Page 20 – Ask.com

For the first time in years, Meryl Streep doesn’t have a horse in the Oscar race. However, as Awards Season nears, we are amazed by the staggering amount of award-worthy bids there are for Best Lead Actress this year. And while we can’t help but love the much-lauded work of actresses like Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers), we’re also excited to share some less familiar — but equally powerful — performances that really made our 2019.

10. Molly Shannon | Wild Nights with Emily

Prolific poet Emily Dickinson was doing more than just writing back in the mid-19th century. Wild Nights with Emily acknowledges that Dickinson enjoyed baking gingerbread, trying to get past the men who acted as literary gatekeepers and embarking on a fulfilling queer romance with her sister-in-law, Susan (Susan Ziegler). IndieWire notes that comedic genius Molly Shannon, who plays Dickinson, “has always been a performer who leaves everything on the field, no matter how small the arena.”

Photo Courtesy: Greenwich Entertainment/IMDb

9. Mame Bineta Sane | Atlantics (Original Title: Atlantique)

In Dakar, construction workers abandon their work after their wages are withheld and seek opportunities at sea — and all of this is spun around a love story between Ada (Mame Bineta Sané) and Souleiman. Vanity Fair’s K. Austin Collins says Atlantics “stuns and surprises,” thanks in part to newcomer Sané. According to critics at IndieWire, Sané’s “poise, naturalism and magnetism suggests the skills of a far more experienced actor. With any luck, her career is just beginning.”

Photo Courtesy: Les Films du Bal/Netflix/IMDb

8. Zhao Tao | Ash Is Purest White (Original Title: Jiang hu er nü)

Writer-director Zhangke Jia revisits career-long themes in Ash Is Purest White, a tragicomedy that follows Qiao (Zhao Tao, Jia’s wife and longtime collaborator) through the jianghu criminal underworld. Critics at IndieWire were quick to note that “above all else, this movie is a monument to [Zhao’s] talents” and her career alongside her director husband. Christy Lemire at FilmWeek (NPR Los Angeles) notes that, even when looked at separately from her oeuvre, Zhao gives a “powerhouse performance… so understated” that “her work — and the film as a whole — really do accumulate in their emotional resonance.”

7. TIED: Adèle Haenel & Noémie Merlant | Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Original Title: Portrait de la jeune fille en feu)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a young woman commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of reluctant bride-to-be, Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). This slow-burn, intimate romance is also about the act — and art — of looking, and the painting becomes an act of collaboration and love. Quelle Movies notes that the film’s leads, Merlant and Haenel, “bring an intensity that is simply awe inspiring” to this already “mesmerizing” film.

Photo Courtesy: Lilies Films/Pyramide Films/IMDb

6. Tessa Thompson | Little Woods

This grim, tautly-woven thriller from writer-director Nia DaCosta depicts Tessa Thompson as Ollie, a woman with just a few days left on her probation for running prescription pills over the border. But when Ollie’s sister, Deb (Lily James), finds herself pregnant and saddled with a deadbeat ex, Ollie must choose between her safety and helping her sister. And all of this occurs in the wake of their mother’s death, just as their family home is being foreclosed upon. IndieWire critics note that “Thompson puts a human face on critical timely issues… demonstrat[ing] her range as an actress… [creating] some truly magnificent moments that rank as some of the year’s finest.”

Photo Courtesy: Tribeca Film Festival/IMDb

5. Saoirse Ronan | Little Women

In 2008, Saoirse Ronan was just 13 years old — and she was already amazing critics, who found her performance in the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s Atonement to be an Oscar-worthy showing. Ronan perfectly captured the wit and fire of young aspiring writer Briony Tallis, and, over a decade later, she channels her abilities into another headstrong writer — Jo March. Following in the footsteps of actresses like Winona Ryder, Ronan brings Little Women‘s Jo to life, perfectly capturing both the character’s remarkable passion and hidden-away melancholy. The Times (UK) calls her “the linchpin of the drama,” noting that Ronan “gives the performance of the movie.” At 25, Ronan now has a total of four Oscar nominations under her belt, making her the youngest four-time nominee since Jennifer Lawrence.

4. Awkwafina | The Farewell

Written and directed by Lulu Wang, The Farewell is based on her What You Don’t Know segment on NPR’s This American Life program. And that segment? It was based on Wang’s experience visiting her terminally ill Nai Nai (paternal grandmother) in China — at a time when Wang’s family agreed it was best to keep the diagnosis from Nai Nai. In the film, the often comedic Awkwafina plays the Wang character, Billi, delivering a “fish-out-of-water physicality and emotion-on-her-sleeve sincerity that acts as a catalyst for the family to address issues they’d rather leave unspoken” (IndieWire).

3. Jennifer Lopez | Hustlers

In Hustlers, former strip club employees decide to turn the tables on their old Wall Street clients — and take them for everything they’re worth. Allison Rose, a critic at FlickDirect, notes that this story of female empowerment in a corrupt world is bolstered by “real gem” Jennifer Lopez who “steal[s] every moment… She is powerful and demands attention, whether she is speaking or dancing.” Maybe J-Lo’s career best performance will be enough to nab Oscar gold — as well as her character’s Wall Street gold.

Photo Courtesy: STX Films/Annapurna Pictures/IMDb

2. Florence Pugh | Midsommar

After suffering a terrible loss, Dani (breakout star Florence Pugh) joins her boyfriend and his friends on a trip to Sweden to experience a midsummer festival in a remote village. The only trouble? Her relationship is crumbling, she’s grief-stricken and these Swedes are part of a cult. All of the horror unfolds in broad daylight, but that doesn’t make it any less unnerving. IndieWire notes that Pugh’s performance “becomes so horrifically real that to watch her is to experience unrelenting suffering.” Yikes.

1. Lupita Nyong’o | Us

When an actor portrays two or more characters, you can bet it will test their range. And Lupita Nyong’o shows that her raw talent and her ability to create such nuance is something to watch in awe. IndieWire critics perhaps put it best, writing that Nyong’o “turns a horror premise into something much bigger than a single genre can hold. The greatest roles in horror movie history are the ones where we see the humanity inside the monster, but Nyong’o and [director Jordan] Peele take that to the next level — the same actress recognizing herself in that monster.”

Photo Courtesy: Monkeypaw Productions/Universal Pictures/IMDb

Honorable Mention: Renee Zellweger | Judy

Biopics are tricky — and made even trickier when the lead is playing a much-beloved person. In Hollywood history, there are very few folks (if any) more beloved and well-remembered than Judy Garland. In Judy, Renee Zellweger really commits to the role, delivering what the Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey calls “the performance of a lifetime.”

Music has always been a sign of the times. Its evolution demonstrates collective cultural shifts of importance, but its fundamental purpose to inspire, entertain and challenge is ever present. Take R&B, for instance. The shiny veneer of the perfectly chiseled contemporary R&B stars who sang about love in the 90s and 2000s has worn off — and it makes sense.

Identity politics, social media and globalization at large are challenging our interpretations of relationships and individuality. With R&B, you could always find comfort when you’re caught up in your feelings, and its contemporaries keep that tradition going. The new generation of R&B talent uniquely explores themselves through narrative-driven music that combines influences from other genres. We all have the power to find ourselves, but just like each of these trailblazers, we have to examine the world and the people around us first.

Solange

Identity dominates Solange Knowles’ work —but of course it does. She grew up in the public eye as the talented kid sister of Beyoncé. It didn’t take long for her to not only establish herself as a talented musician in her own right, but as an artist who could speak to today’s black experience in America.

In 2016, she released her third album A Seat at the Table, describing it as “a project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief and healing.” It was a compelling album that combined influences of neo-soul and funk with R&B. For her follow up, 2019’s When I Get Home, she looked inward to her Houston roots and combined jazz with new-age trap.

Key Tracks: “Cranes in the Sky,” “Stay Flo,” “Don’t Touch My Hair”

serpentwithfeet

The drama that can devour a passionate love affair has long been a foundational element of R&B music. Like, can’t someone unbreak my heart and say you’ll love me again? Baltimore-born Josiah Wise a.k.a. serpentwithfeet takes that carnal element and amps up the drama tenfold.

Growing up in a religious family, Wise sang in the church choir while his parents played classical and gospel music. For his own music, he combines his classical and gospel roots with the neo-soul and electronic music he explored after being rejected from graduate-level classical conservatories.

The result is an R&B sound all his own — deep, emotional, but with an all-consuming, melodramatic intensity. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to fall in love so you can understand the emotional power that he so brilliantly expresses in his music.

Key Tracks: “bless ur heart,” “four ethers,” “messy”

Channel Tres

Sheldon Young a.k.a. Channel Tres is keeping R&B on the dance floor with a musical equation made for the new generation. He mixes his SoCal sensuality with Barry-White-on-Xanax vocals to a blend of R&B and Chicago/Detroit house.

But Channel Tres doesn’t croon about how he “Can’t get enough of your love, babe.” His rugged catcalls are declarations of unavailability and confidence, an age old twist in the playbook of love. He keeps himself at arm’s length, claiming to be the controller, the swami or the sexy black Timberlake. It’s a playful move that addresses stereotypes about sex and behavior frequently attributed to black people.

As he continues to combine all the cultural trends of today’s music, he may earn his own honorific title as the “Controller.”

Key Tracks: “Controller,” “Sexy Black Timberlake,” “Topdown”

Toro y Moi

In the last decade, Toro y Moi a.k.a. Chaz Bundick has gone through countless musical evolutions. In the beginning, he was one of the defining artists of Chillwave, a hybrid of Internet culture, retro nostalgia and soft synthesizers. Then he helped define the short lived “Basement R&B,” which took those soft melodies and production tools to make glitchy-sounding classic R&B jams on your basement computer.

But as Toro y Moi continued to experiment with his sound, he evolved into a dominant force defining the next wave of R&B music. Combining R&B with disco and electronica, he has blossomed into a more modern sound that still appeals with indie music fans.

In 2019 alone, he has released two albums that are each totally different but completely refreshing on their own. January’s Outer Peace blended R&B with a danceable, future-pop sound, while November’s Soul Trash mixtape was a blend of R&B with hip-hop and chillwave. Soul Trash also came with its own short film and guest rapper collaborations, which is another sign that the multi-talented musician is looking to take his music to the next level.

Key Tracks: “Minors,” “Mirage,” “Baby Drive It Down”

FKA Twigs

When FKA twigs released “Water Me” in 2013, music fans weren’t sure where to place her. FKA Twigs a.k.a. Tahliah Barnett puts an avant-garde, electronic twist on R&B music. As she pushes the boundaries musically, she releases music videos that incorporate baroque aesthetics with modern dance, resulting in a modern yet timeless experience.

Pushing boundaries through honest storytelling has been the main constant throughout her music, but everything else seems to surprise her fans. When she revealed her temporary absence from performing was due to having fibroid tumors removed from her uterus, fans thought she would never return, but she came back with a vengeance.

In April 2019, Twigs released “Cellophane” off her latest album Magdalene. Her breathy, fragile falsetto combined with a video that focused on her new pole dancing prowess created a triumphant return for the avant-pop R&B angel. She may have seemed broken from her medical challenges and public breakup of her three-year relationship, but she rose from the ashes, stronger and more powerful than ever before.

Key Tracks: “Two Weeks,” “Pendulum,” “Cellophane”

Janelle Monáe

Sharing your personal narrative was, quite frankly, the total opposite of Janelle Monáe’s early work. She hid behind “Cindi Mayweather,” an android persona from a hip, Metropolis-inspired future. Her sound had funk and electronic elements from early Contemporary R&B artists like Prince and Janet Jackson.

She also only sang about the love that exists between androids, or “the others” as she put it. Fortunately, artists (and culture) evolve. In 2017, after years of public inquiry about her personal life, Monae released Dirty Computer, her biggest commercial success. She had always made enjoyable music about self-expression, only now she was following her own instructions.

Some argue she used her sexuality as a marketing tool to promote Dirty Computer, announcing she was pansexual in promotional interviews. Others celebrated her courageousness for unplugging her robotic persona and embracing her inner-self. With an ever-growing fanbase, she has the power to encourage R&B fans around the world to celebrate a new generation of “others.”

Key Tracks: “Tightrope,” “Make Me Feel,” “Electric Lady”

It’s always a beautiful day in the neighborhood thanks to Fred Rogers. For 33 years, he was the creator, showrunner and host of the American television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He transformed children’s television, promoting kindness and speaking openly about children’s emotional and physical concerns.

Rogers won the hearts of many people. He also earned honorary degrees and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy. Was there anything this man couldn’t do? Read on to learn more about the legacy of everyone’s beloved “neighbor,” Mr. Rogers.

He Hated TV, So He Changed It

When Rogers turned on the television, he often saw violence and people demeaning each other. The inhumanity made him furious, so he decided to inspire change in the medium, believing there was a way to “nurture” viewers with a charming and gentle program. As a result, he created Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to spread knowledge and kindness. The show’s production and sets were basic, but that didn’t stop it from becoming groundbreaking television.

Celebrities and Even Animals Loved Him

Not only did Rogers make a significant impact on kids and their parents, but he also influenced celebrities. One of his fans is Michael Keaton, who ended up hosting a lovely Mr. Rogers documentary called It’s You I Like. Tom Hanks also adores Rogers and portrayed him in the 2019 film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Photo Courtesy: Fred Rogers Production/IMDb

One of Rogers’ biggest fans wasn’t even human. Koko, the Stanford-educated gorilla who knew 2,000 English words and 1,000 words in American Sign Language, loved him too. When Rogers met her, she instantly welcomed him with open arms and took off his shoes (the same way he does on the show).

He Personally Responded to Every Letter from Fans

Rogers’ daily routine included waking up at five every morning, praying, writing, studying, exercising and replying to all his fan mail. The show’s program assistant, Heather Arnet, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “He respected the kids who wrote them. He never thought about throwing out a drawing or letter. They were sacred.”

The letters were more than just drawings and ramblings. Many children opened up to him about their personal issues, such as a loss in the family or other serious problems. Each day, Rogers received 50 to 100 letters from fans, and he wrote back to each one. Today, the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, holds almost 1 million of those letters.

He Was a Gifted Musician

After attending Dartmouth College for one year, Rogers transferred to Rollins College. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in music. As a talented songwriter, he created all the tunes for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which is more than 200 songs. He also played the piano magnificently, and it shows in each episode.

Rogers created music at a young age, even after getting bullied. When he was a child, life was tough. He was shy and overweight, and his classmates teased him. “I used to cry to myself when I was alone. And I would cry through my fingers and make up songs on the piano,” recalled Rogers.

He Saved Public Television and the VCR

In 1969, Rogers went to Washington D.C. to help stop budget cuts for public television. He presented his case in front of the Senate, explaining how he could help children. “I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health,” Rogers explained to the Senate. He did more than just stop the budget cuts by the end of the hearing. Within six minutes, he convinced the committee to provide $22 million in funding for public TV.

