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We paid $9,000 for the cheapest room on an ultra-luxury Caribbean cruise. See inside our ship and 302-square-foot suite.

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  • We booked the least expensive suite on a Seabourn ultra-luxury cruise for about $9,000.
  • After crunching numbers and seeing high-end resort prices, this felt reasonable for a family trip.
  • We loved getting to see lots of new places and not worry about having to plan our meals.

I paid $9,000 for what was technically the cheapest room on an ultra-luxury cruise — a price that initially felt steep until I compared it with alternatives.

My family had been planning a multigenerational trip to the Caribbean during the busy period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which is also one of the most expensive travel weeks of the year.

We wanted something that felt indulgent without becoming logistically exhausting or financially disproportionate once all the extras were added up.

At first, we looked at high-end beach resorts, but they were commanding eye-watering rates. I saw a few in Barbados and St. Barts charging over $4,000 a night for a room, and that price doesn’t even include food, drinks, and gratuities.

The costs seemed like they could really add up. As we ran the numbers, an all-inclusive cruise began to make more sense.

Plus, we liked the idea of exploring Caribbean destinations we hadn’t visited before without having to deal with multiple hotel check-ins, flights, and transfers. A port-heavy itinerary could allow us to sample several places while unpacking just once.

So, our group settled on a 12-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Seabourn Ovation.

Our family booked two rooms and spent about $20,000 on the cruise.

Our group of five set sail on the Seabourn Ovation.

David Morris

We traveled as a group of five: my mother, my brother and sister-in-law, their 7-year-old son, and me.

In total, we booked two entry-level suites — one for my mother and me, and another for my brother, sister-in-law, and their son — bringing the combined cruise fare to just over $20,000 for five people across 12 nights.

This figure includes accommodations, all meals, a selection of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. We saved some money on my 7-year-old nephew’s fare thanks to the cruise line’s third-guest-at-half-price policy.

By booking through a preferred travel advisor, I also received $400 in onboard credit, plus an additional $250 referral credit (which my brother’s family also received).

Our cabin felt like part of a boutique hotel.


Two beds in cabin on cruise ship

A wide shot of our suite’s interior on the Seabourn Ovation.

David Morris

Our suite measured 302 square feet, plus a 68-square-foot balcony.

Its decor was pretty minimal, but it felt a bit elevated with accents of marble, dark wood, and glass.

Despite being the cheapest option on the ship, this room felt more like it was part of a boutique hotel than just a standard cruise cabin.

The walk-in closet was a pleasant surprise.


Closet with draw chest, hooks on walls

We could fit a lot of clothes in here.

David Morris

The base-category suite felt thoughtfully laid out, with a seating area, a couch, a table, two beds, and a generously sized walk-in closet. Our clothes and bags easily fit inside with space to spare.

In the other suite, a sofa bed was set up as a dedicated sleeping space for my nephew.

The bathroom had dual sinks, a tub, and a compact but functional shower.


White bathroom with large mirror, counter

The bathroom felt spacious enough.

David Morris

The bright-white bathroom featured dual vanities, a soaking tub, and a glass-enclosed shower. My only critique was the shower size, which felt slightly tight compared to ones in some newer ships we’ve sailed on.

Our room’s minibar was stocked exactly to our preferences.


Top of mini fridge with canned drinks, bottle of water

Before sailing, we submitted drink preferences to the Seabourn crew.

David Morris

We were delighted to find our room’s minibar stocked with complimentary ginger beer, juices, and the spirits we requested prior to our sailing.

Twice-daily housekeeping kept everything meticulously refreshed.

Room aside, we were pretty happy with the ship.


Sushi on plates

We had sushi on the ship.

David Morris

Since all of our meals, standard beverages, and gratuities were included in the cost of the cruise fare, we didn’t have to budget or crunch numbers during our trip.

We had most of our dinners in the ship’s main dining room, which was so easy. It felt quite formal, and the rotating menus kept things interesting across the 12-night itinerary.

Passengers also had access to The Patio, a poolside eatery with laid-back fare, and The Colonnade, a more casual spot serving buffet breakfasts and lunches, plus seated themed dinners.

We also enjoyed our opportunities for specialty dining.


Charred seafood and steak in plates

The food at Solis really impressed me.

