Royal Caribbean overbooked one of its giant cruise ships and left a group of travelers stuck at port

Demand for Royal Caribbean's November 28 Quantum of the Seas sailing surpassed the number of available staterooms, leaving groups of would-be travelers unable to embark.

Royal Caribbean International

• Several guests weren't allowed to board a Royal Caribbean cruise because the ship was overbooked.
• One would-be traveler called it "one of the worst days" he's recently experienced.
• Royal Caribbean has had a history of overbooking its mega cruise ships.

On November 28, Jai Raynor and his wife packed their bags and made their way to the Port of Brisbane for the belated honeymoon vacation they had been looking forward to for years: a Royal Caribbean cruise.

But instead of spending their next nine days lounging by the Quantum of the Seas' pool and exploring destinations like Nouméa, New Caledonia, the couple was confronted with a vacation nightmare. Just hours after arriving at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, the couple was sent back home because Royal Caribbean had overbooked its 4,905-guest ship.

In past overbooking incidents, Royal Caribbean has notified impacted travelers in advance of the sailing. But this time, these would-be cruisers say they weren't made aware until they arrived at the embarkation port.

The Quantum of the Seas' November 28 itinerary included a stop at Nouméa, New Caledonia.

Southern Lightscapes-Australia/Getty Images

"It was probably one of the worst days I've recently experienced," Raynor, a 23-year-old Brisbane, Australia local, told Business Insider. As a would-be first-time cruiser, he was particularly excited about the "luxury experience" of sailing on a mega ship like the Quantum of the Seas.

"I've never been so crushed before," he said.

Raynor had booked an interior "GYT" (guarantee) stateroom, which leaves the specific cabin assignment up to the cruise line. But ahead of their expected embarkation, Royal Caribbean was "unable to allocate a stateroom number for their reservation," according to a letter the couple says the cruise line gave them when they arrived at the port, reviewed by Business Insider.

The Quantum of the Seas has amenities like an "observation vessel" that can hang over 300 feet above the water.

Royal Caribbean International

"While disruptions to [our guests' vacation] plans can occasionally happen, we do our best to minimize those chances," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Business Insider, noting that demand for this November 29 cruise "went beyond the rooms that were available."

"We take these disruptions seriously, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused," the spokesperson said. "We have worked with each guest that was affected to rectify the inconvenience this has caused."

Alongside groups of other impacted travelers, the couple then spent several hours waiting in the terminal in hopes of receiving a last-minute stateroom assignment. But when the time came, only two families were allowed to board the ship, he recalled. Everyone else was told there were no rooms left.

Their highly anticipated vacation was suddenly cut short

The 168,666 gross-ton Quantum of the Seas has 16 decks and 2,094 guest staterooms.

Royal Caribbean International

Given these circumstances, the duo was lucky: Their drive back home was about one-and-a-half hours long. But Raynor says some of the other families who had traveled out of state "were left abandoned" with no backup accommodations, flights, or plans for the next eight nights.

In its letter to travelers, Royal Caribbean offered alternatives like the ship's nine-night cruise in late January 2024, another seven or eight-night sailing "with price protection," or a full refund with 25% future cruise credit. Raynor called the latter a "measly compensation for destroying people's vacations and leaving them stranded."

He says the cruise line later offered him a "much more reasonable" offer of a full refund, 100% future cruise credit, and a deluxe beverage package for their next sailing. He plans to use this on a 2024 vacation. But if it weren't for this option, Raynor says he would "absolutely not" be inclined to go on another Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean has a history of overbooking its giant cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean

Like airlines, cruise lines may oversell cabins in anticipation of cancellations and no-shows. While inconvenient, rebooking a flight is generally easy enough to do.

However, overbooked cruises may pose more of a complication, especially for travelers who had planned to be at sea for days at a time. When cruise lines' overbooking gamble doesn't pay off, "they just abandon you and leave you hung out to dry," Raynor said of his Royal Caribbean experience.

In Raynor's case, rebooking won't be an easy task. His wife, a soon-to-be teacher, will be restricted to her school's vacation days when "it's a lot harder to get any cruises." (In 2024, the Quantum of the Seas is scheduled for 37 Australia and 263 US cruises.)

"I know Royal Caribbean generally has a good reputation, but it's certainly left a bad sour taste in our mouths," Raynor said. "It sucks we have to wait a year for our vacation. We're hoping that the next experience will make up for it."

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An old quote where Anthony Bourdain called Henry Kissinger a 'murderous scumbag' is making the rounds on X

Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and former secretary of state Henry Kissinger.

Michael Loccisano and Inga Kjer/Photothek via Getty Images

• Anthony Bourdain despised Henry Kissinger, and called him a "murderous scumbag" in his 2001 book.
• Screenshots of Bourdain's words are now making the rounds on X after Kissinger's death.
• In 2018 — the year he died —Bourdain said he did not regret his words.

The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was famously unfiltered, and didn't mince any words when writing about former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

"Once you've been to Cambodia, you'll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands," wrote Bourdain in his 2001 book, "A Cook's Tour."

The book chronicles Bourdain's world travels, as he experienced different cultures and culinary traditions. His chapter on Cambodia chronicled the local delicacies Bourdain sampled, and also delved into the country's tragic history.

In it, Bourdain went on to call Kissinger a "treacherous, prevaricating, murderous scumbag" and even likened Kissinger to Slobodan Milošević, the former Serbian leader tried for crimes against humanity.

After Kissinger's death on Wednesday, Bourdain's words are now making the rounds on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Once you've been to Cambodia, you'll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands."

