The cruise ship features a curated art collection and live auction. Here’s what travelers need to know before buying.
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- Cruise lines use artwork to define a ship’s theme and enhance the guest experience.
- Some cruise lines host art auctions as a form of onboard entertainment, often run by third-party galleries.
- Cruise ship art varies in value, so buyers should research artists and compare prices before purchasing.
Laura Parks originally attended cruise ship art auctions just for fun and free drinks.
The 56-year-old received an invitation to an event in her stateroom aboard Carnival Sunshine during a Bahamas cruise in April. “Anytime I could get free mimosas, I wanted to participate,” she told USA TODAY. “So I just had fun without lifting a paddle or anything.”
An auctioneer approached her and she decided to buy a signed giclée canvas print of a red rose by Michael Godard that caught her eye. While checking out other pieces at a purchase appointment later that day, she burst into tears when an employee showed her another piece by the same artist depicting purple roses and butterflies. her mother, She, who passed away in 2015, loved butterflies and her favorite color was purple.
“I immediately felt chills. The hairs all over my skin stood on end and I had goosebumps. I just felt her presence with me,” she recalled. She took both pieces of art back to Arizona, hung them above her television, and got two other pieces thrown in by the auctioneer for free.
“Every time I see them, I smile from ear to ear. I think I’m lucky enough to not only be able to take time off and go to amazing places and have amazing experiences, but also bring a big part of it home with me,” she said.
Artwork is often central to a cruise ship’s interior design, with paintings, sculptures, and more helping to set the tone and convey the identity of both the cruise line and the ship. But some vendors are also in the business of selling art to vacationers looking for souvenirs and free cocktails.
How do cruise lines choose the art onboard their ships?
Cruise lines take a variety of approaches to shipping artwork, and some are prominently displayed before guests board the ship.
For example, Norwegian Cruise Line partners with street artists for hull art on many of its ships. This includes the latest ship, Norwegian Luna, which is decorated with the 12 zodiac signs, created by multidisciplinary street artist ELLE.
When I sailed on this ship in March, there was a star-studded mural in shades of blue and purple on the cabin walls, and there was also a tall silver moon sculpture outside on Deck 8, in keeping with the ship’s theme.
“Art has the power to enrich our lives, expand our horizons, and take us to a different way of thinking, much like how traveling to new destinations does to us,” Norwegian told USA TODAY via email. “To select the art that will be featured on board, our team takes direction from the general aesthetic intended for each space and finds artists whose work speaks to the design and complements the story of the space.”
Disney Cruise Line, on the other hand, is capitalizing on its iconic catalog.
“The artwork plays a really important role in shaping the overall beauty and personality of each ship,” Katrina Pallasi, principal interior designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, said in an email. “Our guests have a very deep connection to the stories of Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm, and artwork across the fleet helps bring those stories to life in a way that feels both immersive and personal.
When designing the ship, the team considered the artwork to be “part of the storytelling experience from the beginning,” she said.
Featuring a “magic” motif, the Disney Wish features a fairy tale castle themed staircase at the stern, and guests will find animals and a forest at the opposite end of the ship. Parachi said the team worked with “partners at the Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Disney Publishing, Disney Live Entertainment, and outside artists commissioned to create special pieces.”
Disney Destiny, on the other hand, is themed around heroes and villains, with a statue of T’Challa from Black Panther in the Grand Hall and illustrations of notorious villains such as Maleficent and Thanos lining the walls. “In some cases, artwork can support wayfinding and help guests know when they have arrived on their stateroom deck or when they are approaching a lounge or restaurant,” Palasi added.
While Disney ships do not hold art auctions, they do offer Disney Art on Demand, where guests can order via kiosks that display available artwork, pay at the point of sale, and have the artwork delivered to their home.
How does a cruise art auction work?
“The traditional onboard auction model is most commonly found on large, modern, luxury ocean cruise lines, where art auctions are offered as part of the entertainment program,” said Laney Melnick, luxury travel advisor and Dream Vacations branch owner. They are often operated by Park West Gallery, which works with a wide range of lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and other major brands, according to the website.
When a ship has a dedicated art program, the schedule varies depending on the route and length of the cruise, but there are usually multiple related activities, such as auctions and educational presentations held on multiple days throughout each voyage.
In the former, an auctioneer will guide guests through the process and passengers will be able to enjoy complimentary champagne and other refreshments, Melnick said. Bids are typically placed via paddles or other visual cues.
“The event is purposefully created to be accessible to first-time collectors, and many participants attend simply because they enjoy learning about art and watching the process unfold,” she said in an email.
Park West welcomes experienced buyers and those who may not have access to land auctions.
“Park West Gallery is building a world-renowned entertainment experience that is present throughout the voyage, ensuring that not only our loyal collectors can browse the galleries and take advantage of onboard ‘art spaces’ just as they would access art galleries and exhibition spaces on land, but also that all guests on the voyage have access to the same artistic and cultural opportunities,” Chief Operating Officer John Block said in an email.
Delivery logistics are usually handled for guests as well. Parks said Parks-West framed her work, and it began arriving at her home a few weeks after she disembarked, “very carefully packaged.”
The carnival also partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and a portion of the proceeds from the art auction will go toward childhood cancer research.
“On the other hand, some luxury cruise lines are focusing less on selling art and more on creating a gallery-like atmosphere onboard their ships,” Melnick says. “Luxury brand ships may carry museum-quality collections, commissioned works, sculptures, and installations that are intended to enhance the guest experience rather than as stock for purchase.”
For example, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, also part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, does not offer an art auction or onboard sales program, but it features an art collection on all ships developed under Sarah Hall Smith, the luxury brand’s art director.
“The collection spans original paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed media, and commissioned installations from internationally recognized emerging artists,” president Wesley D’Silva said in an email. “Artworks are displayed throughout public spaces, restaurants, lounges and guest suites, creating an immersive environment where guests are constantly discovering new pieces as they sail.”
The cruise line’s Explorer class features works by Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, as well as the only Faberge egg permanently on display at sea. The company also incorporates art into its shore excursions, from gallery tours to museum visits.
“Art is an extension of the Regent experience both on board and ashore, reflecting the brand’s belief that travel and culture are inherently connected,” D’Silva said.
Can guests purchase other art onboard?
Potentially.
“On ships with auction programs, guests can inquire about artwork they find outside the gallery,” Melnick said. “Art staff can usually explain whether a particular piece is available for purchase, available at a future auction, or available as a special order.”
But don’t assume all items on board are for sale, Melnick says. She added that it’s common for artwork to become part of a permanent collection, especially in luxury lines.
Is cruise artwork worth paying for?
It depends on who buys it. Melnick said in-flight art auctions typically feature signed prints and limited-edition pieces, along with the occasional original piece.
“Whether the prices are higher or lower than a land-based gallery depends on the artist, edition size, market demand and venue,” she said. Melnick advised travelers making big purchases to research artists and compare prices in advance.
There may also be tax benefits available, depending on where the customer lives, where the artwork is shipped, and the type of artwork purchased.
“Some art imported into the United States may qualify for preferential tariffs, and purchases on the high seas may not be subject to the same local sales tax as gallery purchases on land,” Melnick said. “However, buyers may be responsible for paying taxes depending on their shipping address and personal tax status.”
Parks felt her work was “very reasonably priced” and paid a total of about $2,300, including framing and shipping. For her, the purchase was a deeper investment. After years of focusing on her family, Parks started taking solo cruises in 2022 as a way to take time for herself.
“And it was nice to level up and buy some art on this last cruise, because it brought me joy; just because it brought me joy.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