In 1984, Rogers supported the “fair use” of media in a Supreme Court case. Some people considered recording TV shows to be copyright infringement. However, Rogers influenced the outcome, arguing that it was important for parents to be able to record children’s programs and watch them at more fitting times as a family.

He Cared Deeply About Others

From 1968 to 2001, Rogers made sure to use his show for good. Focusing on children’s emotional and physical struggles, he included many personal topics because he cared about his audience’s needs, concerns and happiness. He answered questions about everything from scary haircuts to fights with siblings to divorce and war.

Photo Courtesy: Tremolo Productions/IMDb

Rogers was well-prepared for his young audience because he attended the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Child Development. He also worked with a child psychologist for 30 years.

Many people found Rogers caring, including reporters and limo drivers. During interviews, he asked reporters questions about their lives and got to know them. It wasn’t uncommon for him to call them every once in a while to keep in touch. He did the same to one of his limo drivers. During one of the rides, the driver mentioned they were passing his house. Wanting to meet the driver’s family, Rogers asked if they could stop by. The result was heartwarming. Rogers played the piano and talked to the family into the night.

Some hotels are outdated and boring, but others have transformed their suites into special, jaw-dropping themed experiences. Travelers are spending the night in some creative rooms with stunning decorations inspired by popular films and books.

From I Dream of Jeannie to Barbie to carbs, here are impressive themed hotel rooms that you can’t resist booking. These rooms will have you saying, “Take my money!”

The Secret Agent Suite | Paris, France

Do you dream of living like a secret agent? Masquerade as James Bond in the Secret Agent Suite at the luxurious Hotel Seven. Everything in this unique suite is eye-catching, from the sleek bedroom to the full bar.

Designed by Agence Bastie, the room is styled with classic and futuristic details. For instance, the furniture is vintage, while the curved wooden panels and lights are from the year 3007. The suite is big enough for two people to enjoy the retro-chic vibe. If you’re looking for adventure, you can find it here. James Bond and fellow spies would be pleased to stay in this space.

The Lisa Frank Flat | Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Hotels.com, ’90s kids got the chance to relive their childhoods in an insane Lisa Frank-themed hotel suite. The suite was a rainbow dream, with unicorns, dolphins and cheetahs popping up everywhere. The bed had a light-up cloud canopy, and each wall was covered in technicolor murals. When guests went into the bathroom, they were transported into an underwater world. Sea creatures swimming in a blue and pink ocean were painted on the walls.

There was also a large supply of neon gel pens, stickers and ’90s lunch box snacks like Pixy Stix, Gushers and Cheez Balls. Plus, guests didn’t go home empty-handed. The experience came with limited-edition gifts, such as Lisa Frank-themed slippers, sleep masks and robes.

Created in Los Angeles, the pop-up suite was only available to guests from October 11 to October 27 in 2019. According to Hotels.com, reservations for the flat sold out within an hour. But Hotels.com continues to create incredible pop-up rooms, so keep an eye out to seize a unique opportunity. Airbnb also creates similar pop-ups for their customers.

Wizard Chambers | London, England

The Georgian House Hotel doesn’t just have themed rooms; it has seven secret Harry Potter-themed rooms. Cue the Hogwarts music! The rooms are hidden behind a bookcase door, down a staircase lined with candlelight and through a hallway covered in portraits. If you get spooked easily, don’t worry, the portraits don’t suddenly come alive. Ghosts also aren’t roaming around or floating through walls.

Each chamber is outfitted with everything you need to feel like you’re spending the night at Hogwarts. Accommodations include beds with velvet curtains, stone walls, cauldrons, trunks and wizard artifacts. See the magic in rooms like the “Wizard Chambers” or “Enchanted Chambers.”

If you want to kick it up a notch, book the potions and spell casting session. Led by a “Head Wizard,” the course shows students how to create delicious concoctions by mixing all types of potions and powders, from thunderhead dragon blood to phoenix teardrops. It’s great for people who want to craft their own cocktails. There are also non-alcoholic versions.

Genie’s Bottle | Catskills, New York

Sometimes, the ideal weekend is escaping into one of your favorite TV shows. However, what if you could experience your beloved series in real life? The I Dream of Jeannie TV show comes alive at the Roxbury Motel. As the top choice for honeymooners, the Genie’s Bottle suite comes with two lavish bedrooms, shimmery furniture, gold accents, pink patterned walls and jaw-dropping views. It’s the perfect place for lounging and sipping cocktails.

However, most guests can’t stop talking about how “magical” the bathroom is. In fact, the bathroom was featured in a TLC special called Insane Bathrooms. There’s no doubt that you’ll feel like you’re inside a giant genie bottle as soon as you walk in there. The hotel spent six months creating this masterpiece. Did we mention there’s also a 70-gallon Japanese soaking tub? Once you’re in this room, you’ll never want to leave.

The Batman Suite | Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Taiwan’s Eden Motel has the internet buzzing about one of its thrilling rooms: The Batman Suite. Styled as the original Bat Cave, the batpad features a bed, flatscreen TV, hot tub and gargoyles. The best part is the Batmobile couch sticking out of the wall.

The Batman Suite is definitely unique, but the way to book the room is also different. The motel lets you rent the pad by the hour, with a minimum stay of three hours. From the hot tub in the room, you can watch a movie and feel like Gotham’s hero without having to deal with villains. Don’t worry; there aren’t any real bats hanging in the cave either.

Wonderland House | Brighton, England

If you’ve never heard of the Wonderland House, it’s not too late to go down the rabbit hole to see this crazy home. The house glamorously captures all the best things about Alice in Wonderland, from the Queen of Hearts chamber to the Flamingos Dream room.

With five floors, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, two kitchens and a lounge, the house is a great place to throw a party for 24 guests. The lounge can also be used as a seventh bedroom thanks to the sofa bed.

However, the Mad Hatter banqueting room is the home’s main attraction. It was created to host grand tea parties involving costumes and silly hats. The majority of the chairs are tea cups, but one is a throne-like armchair. Plus, the floor has a checkerboard pattern. Everything in this room is eye-popping and exciting.

The Wonderland House also offers special packages. For instance, guests can upgrade their experience with a “hunky” butler, a cocktail making session, chocolate making workshops and a laughter gym. Come curious and leave amazed. Sign us up, please!

The Ice Room | Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

If the cold doesn’t bother you, check out Sweden’s ice hotel. It’s the world’s first hotel composed of ice. Built in 1989, Icehotel Kiruna works with talented artists to redesign the suites every winter. In 2010, the property featured a jaw-dropping masterpiece: a glowing TRON-themed room.

The hotel is only available during the winter because it melts every year in the spring. With temperatures between -5 and -8 degrees Celsius, the Icehotel is no joke. Every inch of the rooms is made from ice using local water from the Torne River. At least the frozen bed is covered with reindeer hides and a thermal sleeping bag.

For guests celebrating a wedding, the hotel offers a beautiful venue called the Ice Ceremony Hall. The hall comes with an altar and benches that are made of ice. It can also function as a space for vow renewals or another special ceremony.

The Wizard’s Emeralds | Catskills, New York

If you love The Wizard of Oz, book The Wizard’s Emeralds at the Roxbury Motel. This suite takes the visual experience to the next level. Decked out in green, the chamber features a wall-size painting of the iconic Emerald City and a long yellow-brick road that runs through the middle of the room.

Giant poppies cover the bathroom, which includes an 85-gallon soaking tub with dual showerheads. The Wizard’s Emeralds wouldn’t be complete without the curled-up witch’s feet on the lavish bed. All the little details make the room extra special. For Oz enthusiasts who want a unique experience, the suite starts at $182 a night. However, you should do it as soon as you can because some customers keep coming back just to book this spot.

The Final Frontier | Catskills, New York

Spend the night in another galaxy at the Roxbury Motel. Inspired by the film Star Trek, the suite imitates the experience of traveling through deep space on the USS Enterprise. Visitors suggest booking the suite ahead of time because it’s one of the motel’s most popular quarters. It’s easy to see why guests swear that The Final Frontier is “out of this world.”

The large suite includes two floors, two king-size beds, two bathrooms and a living room. One of the bathrooms comes with an 85-gallon soaking tub and dual showerheads. The other bathroom has a two-person walk-in shower.

Space décor covers every inch of the suite. For instance, the ceiling has pictures of stars and the walls light up. Is anyone up for some stargazing before heading to bed?

SpongeBob SquarePants | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? It might be you if you check into a special room at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana. SpongeBob SquarePants fans of all ages may fall in love with The Pineapple Villa.

The villa is a replica of the iconic Bikini Bottom home, featuring Gary the snail and SpongeBob’s couch. It also comes with many fancy accommodations, including two bedrooms, three bathrooms, indoor and outdoor living areas, a garden, an infinity pool and private butlers. These amenities come with a high price tag — $3,800 a night. Plus, guests will receive other quirks, such as surprise (but fun) green, slimings and shows by your favorite Nickelodeon characters. Home sweet pineapple.

Lord Vader’s Quarters | London, England

Give in and come to the dark side in Darth Vader’s chamber. Star Wars‘ biggest fans have a special place to celebrate the series’ famous villain at Hotel Pelirocco. Whether you’re an imperialist or a Jedi, the property will leave you impressed.

Lord Vader’s quarters was marketed as a “father and son” cabin, but all types of families, couples and Star Wars fans want to book the room. The cabin includes bunk beds, a light saber and DVDs. How can fans resist the Jedi trophy shelf and portraits of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia on the walls? There’s also a Darth Vader costume you can try on. No wonder it’s so popular!

Pokémon Rooms | Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan

Japan’s Apartment Hotel Mimaru collaborated with The Pokémon Company to evolve old rooms into Pokémon rooms. Each pad features Pokémon-decorated walls and a giant stuffed Snorlax. Even the dishes and mugs have Poké Ball designs.

Luckily for fans, there are five Mimaru locations in Tokyo and Kyoto embracing the theme. Visitors also receive complimentary swag from the hotel, which includes a Pokémon drawstring bag, welcome card and hand towels with unique designs. You can’t find this exclusive merchandise anywhere else.

The majority of the rooms fit between four to six people, so you can share your love for Pokémon with friends or family. However, the rooms are quite expensive, costing around $400 to $600.

V8 Hotel | Böblingen, Germany

Make a pit stop at the V8 Hotel, a motor-inspired destination full of automotive history and rooms themed around the car of your dreams. One room boasts British race cars, while another displays vehicles made in Germany.

V8 Hotel offers 34 rooms with various car themes, but the luxurious Mercedes Suite steals the show. Illustrations, photographs and original parts cover the suite. It also features four floors and a rooftop terrace. However, the most notable feature is the flashy Mercedes car bed.

Pirate Theme | Edmonton, Canada

Yoho, yoho! If a pirate’s life is for you, spend the night in one of Fantasy Land’s luxury theme rooms: The Pirate Theme. One king bed, high-speed Wi-Fi and a TV are a few of the basic amenities. But the features get even better.

The Pirate Theme room wouldn’t be complete without a Jacuzzi and bunk beds in the form of a massive pirate ship. Your sailing adventure includes a life-size replica of the best pirate you’ve ever seen, Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

The Wagon Wheel Villa | Sedona, AZ

The Wagon Wheel Villa transports you to the wild, wild west. Located in Sedona, Arizona, the Adobe Grand Villas has many themed suites, but there’s only one with a covered wagon bed, 19th century-inspired lamps and other rich details.

The villa’s bathroom also sets the mood. A swinging saloon-style door is the entrance. Inside, there’s a Jacuzzi for two and a fireplace in front of the tub. To live like a cowboy or cowgirl, check out this unique villa.

Kitty Town Rooms | Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo’s Keio Plaza Hotel pays tribute to one of Japan’s most popular cartoon characters, Hello Kitty. For Hello Kitty fanatics, this room is a dream come true. Even better, the property has more than one room dedicated to the beloved Kitty.

Covered in pastel and neon colors, the Kitty Town room has more of a playful tone. The wall’s artwork captures Kitty and her pals at a theme park. Hello Kitty also left a cute signature on the bathroom mirror. According to the hotel’s website, guests can keep a Hello Kitty doll, tote bag, toothbrush, skin care set and slippers. Sounds like a deal, right?

The other room, Princess Kitty, is elegantly styled with fairytale vibes. Each room also comes with Hello Kitty swag.

Cave Room | Yucca Valley, CA

Check into a hidden gem in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, Oasis of Eden. The themed cabin is owned by America’s Best Value Inn, making it affordable for anyone who is interested. However, Oasis of Eden is not your average motel. This property provides one-of-a-kind experiences.

The motel offers 13 marvelous themed rooms, but The Cave Room is the most unforgettable adventure. It comes with a spacious hot tub surrounded by stone and a round bed covered in leopard print. The decorations will make you feel like you’re in a real cave.

Poseidon Undersea Resort | Fiji

Poseidon Undersea Resorts was supposed to open in 2008. But the project still hasn’t started. Inspired by Poseidon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the resort had an incredible vision. It was to feature a restaurant, bar, library, conference room, wedding chapel, spa, luxury suite and guest rooms — all under the sea.

Can’t wait for it to open? Take a look at a real underwater room, the Muraka Suite at The Conrad. The Maldives’ underwater suite will cost you $200,000, but there are many perks, like falling asleep while fish-gazing. Dubai has an underwater hotel too. The Atlantis, the Palm features rooms with floor-to ceiling windows that have an incredible view of the open sea.

Castle Garden Cottage | Big Bear Lake, CA

Designed for couples, Castle Wood Cottages is a Big Bear hotel that provides 12 themed rooms. It takes romantic getaways to a new level. Couples can live out their fairytale dreams in cabins like the Enchanted Forest or Crystal Cave.

But the most extravagant cottage is the Castle Dream, which looks like the inside of a real castle. The adventure doesn’t stop there. Spreading across two floors, the cabin features a moat with a waterfall, a spiral staircase, a private gazebo, a love swing, a Jacuzzi and a seven-foot-long dining table for romantic, candlelight dinners. Ready to spend a night in a kingdom?

Geisha Goldfish Art Room | Tokyo, Japan

Artist Aki Narita collaborated with Tokyo’s Park Hotel to create a captivating way for visitors to taste Japanese culture visually. Her art room is covered in oil-painted goldfish and geishas, from the walls to the ceiling. The vibrant masterpiece resembles an aquarium.

Narita put a lot of thought into the work of art. Plus, the entire room is hand-painted. According to the artist, floating goldfish are lucky charms. Seeing one brings good fortune and brightens a person’s mood. Narita also wanted to bring pleasant dreams to all the guests that stay in the artsy room.

If this specific concept doesn’t interest you, Tokyo’s Park Hotel has an entire floor dedicated to art. One room highlights the Japanese national sport of sumo. Another space beautifully captures Mount Fuji and flying gods. Whatever your art preference, there’s a room in this hotel to suit you.