Anthony Bourdain pic.twitter.com/NtEu4YMOW7

— Emissary of Night 🔆🍉 (@EmissaryOfNight) November 30, 2023

A post by X user @EmissaryofNight has racked up over 800,000 views since it was posted on Wednesday evening. And screenshots of Bourdain's words have been posted under announcements of Kissinger's death on the platform.

Bourdain's criticism of Kissinger continued later in life. He told the New Yorker in 2017, "I'm a big believer in moral gray areas, but, when it comes to that guy, in my view he should not be able to eat at a restaurant in New York."

And in 2018, the last year of his life, Bourdain tweeted that he did not regret his words about Kissinger. That too, is being resurrected by users on the platform.

Love that Bourdain tweeted this right around halftime of the Eagles Patriots Super Bowl https://t.co/Do1C1OX9jB

— Ursula K LeBron (@killakow) November 30, 2023

Kissinger died aged 100 on Wednesday. As a former secretary of state and national security advisor, he was associated with US foreign policy decisions from the Vietnam War to China's opening to the world.

Bourdain's words reference Kissinger's role in devising a secret US bombing campaign on Cambodia, a neutral party, during the Vietnam War. The campaign's controversy led Congress to pass the War Powers Resolution, requiring consent from Congress for future armed conflicts.

An investigation by The Intercept published in May delved into U.S. military documents and found that Kissinger's actions could have led to more civilian casualties than previously acknowledged.

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Nvidia cofounder lives off the grid, owns a private jet named Snoopy, and gives out single-use email addresses to avoid spam

Curtis Priem, Nvidia's cofounder and first CTO, spent part of his fortune on a remote home in California and a private jet.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

• Curtis Priem, cofounder of Nvidia, gave the majority of his stock to his college alma mater, Forbes reported. 
• The chip giant's first CTO spent part of his wealth on an off-the-grid home and a private jet. 
• He said he has "some regrets" for not keeping more of his fortune. 

Curtis Priem, one of the less-known cofounders of Nvidia, could've been the 16th richest person in America if he kept all his stock from the company before leaving in 2003. Still, his contributions to the company have afforded him an eclectic, off-the-grid life of his own, Forbes first reported.

After Nvidia, the company behind GPUs, went public in 1999, Priem, who was its first chief technology officer, put more than three-quarters of his Nvidia shares — 100 million in today's share count — into a charity he started called the Priem Family Foundation. The foundation, which once donated to causes like The Nature Conservancy before pivoting to educational endeavors, currently holds $160 million in assets and is set to shutter by 2031, Priem told Forbes.

By 2006, Priem sold the rest of his shares, leaving him with a fortune worth around $30 million, Forbes estimated. Nvidia's market cap is estimated to be $1.19 trillion as of November 28th.

While Priem gave the majority of his fortune away to his alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — to which his foundation gave $75 million this year to house its first IBM Quantum Computer — the Nvidia cofounder spent parts of his wealth on a few things of his own.

He currently lives in a $6 million house in a remote area near Fremont, California, Forbes reports. In his off-the-grid home, he writes "manifestos" on how to solve problems like "repairing the earth," and communicates through single-use email addresses to avoid spam, according to Forbes.

In 2021, he purchased a Gulfstream G450 private jet he named "Snoopy," and he uses his jet, which its maker Flexjet describes as "long-range luxury," to fly to RPI four times a year, per Forbes.

Still, Priem appears to have some regrets on how much money he gave away to RPI.

"I did a little crazy thing, and I wish I'd kept a little bit more [Nvidia shares]," Priem told Forbes.

Priem's thoughts around his wealth come as Nvidia continues to play a major role in powering the AI revolution. Companies like Microsoft have been vying to purchase Nvidia's powerful chips to train and deploy their own AI models. In turn, Nvidia's stock has climbed over 200% in the last year.

As a result, CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang's wealth soared nearly $30 billion as of late November. With a net worth of $42.9 billion, Huang is now the world's 27th-richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index.

Nvidia didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

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I flew on Hawaiian Airlines for the first time from NYC to Honolulu. The seat was nothing special, but the food was easily better than any other US airline.

I flew on Hawaiian for my honeymoon trip to Oahu and the food made the experience better than competitors.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

• I flew on Hawaiian Airlines for the first time, trekking 10 hours between New York and Honolulu.
• The flight was extremely long, but the comfortable seats and tasty food made it bearable.
• My one complaint is the lack of adjustability for the seatback screen.

During my eight years of working in the airline industry, I have managed to fly on every US carrier except one: Hawaiian Airlines.

So, for my honeymoon trip to Oahu in November, I ignored my loyalty to Delta Air Lines and booked Hawaii's namesake carrier. The Hawaiian reservation for two people in economy cost us about $1,800 roundtrip, which was cheaper than Delta's fare.

My husband being an airline pilot himself meant he was just as excited as me to experience Hawaiian. And, considering the carrier is consistently praised for its comfort and reliability, we had high hopes going in.

While the seats themselves were nothing special and had one slight annoyance, I found the 10-hour journeys between New York-JFK and Honolulu were easy thanks to Hawaiian's good food and relaxed atmosphere.

My husband and I arrived at New York-JFK's Terminal 4 at 8:00 a.m. for our 10:00 a.m. scheduled departure.

Our boarding passes.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I normally wouldn't show up to the airport so early for a domestic flight, but I wanted extra time to check our luggage and grab breakfast from one of the airport lounges.

With several bags in tow, we headed to Hawaiian's check-in counter and were happy to be one of the few people in line.

The Hawaiian check in counter at JFK's Terminal 4.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

We checked two bags, both of which were well below the 50-pound limit at about 30 pounds each. This gave us plenty of wiggle room to bring back souvenirs.

