Cruise Etiquette: The Dos and Dont's of Cruise Ship Art Auctions

15.01.2024 - 19:43 / cntraveler.com / Royal Caribbean / Pablo Picasso / Holland America / Art

Art auctions are a mainstay of big-ship cruise lines—and they usually run in a similar format: show up, drink a few glasses of free Champagne, take a numbered bid card, and peruse the artwork to be auctioned off. Make the right bid, and you'll go home with travel memories and a new piece to add to your collection.

On land, art auctions are mainly reserved for seasoned collectors in major cities. But what's extraordinary about a cruise ship is that everyday passengers can access the auction experience, says John Block, the Executive Vice President of Park West. Park West is the first and largest operator of at-sea art auctions aboard lines including Azamara, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, and Carnival. “The vast majority of our clients don’t live in the population centers where major galleries concentrate–we’re offering an opportunity to choose from a wider selection of art," he says. The artwork auctioned on cruise ships also sells at a variety of price points, creating a broad appeal to travelers, Block notes. You might drop a few hundred dollars, or even hundreds of thousands, depending on the cruise line and destination, which can both factor into the art available for auction.

As for the pieces on display, expect to find artwork across various mediums, and artists that range from the big hitters—WyLand, Peter Max, Pablo Picasso—to more contemporary and even up-and-coming names. Some perennial favorites from Park West’s cruise galleries include Itzchack Tarkay, Anatole Krasnyansky, Chris Derubeis, and Emile Bellet.

Suffice to say, it's a fun way to spend an afternoon at sea, but there are a few things to know before you step up and raise a paddle. Consider this a crash course on participating in art auctions on cruise ships, from suggested etiquette to the fine print.

A selection of art from Park West, which runs at-sea auctions aboard cruise lines like Celebrity.

At the start of the event, auctioneers will explain the difference in package prices. Some art is handed over on the ship for passengers to take home themselves, while some is sold inclusive of framing and shipping, and others are sold without those inclusions. Usually, they'll try to add to the excitement before things get rolling with giveaways, added-value deals, and—of course—by talking up the art on show. Each auction will also kick off with clear instructions on bidding.

Once the auction is completed, buyers will sit down with art gallery staff to work out delivery details, select a frame (you don’t have to keep the one the art is displayed in), and go over the purchase contract. At auctions run by Park West, sales tax for the passenger’s state of residence applies. For US residents, there’s no