Daisy’s Room | Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Manor is home to a herd of giraffes. It’s also a boutique hotel with glamorous suites and guest rooms. Each room has a bright white interior, huge windows, cozy beds and even giraffe pictures hanging on the walls.

Daisy’s room stands out from the other cabins at the hotel, though. It features a huge shower and jaw-dropping views of the Ngong Hills. It’s one of the few rooms with a balcony, which lets guests feed the giraffes that visit. So, don’t be surprised when Daisy (the giraffe) pokes her long neck through your window.

Cockpit Cottage | Quepos, Costa Rica

Ever wondered what it’s like to sleep in a cockpit? The Cockpit Cottage at Costa Verde takes you on a luxurious, tropical experience. Hidden behind a lush jungle, the bungalow is accessed via a hanging suspension bridge. It’s basically your own private aircraft in a tree.

Aside from complete privacy, the Cockpit Cottage comes with a king-size bed, chic bathroom, relaxing balcony, ocean views and sleek wooden panels. Some of your neighbors are treetop animals, like sloths, toucans and monkeys. This cottage is heaven for jet setters and jungle lovers.

Bread & Breakfast | New York, NY

Many people think carbs are the enemy, but Hotels.com is here to change their minds. This bread-themed room is a paradise for carbivores. With croissant wallpaper and an edible wall of bagels, how could you resist saying no to carbs?

The delicious adventure starts as soon as you check into the hotel. When you pick up the room key, you’re gifted with a sweet treat too. The entire room is decked out in pastries, with donuts in one corner and waffles in another. The Bread & Breakfast room is a carb wonderland, from the bedroom to the bathroom — even the lamps, pillows, blankets, toiletries and room service menu are carb-themed. We’re curious how comfortable those baguette slippers are! By the way, the room also smells like fresh bread all the time.

New York’s Refinery Hotel made this dream come true on January 17, 2020, which is also National Ditch Your Resolution Day — what a big coincidence! For $225 per night, guests had the chance to go on a carb-loading getaway. However, it was only available until January 31. What will Hotels.com come up with next?

Haunted Castle | North Conway, NH

Do you dare spend the night at a haunted house? You can get close to the real deal at Adventure Suites, a unique property with themed rooms. Brave guests can book and try to survive in a jungle or cave room.

But if you want a terrifying adventure, check into the Haunted Castle. According to information about the property, the castle is the “only simulated haunted overnight experience in the world.” The castle gives off big creepy energy with rooms and stairs falling apart and insects crawling everywhere. We’re already itching in fear and excitement.

Wine & Roses | Clinton, IL

At Sunset Inn & Suites, the Wine & Roses room is for adults only, which means no kids or pets allowed. The room’s name suggests what the place is used for — an ultimate romantic affair.

Every piece of décor in the room properly sets the mood, from the bed of roses to the warm, low lighting. The elegant crimson whirlpool bath is surrounded by columns and lush plants. There’s also a sauna and steam shower to intensify your romantic getaway.

Fitzgerald Suite King | New York, NY

Established in 1907, the Plaza in New York has a rich history. The luxury hotel was a favorite among famous writers, such as F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Rumors say that the couple spontaneously swam in the Pulitzer Fountain right outside the hotel. The Fitzgeralds were regulars, so it’s no surprise that the Plaza created an extravagant room inspired by one of their books.

The Fitzgerald Suite glamorously captures the Jazz Age, hitting vibes and tones from The Great Gatsby. In fact, the mastermind behind the impressive design is Catherine Martin, the co-producer of the book’s film adaptation, which won two Academy Awards. She wanted the room to reflect the danger, glamour, romance and nostalgia of the 1920s. The designer also imagined what it would be like if Jay Gatsby stayed in the room.

The suite is complete with a sparkling chandelier, a Gramophone-shaped speaker, a hand-picked library, artwork and butler service. If you look closely, you’ll find Gatsby’s monogram embroidered all over the place. The space has so many fun details that you’ll spend hours uncovering Great Gatsby Easter eggs and props. We believe no complaints will come from the huge fans.

Aqua Villa | Tulum, Mexico

At the Azulik Tulum Resort, the Aqua Villa pays respect to water and the environment. The property calls the villa one of the top rooms at the resort. Using water as its main attraction, the villa has a hot tub facing the Caribbean Sea, along with indoor waterways.

Aside from the water features, the Aqua Villa comes with a raised round bed, geometric mirrors and bejuco floors. The pad is also all about privacy, like the private terrace and staircase that leads to the beach.

Other amenities include roundtrip transportation from and to the airport, a couple’s massage, breakfast and butler service around the clock. Plus, the mosquito nets will protect you from uncomfortable bug bites, so you can spend more time relaxing and healing.

Barbie Dreams | Mexico City, Mexico

Toy company Mattel partnered with Hilton Hotels to transport visitors to a world full of pink glamour, a.k.a. Barbie’s world. For Barbie’s 60th anniversary, the pair transformed a suite into a life-sized Barbie heaven at the Hilton Mexico City Santa Fe. The project combined camping and hotel extravagance.

Barbie Dreams had a pink-carpet entrance, life-sized DreamCamper, pink pool cabana and a rare collection of Barbies from the last 60 years. The glamping pad was designed for families, but it was also a nostalgia-inducing experience for adults. Children stayed in the DreamCamper while adults had fun in another bedroom. It took 20 weeks to complete this pink universe.

If the suite wasn’t Barbie enough for lifelong fans, they could’ve checked out the hotel’s Madera restaurant, which presented a Barbie-inspired menu. The heart-shaped pizzas, red velvet desserts, pink yogurt parfaits and strawberry ice cream looked fit for a queen. Unfortunately, guests can no longer book the suite. Barbie Dreams was available from March to December in 2019, costing between $189 and $229 per night.

MAMMA MIA! The Party | Stockholm, Sweden

Party like Mamma Mia! at the Pop House Hotel. Located at the same address as ABBA The Museum, the property has a few rooms with music themes. For instance, the MAMMA MIA! The Party room is outfitted as a pleasant Greek village.

At night, the room’s ceiling glows with stars. The terrace has a winding, pink bougainvillea, while the pad’s pergola is covered in vines. Even better, the room accommodates various uses, including a romantic getaway for a couple, business meetings and a cocktail party for 24 guests.

Pumpkin Carriage | Taipei City, Taiwan

Once upon a time, the Sato Castle Motel built some crazy-rich guest rooms. One of them is called the Pumpkin Carriage room, and it was designed to be extraordinary. Featuring a scene from Cinderella, the room has a giant bed carriage pulled by a beautiful horse statue.

The bathroom is impressive too. Feel free to relax in the Vichy thermal-inspired bathtub, which is surrounded by towering columns. Also, don’t worry about the time; the carriage won’t turn back into a regular pumpkin after midnight. You are guaranteed to have an experience you’ll never forget.

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs

It’s not exactly shocking news that weddings are expensive. From the venue to the dress to the catering and the honeymoon, the costs can add up quickly. For most couples, setting a budget and sticking to it is the best way to get through the process with both sanity and bank accounts intact.

But what if money were no object? Imagine the possibilities! For these celebrity couples, money concerns weren’t an issue, and no expense was spared to create the couple’s dream wedding. From intricate dresses to elaborate venues to dazzling entertainment, take a look at celebs who spent a fortune on their lavish weddings.

30. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban | $250K

It’s a pared-down event in comparison to others on this list, but Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban celebrated their 2006 nuptials in style, spending around $250,000 for the event. They married on a cliff in Australia, officially tying the knot in the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel.

Carrying a white rose bouquet, Nicole arrived in style, pulling up to the cathedral in a Rolls Royce limo. Like many other celebrity weddings, the guest list was extensive and packed with famous names, among them stars like Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and even Rupert Murdoch.

29. Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra | $500K

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra tied the knot in 2018 at a cost of about half a million dollars. Must of the price tag can be attributed to the multiple ceremonies that the couple held. With two Christian ceremonies and three traditional Indian ones, the couple made sure to highlight and honor both of their backgrounds for this important life event.

Photo Courtesy: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for John Varvatos

Of course, pre-wedding events must also be factored into the total, and in the case of the wedding of Nick and Priyanka, they were plentiful. These elaborate events likely added more than $60,000 to the final amount paid.

28. Khloe Kardashian & Lamar Odom | $1 million

True to the Kardashian brand, the wedding between Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom was highly extravagant. It’s likely that the pair spent at least $1 million on their nuptials, a cost that was distributed among Khloe’s custom silk gown (made by Vera Wang), a star-studded guest list and a second dress that Khloe donned for the reception.

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3

Other expenses included a tiara worn by Khloe, expensive bridesmaids’ dresses and a sky-high wedding cake. The pair went their separate ways a few years after the big event, but their wedding pictures still stun and amaze us.

27. Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston | $1 million

Once upon a time, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were a much-admired Hollywood couple. Their wedding was an intimate affair, something that was quite suited to the couple. It was held in Malibu and included incredible entertainment for their guests. The gospel choir and fireworks both helped make it an event to remember, and the 50,000 flowers didn’t go unnoticed either.

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Although the couple split a few years after their nuptials back in 2000, Jen says she doesn’t regret her gorgeous wedding — or the $1 million price tag. Of course, that was just a drop in the bucket as far as celebrity weddings go.

26. David & Victoria Beckham | $1 million

David and Victoria Beckham have been married now for nearly 20 years. Back in 1999, they spent around $800,000 on their wedding. By today’s standards, that amount equates to more than $1 million. So, what made the Beckhams’ wedding so pricey?

Photo Courtesy: Darren Gerrish/WireImage for White Company/Getty Images

Victoria’s dress certainly had a hand in it. The Vera Wang creation cost an estimated $20,000. Other big costs included the venue, which was a castle in Dublin with a high per-guest price tag, as well as a lavish cake topped with figures (in the nude) of the couple. Not strange at all, right?

25. Serena Williams & Alexis Ohanian | $1 million

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s wedding is rumored to have cost around $1 million, but some estimates have put the total cost much higher. Based on the prices we’re seeing here, a mere million does seem like a questionable amount.

Photo Courtesy: Jim Spellman/Getty Images

With multiple dresses — and bedazzled Nikes to top it all off — and a carousel rental that cost more than $2,000, the couple decided to spare no expense for their 2017 wedding, and they had the time of their lives. The event also included a runway-style ceremony, complete with lounges instead of traditional wedding seating, and a gold arch of flowers the couple stood under when they wed.

24. Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren | $1.5 million

Already a golf great by the time of their 2004 wedding, Tiger Woods bought out the entire Sandy Lane resort in Barbados for his marriage to Elin Nordegren. He also made sure he commandeered the only helicopter charter company on the island, something that helped maintain the privacy they desired.

Photo Courtesy: David Cannon/Getty Images

With a fireworks display to finish the reception, Elin and Tiger paid no mind to expense when planning their wedding. They also dressed the resort in elegant floral arrangements and treated guests to a special performance by Hootie and the Blowfish.

23. Elton John & David Furnish | $1.5 million

In 2014, Elton John was finally able to officially marry his long-time partner, David Furnish. With a wedding that cost around $1.5 million, Elton and David tied the knot surrounded by a stunning 600 guests. That number of people meant high food costs that were somewhere in the $130,000 range.

Photo Courtesy: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The couple also went all out on the drinks, with more than $100,000 spent on vintage pink champagne. Other costs included the floral arrangements with red roses and the pair’s wedding bands, which are believed to have cost nearly $250,000.

22. Eddie Murphy & Nicole Mitchell | $1.5 million

Although they are now divorced, Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell had a wedding for the ages back in 1993. The cost at the time was $1.5 million, and that number would be even higher today. The event was a hugely lavish one that included 500 total guests, many of them celebrities themselves.

Photo Courtesy: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Held in the grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel, the wedding also included copious flowers and its own red carpet. Murphy and Mitchell didn’t take their wedding for granted at the time. They donated their floral arrangements to a hospital located in Harlem.

21. Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones | $1.5 million

Another couple that is still happily married today, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones tied the knot at a wedding that cost about $1.5 million back in 2000. This couple was also married at the Plaza Hotel, a famed New York City destination.

Security was tight at the affair, with guests required to present their invitations (complete with holograms) in order to gain access to the wedding. Further costs included Zeta-Jones’ beautiful designer gown, which was crafted with Chantilly lace, and her tiara. With performances from Bonnie Tyler and Mick Hucknall, the wedding remains a memorable one.

20. Pierce Brosnan & Keely Shaye Smith | $1.5 million

This former James Bond actor and his partner, Keely Shaye Smith, spent at least $1.5 million on their 2001 wedding. Married in Ireland, the couple rented out a 13th-century castle. They invited more than 100 guests, including many major celebrities, to celebrate with them.

Photo Courtesy: John Sciulli/Getty Images for MOCA

They also took inspiration from John F. Kennedy’s wedding to Jackie O., particularly in the type of cake they served — a crowd-pleasing carrot cake. Like many others on this list, the pair decided to close out the evening with a fantastical fireworks display at another hefty cost.

19. Nicole Richie & Joel Madden | $2 million

Costing a cool $2 million, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s wedding was a lavish affair. It was held at Lionel Richie’s (father of the bride) mansion in Beverly Hills. Starting in a $20,000 Marchesa gown, Nicole changed her outfit two more times before the night was done.

Photo Courtesy: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

From the chef-crafted food to a post-wedding dance party to a carefully selected guest list, the wedding was a well-planned affair, thanks to celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss. Still happily married, the couple is sure to remember their wedding day with a smile for the rest of their lives.

18. Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman | $2 million

Wed in Napa Valley, the famous singer and her partner, Jordan Bratman, made sure to show their guests a good time. They set up a roomy reception tent, decorated to the nines in everything from birch trees and roses to custom chandeliers that were carefully constructed from real branches.

Photo Courtesy: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage for Nylon Magazine/Getty Images

Of course, their menu was impressive as well, serving food that anyone would love, from chicken to mac and cheese — fancy, chef-style mac and cheese, of course. In total, it’s likely the couple spent at least $2 million on their wedding, quite possibly more.

17. Madonna & Guy Ritchie | $2 million

Though the pair has since split, Madonna’s 2000 wedding to Guy Ritchie is one that we’re still talking about today. For the pop star’s second marriage, the couple wed in Scotland’s Dornoch Cathedral.

Photo Courtesy: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images

The reception followed in a nearby castle, which certainly ate up a lot of budget at a cost of just over $2 million. The pop star herself took center stage in a gorgeous Stella McCartney gown, which likely cost her somewhere in the vicinity of $80,000 — a price that would be quite a steal for a similar gown today.