Granted, we had to wait 30 minutes in Honolulu and an hour in New York on the return leg to collect our bags, so be sure to budget that time.

We breezed through security thanks to TSA PreCheck and spent about an hour at the Virgin Atlantic lounge.

The lounge had plenty of seating with free food and drinks.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Access to the lounge came with our Priority Pass membership, and it's the best one available in Terminal 4, in my opinion.

We boarded the aircraft about 45 minutes before departure and made our way to a pair of seats in the back of the plane.

Our seats onboard Hawaiian's Airbus A330.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Hawaiian uses the widebody Airbus A330 on its long-haul routes between Honolulu and the East Coast, and it features dual seats on each side — perfect for couples.

Walking through the cabin, I appreciated the light blue color scheme and the fun flight attendant uniforms.

A flight attendant onboard Hawaiian during the return flight.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Hawaiian is a leisure-focused carrier, and I liked its laid-back ambiance. The landmarks and culture of Hawaii even inspired the inflight safety video.

Though, the plane did lack WiFi.

We soon made it to seats 42J and 42H. I chose this particular section because of the bigger aisle in the back of the plane.

View of the cabin from row 47 once the lights were down after the meal service.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Even though it would mean deplaning last, I wanted to sit in the back where I knew there would be more space and privacy.

Rather than the 2×4×2 configuration installed throughout most of the economy cabin, rows 43-47 are in a 2×3×2 layout.

One of the rows with three seats in the aft middle section.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

This type of configuration is common on other airline A330s as well.

Avoiding the rows closest to the galley and lavatory, I wanted rows 43 or 44. But neither had both seats open when I was booking the flight, so I settled for row 42.

With one seat gone, the wider aisle made the aft cabin feel more open — as much as it can anyway on a flying metal tube.

The grey curtain to the left blocks off the row of seats reserved for crew rest.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

While we were one row ahead of the wider aisle in row 42, we still had easy access to a space to stretch our legs and walk around.

Other than the change in layout, there was nothing particularly outstanding about the seats.

Flying on Hawaiian Airlines.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The seats came with adjustable headrests, a seatback pocket, and an inflight entertainment system with a USB port.

There wasn't an under-seat power outlet in regular economy.

As expected, the seatback pocket was just one pouch, and there were no special amenities. Still, the seats were perfectly comfortable.

The space between the cushions and the seatback.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I wish the seat incorporated a cupholder like on Singapore Airlines or a footrest as featured on All Nippon Airways.

But Hawaiian's product was easily comparable to non-five-star Asian carriers, including Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

I was particularly happy with the padding and the legroom, the latter being pretty industry-standard.

The seats in row 38 on the return journey to New York. The red-eye included a blanket.

Taylor Rain/Business Insider

According to Hawaiian, its A330s offers 31 inches of pitch, which is similar to other airlines like Delta and KLM.

Delta, which is the only direct competitor on the route between New York-JFK and Honolulu, offers 31-32 inches of pitch in economy on its widebody planes, per SeatGuru.

My husband and I are only 5'3" and 5'7", respectively, so we felt we both had enough legroom.

The legroom onboard.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Considering the flight is so long, taller passengers may consider an upgrade to "extra comfort" seats with 36 inches of pitch.

There were also plenty of movie titles to choose from to pass the time.

The inflight entertainment system had movies, music, games, and a flight map.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I particularly enjoyed the murder mystery film See How They Run while my husband watched titles like Asteroid City.

However, I had one major quip with the seatback screen — it didn't flip up.

We watched movies to pass the time.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

This was my only big complaint of the experience.

This meant the angle of the TV was awkward when the person in front was fully reclined.

The difference in position of the seatback when the person in front is reclined.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Basically, I wasn't able to see my screen straight on during half of the flight. And the reclined seat infringed on my space if I didn't recline as well.

It was an annoyance, but honestly, the deep recline helped me sleep and ended up being a fine trade-off.

I lost a lot of space if the person in front reclined, so everyone had to recline to make it work.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I also noticed the recline made some of my tray table space essentially unusable. Fortunately, the flight attendants asked passengers to set their seats upright during the meal service.

Shortly after settling into our seats, we pushed back from the gate and took off about 20 minutes later.

A view of NYC after takeoff.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I was happy Hawaiian followed through on its reputation for good on-time performance.

The flight attendant soon came by with a cart full of things like headphones, drinks, and snacks for purchase.

The snack box.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

There was a price listed for the earbuds, but the flight attendants handed them out for free.

Unsure how big the complimentary meals would be, I decided to buy a snack box.

The Maui Onion macadamia nuts were delicious.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I ordered an assorted box for $12 with themed snacks, like Maui Onion macadamia nuts and Hawaiian-style caramel corn.

I loved everything included, and it helped keep my hunger at bay.

We also enjoyed a few local Maui beers.

The Bikini Blonde lager from Maui Brewing Company was served onboard.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

It was our honeymoon, after all.

About two hours into the flight, we were served our first of two meals — and this is where Hawaiian shined over its US competitors.

The first of two meals served on Hawaiian.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I loved the food on Hawaiian, easily beating out Delta and United.

The first offering was a pasta dish, and despite looking a little dry, it was surprisingly tasty.

The meal came with wine.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The meal came with melon and a cookie, as well as a complimentary cup of wine. I'm not a huge wine drinker, but my husband enjoyed it.

The second meal, consisting of an egg sandwich, juice, and trail mix, was served about 90 minutes before landing.

You can see the difference in useable tray table space when the seat in front is not reclined.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I loved the little bag it was served in, which was quite on-brand with the Hawaiian-inspired leisure theme.

I thought Hawaiian's egg salad was particularly excellent.