David Morris

Options for specialty dining included a sushi restaurant and a Mediterranean eatery called Solis, which was a standout for me.

The menu featured steak, lobster, and whole grilled fish deboned tableside. I particularly loved its post-dinner affogatos

Pools, hot tubs, and quieter outdoor spaces were easy to find.


Author David Morris smiling on top deck of cruise

The main deck was lit up at night.

David Morris

The ship has a large main pool surrounded by lots of loungers, though we preferred the smaller hot tubs in other areas.

Quieter spots, like the hot tub at the bow with incredible views of the ocean, quickly became our favorites.

My favorite area on board was The Retreat.


Partially covered deck area with lounge chairs

The Retreat was one of the best places to get work done.

David Morris

Located on the top sundeck, The Retreat was my favorite area on the ship.

The space offered shaded cabanas, a noticeably calmer atmosphere than the main pool deck, and attentive, unhurried service.

To access it, passengers had to pay an additional $150 per day on port days or $250 on sea days.

Booking it on sea days felt especially worthwhile. The quiet setting made it easy to relax or catch up on a bit of remote work on my laptop without feeling out of place.

Excursions cost extra, but they felt well-organized and fairly priced.


Selfie of author and family on cruise ship

We embarked on some excursions at the ports.

David Morris

We mostly booked excursions through the cruise line for peace of mind.

Our favorite was in Saint Lucia, where a packed day included a catamaran ride, volcano hike, mud bath, and snorkeling.

The excursion ran late, but the ship waited for us as it had been booked through them.

Holiday surprises added to the experience.


People in sand on beach with cooler of drinks

We spent the holiday on a beach.

David Morris

On Saint Kitts, the crew arranged a private Christmas Day beach party with grilled lobster and drinks. Later, Santa Claus arrived by Jet Ski to serve caviar and Champagne in the surf.

The cruise’s overall cost felt reasonable considering everything it included.


Group of people dressed up, posing by stairs on cruise ship

The cruise meant we could visit new places without planning out flights and hotels.

David Morris

Ultimately, our cruise averaged out to about $333 per person, per night. That felt surprisingly fair considering how much was included in our 12-night trip.

We also really enjoyed the ship’s intimate size. Compared to other mega-ships carrying thousands of people, this 600-passenger vessel felt calm, navigable, and personal. We never felt overwhelmed by crowds, even on sea days.

Although children aren’t typically the target audience for ultra-luxury cruises, my nephew genuinely had a great time alongside the mostly older guests. His sailing also felt like a great value, considering he was charged half price as a third guest and still had his own proper bed.

For a multigenerational holiday trip that combined ease, variety, and consistent service, the value ultimately justified the price.

All in all, we enjoyed the trip enough to book another Seabourn voyage (at a discounted price) before disembarking.




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Elon Musk discussed plans to party with Jeffrey Epstein on his Caribbean island, newly released emails show

by with No Comment Xpandfy

In November 2012, Jeffrey Epstein emailed Elon Musk about sending a helicopter to whisk the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to his private island in the Caribbean.

“how many people will you be for the heli to island,” Epstein asked Musk in an email exchange, which was made public Friday by the Justice Department.

Musk said he’d need just two seats — for himself and his then-partner, Tallulah Riley.

“What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Musk asked.

The emails, released Friday, were part of a cache of 3 million files the Justice Department released from its yearslong investigation into the convicted sex offender. They include several exchanges between Epstein, Musk, and their assistants.

Responding to the revelations early Saturday on his social media platform, X, Musk said: “No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened.

“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’, but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name.

“I don’t care about that, but what I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding heinous exploitation of underage girls.”

Epstein — who counted President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and various other prominent politicians and businessmen among his acquaintances — killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. He had registered as a pedophile in 2008, after pleading guilty to less severe sex offenses.

Shortly after Epstein’s arrest in July 2019, Musk said he had declined invitations to Epstein’s island in the US Virgin Islands and recounted only one meeting with him. Musk has not been accused of wrongdoing.

“Several years ago, I was at his house in Manhattan for about 30 minutes in the middle of the afternoon with Talulah [Riley], as she was curious about meeting this strange person for a novel she was writing,” he told Vanity Fair at the time. “We did not see anything inappropriate at all, apart from weird art. He tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island. I declined.”