16. Elizabeth Hurley & Arun Nayar | $2.6 million

One wedding ceremony can be expensive, so imagine how high the tab would be for two wedding ceremonies. In 2007, supermodel and movie star Elizabeth Hurley married business tycoon Arun Nayar. The pair had a fairytale wedding in an English castle.

Photo Courtesy: Neil Mockford/Getty Images

They weren’t done celebrating, though. Following the traditional Anglican ceremony, the two partied for eight days and had a Hindu ceremony at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. The bill racked up to $2.6 million (adjusted for inflation), which included $300,000 for private jets and $100,000 for accommodations.

15. Kim Kardashian & Kanye West | $2.8 million (not including Paris)

There’s no doubt that Kim and Kanye have extravagant tastes. From the gorgeous Givenchy dress, complete with intricate lace and real pearls — believed to have cost at least $400,000 — to the stunning venue, the pair went all out.

Photo Courtesy: Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

Guests received the celebrity treatment, including a “glam squad” that provided touch-ups for hair and make-up. Top chefs prepared exquisite cuisine. Featuring a performance by Andrea Bocelli, it’s no wonder the wedding of Kim and Kanye is still talked about today. The total cost is speculated to have been between $2.8 million and $6 million — if you include the couples’ Parisian stint.

14. Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes | $3 million

When Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married in 2006, their wedding expenses totaled about $3 million. Held at Odescalchi Castle in Italy, it was a Scientologist ceremony with rituals based on the religion that Cruise still belongs to today. The reception followed at the same location, and the newly married couple spared no expense for their guests.

Photo Courtesy: WireImage House/WireImage/Getty Images

Wine and champagne, including hundreds of bottles of Barbaresco wine, flowed freely, and guests had the pleasure of dining on high-quality cuisine. A fireworks display closed out the night and added significantly to the final tally for the event.

13. Paul McCartney & Heather Mills | $3 million

When Paul McCartney and Heather Mills married in 2002, no one expected a small affair — and they were right. The couple spent at least $3 million on their wedding, which took place in Ireland. Special touches included a special song written by Paul McCartney for Heather as she walked down the aisle.

Photo Courtesy: Sion Touhig/Getty Images

Other costlier additions included fireworks to round out the night and a 300-person guest list that included well-known stars like Eric Clapton and Elton John. A reception tent helped keep guests dry and comfortable, even in the midst of Ireland’s typical rainy weather.

12. Elizabeth Taylor & Larry Fortensky | $3 million

The eighth time’s a charm, right, Liz? For her final wedding in 1991 to Larry Fortensky, Elizabeth Taylor went all out. She purportedly spent around $1.5 million, which would equate to almost $3 million in today’s currency.

Photo Courtesy: Brenda Chase / Stringer/ Getty Images

The star-studded extravaganza was held at Neverland Ranch, the extravagant home of Michael Jackson. The ceremony was even officiated by pop-spiritual leader, Marianne Williamson. The bride’s untraditional dress (a yellow confection) was estimated to cost around $25,000. Although the pair divorced a few years later, they remained friends and stayed in touch for the rest of Taylor’s life.

11. Liza Minnelli & David Gest | $3 million

When Liza Minnelli and David Gest wed in 2002, it was the talk of the town. After all, they spent more than $3 million on the affair. With Michael Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor serving as the maid of honor, there is no doubt the event was as star-studded as it was possible to get.

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/ Getty Images

A 60-piece orchestra played the wedding music, and singer Tony Bennett performed. No costs were spared for food, and a 12-tier wedding cake satisfied guests’ sweet tooth after the lavish meal. In short, the marriage only lasted a year, but their wedding will live on in memory for years to come.

10. Salma Hayek & Francois Henri Pinault | $3.5 million

One of the main factors behind the hefty cost of Salma Hayek’s 2009 wedding to partner Francois Henri Pinault was the choice of venue. Wed in Teatro La Fenice, a famous and historic opera house located in Venice, Italy, the pair celebrated their love for one another with a heavy dose of style and culture.

Photo Courtesy: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Salma dazzled in a gorgeous Balenciaga gown, a selection that contributed substantially to the cost of the wedding. In all, it’s estimated that the couple — still happily married, by the way — spent around $3.5 million on the wedding of their dreams.

9. Sofia Vergara & Joe Manganiello | $4 million

In 2015, the popular Modern Family actress wed Joe Manganiello in an event that cost the pair about $4 million. Held in Palm Beach, the wedding included a Sylvia Weinstock cake and a performance by pop superstar Pitbull.

Photo Courtesy: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Sofia wore two dresses throughout the night, a strapless ballgown with a removable skirt, as well as a shorter dress, which she changed into for dancing later in the evening. The decor for the ceremony and reception added to the total cost significantly, with floral arrangements featuring prominently throughout the night.

8. George & Amal Clooney | $4.5 million

Amal Alamuddin, a human rights activist and attorney, became Amal Clooney in a star-studded wedding in 2014. For starters, the pair dressed in exquisite style. Amal wore an Alexander McQueen dress that likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. George Clooney’s tuxedo cost an estimated $5,000. That’s certainly a bit of a price disparity!

Photo Courtesy: Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

The reception alone is rumored to have cost around $250,000. Add the cost of hotel stays, transportation and a variety of other wedding costs, and it’s easy to see how Amal and George spent more than $4.5 million on their big day.

7. Chelsea Clinton & Marc Mezvinksy | $5 million

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton grew up in the spotlight. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the guest list for her wedding was star-studded or that Chelsea herself looked like true American royalty in a Vera Wang dress that cost a reported $20,000.

Photo Courtesy: Handout/FilmMagic/Getty Images

The dress was only a small slice of the $5 million budget, which included a cake that cost more than $10,000 (gluten-free) and accommodations for up to 400 guests. Like the British royals, Chelsea also spent a hefty sum for security, purportedly to the tune of $200,000. Apparently, safety costs a whole lot more in the U.K.

6. Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel | $6.5 million

For Justin Timberlake’s 2012 wedding to Jessica Biel, the superstar couple went all out. Jessica’s dress, a Giambattista Valli ball gown, cost somewhere in the ballpark of $100,000. That’s a pretty penny for even the prettiest dress.

Photo Courtesy: David Livingston/Getty Images

Although the wedding was small in comparison to other celebrity weddings, the duo invited their guests to stay with them for an entire week — in Italy, no less. As you might have guessed, this drove up the cost of the wedding by quite a bit. In total, the pair likely spent at least $6.5 million on their big event.

5. Wayne Rooney & Coleen McLoughlin | $8 million

English Author and TV personality Coleen McLoughlin’s wedding to professional soccer player Wayne Rooney approached royal standards with its staggering price-tag. After dating for six years, the high school sweethearts decided to tie the knot at the Abbey of Cervara near Genoa, Italy in 2008. Usually, guests dread the personal expenses that come along with destination weddings, but not in this case.

Photo Courtesy: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage/Getty Images

All 64 invitees were flown to the venue on one of the five private jets the couple chartered for the day. No expensive was spared on the reception either as the couple hired out Irish boyband Westlife — a stunt that cost them $670,000 alone. Of course, you’d rack up a pricey wedding tab too if OK! Magazine footed half of the bill. Reportedly, the publication paid the couple $4.2 million for exclusive rights to their wedding photos. Now $8 million total doesn’t sound so steep, right? (Just kidding — it’ll always be a wild amount.)

4. Michael Jordan & Yvette Prieto | $10 million

Michael Jordan went all out for his wedding to Yvette Prietto back in 2013. Although it was Jordan’s second wedding, he didn’t skimp on the big day, which had an estimated cost of $10 million. From the food to the entertainment, the quality of the wedding was impeccable. He even hired an 18-member band to entertain guests.

Photo Courtesy: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The clothes worn by the bride and groom added substantially to the cost. Decked out in a dress of handmade silk lace, Prietto looked stunning as she danced the night away with her new groom, surrounded by a star-studded guest list.

3. Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries | $10 million

Although the marriage was short-lived, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ wedding was as lavish as you might expect. It was estimated to cost even more than Kim’s nuptials to Kanye, with a final price tag of somewhere around $10 million.

Photo Courtesy: Desiree Navarro/FilmMagic/Getty Images

What could possibly have generated that kind of cost? For starters, Kim wore a total of three dresses, all designed by Vera Wang. In addition, the cake alone cost thousands of dollars. Other extravagant expenses also added to the total, including designer wedding invitations and a venue that cost millions of dollars.

2. Prince William & Kate Middleton | $34 million

From Kate’s timeless and iconic dress and the gorgeous floral arrangements to the tables filled with food and drinks and the entertainment, the royal wedding easily stacked up bills that added up to an impressive total. Kate even had a second dress, one that was a bit easier to move around in for the ceremony.

Photo Courtesy: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

However, the majority of the money spent on this wedding went toward security costs. For such a high-profile wedding, security cost an estimated $32 million. Only a mere $2 million went to cover other wedding expenses — still quite an impressive amount.

1. Prince Harry & Meghan Markle | $45 million

When it came time for a wedding, Prince Harry had no intention of being outdone. His wedding to Meghan Markle cost an estimated $45 million, around $10 million more than Prince William’s nuptials.

Photo Courtesy: Ben STANSALL – WPA Pool/Getty Images

In many ways, however, the two weddings were very alike. Much like Kate, Meghan wore two dresses, although her style veered more toward the understated. Costs for the reception also ate up much of the budget, as did the decorations for the chapel where the couple was married, St. George Chapel in Windsor. The majority of the cost was for security, much like William’s wedding.

Have you ever wanted to know what your favorite celebrity is like in real life? Maybe you share some of the same quirks that would make you instant friends in another life. According to the staff of certain celebrities, there’s more to them than meets the eye when it comes to their personal preferences and some of the odd things that are important to them.

We did some digging to uncover some little-known facts that will tickle your funny bone and pique your interest in some of the world’s most popular celebrities. Let’s find out what their own people had to say!

Madonna and Her Toilet Phobia

So, it turns out that Madonna is a germaphobe to the point that she has an appointed “toilet cleaner” employee for prepping the potty before she goes. You can’t help but wonder what the employee’s job description looked like in an employment posting and what the interview must have been like.

Photo Courtesy: Marco Piraccini/Archivio Marco Piraccini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Madonna requires a sparkling clean seat for her behind before she ventures into the ladies’ room, so one of her employees carries a bottle of disinfectant for this express purpose. In any case, we can assume that her royal bum is squeaky clean. We wonder if she hangs out with Howie Mandel.

Britney’s Disorderly Condition

A new study has revealed that ultra-intelligent people are extremely messy, so maybe Britney Spears is a genius. A former housekeeper of the celebrity pop star revealed that she struggles with keeping an orderly household and that she is untidy to the extreme.

Photo Courtesy: Britney Spears: Overprotected/IMDb

Spears’ former maid said she frequently left clothes strewn all about her room and that she even found partially eaten fast food under the furniture at times. We can’t resist asking if she ever apologized to the housekeeper using the words, “Oops, I did it again!”

Ryan Gosling’s Weird Stair Thing

There’s no easy way to share this bad news, so we’re just going to get to it — Ryan Gosling likes to walk up the stairs on all fours. Of course, he only does this in the comfort of his own home, or his star would have flamed out long ago. He also waxes his body multiple times a month, and he sleeps with his head at the foot of his bed.

Photo Courtesy: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

One staff member even reported that Gosling pees sitting down. Do these slightly strange habits make you adore the unconventional but dashing actor any less? Who wouldn’t love a waxed hunk upside-down on a bed quoting The Notebook?

JLo or “Pay-Low?”

Despite all her riches, Jennifer Lopez doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to paying her employees. Several of her former workers have reported that when it comes to salary, she just doesn’t cut it, and they went on to say that they could make about twice as much doing the same job for other employers. Ouch.

Photo Courtesy: Nicole Alexander/Wikimedia Commons

The rumors have been flying for years about how Jennifer Lopez is a diva. However, considering she has a net worth of $400 million, it’s a little hard to swallow that she skimps on paying the help, but sometimes rich people are the cheapest misers of all.

Baby Grande?

Ariana Grande is quite a small, delicate person. She’s so frail, in fact, that she tires easily and then demands that her assistants carry her around as if she were an infant. In fact, the former Nickelodeon star reportedly prefers being carried to walking around on her own two feet. Weird, right?

An insider reported that Grande “…says that she doesn’t want her precious feet to hit the floor.” This is not a new behavior apparently, as she defended a 2013 Instagram picture showing her being carried offstage by staff, describing it as “[a] post-show ritual when my feet are broken.”

Smoky Stewart

Kristen Stewart apparently likes to smoke — a lot. According to a former housekeeper of the Twilight sensation, she has left her cigarette butts in some really weird places, including in the refrigerator, in potted plants and even in the shower. Sounds like a practical place to smoke, right?

Stewart has been a smoker since she was in high school, but she bizarrely claims that she isn’t addicted, and she’s only a “casual” smoker. We’re not here to judge, but it seems that smoking while taking a shower might indicate you have a bit of a problem.

Tay-Tay the Cat Lady

Taylor Swift loves her cats, and she reportedly owns several. She also feeds outside strays, and her entire home is filled with cat paraphernalia and pictures of cats — plus an ample supply of cat hair. Swift names her cats according to popular television shows, which are where the names Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey came from.

She always makes sure her cats are well cared for when she’s on the road, and her two Scottish Fold cats even have a public following. She frequently posts pictures on social media of her feline companions, and, truth be told, we’re considering signing up to become part of their entourage.

Paris Hilton the Thief

One of Paris Hilton’s former bodyguards spilled the beans that the heiress used to nab other people’s shoes, jackets, jewelry and more before she left a party. The thieving stopped as her fame grew, presumably because it became harder to hide, according to the source.

Unfortunately, karma seems to have come full circle for Hilton, because she has been robbed multiple times since rising to fame during the 2000s. Although her rep denies that she was ever an incognito party burglar, she may want to stick to modeling clothes and not modeling behavior.

Angelina Jolie’s Ninja Moves

A former bodyguard of Angelina Jolie who was around to witness the Brangelina Era reported that while married, the couple would get into such intense fights that Angelina would resort to throwing knives at Brad Pitt! Luckily, no one was ever seriously injured.

Named the highest paid actress in America, Jolie started her acting career with her father, Jon Voight, in 1982. She married Pitt after they co-starred in the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith together — ironically, a film with some on-screen knife throwing between spouses. Critics called the energy between the two leads “thermonuclear screen chemistry” when reviewing the movie.

Selena Gomez and Her Panties

According to a former assistant, Selena Gomez is messy and frequently leaves her underwear lying around. She is a singer, songwriter, actress and television producer. She also has a clothing line, a handbag line, a fragrance line and a production company — but she can’t pick up her underwear.

Photo Courtesy: Amanda Nobles/Wikimedia Commons

As if the duties of her multiple jobs weren’t enough, Gomez has opened up to her fans in recent years about her struggle with systemic lupus and mental health issues. Perhaps she has bigger fish to fry in her busy and challenging life than making sure her laundry is always tidy.