The combination of egg and cucumber was perfect.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I typically don't have the appetite for a second airline meal after traveling for hours on end. My stomach is just weird.

But I loved the egg sandwich because it was simple and filling enough for an afternoon arrival in to Honolulu.

On the ride back to New York two weeks later, we were met with the same standard economy seats and more good food.

The view from the plane after takeoff from Honolulu with Diamond Head in the background.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The return flight was another 10 hours nonstop. But this time, it was a red-eye, and Hawaiian provided a blanket.

For my seats, the aft pairs were taken, so we sat further up in row 38.

The first meal was meatballs, rice, and veggies. Similar to the outbound meal, it was served with fruit and a pastry.

I loved the fresh fruit.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Once again, the meal looked questionable but was surprisingly flavorful and filling.

As this was a red-eye flight, the second meal contained mostly breakfast food, including a muffin, orange, cheese, and crackers.

The second meal served with orange juice.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

This was probably the least impressive meal of the bunch, but the orange and muffin were both fresh.

And, I again like the little bag it was served in.

Overall, I think Hawaiian provided a great start to my honeymoon, and I'd easily book the airline again in the future.

Our aviation-crazed selves beelined to Pearl Harbor's aviation museum after arriving in Hawaii.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

While the TV screens' lack of adjustability was annoying, the seats onboard Hawaiian were comfortable, and the recline provided a good position for sleeping.

And the food was excellent. I'd easily choose Hawaiian on future long-haul trips to Honolulu over competitors like Delta and United simply for its better meals, as the seats and entertainment are comparable otherwise.

But, remember that even though this is a domestic flight, it's longer than flying to Europe from New York — so board prepared.

The Hawaiian A330-200 at the gate in New York.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

It's weird to think a domestic flight in the US is longer than some routes to Europe, but that's true of Hawaiian's New York to Honolulu nonstop. Its flight to and from Boston is actually even longer.

Nevertheless, that means travelers should prepare to sit for 10 hours, including bringing snacks in case airline food isn't your taste, drinking plenty of water before and during the flight, and carrying sleep aids like melatonin and an eye mask.

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Marc Benioff says he gets around 8 hours of sleep a night and starts every morning the same way

Marc Benioff shared his daily relaxation routine, which includes 8 hours of sleep and daily meditation.

Justin Sullivan

• Marc Benioff's routine proves you don't need to be stressed or sleep-deprived to be successful.
• The Salesforce CEO recently spoke about his daily routine in an interview with GQ.
• Benioff says he sleeps eight hours a night and meditates for up to an hour a day.

As it turns out, you don't always need to sacrifice your sleep schedule to make it big. Just ask Marc Benioff.

Benioff, the billionaire CEO of Salesforce, recently shared some details about his routine in an interview with GQ. He spoke about his sleep schedule and how he uses meditation to get into a more zen headspace.

Benioff said that he averages about eight hours of sleep a night.

Though some business leaders swear they can survive on half the amount of sleep, Benioff isn't one of them. Asked about the entrepreneurs who say they get only four hours of sleep a night, Benioff quickly batted the idea down.

"No, I don't think that's generally a good idea. Based on the medical research," he told GQ.

Some other executives, like former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi, and former General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt have previously said they average about 4-6 hours of sleep a night. Former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have also spoken about not sleeping very much most nights.

4-6 hours is about half the amount of recommended recommended sleep for an average adult — 7-9 hours. Sleep deprivation can lead to issues like impaired cognitive function, a weakened immune system, and weight gain.

Benioff also has a strict meditation routine that he's been dedicated to since 1992, according to GQ. He also spoke about his meditation habit in 2005 with SFGate.

Benioff told GQ that he starts his day off by meditating for 30-60 minutes. He said that he uses it as a way to help manage his stress.

He is such a big fan of meditation that he encourages his employees to partake by having meditation rooms on every floor at a Salesforce building in San Francisco.

Benioff has worked closely with monks and nuns from Plum Village in France, even going so far as to inviting them to stay at his San Francisco home in 2015. He relies on the monks for guidance and credits them for the idea of incorporating meditation spaces into Salesforce.

Though Benioff may seem to have his wellness routine down perfectly, he's still open to changing it up. Benioff said that he still sleeps with his phone on his bedside table, but when told by the interviewer that using your phone before bed can cause negative health effects, he said "I'll move it."

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Jennifer Lawrence tells Kylie Jenner her makeup artist is so good people are convinced she had eye surgery

Jennifer Lawrence said she hasn't had plastic surgery and credits the work of her makeup artist.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

• Jennifer Lawrence recently interviewed Kylie Jenner for the latest cover of Interview magazine. 
• Lawrence shut down rumors of going under the knife and said the claims were due to the skills of her makeup artist.
• "I'm like, 'I didn't have eye surgery. I'm doing makeup,'" the 33-year-old told Jenner.

If you think that Jennifer Lawrence looks different these days, it's not because she had plastic surgery — it's just the work of her makeup artist, she told Kylie Jenner.

The 33-year-old actor shut down rumors about going under the knife while discussing the power of makeup with Kylie Jenner in a new Interview magazine story.

Lawrence told Jenner that her new makeup artist Hung Vanngo has been behind all her recent looks — and he's so good at transforming her face that people think she's had something done.

"And I also think it's incredible what makeup can do because I work with Hung, who overlines the lip, and I call him a plastic surgeon, because everybody in the last few months since I've been working with him is convinced that I had eye surgery," Lawrence said.

Fans started speculating on X — formerly known as Twitter — that Lawrence went under the knife after she stepped out at the Dior Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show in September looking slightly different.

"I'm like, 'I didn't have eye surgery. I'm doing makeup,'" the actor told Jenner.

