I Got Tricked Into Bidding $8K on a Painting I Hate

I blame the unlimited wine. Seriously, if Regent Seven Seas hadn't included that all-inclusive wine package with my cabin, I would never have found myself standing in the Explorer Lounge on a Wednesday evening, paddle in hand, bidding on what can only be described as "angry geometric shapes having a nervous breakdown on canvas." But let me back up. I'd been on the Seven Seas Explorer for four days, cruising through the Mediterranean with my college roommate Derek, and we were having the kind of vacation where everything feels like a good idea. The ship itself is gorgeous—all sleek Scandinavian design and floor-to-ceiling windows in our suite. The crew treats you like actual royalty, which is rare for cruises. And the food? Don't get me started. I'd already gained what I'm pretty sure is seven pounds just from the complimentary breakfast service. So when I saw the announcement for the evening art auction in the daily program, Derek immediately said we should go, mostly because he'd overheard someone saying there would be "refreshments." We showed up about ten minutes late, which is exactly when my bad decisions began. The Explorer Lounge is one of the nicest spaces on the ship—all…