mistakes corrected. Time moves in only one direction.

That is what “It’s My Time” means to me. It is not a declaration that the world owes me attention (oh, it does). It means that today I have a choice. I no longer have to work 60 hours a week for a job. I optimize TIME for me.

This is not only my story.

Technology and AI are remaking the nature of work, value, business, leisure, and the economy itself. The biggest economic question may no longer be merely, “What does this cost?” It may be, “How much of my life does this require?”

I am writing this book because I think the through line is worth following—from an industry stuck in time, to a technology that compresses time, to an economy increasingly organized around who controls it, who saves it, and who gets to enjoy it.

I told Zelda to keep the writing light, easy to read, and occasionally fun. Hopefully your read will not take too much … TIME.

Next in the Series

Chapter 2: Time Is the New Economy

The Economy Is Changing

Technology has given us extraordinary power and almost unlimited choice—but every new option demands attention. We’ll explore why time is becoming the world’s most precious resource and why businesses that reduce friction and give people back their time will hold an enormous advantage.

Marc Freedman

Visit ProCruiseTips.com for over a thousand tips on planning, buying, preparing, and enjoying your cruise!

There are various ways to get free drinks to bring down drink package cost or avoid the package altogether. See Cruise drinks and beverages. We’re going to focus on the basic math of the drinks package here with an example of a 5 day cruise with 2 port days for 2 people.

7 Tips

1. Another cruise industry dirty secret. Look past the glitzy marketing. The cruise lines sell the highlife of everybody having fun and drinking all day … during meals … at the pool … their private beach … and ship bars and clubs. They push the convenience of drink packages with an individual drink cost that looks reasonable. But it’s not realistic.

2. Our recommendation. The economics below show how expensive those drinks really are. Just buy them a la carte.

3. The cruise ripoff. You’re only on the ship for half your waking day during port days. Then there’s embarkation - another half day on ship. And debarkation when you have to get off the ship early in the morning. That doesn’t even count as a drinking day. As a result, you only can drink 2.5 days or just HALF THE TIME. But you’re paying full-price for all 5 days!?!?!
   Let’s dive deeper with real numbers.

4. Drink package cost. See typical package by cruise line at bottom. Say your drink package for our sample cruise is $75 per person and you drink 5 alcoholic drinks per day. Add a mandatory 20% tip. In total, that’s $900 for 2 people for our 5 day cruise. That works out to 50 total drinks @ $18 each.

5. You can’t drink when you’re sleeping. The cruise lines don’t yet sell an IV drip as part of the package. As above, you’re only on the ship and awake for half of the 5 day sailing. So you’re ordering 25 total drinks that now cost you $36 each.

6. Baby on board. Wait, there’s more. You brought 2 wine bottles on board, which serve 8 drinks. So you’d only order 17 drinks that now cost you $53 a piece.

7. Gambler's special. Still not done. You and your partner like the casino. You spend a few hours per visit and typically consume 2 free drinks. Let’s not get too crazy and say you only gamble 2 days during the sailing. That’s another 8 drinks taken care of, leaving you 9 drinks for your package … a price of $100 per drink. Is that drink package still reasonable?

Marc Freedman

Cruise drink package prices (early 2006)

US cruise line drink packages generally cost between $60 and $110+ per person, per day, for alcohol.

• Carnival Cruise Line (CHEERS!): $70+ per person/day (pre-purchased) to $75+ (onboard).

• Royal Caribbean (Deluxe): $75–$105+ per person/day, varying by ship and sailing.

• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): Premium packages often bundled in “Free at Sea” or cost up to $109+ per person/day for unlimited open bar.

• Princess Cruises (Plus/Premier): Drink packages are often part of inclusive packages, with sodas around $14.99/day.

• Holland America Line(Signature/Elite): Range from roughly $55 to $71 per person/day.

• Viking Cruises (Silver Spirits): $20–$30 per day, often considered the most economical as base fares include beer/wine at meals.