Musk has since said in social media posts that he “refused” to visit Epstein’s island despite multiple attempts from Epstein.

The emails released Friday appear to show him planning to visit Epstein’s island at least twice.

In addition to the November 2012 planned visit, Musk indicated he would visit Epstein’s island in January 2014.

“Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays,” Musk wrote to Epstein in December 2013, referring to the British Virgin Islands. “Is there a good time to visit?”

Epstein said he’d be available for the first week of January.

“always space for you,” Epstein told Musk.

After some back-and-forth about their schedules, Musk appeared to confirm that he would visit Epstein on January 2 of 2014.

“When should we head to your island on the 2nd?” Musk wrote.

Epstein later canceled on Musk, according to another email. He said he looked forward to spending time with Musk with “just fun on the agenda.”

“I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda,” Epstein wrote. “so i am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future.”

The emails show Epstein planning to meet Musk on other occasions as well.

In February of 2013, Musk’s personal assistant tried to nail down plans for a meeting at SpaceX’s offices in California. Epstein’s assistant said Musk had suggested the location.

“Shall we organize a lunch for Elon and Jeffrey to get together at SpaceX in the coming weeks?” Musk’s assistant wrote. “Elon is generally available at SpaceX on Mon, Thurs and Fri each week.”

It isn’t clear from the emails reviewed by Business Insider if that meeting took place. Musk has previously said that Epstein never “toured” SpaceX’s facilities.

In early March of that year, Epstein directly asked Musk about his availability.

“now its time for fun,” Epstein told Musk.

In the emails, Musk told Epstein he was busy with work at Tesla and SpaceX. Epstein suggested he get more sleep.

“benefit analysis would probably show , tesla doing better with you getting more sleep,” he said.

Musk disagreed.

“Normally I would agree, as I have found that my total daily productivity is optimal at around 6 to 6.5 hours of sleep.”

The two may have met later that spring. In another email exchange, dated April 2013, Epstein’s assistant said he planned to meet Musk at the Milken Institute economic conference.

The Justice Department emails also show Epstein inquiring with Musk about Solar City, a solar electricity company that was later acquired by Tesla. Epstein said in September 2012 that he wanted to use its services for his properties in the US Virgin Islands and New Mexico.

“is there any one at Solar City that my guys can talk to about electriying the caribean island?” Epstein asked. “or the new mexico ranch”

This story has been updated.




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A map of the Caribbean with icons on each airport that had flights canceled on January 3, 2026, adjusted for size based on the number

Maps show the scale of the Caribbean air travel chaos — and how airlines are adding extra flights to rescue passengers

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Almost 1,000 flights to and from the Caribbean were canceled on Saturday after the US raid on Venezuela.

The Federal Aviation Administration banned commercial aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace before expanding restrictions to much of the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico was the most affected, with 400 flights canceled to or from the main airport in San Juan.

There were also over 140 cancellations in the US Virgin Islands, and 91 in Aruba, which is only about 20 miles off the Venezuelan coast.

Using data from FlightAware, Business Insider put together this map to show the scale of the disruption. You can hover over an icon to see the number of cancellations at the airport.

After airspace restrictions ended early Sunday, airlines added dozens of extra flights to help passengers get where they needed to go.

The region is a particularly popular destination for vacationers seeking some winter sun over the New Year holiday.

American Airlines added 43 extra flights on Sunday and Monday, with room for 7,000 passengers.

For the first time in over a decade, it operated interisland flights in the eastern Caribbean on Monday. Namely, to Puerto Rico from Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

American’s expanded schedule included deploying a Boeing 777-300, the largest model in its fleet, to ferry passengers between Miami and Puerto Rico.

United Airlines listed 17 additional flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday, to and from its hubs in Houston, Newark, and Washington, DC.

Delta Air Lines said that it has added space for 2,600 people on Monday. It didn’t immediately provide details of the extra flights it has scheduled.

Airlines have waived change fees and fare differences for passengers flying to or from the Caribbean, to rebook for flights later in the month.

Have you been affected by the travel disruption in the Caribbean? Reach out to this reporter at psyme@businessinsider.com or via Signal at syme.99




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