Cruise ships are very good at separating you from your money.

You walk past the specialty coffee shop and suddenly a $7 latte sounds completely reasonable.

Then there's the casino.

The spa.

The shops.

The fancy steakhouse.

The photo of you getting off the ship looking slightly confused and blinded by the sun.

And somehow, by the end of the day, your supposedly "all-inclusive" vacation has picked up another $100 in extras.

So here's a challenge for your next sea day:

Spend absolutely nothing.

Not one dollar beyond what you've already paid for your cruise.

Could you do it?

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Search For Money

Start with the coffee that's already included in your cruise fare.

Is it going to be the greatest coffee you've ever tasted?

Probably not.

One thing that makes the included coffee a little more enjoyable is bringing your own insulated travel mug. Fill it up, find a quiet spot on deck and enjoy your coffee without paying specialty-coffee prices.

But it's free, it's hot, and you're drinking it while floating somewhere in the middle of the ocean. That has to count for something.

Total spent: $0.

So far, so good.

This is where things get dangerous.

Sea days are full of opportunities to spend money without really realizing you're spending money.

Instead, see how much you can find that's already included.

Go swimming.

Find a lounger and read.

Join trivia.

Walk the promenade.

Try a dance class.

Watch a game or competition by the pool.

Explore a part of the ship you've never visited.

Or do something we rarely give ourselves permission to do at home:

Absolutely nothing.

Sit somewhere with an ocean view and watch the water go by.

No errands. No laundry. No emails.

Total spent: Still $0.

That burger from the paid restaurant might look fantastic, but there's probably an impressive amount of food available elsewhere for no additional charge.

Depending on your ship, that might mean pizza, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads, desserts or a full buffet.

This is also a great time to try something you haven't eaten yet.

After all, you've already paid for it.

Total spent: $0.

I'm starting to think we might actually pull this off.

Now comes the real test.

You'll walk past the casino.

Keep walking.

You'll see the shops advertising something that's apparently only on sale TODAY!

Keep walking.

Someone may even be standing nearby holding a tray of very attractive cocktails.

Stay strong.

Head to the main dining room for dinner, catch an included theatre show, listen to live music, find some evening trivia or walk outside under the stars.

Then finish the night with a snack.

Because if there's one thing cruise ships do exceptionally well, it's making sure you're never more than a short walk away from food.

That's the fun part.

A $0 sea day isn't about being cheap.

It's about seeing just how much you've already paid for.

Cruise ships are packed with included food, entertainment, activities and places to relax, yet it's surprisingly easy to get distracted by all the extras.

Try the challenge once on your next cruise.

You might discover that one of your favourite days onboard costs you absolutely nothing extra.

Although if someone walks by with a frozen margarita...

I'm not judging. 🍹

Have a great week,

Tara

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