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Royal Caribbean brings hammer down on art auctions
If you liked the art auctions on your Royal Caribbean cruises, brace yourself. In a post on his blog, the company's president and CEO, Adam Goldstein, wrote that the contract it had with Park West Art Services to run its auctions on the ships expired and that it isn't going to renew. He adds that other art-related endeavors could be on the chopping block as well: "We are evaluating what if any art-related programming we may offer in the fleet in the future beyond Oasis of the Seas where Art Actually is our provider of art tours and art for purchase onboard."
For now, Royal Caribbean and Park West Art Services are going through a "wind down period" as the art auctioneers wrap up on different ships over the next few months.
Filed under: North America, United States, Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aline May 16th 2010 8:13PM
About time.
Dan Huckans May 16th 2010 8:26PM
Too bad. A cruise art auction got me interested in all types of art. Today, I have collected several original pieces, and many giclee's. The works of art have enriched my life, and opened other cultural doors I would have otherwise missed.
mike May 16th 2010 9:01PM
This is truely a sad day for the art community!! Royal Carribean was the first place I fell in love with art and Park West made me realize an important part of my life was missing. My love for art and Park West has grown to something I have passed on to my family and friends. I will be cruising with NCL from now on. Park West has introduced art to hundreds of thousands of people and I thank them from all of us art lovers out there.
Lee May 16th 2010 9:03PM
It is great to hear that finally the cruise lines are ridding themselves of Park Wesr Galleries who are ABSOLUTE THIEVES! Park West are known for fake and forged paintings and not delivering art that was paid for on the ship. They got me a few months ago!
C.K. May 16th 2010 10:36PM
Absolutely right Lee! Smooth talking con men, all of them. Fast talkers, liars, and thieves. If anyone thinks they got a good deal from them, take it for an independent appraisal and see what you really got. Take seminars at a museum if you want to learn art appreciation, or read books. Obviously you can't "learn" from someone who is desperately trying to get you to buy something! I think the positive comments here were placed by Park. Good riddance! It would be refreshing if Art Actually was honest.
Jim May 16th 2010 10:09PM
You don't have to attend an art auction at sea. You don't have to buy anything if you do attend. You might just enjoy yourself, and possibly learn something if and when you do go to an auction. Park West guarantees the authenticity of the merchandise they offer. My wife and I have enjoyed attending several of them thru the years and have seen pieces we would have not otherwise been exposed to. In any event, there are many other things to see and so onboard todays cruise vessels.
frequent cruiser May 17th 2010 12:13AM
Obviously you haven't figured out the scam yet Jim...sorry for you.
Barbara May 16th 2010 9:59PM
About time. I have always thought their "art" was atrocious and was puzzled that anyone would even buy it. Their location on the ship was very, very inconvenient and for the most part the workers were rather "snotty" when anyone wanted to pass thru. Same way with the picture gallery and it's invonvenience.
hman May 16th 2010 10:07PM
IT'S SURE IS ABOUT TIME THOSE LIARS HAVE BEEN THROWN OFF THE RCCL SHIPS, HOPEFULLY THE CARNIVAL CORP AND IT'S LINES WILL FOLLOW SUIT. THERE ART IS A RIP OFF AND MOSTLY FAKES, AND THAT COMES FROM THE HORSES MOUTH OF SEVERAL OF THEIR AUCTIONEERS.
NEXT WILL BE THE GUARENTEED SHOPPING PROGRAMS , THEIR JUST AS MUCH A RIP OFF TOO.
Walt May 16th 2010 10:12PM
Hopefully this ripoff is ending.
Stan May 16th 2010 10:26PM
After "winning" a nice looking piece of art on a cruise, we went to make arangements to pick it up after the show. Surprise! We couldn't have the one that was shown on the stage that we "won". We had to pay a $50.00 shipping fee from their warehouse for a litho "that may not be the same litho that we "won"! It would be Park West's chosing what to send us if they happened to be out of that litho! However, if we purchased yet another piece of art, the shipping would be free. Holy extortion Batman! Needless to say, every cruise we go on we always fill out the end of cruise evaluation to dump Park West... Thanks RCL...you did the right thing. We "won" the art on a Carnival cruise and are "gold" members of both cruise lines.
Dr. Mark Davis May 16th 2010 10:30PM
I agree bout-time!! I hope princess gets the message.
Bill May 17th 2010 8:55PM
About time RCCL got rid of Park West. We made the mistake of purchasing "art" from this company on one cruise. What a waste of money.
Brad May 16th 2010 10:36PM
Art at sea is a joke... except for those who are novices at collecting. For them it is probably in into to art. It certainly never was one of my choices of things to do on a cruise ship.
Kel May 16th 2010 10:59PM
I am not great judge of art, but most of it looked like CRAP. I guess finally R.C.I. got tired of people complaining about being hustled.
Terry Owens May 16th 2010 11:35PM
It's about time. What a waste of time and space on the ship. As we cruise higher end we are always getting invitations to these auctions and have never seen anything we have liked. I have better things to do on a cruise than waste time looking at bad art.
Henry May 16th 2010 11:41PM
This is why I only attended to drink the free champagne!!!
frequent cruiser May 17th 2010 12:07AM
Park West has sold limited editions that weren't. They would send you a COA for whatever amount you wanted.
They are thieves. I hope the other cruise lines get smart soon.
Walt S May 17th 2010 12:21AM
"Art is in the eye of the beholder."
You don't buy it because it is a bargin. You don't buy it because it is a good investment.
You buy it because you like it. What you like and don't like will be different from others.
Park West framing was never to my liking and what I purchased (20+ pieces over ten years) were for the most part unframed. Then I worked with my local frame shop to pick something that would enhance the art plus go with my decor in the room where it was to hang.
True, they not really auctions as you could buy almost anything that they offered at the base price.
Many throw away large amounts in the casino for a thrill that lasts but a minute -- unless they are the 1/100,000 that makes it big. Others spend $5-$20 or more a day at Bingo; for every $ paid out in winnings the ship takes in ten times that amount.
I get to look at and enjoy my art purchases every day.
luger May 17th 2010 12:31AM
On my Royal Caribean Cruise I attended two of the auctions just to observe. I used to work for an auctioneer and I know how auctioneers inflate bids useing ghost bidders, selling to non existant bid numbers, etc. These Park West auction teams were running scam bids on the passengers, lieing about the art and raking in big bucks for crap art.