Category:Alternate Building plan

While the Dhow and Samuk are the most cost effective ships - if you have the money to loose you might consider doing it this way

Starting at level 6 build Heavy Trading Caravels these take 4 days longer than Sambuks and cost a little more to build. But here is the difference; you can build them in Europe where it is always safe waters. This allows you to trade up the coast say frome Lisbon to Gijon or Lisbon to Nantes if you have a fast ship. Thus, you can cover all or most of the cost of selling the ship back to the shipyard. If you have the Management skill sailing slowly and producing while building a ship will grind that skill.

Does this take longer? Yes, obviously but it also means you don't have to show up in Calicut, Goa or Jakarta with 25 million to gain one level