Weighing up a sailor's life with fun and feasting on dry land

What would you do if you had £338 to spend on a day out? That's the question Ambassador Cruise Line asked me and they are so confident of the value of their sailings, and the packed schedule of events and delicious variety of food onboard, they challenged me to have as much fun during a day out in London as I would on Ambience or Ambition.

- BY MILO BOYD

Armed with £338 (the typical price of a night's bed and board for two on an Ambassador ship), I began plotting a big day out in the English capital for my wife and myself, to put their value claims to the test.

My philosophy was simple and borrowed classic present-giving wisdom: we'd plump for things we'd never normally do.

First up was breakfast in The Delaunay. If you're looking to treat yourself to one of the best breakfasts of your life, then the Covent Garden-based all-day brasserie is the place to go. The grapefruits come sliced into segments and arranged into a bursting flower shape, the fried eggs are perfectly round, and the company... well-heeled lone men, seemingly from another century, reading broadsheets. It was £71 well spent on delicious food and a novel experience. Next, we wandered up to London Zoo in Regent's Park, where entry costs £38 per adult in peak season, which, on that particularly scorching August Saturday, it certainly was.