Grind is unreal, like in every game like this, but you can buy a yearly premium on sale around Christmas for half price, which costs you £5 a month. Premium currency is expensive, again comes on 50% sale after Christmas. Both premium and dubloons can be won or received randomly in daily drops called supercontainers. There is no pay to win ships. The game is extremely hard though be warned. Also there are mods that make game looks absolutely amazing, pm me for details on that.