Art auction clutter

[Jemima]

We are big HAL fans and have enjoyed all our cruises, but the art auctions on our last cruise were a negative. The art people would rearrange the Ocean Bar every morning putting nearly all the seating in rows. They'd then put lots of art work outside the Ocean Bar and about half way around the atrium. It would stay this way till after the mid-afternoon art auction. In the past we've seen this one or two days, but this was daily or almost daily. There also seemed to be much more art cluttering up the area.
This was the Maasdam's first cruise after drydock and it was well into the cruise before the temperture was properly adjusted in the redone Crow's Nest. As a result fewer passengers used the Crow's Nest during the day. That meant that during the "art clutter" in the Ocean Bar, the Explorers Lounge and new Explorations area were often crowded.

(Nearly everything else was wonderful.)

[cruznon]

We also experienced this on the Zuiderdam last summer. I thought it was inconvenient, irratating, unattractive and OK..tacky.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have seen it on all the ships the last couple of years. It just takes away from the beauty of the ship around the attrium.

[Druke I]

Another non-fan of the auctions taking up space in companionways and lounges.

Same thng goes for the shops - keep the merchandise in the shops, and out of lobbies!

[Krazy Kruizers]

You are so right about the shops - too many times they set up tables and racks all over the place selling anything they can think of. It wasn't that way years ago when they sold quality items in the shops and didn't have to "beg" people to buy something. And that inch of gold and silver tables that are set up many days.

[elmorejj]

I agree about the art auctions and shops. You can hardly have a drink in the OB in the afternoon for all of the clutter. The shops are getting beyond riddiculous with their yard sales every day......jean:cool:

[Sayyadina]

We were on the Maasdam right before drydock and they did the same thing. I found it annoying and, yes, tacky too.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We couldn't even get into the Ocean Bar on a couple of ships when they had the art auctions - all the chairs had been moved into rows and there wasn't any place nice to sit.

[Randyk47]

Add me to the "dump the art auction clutter" group. On the Volendam last February they made a big mess almost every day at the Ocean Bar....to the point you could hardly get through that part of the ship. Of course, it doesn't help that I personally don't care for the art auctions in the first place. The merchandise tables weren't as bad on the Volendam as I've seen them but there's not a lot of space around the shops on the R and S class ships so almost any table outside the shops is going to be in the way. The shop area on the Vista class is a mess even without the tables. Back in 2004 you could barely move through that area on the Oosterdam. I've read though that the art auctions, and this was actually much to my surprise, are really a major money maker for the cruise lines as they get a cut of the sales by Park West or whoever has the franchise for that cruise line. The stats on the sales per cruise were significant, way above what I would have thought based on casual observation.

[dakrewser]

We couldn't even get into the Ocean Bar on a couple of ships when they had the art auctions - all the chairs had been moved into rows and there wasn't any place nice to sit.

Just grab a couple of chairs and (noisily) push them to where you'd like to sit. Then make rude comments about the "art works" in a not-quite-inaudible stage whisper.

If you're good at it, the auction folk will buy you off to go somewhere else... :rolleyes:

[RevNeal]

I usually will attempt to avoid the areas where the pre-auction viewing and the auction is taking place. What annoys me is that it's always the exact same stuff from ship to ship and cruise to cruise. The same horse and guys, the same tacky 4-color cubism, the SAME animation cells ... the same junk. Frankly, I wouldn't be too interested even if it were stuff I liked or might be interested in buying, but as it is I don't even like the junk they're trying to hawk. So ... I avoid the areas where it's being sold.

Oh ... when I go through the art gallery area I might glance at a piece or two, just to see if they've finally come up with anything new, but since that usually is a fruitless endeavor, I generally just avoid the places where the auction is held on the days it is held. And ... I agree ... it clutters up that area of the ship when it's being held. :(

[kakalina]

Add us to the list. Earlier this year on the Amsterdam ( for 30 days ) they were everywhere, all the time, with a table full of this and a huge sale on that. They wouldn't even sell tee shirts for our itinerary until they sold out the ones from Alaska and we didn't even go there!

And the "art" auctions, good gracious they take up all the manuverable space in and around the atrium so it is an adventure and a chore to wend ones way through the clutter of questionable "art".

Maybe they could save all the shop sales up for just one day and take over the show lounge for a giant everything must go yard sale :eek:

[TTFromSommersTown]

I don't often comment, but I have to agree that these Art? Auctions detract from my enjoyment of a Cruise.
From reading the comments on this thread it would appear that things are getting even worse and I wonder if the Cruise Lines are breaking Fire Safety Rules by partically blocking the walk ways.

[Sayyadina]

I did take about 15+ minutes once to look and see what they had (first cruise after all) and while I wasn't interested in anything, I did notice the same pictures on display throughout the 11 days we were on board. They never seemed to sell. So I'm curious, do they have 8 of each one and as one sells they just replace it with another?