Demi Moore, Insecure

Apparently, celebrities have self-image issues too. Demi Moore refuses to look at herself in a mirror in harsh lighting, and she only uses soft amber bulbs. Reportedly, she goes so far as to hoard cases of these bulbs to make sure she never runs out.

Her staff claims she has cases and cases of the amber light bulbs in her basement, just in case the bulbs are ever discontinued. We’re glad she can continue to look her absolute best, even if she is photographed after the zombie apocalypse, but what hope does it leave for the rest of us if Demi Moore is worried about how she looks?

Sarah Jessica Parker the Witch

Well, we didn’t see this one coming. Maybe acting in Hocus Pocus turned Sarah Jessica Parker on to witchcraft. It’s hard to say. We do know that a source close to the Sex and the City star says that she is obsessed with the occult.

We might never know the reasons behind this weird obsession, but we can’t help but wonder who she is casting spells on and why. Perhaps she will open up more about her dive into the dark arts in the future. In the meantime, we’ll just focus on staying on her good side.

Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman

Rumor has it that Julia Roberts still has that sexy little knockout dress that won over Richard Gere in Pretty Woman so many years ago. One of Julia’s former assistants even told us that she puts the dress on about once a year to model it for her husband.

It’s not a bad idea since she still looks as great as she did in Pretty Woman. We would love to see her in that dress too! We will probably just have to keep on dreaming about it, however, because Julia Roberts has always been a modest celebrity, despite starring in a movie literally called Pretty Woman.

Kylie Jenner’s Pouty Lips

Once people started comparing pics of Kylie Jenner to photos from a few years ago, it became obvious that she had had some work done. Kylie vehemently denied the allegations of cosmetic lip filler for a while, but she finally admitted it eventually.

Photo Courtesy: Walt Disney Television/Flickr

Apparently, coming out with the truth about her cosmetic assistance didn’t affect the sales of her Lip Kits. Jenner had the honor of being named one of the world’s most influential teens by Time magazine in 2015. Considering her influence, we hope that honesty becomes one of her personal policies in the future.

Jennifer Aniston, Exhibitionist

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who would complain about this one, but one of Jennifer Aniston’s former bodyguards reported that she is rarely fully dressed at home. He revealed that she even answers the door in skimpy outfits like a mini camisole paired with underwear.

Aniston has been labeled one of the world’s most beautiful women since her acting career began in 1987, and she is reported to be worth around $200 million. Even though she is currently in her fifth decade, she is still as confident as ever and stunningly beautiful, and she apparently likes to show it off in little clothing.

Justin Bieber and a Thing for the Help

It has been rumored more than once that Justin Bieber has been caught sleeping with his staff. Apparently, this trend continued for years. First, he got busted for sleeping with a maid in his home. We have to wonder what the attraction is, considering he’s a man who could almost have his pick of women to date, and he recently married Hailey Baldwin.

Photo Courtesy: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

If it seems sleazy for Bieber to sleep with his cleaning ladies, you’re not wrong. He is their boss, which could lead to some nasty lawsuits involving sexual harassment. So far, he has dodged that bullet, but he doesn’t seem all that smart. We’ll see if his good luck holds up.

Dining and Dashing Jessica Simpson

We’ve all heard of celebs being cheap, despite making millions, but Jessica Simpson has an excuse. According to a former personal assistant, she claims that merely gracing a dining establishment with her presence is payment enough, so she doesn’t have to pay her bill for meals.

Photo Courtesy: John VanderHaagen/Wikimedia Commons

Wonder if that theory would work for the rest of us? (It won’t.) Is good publicity equal to money these days? (It’s not.) While we wholeheartedly congratulate Jessica Simpson on her recent weight loss of 100 pounds, we think the only reason you shouldn’t pay at a restaurant is because you didn’t eat.

Mariah Carey the Diva

This won’t come as a surprise to most people who read it, but one of Mariah Carey’s assistants asserted that she doesn’t participate in self-care. She’s such a diva, she refuses to even brush her own hair. Apparently, she can pay people to do just about anything for her.

Photo Courtesy: Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas/IMDb

We may never know the reasons Carey doesn’t even want to brush her own hair, but we do know that it usually looks beautiful. Great job to whoever is doing the brushing. You’re killing it!

Frank Sinatra, Baby Daddy?

Mia Farrow’s son, Ronan, was always told (and he believed) that his biological father was Woody Allen. However, in 2013, Farrow chucked Ronan a curveball that put this biology in question when she implied that Frank Sinatra was actually his father.

Photo Courtesy: William P. Gottleib/Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately, this secret is doomed to stay an unsolved mystery, because no one close to the family who would know the answer to this conundrum is talking. We’re not even sure if Ronan knows the whole truth, which must be difficult for him. Obviously, Sinatra can’t offer his side of the story since he died in 1998.

No Potty Training for Miley’s Pooches

That’s right, Miley Cyrus doesn’t believe in house-training her pets — or maybe she just doesn’t know how. A former employee of the pop star blabbed that Miley’s multiple dogs frequently had potty accidents inside the house, making the smell intolerable for all. That means she lives in a smelly mansion, and that should be a criminal offense.

Photo Courtesy: NCP/Star Max/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Apparently, Miley doesn’t see housebreaking as a priority for her pooches, and that makes for a disgusting, foul-smelling living environment in no time. You would think all her success makes it easy to prevent the problem by hiring someone to house break the dogs, but who are we to say?

Alfred Hitchcock, Stalker

It wasn’t a secret at the time that Alfred Hitchcock was very fond of actress Tippi Hedren, who starred in The Birds. What is less commonly known is that Hitchcock actually stalked her for a time and paid crew members to spy on her.

Photo Courtesy: I Am Alfred Hitchcock/IMDb

He took it even further and tried to blackmail her into having sex with him by threatening to ruin her career if she didn’t. Hedren refused to have sex with Hitchcock, and he retaliated by forcing her into a contract that prevented her from working for a number of years. Unfortunately, it worked, and her career never recovered.

Sharon Stone and a Bribe for Best Actress

Rumor has it that actress Sharon Stone wanted her “Best Actress” nomination for Basic Instinct really badly. She wanted it so badly, in fact, that she bribed the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with gold watches for the nomination.

It seems like a shame and an empty victory to steal or buy an award that she easily could have earned — her performance was stellar. We wonder how much it means to her now and if she ever thinks about the major repercussions caused by the blow to her reputation. She could have won the award the right way, and it would have meant so much more.

Louis Tomlinson, Baby Daddy

Louis Tomlinson, formerly of the boy band One Direction, failed to confirm Briana Jungwirth was pregnant with his child for several months, leading people to believe that the baby was fake even after he was born. Even so, son Freddie Reign was welcomed into the world on January 21, 2016, and he proved to be a real live human baby.

Photo Courtesy: Louis Tomlinson: Walls/IMDb

Tomlinson did not reveal that his then-girlfriend was pregnant until August 2015, when he did so on Good Morning America. It’s not known why he seemed so reluctant to reveal the pregnancy sooner, although there has been plenty of speculation.

Robert Pattinson the Pigpen

Well, ladies, here’s some bad news about the new Bruce Wayne…a.k.a. Robert Pattinson. Yes, he is absolutely gorgeous, but he apparently doesn’t believe that hygiene is the most important thing. Yes, ladies, he’s a dirtball. Staff members say he rarely washes his hair, and he stinks.

We are certainly mourning this very bad news. Hopefully, Pattinson will take a hint and start taking showers before he starts stepping into a Batman suit that is sure to make him sweat. There’s nothing worse than BO and dragon breath first thing in the morning — imagine if it lasted all day!

Alfred Hitchcock, Neurotic

Bizarrely, Alfred Hitchcock, who directed multiple horror films, was terrified of eggs. He reportedly said, “I’m frightened of eggs, worse than frightened; they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes, and when you break it, inside, there’s that yellow thing, round, without any holes…Brrr!”

Photo Courtesy: CBS Television/Wikimedia Commons

If you think that’s weird, get a load of his final thought about revolting eggs: “Have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid?” We’re not sure what’s so revolting about no holes and yellow liquids, but after reading (above) what he did to Tippi Hedren, he kind of deserved to be plagued with an irrational fear.

Cher and Bribery

If it seems awfully coincidental that Cher’s movie Burlesque was nominated for Best Musical after the judges were flown to Las Vegas to enjoy a Cher concert, we think so too. Burlesque was truly a box office bomb, so it’s a little questionable that it was nominated for prestigious awards.

Photo Courtesy: Ralph_PH/Wikimedia Commons

The arrangement reeks of bribery, although critics and analysts do sometimes love films that do terrible at the box office. Maybe the explanation is as simple as that. Regardless, if Cher is in any future movies, we hope they do well of their own volition.

Will Smith the Secret Scientologist?

It has been speculated that Will Smith is a Scientologist for several reasons. One of the key arguments is that despite denying any affiliation, he has many friends who practice the religion, including outspoken Scientology supporter Tom Cruise.

Photo Courtesy: Антон Зайцев/Wikimedia Commons

Smith has also reportedly donated more than $1 million to a privately owned school located in California that educates its students based on the teachings and beliefs of Scientology. It’s believed that he may be a practicing Scientologist, but he doesn’t want the public to know because it could potentially damage his career.

Alice Cooper’s Christianity

In the late 1980s, rock star Alice Cooper returned to his Christian roots and stopped his hard-partying ways. Still touring today, he isn’t averse to professing his faith, and he maintains that even before he practiced Christianity, his lyrics directed people to stay away from the devil.

Photo Courtesy: Ralph Arvesen/Flickr/Wikimedia Commons; Christian Petersen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Cooper clarified, “Don’t pick evil. Even when I wasn’t Christian, I was saying that. God and the Devil — don’t pick the Devil. It’s a bad idea.” Alice Cooper has been quoted as saying, “The world doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to Satan.”

Noah’s Ark Tragedy Cover-Up

This is a strange, sad secret that has to do with the director of both Casablanca and Noah’s Ark. It’s rumored that during the making of Noah’s Ark, Michael Curtiz deliberately flooded the studio with water while the extras were still inside, resulting in the deaths of three people.

Photo Courtesy: ullstein bild via Getty Images

The water was reportedly frigid, and the actors did not have flotation devices, which resulted in them drowning. Charges were never filed for the incident, although the reasons behind this decision are unknown. Was it a question of power and money, and Curtiz had both? This is one Hollywood mystery that may never be solved.

Coco Chanel, Nazi Collaborator

During the Second World War, Coco Chanel was a numbered Nazi agent who carried out multiple recruitment and spy missions for Germany’s intelligence agency, called the Abwehr. More than the talented creator of the Little Black Dress, Chanel was also a part of the German military.

Photo Courtesy: Unknown/Wikimedia Commons

Her lover, German officer Baron Hans Gunther von Dincklage, allowed her to pass into restricted areas. At one point, Cecil Beaton questioned her relationship to her younger paramour, and Chanel responded, “Really, sir, a woman of my age cannot be expected to look at his passport if she has a chance of a lover.”

Photo Courtesy: SC Pool/Corbis/Getty Images

In the 2010s, social media gave everyone the chance to be famous. The human/brand hybrids referred to as “influencers” amassed millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram by telling us how to look, how to eat and how to find happiness. But even mere mortals got to experience widespread approval with Facebook likes, Instagram followers and retweets. So what happened to celebrities?

Don’t get me wrong; celebrity fandom was still in full effect. Blogs posted paparazzi pics of the famous walking down red carpets and to court dates. Records were broken by athletes, tween pop stars and reality TV royalty for having the most followers online. And “stan” accounts flooded journalists’ email inboxes if they dared to criticize their favorite stars. But change was in the air.

The age of the untouchable celebrity was coming to a close. Documentaries, cancel culture and independent journalism exposed many notable ne’er-do-wells for their behavior. We also broadened our tastes with streaming services that provided endless numbers of programs with actors from all walks of life. So who will we pay attention to in the 2020s? The answer is complicated. Social media threw celebrity culture off course for sure. But as our old idea of celebrity may be waning, the next wave has the danger of going full-tilt Andy Warhol.

Being Famous Was Easier Than Ever

Traditional media aside, YouTube, Vine and Instagram let fame seekers and influencers post their own content for the world to discover. The internet equaled the playing field for common people and celebs through social media. Was it worth it to follow your favorite celebs on TikTok? Why bother, when you can join the millions of people who can’t get enough of a 16-year-old waiter from New Jersey who posts clips of himself dancing in his bathroom mirror.

A further sign of the times, watching TV or heading to the movies was falling out of style. The Pew Research Center revealed in 2018 that teenagers used YouTube more than Instagram, Snapchat or any other social media site. That’s likely due to the uptick in influencers, reviewers and entertainers appealing to specific communities and their more diverse interests. There’s a “famous person” online for whatever interest you may have: ASMR, makeup, unboxing, etc..

But younger generations seeking micro-fame through social media are facing more challenges to their mental health as a result. Studies show Millennials and Gen Z are feeling more lonely and more anxious and have much lower self-esteem, all symptoms scientists attribute to social media use. And those aren’t the only risks for anyone clouded by social media fame-seeking. Being a celebrity in the 2010s came with many more challenges.

The Decade of Accountability

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, celebrities were looked upon as god-like creatures. They were idolized for their beauty and good behavior. In reality, they had really good publicists and hid from the public whenever necessary. That’s because the public’s approval can easily sway with just one story. Oscar Wilde, once beloved for his colorful self-expression, faced public scrutiny and ridicule after being arrested for “gross indecency.”

But in the 2010s, the public took control back from celebrities who abused their star power. Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer and many other celebrities were held accountable for their awful behavior after victims spoke up as a result of the #MeToo movement. Documentaries like Leaving Neverland and Surviving R. Kelly exposed major music moguls Michael Jackson and R. Kelly for their histories of sexual abuse. Even fame-obsessed musician Kanye West got a taste of social media’s ever-present cancel culture after lambasting the very communities he once spoke on behalf of.

The celebrities were humanized, held accountable and could no longer abuse others. But even if they did behave, the public’s critiques and access to their personal lives left many in the public eye rattled by the exposure. Being a celebrity was far more dangerous as a result, and the pressures took the lives of Amy Winehouse, Avicii and Mac Miller, among many others.

Is Celebrity Worship Over?

So what will happen to celebrities in 2020? Are we done lifting people up to a celebrity-worship status where they can do as they please? We’re consuming content that speaks to individuals more and uniting less for once-universally engaging events. No real trendsetters dictate the entire cultural conversation anymore, so we may be moving away from the age of celebrity worship. People simply don’t have the luxury of time to distract themselves with celebrity culture and fandom.

