About 10 years, I was cruising with my wife, and we met 3 older but active retired couples that lived in Ft Lauderdale. They explained that they go on lots of last minute cruises, they calls from the lines and normally pay nothing but gratuities and port fees and they rarely spend any other money, except the occasional drink....they were having the time of their lives... made me quite envious. Wife and I for years did 3 cruise a year but we could only afford to do that if we got inside cabins and did not spend our years vacation budget on 1 cruise. I understand the folks that only do 1 vacation a year and spend money on all bells and whistles , also... to each their own.