The "No Hard Feelings" star then explained that it didn't make sense to compare how she looks now to when she first debuted since appearances change with age.

"I started at 19, so I get the before and after pictures from when I'm 19 to 30 and I'm like, 'I grew up. I lost baby weight in my face, and my face changed because I'm aging,'" Lawrence told Jenner.

Lawrence continued by saying that she has "had the exact same nose" but her cheeks "got smaller."

In response, Jenner also shared with Lawrence her own experience with people starting rumors about her appearance.

"I did end up getting lip fillers, but it's also the same with me," Jenner told Lawrence.

"I'm like,'How can you compare my 12-year-old face and say I've gotten my jaw shaved and eyelids removed?'"Jenner added. "I'm like, 'What are we talking about?'"

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Cyber Monday streaming deals: Save up to 89% on Disney Plus, Max, Hulu, Peacock, and more

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

ronstik/Getty

Movie and TV fans assemble! This is the final boarding call for the year's best deals in our roundup of Cyber Monday streaming deals.

I'll be the first to admit I'm already signed up for too many streaming apps, but the promo prices today, some of which get you a year of streaming for just a dollar a month, mean you can join up, then not feel too bad for not using some of them enough. You really can save up to 89% on the monthly prices, and you're still free to cancel at any time. Of all the Cyber Monday deals I've covered this year, this is the best category of the lot.

Some real blockbuster brands are involved today; many of the services from our roundups of the best streaming services and best live TV streaming services are accounted for—Hulu, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, (HBO) Max, Sling, Peacock, and more.

Truth be told, most of the best Cyber Monday streaming deals are on the ad-supported tiers this year, which is a bit disappointing. But when ad-free tiers are now so much more expensive, disproportionately so in many cases, saving the cash and suffering a few ads might be the better option. Plus, how often are you pausing movies to check your phone anyways? Sounds like a decent task to reserve for the ad breaks now.

The best Cyber Monday streaming deals

• Browse US deals: Hulu | Disney+ | Sling | Fubo | Max | Paramount+ | Dazn | ESPN+ | Apple TV+ | Amazon
• Browse UK deals: Disney+ | Paramount+ | Dazn | Apple TV+ | Amazon

FAQs

How long will these Cyber Monday streaming deals last?

It varies by streaming service, but nearly all will last through Cyber Monday, November 27. The longest-running deal is Paramount Plus', which lasts until Sunday, December 3.

Am I locked into a contract if I sign up for one of these Cyber Monday streaming deals?

Nope! By default, once the deal you've signed up for ends, the streaming service will re-subscribe you for the regular price. But you can cancel anytime before the deal runs out, which will let you keep watching until the deal ends without getting re-subscribed for the higher price.

Looking to stream some live sports sooner rather than later? Take a look at our money-saving guides on how to watch NFL games without cable and our how to watch NBA live streams.

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A pilot landed a plane in the wrong city, nearly 200 miles from where it was supposed to be: report

A United Nigeria Airlines pilot landed a flight in Asaba, 198 miles away from Abuja, the intended destination and Nigeria's capital city.

Visual Art Agency/Lingbeek/Getty Images

• A pilot landed a flight in a city some 198 miles from its intended destination. 
• Passengers said the pilot announced he had received the wrong flight path. 
• United Nigeria Airlines claimed the flight was intentionally diverted because of poor weather.

A pilot on a Nigerian airline landed a plane in a city nearly 200 miles away from its intended destination, local news outlet The Cable reported on Saturday.

United Nigeria Airlines — a private airline based in the West African nation — was operating a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja, the capital city, on Saturday, the airline said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

But the flight ended up in Asaba, a city some 198 miles south of Abuja, per the statement. It would be comparable to a flight headed for New York City landing in Washington, DC.

A United Nigeria Airline flight bound for Abuja ended up in Asaba.

Google Maps

Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a local politician and a passenger on board, wrote in a post on X on Saturday that flight attendants initially announced that they had landed in Abuja, the correct destination.

"We departed Lagos about an hour ago on @flyunitedng to Abuja, and upon arrival, the cabin crew confidently announced that we've arrived Abuja, only for us to realize that we landed in Asaba. Apparently, our pilot was given wrong flight plan from Lagos," he wrote.

Passengers were confused about the landing until an announcement was made.

"People were thinking that there's something we were not being told. Until the pilot announced to us that he received a wrong flight plan, that's when calmness was restored," a passenger told The Cable. The passenger was not identified in the report.

United Nigeria Airlines apologized for the incident in the statement posted on X on Sunday. The airline said the pilot had intentionally diverted the flight due to poor weather conditions in Abuja and was briefed beforehand.

"However, a wrong announcement was made by cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers," the airline said in the statement, adding that the flight had continued its journey and landed in Abuja. Business Insider could not independently verify the announcements made on board.

Another passenger posted a video on X showing the passengers' reactions after realizing they'd landed in Asaba. One man could be heard saying he only had 90 minutes to board his connecting flight from Abuja. BI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

"We legit got scared sha," the passenger wrote in the post.

We legit got scared sha.

Laff wan kee me 😅 pic.twitter.com/sWxbnJeDna

— Augustine (@AugustineMacky) November 26, 2023

Similar incidents have occurred over the years. In 2014, a Southwest Airlines flight arrived at an airport seven miles away from its intended destination in Missouri. And in 2019, a British Airways flight bound for Düsseldorf, Germany, mistakenly landed in Edinburgh, Scotland after the airline filed the wrong flight plan.

United Nigeria Airlines and Yakasai did not immediately respond to BI's requests for comment, sent outside regular business hours.

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An American tourist in Seoul said he sprayed graffiti in 155 places to raise awareness about teeth grinding

Pedestrians walk up an alleyway in Seoul late October 28, 2023.

ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

• A US tourist in South Korea was accused of vandalizing 155 places in Seoul.
• He's accused of spray-painting the words "bruxism" or "brux" on storefronts and gates.
• The unnamed American told police he was trying to raise awareness of the condition, bruxism.

An American tourist has been accused of spraying graffiti at 155 locations in Seoul's central Yongsan district, police said on Monday.

The Yongsan police department said it arrested an unnamed American man in his 30s who arrived in October as a tourist, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

The US citizen, detained on Saturday, has been charged with damaging both private and public property, including underpasses, trash cans, roads, electric poles, house gates, and store shutters, Chosun Ilbo reported.

He would graffiti the words "bruxism" or "brux" in English or Korean, and was identified and caught by police through surveillance cameras, per the outlet.

According to Yonhap, police said the arrested tourist claimed he was trying to spread awareness of bruxism, or a condition when people unconsciously grind or clench their teeth tightly.

Police are still investigating what his exact motives and actions were, per Yonhap.

The unnamed American told police that he suffers from severe bruxism, and wanted to let others know it can be a serious condition, the Seoul Shinmun Daily reported.

Police said they received complaints about the graffiti starting on October 25, and launched a search for the culprit, per the outlet.

An Instagram account with no followers, using the handle @bruxism.hunter, appeared to have kept track of dozens of the man's graffiti writings since late October.

The owner posted photos of the graffiti on walls, along stairwells, on road barriers, and storefronts.

The account's description said it was receiving reports of the writings. Business Insider could not independently verify who runs the graffiti-tracking account.

Meanwhile, Yonhap reported that the US tourist has been banned from leaving South Korea.

Yongsan is one of Seoul's most popular districts for tourists, and is home to the Itaewon commercial neighborhood, where a crowd crush killed more than 150 people last year during Halloween.

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Tim Cook says Apple hires people with these character traits

Apple employees come from all different backgrounds, but one trait they have in common is that they all think one plus one equals three.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

• Apple CEO Tim Cook recently talked about what the company looks for when hiring.
• Tim Cook says that Apple employees all believe that "one plus one equals three."
• He also said coding is important in general, but Apple has hired people who don't code or have degrees.

What does it take to work at Apple?

Tim Cook talked about the characteristics that strong hires at Apple share in a recent podcast interview hosted by Dua Lipa.

About three minutes into the interview, Cook said that everyone he works with at Apple believes that "one plus one equals three." Poor math skills don't sound like they'd be ideal for workers at a top tech company, but Cook broke down what he meant by that. 

"It's an incredible feeling to work with people that bring out the best in you, and fundamentally, we all believe that one plus one equals three," Cook said. "Your idea plus my idea is better than the individual ideas on their own."

 

Do you need a degree or know how to code to work at Apple?

Cook said in the interview that Apple hires people from "all walks of life," including those with and without college degrees. He also listed some other traits that help one find success at the iPhone company.

"I think one of the characteristics that I look for in people is collaboration," Cook said. "Can they really collaborate? Do they deeply believe that 1 plus 1 equals three?" 

Cook said that he also looks for employees who are curious and not afraid to ask questions. Other traits he looks for include creativity and someone who is a team player.

He said that while he believes coding is an important life skill even outside of work, Apple has hired people who don't know how to code, or those who don't code often or as part of their daily job.

In 2016, Business Insider took a dive into what Apple employees have said about their jobs on forums like Glassdoor and Quora. The application process is very rigorous, with some job candidates reporting as many as 13 total interviews. Apple was also described as being very protective of its upcoming products, monitoring trash cans, using code names for new products, and covering windows with black curtains. 

Cook also talked more about what it takes to work at Apple back in a 2015 "60 Minutes" interview. He said that he wanted employees who are passionate, idealistic, and don't take no for an answer. He also said it was important that his employees want to change the world and aren't satisfied with things the way they are. 

He also mentioned that it was important to hire people with a diverse range of perspectives. Cook told "60 Minutes" that Apple wants "wicked smart people who have a point of view and want to debate that point of view...People that want to make things better." 

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He wanted to be a trombone player. Instead, he ended up as CEO of one of the world's biggest airlines.

Johan Lundgren became CEO of easyJet in late 2017.

Christoph Soeder/Getty Images

• Johan Lundgren wanted to be a musician but turned to the travel industry when that didn't pan out.
• He's been CEO of European airline easyJet for the past six years.
• Lundgren says he never planned his career and has focused more on the journey than the destination.

In a parallel universe, Johan Lundgren would have become a professional musician and never ended up as CEO of one of the world's biggest airlines.

The Swede started playing the trombone at the age of 11 and was good enough to land scholarships that took him to Britain and the US. (His time in London included a bit of busking on the Underground: "At Christmas, you could make quite a lot of money.")

However, Lundgren wasn't quite good enough to get into the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He was "so disappointed," but the setback forced him to think about what he wanted to do instead. "I like people, and I like travel," Lundgren tells Business Insider in a faint Swedish accent during an interview in central London.

He started working as a tour guide on a cruise ship between the Swedish capital and what was then called Leningrad in Russia. The job came about partly because he had some knowledge of Russian history and culture from playing Russian music: "Everything you go through in life — it is a journey. The less you focus on the destination and the more you focus on today and the journey you're on, you can get immense benefits from that."

Lundgren progressed to a small company that organized business travel to the Soviet Union during the period of the 1990s when the Soviet Union opened up after Communism failed. After that he became a tour operator owned by the airline SAS as sales director.

After that, he became CEO at the age of 29, overseeing about 1,500 staff. "I never planned my career as such — one thing led to another … if you have some luck and great people around you — then things will look after themselves," he says.