[elmorejj]

[QUOTE=dakrewser

If you're good at it, the auction folk will buy you off to go somewhere else... :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]



I wish they had bought mr off on a recent cruise! The auctioneer even asked me to stop talking while I was having a drink at the OB which was open to the public for drinking!!..jean:cool:

[gizmo]

Add us to the list. Earlier this year on the Amsterdam ( for 30 days ) they were everywhere, all the time, with a table full of this and a huge sale on that. They wouldn't even sell tee shirts for our itinerary until they sold out the ones from Alaska and we didn't even go there!
:eek:

Don't you just love that ? It is so nice to buy a Tee shirt that has something plastered all over it from a place you haven't been. Let's not forget those stack dolls from the Baltic that they sell on Caribbean cruises. :rolleyes:

[AirGorilla]

I usually will attempt to avoid the areas where the pre-auction viewing and the auction is taking place. What annoys me is that it's always the exact same stuff from ship to ship and cruise to cruise. The same horse and guys, the same tacky 4-color cubism, the SAME animation cells ... the same junk. Frankly, I wouldn't be too interested even if it were stuff I liked or might be interested in buying, but as it is I don't even like the junk they're trying to hawk. So ... I avoid the areas where it's being sold.

Oh ... when I go through the art gallery area I might glance at a piece or two, just to see if they've finally come up with anything new, but since that usually is a fruitless endeavor, I generally just avoid the places where the auction is held on the days it is held. And ... I agree ... it clutters up that area of the ship when it's being held. :(

Rev --

You'll get a kick out of this -- the art on the Empress of the Seas (RCCL) was the same stuff as they have on the Zuiderdam!! Where Steiner's has some sort of monopoly for the Spas, someone else appears to have the art auction concession locked up on multiple cruise lines!

[lougee1043]

sales sales sales = money money money and thats what drives the ship and pays dividends to the stockholders --and since i am not a stockholder i say get rid of all that stuff--------------did they sell art on the titanic

[Stevesan]

And the "art" auctions, good gracious they take up all the manuverable space in and around the atrium so it is an adventure and a chore to wend ones way through the clutter of questionable "art".

Maybe they could save all the shop sales up for just one day and take over the show lounge for a giant everything must go yard sale :eek:

Grand princess did exactly that. One day they set up a giant sale in one of the dining rooms. Of course, most days they had tables in the Atrium, too.
I must admit, I did buy two sets of colored "art glass" shooters. They made nice gifts.:o

In addition to the atrium, etc, HAL occasionally sets up clearance sales tables on Lido Deck.

The "art" auction junk cluttered up the atrium and companion ways on GP, just like HAL!:mad: I guess all the cruise lines do it.

[Grumpy1]

Rev --

You'll get a kick out of this -- the art on the Empress of the Seas (RCCL) was the same stuff as they have on the Zuiderdam!! Where Steiner's has some sort of monopoly for the Spas, someone else appears to have the art auction concession locked up on multiple cruise lines!Yep! Park West Galleries

[lougee1043]

Yep! Park West Galleries

i even get their catalogs in the mail when they have auctions in my town

[RuthC]

I agree the "art" lining the passageways is tacky. It's even more upsetting when those same "art" pieces get to occupy a nice chair in the Ocean Bar, and therefore there's no place for this paying passenger to sit.

But what really gets me is how dangerous it is to reduce already tight walkspace. If you have any mobility problems (and what HAL cruise doesn't have those passengers?), or are in a wheelchair/scooter it becomes impossible to pass sometimes.

A cruise or two ago I almost tripped over some of that artwork. I wonder what would have happened if I had fallen and hurt myself?
Free cruise(?) or free artwork(?) for my trouble? :rolleyes:

[dakrewser]

A cruise or two ago I almost tripped over some of that artwork. I wonder what would have happened if I had fallen and hurt myself?
Free cruise(?) or free artwork(?) for my trouble? :rolleyes:

Definitely free art work. Plus a framing and shipping fee, of course.:rolleyes:

[mechcc]

Have never understood why people buy art on cruises. Just doesn't make sense to me because I would want to take my time to evaluate a piece and make sure it would fit into my home. Funny how I saw the same "originals" on Rhapsody on 23 Apr cruise and again on Monarch on 8 May cruise. One of these days I'm going to sign up for the auction just to drink the free champagne. Then again, one of these days you might see me in the Ocean Bar buying drinks and talking just to disrupt the auction. Really think these auctions can be in places other then spaces where they block access, like the theaters.

[JLC@SD]

So much of the "art" is just junk.....stuff that can't sell elsewhere.

I looked at the autographed jerseys offered and..........my reaction was.......sho are those guys.......never heard of them.....:D

But the dumbest was the olives swimming in the martini glasses..........I guess some people call that art....:)

[mechcc]

So much of the "art" is just junk.....stuff that can't sell elsewhere.

