Guest Author - Shasta Wilson

If you've taken a cruise in the past few years, you've most likely heard announcements for onboard art auctions. Or maybe you've stumbled across an auction in progress while wandering through one of the ship's lounges. Art sales and cruise vacations might seem an odd pairing, and those unfamiliar with shipboard art programs often wonder whether these auctions have legitimate and authentic pieces, and if they truly are 40%-60% off land-based gallery prices. On a recent cruise to Mexico, I consulted with onboard art agents Werner and Amanda Fronemann to get the full details on how art auctions operate.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise lines partner with Park West Galleries for their auctions. Some of the Carnival brand cruise lines (including Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Cunard) also utilize Park West agents, though some ships contract with Fine Arts Wholesalers. For auctions operating under the Park West name, each art dealer onboard is an independent representative, and is responsible for the sales and inventory on a specific ship. Reps are assigned to a particular ship for a certain amount of time; once the contract is complete, they are usually sent to another ship. With income being entirely based on commission, it's definitely fair to say that some ships and sailings are more conducive to art sales than others.

Attending an Auction
Auctions are run every few days, with the number of auctions depending entirely on the length of the cruise. Days at sea are typically the best days for auctions because all passengers are onboard, and most cruisers are looking for something to do. With free admission and free champagne, auctions represent the perfect mid-day cruise activity. Immediately preceding the auction is an 'Art Preview Hour' where guests can view and examine various pieces that are available. The Preview Hour also gives potential buyers the chance to request that a particular piece be sent to the auction floor for sale. Sending a piece to the floor does not obligate the interested party to purchase it, though it does open the piece up to purchase by someone else. Around 25-40 pieces will be opened up for sale during a typical auction.

Inventory and Pricing
The inventory available for auction varies between ships, though the stock for sale will most certainly be diverse. In one collection, it's not uncommon to see sports memorabilia, vintage movie posters, Disney animation cells, lithographs, etchings, and works from artists like Picasso, Miro, Dali, Thomas Kinkade, Michael Godard and Anatole Krasnyansky. Auction prices start at rates that are significantly below that of land-based galleries, and the matting and framing is included in the bid price.

If you do end up bidding on something (and winning!), you won't have to worry about taking it home with you. Each piece purchased is rematted and reframed before being shipped directly to the buyer's desired location, and shipping costs are usually a flat fee depending on size. If you're interested in a particular piece, it's recommended that you discuss all the details with the art reps during the Preview Hour.

Purchasing Outside of Auction
If you missed your chance to attend the auction, you can view selected works in the ship's Art Gallery. When not in auction, the art reps spend their time in the gallery talking with cruisers and art lovers. The Gallery allows reps to make sales outside of auction, and also gives reps a chance to locate hard-to-find pieces for potential buyers. Park West dealers have the added bonus of tapping into Park West's full collection of available art, which can be purchased and shipped directly to the buyer. You'll also get complete Certificates of Authenticity.

My personal experiences with onboard auctions and have been great. Thanks to various resourceful dealers, including Werner and Amanda, my husband and I have made some great additions to our collection. All pieces were bought below standard prices (Disney serigraphs for $100!), and the framing is incredible. Onboard art reps truly have a passion for their work, and are a wealth of art history information. It's recommended that everyone spend a few minutes in the art gallery during a cruise just to admire great works of art. You might end up walking away with something you fell in love with!