HAL getting rid of Park West art auctions, will Princess follow suit?

There’s an interesting thread on the Holland America board stating that HAL is cutting ties with Park West. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who hopes that this decision will eventually be for the entire Carnival Corp fleet and not just HAL.

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Yes, please!!

But Wait, I need a Peter Max!!!!

HAL replacing ParkWest

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2639266

Sent from my iPhone while I probably should be working.

Gee, I hope so!

But Wait, I need a Peter Max!!!!

Not Godard's drunken olives???

from reading that thread on the HAL board, it seems like they are just changing the company from ParkWest to ArtLink ..i dont think that much is going to change

These art auctions were a total nightmare on our recent Caribbean Princess cruise, taking over the Explorers. But I guess they make money as there always seemed to be a queue of eager people wanting to purchase these often hideous pieces of art work. Some people are just desperate for a free drink!

I presume they will replace Park West with another Auction house?

How much are the certified miniature artworks, (that they give as gifts, with a Certificate of authenticity) actually worth?

Prior to Park West there was Princess Fine Arts, which to me was a lot better. They auctioned original pieces for a good price. Maybe they'll bring that back.

These art auctions were a total nightmare on our recent Caribbean Princess cruise, taking over the Explorers. But I guess they make money as there always seemed to be a queue of eager people wanting to purchase these often hideous pieces of art work. Some people are just desperate for a free drink!

 

I presume they will replace Park West with another Auction house?

No more auctions, just fixed price sales and artists in residence.

http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Holland-America-Line-overhauling-art-program

Sent from my iPhone while I probably should be working.

Has anyone received the certified miniature artworks they give as gifts? How much are they actually worth?

Has anyone received the certified miniature artworks they give as gifts? How much are they actually worth?

They aren’t worth much more than the piece of paper they are printed on.

Sent from my iPhone while I probably should be working.

How much are the certified miniature artworks, (that they give as gifts, with a Certificate of authenticity) actually worth?

I couldn't even sell my piece at my yard sale for fifty cents

On our last cruise, the "paintings" in the art gallery were horrible, very commercialized, and very over-priced. There was nothing interesting or original, just things that looked like "schlock."

I'm wondering when they're going to start selling tacky paintings of Elvis on black velvet backgrounds, or pink flamingos on black velvet backgrounds, or other monstrosities that look like something on the walls of a Vegas casino. :) Some of that stuff is bad....

On our last cruise, the "paintings" in the art gallery were horrible, very commercialized, and very over-priced. There was nothing interesting or original, just things that looked like "schlock."

 

I'm wondering when they're going to start selling tacky paintings of Elvis on black velvet backgrounds, or pink flamingos on black velvet backgrounds, or other monstrosities that look like something on the walls of a Vegas casino. :) Some of that stuff is bad....

Hey wait, I love Elvis!

Seriously, I don't know if Princess will follow suit. but I will say that Park West somehow miraculously always lands on their feet. I remember some years ago, maybe 10 or more, Royal Caribbean was going to throw them off theirs and Celebrity's ships and somehow they're still around. Probably kicked up Royal's cut. For one or two cruises, we were sucked in, & in fact, even went to a local auction they had. Fortunately, we now know better.:o

Yeah, can't say they will be missed. I love art history, so I have enjoyed some of the seminars they've done in years past, but it's been a while.

All the cruises I've been on the art auctions are busy.

Too crowded for my taste and I don't care for what they are selling.

Will see if Princess follows suit and what that will change, if anything.

Well, if is either hot or raining on a sea day, the venue is cool and comfortable

That "gallery" is such a waste of space, put something of interest there, maybe another bar

What constitutes "art" is more subjective than opinions about food on a cruise. I for one would never miss the art gallery, IMO, it's nothing more than yard sale stuff. Years ago, there were some nice pieces, but things have gone down hill. My 8 year old niece wandered by the paintings and asked me if she could help the little children with their pictures during the cruise!

If Princess utilized the space for another restaurant, it would go a long way to improving access to something other than grille or Italian foods...maybe a nice coffee shop that isn't overtaken by entertainment in the Atrium. While we're on the subject of poor use of space on a ship - let's eliminate the photo gallery. The technology is there [other mega cruise ships do it] for any passenger to view their pictures from the TV in their cabin and click "purchase' instead of searching high and low for their pictures during set hours, then stand in line to be told "Your embarkation picture is $35." Yikes, when we were told that on our recent Royal cruise, I headed straight to Crooners for a couple of drinks....never did purchase the picture. On the last day, the cabinets were filled with unwanted photos - talk about waste ...almost as bad as the constant flow of "spa" treatments in our mail box at least 3 times each day. Sorry, needed to vent a bit.

Darcy

But Wait, I need a Peter Max!!!!

Would that be copy 9,845 of 100,000 glicee's :).

Hank

Prior to Park West there was Princess Fine Arts, which to me was a lot better. They auctioned original pieces for a good price. Maybe they'll bring that back.

I'm in that camp. I think it was done the right way. Not sure why PFA disappeared. I guess the contract with PW looked more profitable?

I admit, I can't think of a service that has so little, if any, support. I actually liked taking in a session or two when PFA had it. But with PW, I think I sat in on one for about 10 minutes and exited. That was 10 minutes of my life that I won't get back.

Princess, you listening?

Hey wait, I love Elvis!

Some of these comments are hilarious.........:p:p:p I love Elvis also, but some of those renderings of him are just garish beyond words... :cool:

I've never understood the allure or buying 'art' or even 'fine jewelry' on the ship or even in a port that you may never visit again..sure, maybe a token bracelet, but nothing even remotely 'expensive'

signed

Dogs Playing Poker

Art Auctions: Helping to pay for our cruises since 1986.

What constitutes "art" is more subjective than opinions about food on a cruise. I for one would never miss the art gallery, IMO, it's nothing more than yard sale stuff. Years ago, there were some nice pieces, but things have gone down hill. My 8 year old niece wandered by the paintings and asked me if she could help the little children with their pictures during the cruise!

 

If Princess utilized the space for another restaurant, it would go a long way to improving access to something other than grille or Italian foods...maybe a nice coffee shop that isn't overtaken by entertainment in the Atrium. While we're on the subject of poor use of space on a ship - let's eliminate the photo gallery. The technology is there [other mega cruise ships do it] for any passenger to view their pictures from the TV in their cabin and click "purchase' instead of searching high and low for their pictures during set hours, then stand in line to be told "Your embarkation picture is $35." Yikes, when we were told that on our recent Royal cruise, I headed straight to Crooners for a couple of drinks....never did purchase the picture. On the last day, the cabinets were filled with unwanted photos - talk about waste ...almost as bad as the constant flow of "spa" treatments in our mail box at least 3 times each day. Sorry, needed to vent a bit.

 

Darcy

I so totally agree with you, well said. In my previous post, I was only kidding about another bar. You know what I would like to see, would be a "traveling" if you will, display of information on the ports we would be visiting...A compacted space with a map, highlighting places of importance, maybe a bit of history, restaurants. How many times have you been someplace new and after the fact you found out about something of interest that you would have liked to see. With today's technology they could put up vertical interactive screens in an area of that size. Something like I have seen in larger airport hubs