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Cruisey

Virgin Voyages just launched an annual pass for $120K, as Disney plans a huge cruise expansion

Will “work from helm” ever catch on? Virgin boss Richard Branson hopes so.

12/9/24 11:30AM

Just a few years ago, the cruise industry was on its knees, with some of its biggest players on the verge of bankruptcy. It’s now back and bigger than ever: Disney is planning to spend $12 billion over the next 10 years, with the maiden voyage of the 1,119-foot-long Disney Treasure later this month the first step in a plan to more than double its fleet to 13 ships by 2031, while Virgin hopes its new unlimited pass could get cruise-goers to part ways with $120,000 and join them for up to a whole year.

Around the world in 365 days

While living at sea for an entire year might sound like an anxiety dream for many of us, it’s quickly becoming a reality in cruise tourism. For the six-figure sum (plus what would presumably be a very hefty onboard bill), you and a guest can clamber aboard Virgin’s cruiseliners for up to 365 days of sailing across Europe, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and anywhere else covered by the travel giant’s fleet. The offer shows Virgin’s intent to kickstart the “work from helm” idea touted by chief Richard Branson earlier this year when promoting its seasonal summer passes, offering perks such as free premium Wi-Fi and 2 specialty coffees a day.

Virgin Voyages’ annual pass fits into a growing trend in the cruising industry of longer onboard stretches, with Villa Vie Residencies giving customers the chance to set sail on its “perpetual world cruise” for up to 4 years at a time.

Cruise line passenger growth — Sherwood News

With cruise passengers now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, per data from the Cruise Lines International Association, companies like Virgin and Villa Vie are picking up on the world’s growing appetite for cruises.

Interestingly, in huge news for anyone looking to celebrate Bitcoin’s recent surge, the annual pass is also the first cruise product to accept the cryptocurrency as payment — perhaps reflecting the growing number of young people taking to the sea, with 1 in 2 passengers on Royal Caribbean cruises reportedly millennials or younger.

BLOOD

MONEY

J. Edward Moreno19h

Discount stores are having a moment in America, drawing high- and low-income consumers alike

Everyone loves a deal in 2025 — and Aldi, Walmart, and Dollar Tree are all cashing in.

Millie Giles21h

Max Knoblauch12/16/25

Report: OpenAI won’t pay a dime in cash for its 3-year licensing deal for Disney IP

More financial details behind the landmark deal that will grant OpenAI three years of access to Disney intellectual property are coming out, and they’re pretty surprising.

The deal will reportedly see OpenAI pay zero dollars in licensing fees, instead compensating Disney in stock warrants. It was previously reported that Disney would invest $1 billion into OpenAI as part of the agreement.

It’s very abnormal for Disney to grant anyone access to its massive IP library without a cash payment, and the entertainment juggernaut has been known to strike down even crocheted Etsy Yodas for infringing on its turf. In its fiscal year 2025, Disney booked more than $10 billion in revenue from licensing fees across merchandising, television, and theatrical distribution.

OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock

Max Knoblauch12/15/25

Ford says it will take $19.5 billion in charges in a massive EV write-down

The EV business has marked a long stretch of losing for Ford, and today the automaker announced it will take $19.5 billion in charges tied, for the most part, to its EV division.

Ford said it’s launching a battery energy storage business, leveraging battery plants in Kentucky and Michigan to “provide solutions for energy infrastructure and growing data center demand.”

According to Ford, the changes will drive Ford’s electrified division to profitability by 2029. The company will stop making its electric F-150, the Lightning, and instead shift to an “extended-range electric vehicle” that includes a gas-powered generator.

The Detroit automaker also raised its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes outlook to “about $7 billion” from a range of $6 billion to $6.5 billion.

Ford’s write-down is one of the largest taken by a company as legacy automakers scale back on EVs, giving EV-only automakers a market share boost.

Max Knoblauch12/15/25

GM adds Apple Music to select new vehicles, racing to fill the gap left by CarPlay’s absence

Earlier this year, General Motors said it plans to end support for in-vehicle phone projection systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all of its vehicles (a big expansion of the move it announced for its EVs back in 2023).

Now, the automaker appears to be stocking its replacement system with native apps to fill the void. On Monday, GM announced it was rolling out Apple Music to select 2025 Chevrolet and Cadillac models.

Losing CarPlay is a sore subject for many drivers: 39% of respondents to an American Trucks survey this month said a lack of the system (or Android Auto) is a “deal-breaker” when it comes to buying a new vehicle.

Many automakers appear willing to risk alienating those potential customers in exchange for access to lucrative data. Others, including Tesla, are working to allow CarPlay to boost sagging sales, according to reporting by Bloomberg.