Photo Courtesy: Dave Hogan/MTV/Getty Images

That’s not to say that people still don’t get a kick out of notable people; they may just be looked at as more of a novelty. For example, Cameo is a young website that lets fans book personalized video messages from their famous favorites for prices ranging from $10 to $2,500, depending on the stars’ level of desperation. But every time a new medium has rolled out, culture philosophers have wrongly predicted the end of celebrity.

If the 2020s follow suit, “global stars” with appeal that goes beyond Western culture could be the future. Rosalía, the professionally trained flamenco singer from Barcelona, is poised to dominate the music world beyond the Spanish language by blending classical music with reggaeton, pop and R&B. Hollywood is following, too. With 2012’s Amour, 2018’s Roma and 2019’s Parasite, the movie industry is slowly reaching beyond Tinseltown to praise the works of more global, universally relatable filmmaking. Perhaps what the future holds will be a collection of more socially conscious global tastemakers who have a knack for self-promotion but know when to step out of the limelight. Only time will tell.

Photo Courtesy: Bernard Spragg.NZ/Flickr

Our Australian friends live about as far away from the United States as you can get, and they have a culture that’s equally different. Sure, they may speak English — whether or not you understand them is another question — but that might be one of the only things the two countries have in common.

If you’ve never heard of thong throwing or “schoolies week,” you’re in for a treat — check out these strange Australian customs.

Canned Spaghetti and Toast

For many Americans, a good breakfast includes coffee and eggs. In Australia, they have their own way of doing breakfast, and it’s not what you’d expect. There’s a tradition of starting with a slice of toast — seems simple enough — but then topping it with canned spaghetti.

Believe it or not, this is a classic breakfast option for Aussies. But don’t knock it before you try it — the meal is not so different from a spaghetti dinner with garlic bread, only they eat it first thing in the morning! You’ll certainly be full until lunch.

Shortened Words

While Australians technically speak English, they have so many slang words and abbreviations that it can be impossible for Americans to understand them. For example, “afternoon” becomes “arvo,” “mosquito” becomes “mozzie,” and a “cup of tea” becomes “cuppa.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

A “coldie” is a beer, “Chrissie” is Christmas, and “chook” is chicken. Needless to say, Australians love giving things nicknames, and it’s hard for foreigners to keep up. If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, it’s a good idea to pick up a phrasebook.

Cockroach Races

This is one of Australia’s most fun — and perhaps ridiculous — traditions. Every year on Australia Day, January 26th, people get together in bars and watch cockroaches race to the finish line. People even place bets on which cockroach they think will win.

Proceeds from these races usually get donated to charity, so it’s entertainment and philanthropy all in one! What could be better than that? In the United States, cockroaches aren’t much more than an annoying pest, but in Australia, they’re central players in celebrating one of the biggest holidays.

Thong Throwing

No, we’re not talking about underwear, we’re talking about flip-flops. They’re called thongs down under, and they’re another important part of Australia Day. All around the country, people join together in a fun thong-throwing contest. Whoever throws them the farthest wins.

These contests are usually casual, but sometimes they can be as competitive as a professional sport — some people take their thong-throwing very seriously. There are also specific rules and regulations to follow should you compete. Unsurprisingly, an Australian town holds the Guinness World Record for most people throwing “thongs” at once.

Sausage Sizzles

Sausage sizzles started out as a means for local fundraising, and you can now find them outside of many hardware stores in Australia. What you get is a hot sausage, a slice of bread and sometimes condiments like ketchup or onions. After all, you can really work up an appetite doing all that shopping!

Nowadays, sausage sizzles can be found by polling booths on election day as well. It’s a well-known Australian custom that tourists just have to try — they’re low-cost and casual, but just as satisfying as any restaurant meal.

Fairy Bread

It seems like there is no end to the amount of strange food combinations that Australians manage to invent. One of these combinations is fairy bread, which consists of white bread, butter and many, many rainbow sprinkles. That’s it! Three simple ingredients and you have a favorite Australian snack.

Unsurprisingly, this is a popular party snack for kids — in fact, it sounds like something an 11-year-old came up with. However, don’t be surprised to see adults enjoying it, too. And hey — you might just get a taste for it yourself!

Drinking Out of Shoes

You probably know that Aussies like to drink. They also know how to party, and it’s not uncommon for someone to shout “do a shoey!” during a celebration. As you may have guessed, doing a “shoey” means drinking alcohol out of your own footwear.

Photo Courtesy: docmonstereyes/Wikimedia Commons

You can find Australian celebrities doing this for their fans, or simply the guy next door doing it during a cookout. It began as an act to bring good fortune to the drinker, but at this point, it’s mostly a bit of entertainment for your audience.

Nicknames

If there’s one thing Australians love to do, it’s giving people nicknames. Visitors to the country might be surprised at just how fast they create these nicknames — after a recent introduction, they may be calling you “Bethie” instead of “Elizabeth.”

Photo Courtesy: Leonard J Matthews/Flickr

This is because Australians view nicknames as an expression of acceptance. It’s a way of making someone feel comfortable and welcome in the group — if they give you a nickname shortly after meeting them, you should feel pretty flattered. Don’t hesitate to invent a nickname for them, too, if you can think of one.

Try a Bite of Their National Animal

Australia is unique in that they offer their national animal on the dinner menu. That’s right — step into many Australian restaurants, and you can find kangaroo steaks available for eating. They’re not so popular that every Australian has tried them, but they certainly aren’t hard to find.

Many people swear by kangaroo meat and claim that it’s even better than beef or lamb. This is a subject of some controversy, however. It only became legal in South Australia in 1980. Either way, it’s a dish that is rising in popularity.

Sports Costumes

Australians, like Americans, love their sports. This is something to which many foreigners can relate. The way they celebrate their sport of choice, however, might be a little more involved than other countries. If you go to a sports game in Australia, it’s not uncommon to see the whole crowd dressed in the same costume.

Photo Courtesy: Sport the Library/Wikimedia Commons

Cricket fans, for example, often don a grey wig, tie and suit. Some of them complete the look with a microphone. This get-up pays homage to a famous cricketer from the 60’s named Richie Benaud. Talk about dedication!

Car Costumes

The festive spirit doesn’t stop there. Australians are known for decorating their cars depending on which holiday is around the corner. Approaching Christmas? Expect to see antlers. For Australia Day, the Australian flag proudly flies from many vehicles. Cars and holidays are not taken lightly by the Aussies.

These displays of enthusiasm show just how patriotic and fun Australians can be — if they celebrate something, they go the whole nine yards. If you’re lucky enough to be there during one of these holidays, why not join in?

Bring a Plate!

An invitation to an Australian dinner party might include the sentence, “Bring a plate!” For some outsiders, this means literally showing up with a dinner plate in hand. That would be a mistake, however — in Australia, it means you should bring food of some kind.

Australians tend to be quite hospitable, so even if a host doesn’t say they should “bring a plate,” they might bring something, anyway. A nice appetizer, a side dish or salad or even a dessert are all viable options should you be invited into someone’s home.

Goon

In the United States, we have boxed wine. In Australia, they have goon. Goon is essentially a boxed wine that people lift above their heads and chug from a foil bag. It’s inexpensive and can get you intoxicated quickly. If you ever backpack through Australia, you’ll probably be drinking this on your nights out.

Some goon isn’t bad and can be consumed as-is. Be aware, however, that some goon tastes pretty disgusting alone, and you’ll probably want to mix it with something else. Try it with fruit slices and ice.

Acca/Dacca

When Australians talk about Acca/Dacca, they’re actually talking about AC/DC. It seems strange to change a name that’s already short and sweet, but as you know, Australians love to nickname things.

In fact, it’s common for Australians to add “azza,” “oz,” or “ez” to people’s nicknames, and it looks like “acca” is another one. If Dan is listening to AC/DC in America, Dazza is listening to Acca/Dacca in Australia.

No White Christmas

This one is a bit of Australian culture that some US citizens can relate to. In Australia, Christmas is never white. Snow doesn’t fall on Christmas Eve and there is no “winter wonderland” to frolic through. Plenty of tourists find this strange — after all, what’s Christmas without fuzzy sweaters and cups of hot cocoa?

Travel to the southern United States, however, and you’ll find that people don’t have a white Christmas there, either. Despite the many differences between cultures, you can always find something people have in common!

Magpie Swooping Season

Anyone who’s ever heard that Australia is home to many dangerous animals is right, and one of those animals is the magpie. These smart birds have gotten used to living around humans in Australia, and this has brought with it some unfortunate consequences.

Photo Courtesy: Hughesdarren/Wikimedia Commons

During the breeding season — late August to mid-October — some magpies become very aggressive. They are known to swoop and attack people passing by, especially those on bikes or scooters. During the “swooping season,” pedestrians have to watch out for these animals — their beaks and talons can do some real damage!

Lemonade = Sprite

Lemonade as Americans are used to drinking is not very prevalent in Australia — that is, lemonade made from lemons. As a result, Australian often call drinks “lemonade” if they contain even a hint of lemon, which includes drinks like Sprite.

This is important to know when you head to restaurants; you may think you’re ordering lemonade, but Sprite will show up at your table! Quite a curious cultural difference for foreigners, and one that can cause contention with some tourists. After all, can Sprite really be called lemonade?

No Shoes, No Worries?

Visitors to Australia might find that some areas are more, shall we say, casual than they’re used to. This means that seeing someone barefoot on the street, or even inside the supermarket, isn’t entirely out of the ordinary. No shoes? No problem!

Perhaps the most mind-boggling part of this cultural trait is that Australians can stand being barefoot on asphalt in the first place — that sun really heats things up. Depending on the foreigner, this could be either endearing or disgusting. But one thing’s for sure: Those Aussies don’t care!

They Love Big Things

Australia has something of an obsession with “big” things, and they dot the country serving as tourist attractions. The Big Banana, for example, marks an amusement park in South Wales, and the Big Prawn can be found at a carpark in New South Wales.

Other big objects include pears, a mushroom, a cow, an axe, a beer can, a ram, and many more. You could plan an entire cross-country trip around Australia just to see the big things, and that’s exactly what some people do. A strange tour for sure!

Slang

Not only do Australians abbreviate words and give things nicknames, but they have mountains of slang words, too. This is another reason why it can be so hard to understand an Aussie even when you speak the same language. A “bogan” refers to an uncouth and uneducated person, “chockers” means you’re very full, and “ripper” means something’s really great.

Add that good old Australian accent on top of these slang words and you’ve got a distinct local tongue. But don’t worry, “she’ll be right,” as an Australian would say. Everything will be okay.

The Bush

While Australia has some pretty cool cities, much of the country is made up of desert and other wilderness areas. In conversation, Australians refer to this land as simply “the bush.” After all, it is covered in bushes and vegetation. Venturing too far into the bush can be dangerous; high temperatures and lethal animals abound.

This is why so many people live in Australia’s cities — life in the bush isn’t easy, though people certainly do it. If you want to sound like an Aussie, don’t ask them about the countryside, ask them about the bush.

Schoolies Week

No matter what country, graduating high schoolers usually have some form of celebrating. In Australia, seniors experience “schoolies week” after graduating, which is essentially a week-long holiday to party and have fun with friends. This is a time to have one last hurrah before parting ways.

There’s also a name for older people who party with “schoolies”: “toolies.” Younger students who join in on the fun are considered “foolies.” Again, they can’t get enough nicknames! This tradition began on the Gold Coast in the 70’s and is now here to stay.

Triple J Australia Day

Australians have many ways they celebrate Australia Day — including thong throwing and cockroach racing — but they also listen to one specific radio station. Many Aussies tune into Triple J on this holiday in order to hear which song was voted number one of the year.

Photo Courtesy: Chris Phutully/Wikimedia Commons

Throughout the day, Triple J plays the top 100 songs of the year, until finally revealing which song came in first place. These rankings are all based on listener vote, and listeners are certainly active! Approximately 2.7 million people voted in 2018.

Seafood for the Holidays

When Americans think of Christmas food, they often think of hearty dishes like potato casseroles, turkey, and gravy. But of course, every culture has its own holiday foods, and in Australia, a Christmas dinner usually consists of lobster, salmon, shrimp and any other food that comes from the sea.

This is partly because Christmas falls during the summer months in Australia, and also because it’s a country surrounded by ocean. Who wouldn’t want to eat platters of fresh seafood on Christmas? This is one Australia custom that could make many Americans jealous.

Vegemite

If you know anything about Australian culture, you probably know that they eat Vegemite — a lot. They often spread this dark paste on bread, biscuits and sandwiches. It has a very distinct taste that most foreigners don’t like, but as a tourist, it’s a must-try.

You can expect a salty, slightly bitter taste when eating Vegemite. Try it on toast with butter or in a sandwich with cheese and tomato. Just make sure you only add the tiniest amount. Vegemite has a very strong flavor, so a little goes a long way.

Emu for Dinner

Not only do people eat kangaroo in Australia, but they also eat emu. It’s not as common as kangaroo, but indigenous Australians have been eating it for thousands of years. It makes sense, too, considering emu are abundant in Australia. You can definitely find emu dishes in some restaurants.

When you think about it, Australia offers its entire national emblem as a dinner option — both the kangaroo and the emu appear on the coat of arms. If you’re curious about trying exotic meats, Australia is a good place to visit.

No Hot Pink Pants?

There are several wacky laws that exist in Australia (as in any country) that outsiders may find funny. For example, it’s technically against the law to have more than 50 kilograms — or 110 pounds — of potatoes. Why you may ask? This law dates back to the Great Depression when the government had to regulate certain foods.

Another popular rumor is that it’s illegal to wear hot pink pants after noon on Sunday. Unfortunately, this appears to be a myth. There’s no official legislation on the issue of hot pink pants.

Laws About Vacuuming?

One of the weirdest laws, and perhaps one of the best, is one that the city of Melbourne enforces. This law states that it is illegal to use your vacuum cleaner between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, and 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends.

Honestly, this rule seems like a good one. If you’ve ever been woken up by a neighbor cleaning their apartment at two in the morning, then you understand why! And really, who needs to vacuum during the night, anyway?

Savory Meat Pies

Even though Americans tend to prefer sweet pastries, the meat pies of Australia might still be pleasant to their taste buds. These treats are loved all over the continent and usually include fillings of sausage or beef. Top it off with tomato sauce and you have a finger-licking lunch.

Sometimes, these meat pies even include the infamous vegemite, but the taste is not as easy to detect as in other foods. These savory pastries are especially convenient if you’re in a rush — they’re small enough to fit in your hand and carry on-the-go!

Two-Up

This Australian gambling game isn’t legal to play on most days; in Victoria, it’s only allowed on Anzac Day. It’s history, however, is a long one, and so it’s a beloved tradition in Australia. It consists of flipping two pennies and betting on the results — will they land both heads, both tails, or one heads and one tails?

It was played a lot by soldiers during World War I, and underground groups emerged in the years that followed to play despite its illegal status. A simple premise, but a lot of significance for Australians.

