Business Wars Wondery

In 1950, an enterprising Miami businessman has the idea to use a passenger liner to ferry retired Floridians to the Caribbean. He makes their time on board the ship as much a part of the appeal as the destination. Modern cruising is born, but it’s still just a small niche activity.




But in the 1960s, a group of ambitious men in both the United States and Europe sees huge potential in this form of vacation travel. Within six years Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival are all founded. They spend the next 60 years battling to be the biggest and best cruise line in the world. 

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

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After his bitter exit from Norwegian Cruise Line, Ted Arison has limited time to make his new company Carnival a success. With little funds and one run-down ship, the odds are stacked against him. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean compete to be the most luxurious cruise ship company on the market. And all three get an unexpected boost from Hollywood.

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

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As Carnival cements its success by going public, founder Ted Arison and his son and CEO Micky set their sights on growing the company through acquisition. They make long-time rival Royal Caribbean their target. But with a new ambitious executive at the helm, Royal Caribbean isn’t going down without a fight. Norwegian Cruise Line struggles to keep up with the competition.

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

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As the cruise industry enters the 21st century, Carnival and Royal Caribbean square off again as they battle to acquire British company Princess Cruises. Whoever wins Princess will be virtually uncatchable as the largest cruise company in the world. But when the Covid-19 pandemic breaks out, the cruise industry struggles to keep passengers safe, and the entire existence of the industry is in jeopardy.

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

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This episode comes out for free on 07/31, and is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ subscribers.

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The seas were especially rough for the cruise line industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a time when people thought cruising might never come back… but not Dan Kline. He’s the founder of the publication Come Cruise With Me, and was one of the first people to set sail when cruises reopened. Dan joins David to talk about how the industry stayed afloat and adapted during the pandemic, and its miraculous comeback in the years since. He also shares what’s next in the world of cruising, and why this type of vacation is so addicting!

It’s 1978 in Miami, Florida. The hottest spot in town is a club located inside the world famous Mutiny Hotel. And it’s also the epicenter of Miami’s infamous drug wars.The new MGM+ Hotel Cocaine takes you deep into this world, where every pleasure has a price. David sat down with creator and showrunner Chris Brancato and series stars Danny Pino and Mark Feuerstein to learn more about the glamorous Mutiny Club and the darker reality that surrounded it.For more on the illicit cocaine trade and the battles that followed, check out our season “Drug Cartels,” airing only on Wondery+ on August 7.

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.