Three Things I Will No Longer Purchase on a Cruise

1.  Spa Treatments

This one gets me almost every time!  The attraction of a luxurious treatment at sea is alluring.  I have had massages, nails and hair done while cruising.  Every time, I get one I leave under-whelmed.  I feel like I have wasted my money and would rather have the treatment at a facility on land.  The cruise ship staff is phenomenal but the ship rocking during a facial not so much.  There is also always an upsell at the end to try to sell me the products which are extremely overpriced.  The upsell feels pushy and I would prefer not go through that.

2. Art Auction

This is my least favorite thing to do on the ship.  I love art but would prefer to buy art locally.  It's easy to get caught up in the moment and over pay for a piece of art.  You also don't carry it off the ship and it can take weeks or months to get it in the mail.

3.  Jewelry and Watches

You can find cheap watches, as well as expensive name brand ones, for sale in the shops on a cruise ship. But let me tell you why buying them is a terrible idea. I learned this lesson the hard way after getting caught up in the excitement of "duty-free shopping" and those flashy displays. The salespeople are masters at creating FOMO - making you feel like you're getting an amazing deal that you'll never see again. Truth is, those "special cruise discounts" are usually nowhere near as good as they seem. I've seen the exact same watches selling for way less back home and online. Plus, good luck getting any real support if something goes wrong with your purchase after the cruise. Who are you going to call when your "luxury" watch stops working and the shop is somewhere in the middle of the Caribbean? Save yourself the headache and keep your wallet closed until you're back on land.