Photo Courtesy: Flo Weiss/Wikimedia Commons

Piloting a plane takes both skill and nerves of steel, but there are some airports that give even the most experienced aviators the heebie-jeebies. Short runways, poor design, terrible weather and geographical obstacles can all make for a bumpy ride.

We’ve found quite a few airports that will make you rethink your travel plans, so grab your boarding pass and buckle up as we take a look at some of the world’s scariest airports.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal

Even for experienced pilots, Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Nepal is one of the world’s most dangerous airports to fly into. Also called Lukla Airport after a nearby village, this is a popular hub for adventurers planning to visit or even ascend Mount Everest.

The area around this single-runway airport is known for its high winds and rain. Pilots must carefully maneuver through steep terrain and then deal with a tricky runway. The airport is so challenging that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has mandated that aviators have specialized training.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C.

If you are traveling to the nation’s capital, you might find yourself flying into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Located next to the Potomac River, the airport forces pilots to perform several complicated maneuvers due to noise restrictions and two no-fly zones meant to protect government buildings.

Pilots flying into Reagan National must use the river to navigate, called a “river visual,” and departing planes must make a quick ascent and bank left to avoid the White House. The airport’s longest runway is 6,869 feet, compared to neighboring Dulles Airport’s 10,000-foot runway.

LaGuardia Airport, New York, New York

Pilots aren’t especially fond of flying into New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. Accommodating nearly 30 million passengers annually, pilots must deal with narrow taxiways and only two short 7,000-foot runways — which just so happen to be surrounded by water.

Photo Courtesy: Patrick Handrigan/Wikipedia

Due to LaGuardia airport’s high volume of travelers, flights must take off every few minutes to avoid costly delays. Low cloud cover and wind shear also make it one of America’s busiest airports a challenge for pilots and their passengers. LaGuardia Airport’s many problems have resulted in multiple accidents over the years.

Madeira Airport, Madeira, Portugal

Portugal’s Madeira Airport is a white-knuckle ride for many passengers. Ranked as the ninth most dangerous airport in the world, this airport is surrounded by mountains and water, making takeoffs and landings difficult even for the most experienced pilots.

Opened in 1972, Madeira Airport initially had a short runway that only measured 5,906 feet. The runway was eventually extended by building a platform that partly juts out over the ocean. The airport’s creative solution for lengthening its runway received the 2004 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering’s award for Outstanding Structure.

Paro Airport, Paro, Bhutan

Bhutan may be known as one of the happiest places on earth, but Paro International Airport one of the most challenging in the world, probably isn’t helping. Only a handful of skilled pilots are permitted to fly into Paro. Located in a deep valley next to the Paro Chhu River, pilots must carefully dodge tall mountains and high winds during take-off and descent.

Photo Courtesy: Md. Aminul Hassan/Wikipedia

The airport’s small single runway is just 6,499 feet in length, yet Paro handles up to 50 flights per day. Thirty thousand passengers fly in and out of this airport annually; however, flights are prohibited before sunrise and after sunset.

Ice Runway, Antarctica

The Ice Runway is one of Antarctica’s major runways and unique in that it’s constructed solely from ice. Located near U.S. Antarctic Program’s McMurdo Station, the runway regularly accommodates heavy cargo planes until the ice begins to break up in December.

While pilots have reported that landing on the ice feels the same as landing on a standard runway, planes typically come to a stop when their weight causes them to sink into the ice. After landing, planes are moved to a safer location to prevent them from breaking the ice and sinking.

Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles International Airport may be the world’s fourth busiest aviation center, but its high volume of passengers also makes it one of the most deadly. According to a survey of pilots, LAX’s heavy air traffic, along with its mix of commercial and personal aircraft, make it one of the least desirable destinations.

Photo Courtesy: InSapphoWeTrust/Wikipedia

While descending into the Los Angeles basin can be difficult, professional pilots believe the biggest risk involves mid-air collisions. Both the Los Angeles Department of Airports and Federal Aviation Administration refute the claims, saying that LAX is as safe as any other U.S. airport.

Toncontin Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Toncontin Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is considered one of the world’s most dangerous places to fly through. The airport is situated in a valley, requiring pilots to make a sharp turn immediately before landing. Aviation experts have equated landing at Toncontin to landing on an aircraft carrier.

Photo Courtesy: Enrique Galeano Morales/Wikipedia

On May 30, 2008, TACA Flight 390 crashed while trying to land at Toncontin when it overran the runway and rolled onto a nearby street and crashed into several cars and an embankment. Five people lost their lives, including three passengers and two people on the ground.

San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California

San Diego may have a laid-back vibe, but the thought of landing or taking off from San Diego International Airport makes some pilots tense up. Even the most skilled aviators must contend with mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, strong tailwinds and Mexican airspace to the south.

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Restricted by so many natural barriers, pilots are forced to make a steep landing on a short runway. One pilot told the Los Angeles Times that landing at San Diego’s airport was like “landing in the bottom of a shoebox.”

Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Barts

Vacationers heading to the Caribbean island of St. Bart’s are likely fly to Princess Juliana International Airport. The facility has developed a reputation as being one of the most dangerous in the region. The airport has a single runway that measures just 7,546 feet.

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The airport’s short runway results in aircraft flying only 60 feet over Maho Beach, a popular tourist destination. While the low altitude of the planes is a potential danger to beachgoers, watching the planes fly over has become a popular tourist attraction. In 2017, a tourist was killed by a jet blast from a departing flight.

Barra International Airport, Eoligarry, Scotland

Barra Island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides may seem like an enticing place to relax on the beach, but don’t even think about lying out in the sand. This is the only place in the world where flights take off directly from a beach.

Opened in 1936, Barra airport is home to three runways, with the main landing strip located at Traigh Mhòr Bay. In addition to having to monitor wind conditions, Barra Airport’s staff must also check sea conditions since the airport’s runways are totally submerged during high tide.

Matekane Air Strip, Matekane, Lesotho

Travelers may want to re-think using Matekane Air Strip in the African nation of Lesotho. Set on a plateau, the runway abruptly ends at the edge of a cliff with a 2,000-foot drop. Most visitors using the tiny African nation’s scary runway are physicians or charity groups needing access to the small African nation’s more remote areas.

Those who use the runway often feel their hearts skip a beat, as most planes aren’t airborne before they reach the end of the runway, causing them to briefly dip down into the valley before gaining altitude.

Skiathos Airport, Skiathos, Greece

A visit to the Greek island of Skiathos isn’t for the faint of heart. The short and narrow airstrip is just 5,341 long, with one end facing the sea and the other a roadway. The largest plane allowed is the Boeing 757, which has a long, narrow body.

Photo Courtesy: Paul Lakin/Wikimedia Commons

The airport was built on land between Skiathos and the island of Lazareta, which was reclaimed from the sea. The airport is popular with planespotters who enjoy watching the airport’s low-altitude flights from just behind the runway. The airport accommodates over 400,000 passengers annually.

Gibraltar International Airport, British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar

Located in the British Territory of Gibraltar along Spain’s southern coast, Gibraltar International Airport requires perfect landings from pilots who fly there. Gibraltar’s lack of flat land makes the tiny area by the Bay of Gibraltar the only suitable spot for an airport.

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Gibraltar International Airport is also known for its treacherous crosswinds, which sometimes result in flights being diverted to Spain, Portugal or Morocco. The airport is quite peculiar since a road intersects the airport’s runway, requiring drivers to stop and wait patiently between take-offs and landings.

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba

The Dutch Caribbean island of Saba is home to Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, famous for having the world’s shortest commercial runway. While most runways have an average length of 6,000-10,000 feet, the runway at Saba is just a paltry 1,312 feet.

Photo Courtesy: Fyodor Borisov/Wikipedia

The tiny runway can handle smaller propeller aircraft, but jets are out of the question. While the airport does have a tower that offers advisory service, pilots need to use their best judgment when flying in and out of Saba, since there’s no air traffic control available.

Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

In 2018, local media warned about flying out of Dallas-Ft. Worth after at least 14 incursions by unauthorized people, cars and aircraft that strayed onto the runways. That same year, the airport announced that the FAA was commiting up to $180 million in grant money to increase the airport’s runway safety.

Years earlier, the Department of Transportation accused the Federal Aviation Administration of covering up safety errors made by the airport’s air traffic controllers back in 2009. The mistakes were then blamed on pilots.

Courchevel Airport, Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, France

Pilots shudder when France’s perilous Courchevel Airport is mentioned. With a runway that measures just 1,722 feet, take-offs and landings need to go off without a hitch. Located in the French Alps within a deep valley, Courchevel’s approach is so complicated that only specially-certified pilots are authorized to fly into or out of the airport.

Photo Courtesy: Martin Putz/Wikimedia Commons

With its upward-sloping runway and adjacent ski slopes, Courchevel is only served by smaller fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Another caveat is that pilots can only utilize the airport on clear, sunny days since Courchevel has no runway lighting.

Boston Logan International Airport

Years ago, Boston Logan International Airport was cited as one of the worst airports in the United States. While its reputation for safety has improved, pilots still get headaches over what goes on outside of the airport.

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According to WCVB, in 2019, there was a 130 percent increase in drone “incursions” around Logan Airport compared to 2015. That same year, two flights reported someone flashing a green laser light as the planes approached the airport. While both aircraft landed without incident, the FAA noted that aiming a laser at a plane violates federal law.

Antonio Narino Airport, Chachagüí, Colombia

Located in a mountainous region, Colombia’s Antonio Narino Airport had little choice but to on a plateau. Its perilous location and short runway have inspired comparisons to landing on an aircraft carrier, much like Tocontin Airport.

Photo Courtesy: Talivan/Wikimedia Commons

Moreover, pilots must also contend with dangerous crosswinds and poor weather conditions that can potentially shut down the airport. And while it’s true some improvements have been made to increase this aviation center’s safety, an increase in passenger volume and cargo has officials scouting for a more suitable location.

Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska

Mountainous terrain, low cloud cover and rainy weather and harsh winds put Juneau International Airport on the map as a challenging flight destination. Dangerous winds also make flying in and out of this airport a hair-raising experience. Unfortunately, Juneau is the only state capital in the United States that’s inaccessible by road.

Photo Courtesy: Gillfoto/Wikimedia Commons

Winds at Juneau International Airport are so hazardous that flights must be halted when they kick up. To help pilots determine when it’s safe to fly, the airport implemented the Juneau Airport Wind System (JAWS) in 2012 to monitoring windshear and reduce extreme turbulence.

Narsarsuaq Airport, Narsarsuaq, Greenland

It’s not often that pilots need to contend with fjords, but that’s precisely what they face at Greenland’s Narsarsuaq Airport. This airport is known for its short runway and menacing winds that cause turbulence.

Photo Courtesy: Jim Stewart/Wikimedia Commons

To make things even more interesting, an active volcano located nearby regularly erupts, throwing ash into the air that causes problems with visibility and damages the plane’s engines. Originally built in 1941 by the U.S. military, this now-commercial airport serves approximately 25,000 passengers each year.

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Colorado

Colorado’s Aspen/Pitkin airport is undoubtedly convenient for skiers hoping to hit the slopes, but be prepared for a white-knuckle flight. Considered one of the most dangerous in the United States, this airport’s so tricky that pilots must hold a special certificate if they plan on flying to this snowy destination.

Photo Courtesy: Avitya/Wikimedia Commons

Winter is the area’s peak vacation season, but it’s also the most dangerous time to fly into the resort community. Aspen/Pitkin’s airstrip is lodged between two mountains, sometimes leaving pilots with low visibility and an icy runway.

Bert Mooney Airport, Montana

Named after the first aviator to fly mail into Yellowstone National Park back in 1935, Butte, Montana’s Bert Mooney Airport, can be a bit dicey even for modern-day pilots. The airport’s lack of a control tower combined with the surrounding steep terrain make flights in and out a challenge.

The small airport has seen two major accidents, including a commercial Northwest Orient flight in 1950 and a private plane taking a family on a ski vacation in 2009 that crashed into a cemetery just 500 feet away from the airport.

Congonhas Airport, São Paulo, Brazil

Congonhas Airport is right in the heart of bustling São Paulo, one of Brazil’s largest and most congested cities. The flights in and out of this airport come so close to the city that it seems as though aircraft could potentially clip nearby high-rise buildings.

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That’s not all: water accumulation on the runways makes Congonhas infamous for its slippery take-offs and landings, which have resulted in several fatal accidents. Problems have continued even after the airport’s main runway was repaved for improved water drainage back in 2007.

Svalbard Airport, Svalbard, Norway

Norway’s Svalbard Airport is the world’s northernmost commercial airport. Due to the lack of taxiways and runways that need frequent re-asphalting due to improper construction, pilots aren’t exactly thrilled about flying to this destination.

Photo Courtesy: Alexey Reznichenko/Алексей Резниченко/Wikimedia Commons

Svalbard Airport is also known for the permafrost under its runways that prevents the soil from defrosting in the summer. Flights aren’t a problem when Svalbard experiences 24 hours of daylight in the summer, but dark winters and a lack of runway lights mean limited flights during the archipelago’s dark winters.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California

Orange County, California’s John Wayne Airport may have a celebrity’s name, but what it’s really famous for is its 5,701 foot-long runway, one of the shortest found at any major airport in the United States. There’s no need to visit neighboring Disneyland to experience a thrilling ride.

Photo Courtesy: Orange County Archives/Wikipedia

The airport’s short runway in combination with noise restrictions imposed on the airport by neighboring residential communities results in flights out of John Wayne Airport being forced to make a sharp, steep ascent that both passengers and pilots have likened to a rocket launch.

JFK Airport, New York City

One of the area’s three primary airports, JFK presents a series of challenges to pilots. Noise restrictions implemented in 1964 make certain approaches and take-offs a bit dicey, and with LaGuardia and Newark airports nearby, the air traffic over New York City is typically pretty heavy.

Pilots also know JFK requires the “Canarsie Approach,” a complicated maneuver where aviators need to come in from the southwest at a 90-degree angle. The Canarsie Approach is named after a section of Brooklyn that planes fly over as pilots come in for a landing.

Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois

Pilots are wary of Chicago’s Midway Airport. Because it’s short on space, there’s no room for error at this airport. The surrounding business and residential areas combined with short runways and cold, snowy weather make this airport an aviator’s nightmare.

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A 2005 accident in which a Boeing 737 skidded off the runway resulted in the airport installing lightweight glass rocks at the end of the airport that can bring a landing jet traveling up to 80 mph to a jarring halt. The system was introduced in 2015 at a cost of $15 million.

Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan

Kansai International Airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Due to a shortage of land, this airport was built on a man-made island. Being totally surrounded by water requires pilots to perform perfectly — take-offs and landings are so complicated that only specially-certified pilots are permitted to fly here.

