Ever Bought Artwork on a Cruise? Prepare to Be Seasick

Among the passengers gathered for the art auction, the guy sitting in front of me seemed the most likely to have attended just for the free booze.

The advertisements left in our staterooms had promised Champagne, and amid the smart polo shirts and sundresses, this middle-aged man stood out as exceptionally casual: a white tank top with a faded “Virginia Beach” graphic, black athletic shorts, and a blue baseball cap pulled down close to his eyeglasses. It was 11:15 a.m., and our cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, was transiting the strait between Sardinia and Corsica, taking almost 6,000 passengers and crew ...