He spent many years at TUI, one of Europe's biggest travel companies, rising to deputy CEO by the time he left in 2015. The Swede returned to his musical roots by opening a recording studio on the Spanish island of Majorca in the Mediterranean.

Inevitably, the headhunters kept calling. One asked Lundgren what company he might like to run. "I said 'easyJet,' without really thinking much about it," he recalls.

If you've ever traveled in Europe, chances are you've flown easyJet – the airline has about 1,000 routes in 35 countries, and operates from 155 airports. It carried 69 million people last year.

Southwest Airlines carried 126 million passengers last year in comparison, though both trail some distance behind the Irish bargain-basement carrier Ryanair, which had 160 million passengers.

'Extraordinary privilege'

So why easyJet? Lundgren says he was a fan of regular user of the airline, founded in 1995. It's cheaper than the "legacy" carriers such as British Airways, but still operates from primary airports such as London Gatwick or Charles de Gaulle in Paris (unlike Ryanair, once voted the world's worst short-haul airline.)

Easyjet planes at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

NurPhoto/Getty Images

There wasn't a vacancy at the time, but when the CEO left a few months later, Lundgren threw his hat in the ring — and got the job. It's almost six years to the day that he took up the role, and he's either a good actor, or genuinely loves his work.

"It's an extraordinary privilege to do this … even on a bad day. It's something that matters to millions and millions of people. I've been sitting at dinners with Nobel Prize winners, and we end up talking about the airline industry and their latest travel and the company. People really care about this."

Lundgren, 57, took home almost £3 million, or $3.76 million, last year, up from $1 million in 2021 when he didn't get a bonus, per the company's annual report. (Southwest CEO Bob Jordan was paid $5.3 million in 2022, though he may miss out on a bonus this year given its meltdown last holiday season.)

Data-driven

I ask Lundgren if the experience of flying, which many think is becoming more of a hassle, can improve. He insists "it really is a good experience" most of the time, bar some peak periods in the summer when things don't always go to plan. That's often due to factors outside the airline's control, such as air traffic control issues, Lundgren says. "We fly 275,000 people a day, and the overwhelming majority have a smooth airport experience."

Technology and AI are playing a big part in helping easyJet to reduce disruption and delays, he says.

The usual turnaround time of 35 minutes for a plane is doable on a good day, but factors such as a reduction in available airspace due to the Ukraine war have made delays more likely, Lundgren explains.

Easyjet is using AI to predict where the pressure points will be and the likely effect on schedules. That data helps determine where its 15 or so spare planes should best be based, and how many crew each base needs — and even identity parts that need replacing before they fail.

The airline's been "data-driven" for some time, and now generative AI can help cut costs and increase efficiency by optimizing the amount of fuel needed for each flight, for example. "Every little small thing makes a massive difference. Data is just going to be a gamechanger," Lundgren says.

EasyJet also uses data for dynamic pricing, not just on fares but ancillary charges like checked bags, too.

It's the UK's biggest airline and is first or second in many other markets too. Lundgren says focusing on big airports was a "genius" move by the founder and former CEO Stelios Stelios Haji-Ioannou. He and his family retain a significant stake in the company.

Testing ideas

EasyJet's huge number of takeoff and landing slots at Europe's most popular airports will only get more valuable, the CEO said. He says the company can also increase passenger numbers without adding more flights by replacing Airbus A319 planes with A320s and A321s that seat more people as they are delivered.

I also wonder if he's faced any cultural differences working outside his native Sweden over the years. Lundgren recounts that after taking up a role in Canada in the late 1990s, he would make suggestions and find that "everybody agreed with me" every time. He was more used to "just testing ideas" rather than issuing instructions.

He's lived in the UK for many years with his wife, but their two children, born in Canada, returned there to study and remain in Toronto. That gives Lundgren a reason to cross the Atlantic – but he can't fly easyJet, and says that's not likely to change given the difficulty low-cost airlines face making money on long-haul routes.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is famous in Europe for his publicity stunts.

Filipo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Other airline bosses, notably Ryanair's Michael O'Leary, are very much of the belief that all publicity is good publicity.

Lundgren keeps a lower profile and prefers to devote his energy to doing his best for easyJet customers, its 15,000 staff, and shareholders. That may sound a bit corny, but I get the feeling he absolutely believes it. As he puts it: "I don't have a lot of need for external appreciation."

So while he's happy not to blow his own trumpet, unlike O'Leary, leaving the trombone behind turned out to be something of a blessing in disguise for Lundgren.

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Tesla is planning a 24-hour diner and drive-in theater. Check out the latest image.

Tesla shared a picture of the diner in a slide from its March investor's day event.

Tesla on YouTube

• Tesla plans to open a futuristic diner and drive-in theater in California.
• The company reportedly broke ground on the project in September.
• The project includes a rooftop theater and movies that run for as long as it takes to charge an EV.

Nearly six years after Elon Musk first announced his plans for a futuristic Supercharger station, Tesla has finally broken ground on the project.

"Gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA," Musk wrote on social media in 2018.

Tesla filed an application with the US trademark office to use its brand assets in restaurant services three years later.

Last year, Tesla submitted plans to the city of Los Angeles for a charging station equipped with a 24-hour diner and drive-in theater. The electric-car maker plans to build the luxury supercharger station at 7001 West Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, according to Bloomberg.

Tesla began construction on the project in September, Forbes reported. Musk also provided more details on the project in August after the company's plans were reportedly approved by the city.

"Our Tesla futuristic diner (Grease meets The Jetsons with Supercharging) in LA should be ready later this year," Musk wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Tesla hasn't publicly given very many details about the project, but Bloomberg reported last year that the plans for the site include 28 Supercharger stalls and two movie screens that can accommodate over 200 people.