Pilots must also contend with the region’s earthquakes and cyclones, while rising sea levels may eventually submerge this watery landing strip. With all of the risks, more than 26 million passengers flew in and out of this airport in 2016.

Chuck Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia

Named after flying ace Chuck Yeager, you may feel like a test pilot if you flying into or out of Charleston, West Virginia. Chuck Yeager Airport sits on a flattened hill with 300-foot drops all the way around, resulting in a perilous plunge for any aircraft that overshoot the runway.

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In 2018, Frommers.com ranked Yeager as one of the 10 Worst Airports in the United States, adding that the airport is also prone to mudslides. While Yeager Airport sounds frightening, airport officials assert it’s perfectly safe and complies with all FAA regulations.

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For potential passengers, cruise ships are marketed as a place for luxurious, exotic, relaxing adventure. You may imagine elaborate decor, lively entertainment and exciting activities — and you wouldn’t be wrong — but what is the experience like for the people who work on board and spend most of the year at sea?

The truth may shock you. It’s not easy to maintain the illustrious cruise ship experience for guests, especially under conditions that aren’t always perfect. At the very least, the job is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is sure to be unforgettable.

Alcohol Is Abundant

Although alcoholic drinks aren’t free for crew members, they are incredibly cheap. An employee beer costs about $1.50, while a margarita costs $1.75. With those prices, it’s no wonder that crew members are accustomed to drinking copious amounts of booze after-hours.

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Drinking is also one of the only fun things to do as a worker on a cruise ship. Cell service and internet access are never very reliable, and you’re on board the same floating vessel for months at a time. If the owners took away the alcohol, it might start a mutiny!

Solo Quarters Are Coveted

If there’s one thing that anyone covets on board a cruise ship, it’s space. Passengers’ quarters may be comfortable enough, but management doesn’t go out of their way to make sure the workers are content. In fact, most workers are put in dorm-like rooms with barely enough space to stretch their legs.

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Only those in higher positions — like officers — are awarded single rooms. These lucky few are often sought out by coworkers as buddies or romantic interests, purely for the opportunity to get a taste of their solo living on board. They certainly don’t struggle for popularity.

Don’t Forget the Floating Morgue

Many passengers never realize their cruise ship has a special place on board for dead bodies. A morgue is now a standard facility on the large boats, but it’s not something they like to advertise — no one wants to be reminded of death on their expensive vacation.

Despite seeming morbid, a morgue on the ship serves a very practical purpose. Some cruises host a lot of elderly guests, and every once in a while, someone passes away while on board. When you think about it that way, it’s good to know they have a safe, secure place to take them until they reach port.

The Hierarchy Is Real

As with many jobs, there’s an inherent hierarchy to job positions. Managers and officers are at the top, followed by entertainment workers, front-of-house crew and back-of-house crew. Sometimes, however, these hierarchies can become exhausting. After all, you can’t escape it, even when you’re not on shift.

Constantly being seen as the low man on the totem pole can quickly wear on a person’s nerves, just as always enjoying the privileges of a high-ranking officer can go to your head. But hey, you only have to endure it for two to eleven months a year!

Different Countries Have Different Pay

It makes sense that the origin of a cruise ship would affect the pay the workers receive. After all, different countries have different salary ranges, currency and labor laws. In some cases, the differences can be downright shocking. American cruises tend to schedule workers six to 10 hours a day and pay them around $3,000 a month.

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Head over to Indonesian waters, and you find crew members working 12 to 16 hours a day and getting monthly paychecks of $600. That’s a pretty big pay gap, especially for such a grueling work schedule.

Mingling with the Passengers Isn’t Allowed

If there’s one cardinal rule in the world of cruise ships, it’s that relations with passengers are strictly forbidden. Sure, all that time hanging out with the same coworkers can make anyone yearn for some new company, but if you’re caught getting too close to a guest, you will be put ashore — permanently — at the next port.

Obviously, there’s a good reason for this rule. Management doesn’t want to become involved in any lawsuits regarding the misconduct of their employees. It’s one of those golden regulations that can get anyone fired immediately.

They Find Ways to Make Some Money Back

When you sign a contract to work on a cruise ship, it seems like a pretty good deal. Not only will you get paid, but you will have your living and dining costs completely covered. That’s right — you don’t have to pay rent or buy groceries!

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Unfortunately, cruise ships do have other ways to charge their workers money. Internet access, for example, can cost $5 a day, and basic things like toilet paper and drinking water are not free. If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself spending more of your earnings than you think.

Crew Menus Aren’t So Great

Crew food on cruise ships is notoriously unappealing compared to the guests’ food. Most of the budget for food goes into preparing meals for the passengers, so crew members are left with the cheapest options. Usually, meals are repetitive day after day and not the most nutritious.

If you’re someone with an unadventurous palate, this might be a problem as well. The dishes often reflect the dominant ethnicities working in the kitchen, so that might mean chicken legs and fish heads are on the menu for dinner. Learn to like it or stick to the salad.

You Won’t Believe This “Special Sauce”

This cruise ship secret is one that might just turn you off from ever vacationing on board a ship ever again. According to some ex-crew members, it’s not uncommon for cruises to serve their guests a “special sauce” with their food — and no, that doesn’t mean it’s extra-delicious.

There’s no easy way to say it — the “special sauce” makes passengers’ waste softer so there won’t be any issues with the plumbing. Looks like keeping those pipes clean is a pretty big deal! Try not to think about it the next time you’re dining on board, of course.

Beware of the Onboard Jail

Not only does your cruise ship have a morgue, but it has a makeshift jail as well. Ideally, the workers never have to use this small, padded room — but all too often they do. Inevitably, a passenger goes off the rails and becomes dangerous, belligerent or violent, at least temporarily.

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Usually, a passenger only has to spend a day in the jail room before coming to their senses — or sobering up. If the issue is more substantial, they are held in the room until arriving at port. Depending on the severity of what the passenger has done, the cruise might have to take legal action.

Promiscuity Prevails

The truth of the matter is life behind the scenes on a cruise ship is a hot bed of sex and romance. The crew may not be allowed to sleep with passengers, but that certainly doesn’t stop them from sleeping with their fellow coworkers — and that’s exactly what they do.

Workers have described crazy love triangles, dramatic betrayals and lots of action among groups of people that essentially get freaky for six months at a time. Sure, not every worker engages in such lascivious activity, but many of them do. After all, what else is there to do?

The Crew Gets Stir Crazy

Anyone who is cooped up on a ship for months at a time is sure to go a little stir crazy. This is part of what contributes to the culture of promiscuity and drinking, but workers sometimes find other means of amusement as well.

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Drugs are another source of entertainment for crew members. Some ex-cruise entertainers have admitted to regular marijuana use on board, and port stops can result in an influx of other illegal drugs. Boredom on a cruise calls for creative ways to have some fun, and the things they find to do are not all safe or legal.

You Can’t Beat the Travel Opportunity

Despite the many less than ideal working conditions for crew members aboard a cruise ship, no one can deny that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world. Spend a few summers working for different cruise companies, and you are likely to set foot on just about every continent.

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Many crew members claim this is the best part about working on a boat. If travel is your main priority, this is a gig you might really love — as long as you don’t mind mediocre food, close quarters and prolonged boredom at sea. Those port stops just might make it all worth it!

Pirates Are a Real Thing

Believe it or not, pirates do still exist — and they are a threat to cruise ships. Granted, the chances that pirates will attempt to attack a giant commercial ship are slim, but crews have to be prepared all the same. They undergo pirate attack training and are briefed on what to do in the event of an attack.

Ships are also equipped with anti-pirate technology, including large water cannons and piercing sirens. How often these items actually get used is irrelevant. The crew loves to boast about it to passengers, and you have to admit, it is pretty cool.

Catch a Cold? You’re Quarantined!

Sickness is one of the things the staff worries about most on cruise ships. In such confined quarters, even a common cold can spread like wildfire and ruin everyone’s vacation. When visiting foreign countries, illnesses much worse than a cold can easily find their way on board.

If a crew member gets sick, they are immediately sent to be “quarantined” for a week or more. They receive doctor’s visits, but unless they recover quickly, they risk getting fired and left at the next port. Cruise ships don’t mess around with sickness!

There’s No Escaping Your Crew Mates

One of the hard things about working on a cruise ship is that at the end of the day, there’s nowhere to go to get away from everyone. You can’t simply head home and decompress in your own space. You have to spend every waking minute surrounded by your coworkers.

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This can result in lifelong friendships, but it can also make people go a little crazy. For this reason, things are known to get pretty dramatic behind the scenes on a cruise ship. Conflict, romance and even an occasional tragedy are sure to take place.

Tough Schedules Are the Norm

Things aren’t always fair for employees on a cruise ship. Many have complained about inadequate pay and long hours with little chance for change. Contracts can require workers to put in more than 70 hours a week and go without any days off for six to eight months.

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Due to the nature of cruise ships, workers are often exploited and unfairly compensated without much recourse. These tough conditions are enough to send some of them packing — but there’s always another unsuspecting applicant eager to take their place. Sadly, fighting the system won’t get you very far.

The Mafia Is on Board

A whole social world happens on cruise ships, with many passengers completely oblivious to it all. Some ships have more than a thousand crew members on board at once, and that means a lot of cliques can develop. In many cases, workers group together based on where they normally live.

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These groups can grow into what the crew calls “mafias,” which means they wield some sort of power. Sometimes, the Indian mafia has a monopoly on the soft drinks on board, for example, or the Filipino mafia always make sure there’s enough food at the party.

The Guests Run the Game

If you have ever been a guest on a cruise ship, you know the crew takes your comfort very seriously. It’s their job to serve and look after every passenger on board, and the best workers don’t take that responsibility lightly.

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In fact, a worker’s relationship with guests is so important that it can greatly influence their pay. If they get mentioned in a passenger’s sparkling review of the cruise, they will likely get a bump in their salary. If they get a complaint, on the other hand, they will have some explaining to do.

It’s a Cool Place to Let Loose

You may think that passengers on a cruise ship have a wild time, but it’s nothing compared to the shenanigans that workers get into on and off the boat. Inexpensive alcohol and mind-numbing boredom lead to a lot of after-work parties, and many find themselves going a bit crazy.

Some workers even choose to work on cruise ships with the intent of cheating on their spouses at home or getting away from controlling family members. Going to sea for months at a time definitely ensures no one else has any control over your actions.

The Crew Eats Your Leftovers

Remember how crew meals aren’t very appetizing? Well, for that very reason, workers will descend on leftovers from passenger meals like vultures. It’s their only opportunity to enjoy some higher-quality food while at sea. And to think the guests complain about their overdone chicken!

This is why entertainment workers, servers and other personnel head to the kitchen when they know the food has been cleared from the dining room. Everyone wants a piece of the action. So, don’t worry, all that extra food you see isn’t going to waste.

Workers Are Shown Little Mercy from Management

When a crew member gets fired, they are kicked off the boat at the next port stop and left to fend for themselves. That’s right, they are simply abandoned in a foreign country and expected to get home on their own dime. The worst part is that workers can be fired for petty reasons and still face this issue.

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Unlike many jobs back on land, labor laws for ships are less comprehensive. Managers are often strict — sometimes even downright mean — to their employees. Crew members are also watched at all times via the ship’s cameras.

The Crew Has a Coded Language

Pay attention to any announcements made on the deck of a cruise ship. Did they make any strange statements or say something you didn’t understand? That would be the crew’s code language, designed to make sure only those with insider knowledge will understand what’s happening.

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This ensures the passengers don’t panic when they hear anything concerning. Sometimes, however, the crew might use it to talk about guests without them noticing or understanding. So, essentially, they could trash talk someone right in front of their face — and no one would know.

It’s Not Easy to Save Your Earnings

Because lodging is covered for workers on a cruise ship, many people think it’s a great opportunity for saving money. That’s true — as long as you have some strong self-discipline. As many ex-cruise workers have described, a lot of people end up spending a considerable amount of their earnings on alcohol.

Many also blow a lot of their money during the different port stops. They are one of the few times the crew gets a chance to actually leave the boat, so it’s understandable that they tend to splurge. Workers looking to save must watch out for these spending traps.

The Sea Is a Tricky Place — Legally

It’s true that stepping on board a cruise ship — or any ship for that matter — means you’re entering new territory physically and legally. The sea isn’t exactly a lawless place, but the laws in place are rather haphazard. Basically, the captain of a ship has the highest authority, and he or she can do whatever is needed to keep things running smoothly.

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That means that murder on the high seas can get sticky. No single country has any real jurisdiction, and investigations can fizzle out fast. Yes, sadly, murder does sometimes happen on cruises.

Follow the Crew During Port Stops

When the long-awaited port stop comes along, wait a little longer than usual to leave the ship so you can follow the crew members. They are the ones who know the best places to shop, eat and drink, and they can lead you to places other tourists don’t know about.

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Of course, you can also simply ask crew members for their advice for where to go on land, but that’s less fun. And who knows? They might be reluctant to divulge their insider knowledge and risk crowds at their favorite spots. Either way, they are the ones to pay attention to at port stops.

Port Stops Are Their Hail Mary

Imagine you have been trapped in the same hotel for an entire month, with the same group of people, eating the same food over and over again and getting snapped at by cranky customers. Then, suddenly, you’re allowed a brief reprieve in a brand-new city. Now you understand how crew members view port stops.

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For workers, a port stop is like an occasional breath of fresh air that keeps them going for the remainder of their contract. It’s often the only time they get off work (beyond late at night) and the only opportunity they have to escape unwanted company.

The Crew Keeps an Eye on Drunk Passengers

Crew members may like to get more than tipsy after work, but passengers don’t have quite as loose of a leash. Workers aren’t allowed to let passengers get too drunk, and they will quickly cut guests off if they see them getting too rowdy.

Sometimes, this can cause problems with passengers. After all, some people purchase an unlimited drink package, fully intending to drink until they pass out if they choose. That isn’t actually allowed, and the crew may inform you that they can’t serve you yet another shot of Fireball.

They Write Down Funny Passenger Questions

As you can imagine, workers on a cruise ship get asked some pretty funny questions. Some of the questions are just too good to ignore, and they save them all in the ultimate “burn book.” This book is where unruly passengers, dumb questions and crazy incidents are permanently recorded.

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For example, some things workers have heard on board include, “Is the toilet water drinkable?” and “How long does it take workers to get home every night?” Needless to say, the crew likes to look back and laugh every once in a while.

There Are Genies at Sea

The highest-quality cruise experiences include workers who are called “genies.” Genies are tasked with catering to the highest-paying passengers who hold VIP status to make sure they are never underwhelmed. Often, these passengers are celebrities looking to get away from their work for a while.

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Genies help them get into concerts on board without being seen, decorate their rooms to their liking and deliver whatever they request. It can be a tough role, but it’s one that is highly valued by the customer — not to mention generously compensated as well.