But the dumbest was the olives swimming in the martini glasses..........I guess some people call that art....:)

There are those that say a good martini is an art. But it's an art to be drank. Guess they rely on those that go to the martini making classes getting enough martinis to choose those "pieces of art" as their souvenier.

[Willsot]

You know, I think it's pretty tacky that when trying to make our way to the dining room for a nice formal dinner, we have to negotiate through multiple photo stations - you know, the ones with the tacky pull-down fake scenery backgrounds, weave through a photo gallery with photos plastered over every vertical space every day of the cruise, and try not to inhale the cigarette smoke while making our way around the casino. We happen to decline posing for photos, never purchase the candid photos, don't smoke, and don't gamble. All of the above IMHO are actually as tacky as the three days with art auctions in one bar out of many bars on a 7-day cruise. But I'm assuming these offerings are there 1) because there's a lot of money to be made, and 2) because passengers are interested and willing to patronize the activities.
I agree, though, that it seems the art auctions could be held in one of the theaters. I suppose they want the visibility to walk-through traffic.

[arzz]

I, too, resent the ubiquitous presence of the art auction folks. My last cruise on the Maasdam, between the photographers multiple set ups each evening and the art auction bric-a-brac (I am not sure that I can dignify it and even call it art) mobility was a real issue. Rather enjoyed it when, on our last day at sea, we had the 20-30 foot waves which downed all those easels and pictures -- except for the fact it was then truly impossible to pass -- the art work was definitely improved when facing the floor!

The sad part is that it is such a money maker -- it is amazing what some people do when they are otherwise not entertained -- is that a statement on how we have come to use our leisure time? or is it a statement on how we have come to NOT knowing how to use our leisure time so we opt to spend $ instead!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have never bought anything at any of the art auctions and don't intend to.

Thankfully on our Amsterdam cruise with so many days being in red alert, the boutigues didn't have their everyday "sidewalk" sales.

[RuthC]

Thankfully on our Amsterdam cruise with so many days being in red alert, the boutigues didn't have their everyday "sidewalk" sales.
Guess there's an "up" side to everything. ;)

[jessemon]

We were on the Veendam at Christmas and trying to take pictures of the Atrium Christmas tree, Santa and sled and the polar bear on a sled was a task. Pictures all over and the closing desk right in front of Santa. Shame....shame...:(

[mechcc]

One of these days, I'm going to organize a group to go to the auction and register to bid just to get the free champagne. Then going to sit back and instigate honest opinions about the art. So called art, drinking and captive audience is not exactly fair and reasonable commerce. (And don't take me to task over this cause I will claim the devil made me do it!)

[ray77]

Yes, the "are auctions" are tacky.
Yes, much of the "art" is actually junk.
Yes, the "auctions" are disruptive.
Yes, the "art" is generally overpriced.

BUT, all of the foregoing is known to most passengers. A number of news articles have discussed the operations of Park West Gallery. An excerpt from one of them:

"......Cruise ships are becoming floating galleries, with the champagne flowing. Prospects of getting a shipboard deal on a big-name work or a simple seascape to hang over your sofa is seductive.
But be on guard: With art auctions on cruise ships increasing, so are the opportunities for voyagers to overpay.
"This is not a serious art auction, not an investment opportunity," says veteran appraiser Bernard Ewell, who verifies the authenticity of Salvador Dali prints sold by Park West Gallery on dozens of cruises. Bargains aren't guaranteed.
"It is buyer beware," adds Bruce Hochman, director of the Dali Gallery in Pacific Palisades, California, who observed an auction on a Carnival cruise to Mexico. "There was this great urgency. The idea that it is a great buy, get it now." A Dali print his gallery sells for $250 was described as being appraised for $6,500 and went for about $2,000.
It is hard to be cautious at a cruise-ship sale, unless you simply don't attend. The champagne is flowing and you are in a captive environment. You are relaxed. It is a party atmosphere with an air of excitement about it. But the sale itself is like those one-of-a-kind Persian rug sales at the local Holiday Inn....." (end of excerpt)


Most importantly, these "auctions" are on-board intelligence tests. We are all fortunate that so many of our fellow passengers fail the tests. The "auctions" raise a great amount of "on-board revenue" for the cruise lines; and that additional revenue allows the rest of us to enjoy a cruise for less money than we'd otherwise have to pay.


Cruise fares do not cover the cruise lines' costs of providing their product. They are always trying to increase on-board revenues, which soon will be close to one-third of their total revenue.


Put up with the "auctions" just like you put up with the intrusive photographers, and just like others listen to the "port shopping" talks. These revenue sources keep you going on cruises.

[Krazy Kruizers]

But - they really need to move them to an area that doesn't take away from the beauty of the ship - make walking in some areas impossible - these art auctions have gotten out of hand the last few years. JMO

[cruznon]

Put them in one of those conference rooms, out of the way from the atrium area /bars and set up a couple of bartenders with champagne to help persuade folks if something is framed it must be art. (Especially if there's an auctioneer telling you what a wonderful opportunity you're being offered.)