People will be able to view the two movie screens either from their car or a rooftop seating area, according to the project description for the site that was referenced by Bloomberg. Customers will also be able to order food and have it delivered right to their car, according to the plans.

The project description for the site says it will show movies that will take about the same amount of time as it takes to charge a Tesla — between 15 to 30 minutes.

Tesla's plans to elevate its charging stations highlight one of the company's biggest advantages when it comes to EV adoption — its Supercharger network. Tesla said earlier this year it plans to open some of its exclusive fast-charging network to some non-Tesla EV owners.

The company has spent over a decade building out more than 20,000 Superchargers in North America, earning it the region's largest network of roadside fast-chargers. The Superchargers are widely viewed as more reliable and easier to use than other charging networks. Non-Tesla EV owners have been known to complain of a lack of charging infrastructure and public chargers that are often slow or broken.

What's more, Musk's plans highlight Tesla's efforts to turn its EV chargers into destinations that can compete with gas stations. By reimagining charging stations, Tesla and other electric-car makers could combat EV adoption hesitancy. To date, several Tesla charging stations already include several amenities, including lounges, vending machines, and Tesla merchandise.

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How Emirates will keep the world's largest airliner flying for years to come —even though Airbus doesn't make it anymore

Emirates has signed deals worth over $1.5 billion in an effort to keep its Airbus A380s flying.

Lutz Borck/Airbus

• Emirates announced investments of more than $1.5 billion to keep its 119-strong fleet of Airbus A380s flying.
• The quad-engine superjumbo has been the airline's flagship plane for over 15 years.
• While Airbus shut down production of the A380 in 2021, the move shows Emirates' continued commitment to the jet.

Although global airlines continue to retire the mammoth Airbus A380 in favor of more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, Emirates is long from giving up on its flagship airplane.

At the Dubai Airshow in mid-November, the UAE-based carrier announced a series of investments that would keep its giant fleet of A380s flying for years to come.

The company, which is the world's largest operator of the over $400 million A380, said in a statement that it signed deals worth over $1.5 billion that will contribute to the maintenance and repair of its superjumbo.

Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, and Lufthansa Technik, among others, have all been tapped for the project to help Emirates "optimise its A380 fleet's lifespan and unlock additional operational efficiency gains, all at its exacting standards."

The companies will provide services like engine maintenance and a landing gear overhaul.

"The A380 has been and will continue to be very much part of the Emirates story," company president Sir Tim Clark said in a press release.

In total, the airline took 123 of the 251 double-deckers delivered — meaning it bought up nearly half of the world's A380s. Emirates still operates nearly 90 of its 119-strong superjumbo fleet, with plans to reinstate more "in the coming months."

"Our continued commitment to and confidence in the A380 is why we're investing heavily to keep the fleet in optimal shape and pristine condition," Clark said. "The A380 will remain core to our network and customer proposition for the next decade, and we want to ensure our fleet is in tip-top shape." 

The billion-dollar investment comes despite Airbus shutting down production of the A380 in 2021 after sending off its last double-decker to Emirates.

The planemaker ended the A380 program for myriad reasons.

Not only was the jet's popularity dwindling as airlines sought out more fuel-efficient airliners like the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787, but the company was losing money on production.

"In the end, you have to face facts, and we could see that we were building A380s faster than people were ordering them," Bob Lange, Airbus' head of business analysis and market forecast, said in 2019.

But, despite the pandemic travel lull that proved to be the nail in the coffin for many A380 fleets, Emirates is doubling down. It sees the high-capacity, long-haul aircraft as a key to powering its hub-and-spoke business model — especially as the post-pandemic travel boom continues to rage on.

A handful of other carriers, like British Airways, Qantas, and Korean Air, are following Emirates' strategy, using the A380 to maximize capacity on high-demand routes.

In a 2021 interview with CNN, former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce described the A380 as the "perfect vehicle" to handle the pent-up COVID demand, specifically pointing to routes between its Australian hubs and places like London and Los Angeles.

Emirates' recent announcement is the latest example of its commitment to the A380. In January, the first of 67 superjumbos completed its full cabin overhaul as part of Emirates' $2 billion retrofit program.

The most significant change is the addition of premium economy, a first for Emirates.

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Here's what happens if Donald Trump dies while running in the 2024 presidential election

Former President Donald Trump.

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

• Donald Trump is currently the Republican frontrunner heading into the 2024 election.
• He is 77 years old and will turn 78 in June.
• If Trump dies while running for reelection, a few different things could happen.

Former President Donald Trump is far and away the Republican frontrunner heading into the 2024 election.

He is 77 years old and will be 78 in June.

If Trump dies while seeking reelection, a few different things could happen, depending on when he dies and how close it is to Election Day.

There's no national deadline to file to run for president of the United States. Instead, filing deadlines vary depending on the state and party.

There are currently eight declared candidates, including Trump, on the GOP side. If Trump were to die before January 1, 2024, there would likely be other Republicans who want to jump into the race.

Many states' filing deadlines have already passed, however, meaning that state election officials would need to adjust them to allow new candidates to enter the race.

If Trump died during primary season — which ends in mid-June — some states may postpone their scheduled primaries.

There's some precedent for this; at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a dozen states postponed their primaries or expanded vote-by-mail options.

If Trump died after the last primary contest but before the Republican National Convention, the other GOP presidential candidates would have to make a case to every state delegation at the convention for why they should be the party's nominee.

And if Trump secured the GOP nomination but died between the convention and Election Day 2024, the RNC would convene to select another presidential candidate.

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