Art Auctions at sea and Park West

[Cruella 66]

We just completed our first cruise. While there I stumbled across the art gallery and fell in love with a Tigger cel. My husband and I bought it and they said they'd send it to us with 'five free pieces of art'. I believe they are just lithographs. Upon arriving home I did some internet research and I'm NOT finding anything good about this company or its repuation . Has anyone purchased from the art auctions at sea on the Wonder or Magic? We were on the Wonder. If so...please tell me good or bad how was your experience? The head guy was supposedly a retired Master Chief in the Navy and my husband is also a retired Chief and he (the sales guy) really played on that. I can't wait to hear from you all....Cindy

 

[dahuffy]

All I know is they were a bit "rich" for my blood!

 

[pfp258]

Useless, expensive and wish Disney would get rid of them. (How many families are really there to buy Rembrandt sketches for thousands of dollars?) I don't imagine too many real art collectors are sailing on the Disney Cruise Line to add to their art collections.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Useless, expensive and wish Disney would get rid of them. (How many families are really there to buy Rembrandt sketches for thousands of dollars?) I don't imagine too many real art collectors are sailing on the Disney Cruise Line to add to their art collections.

I feel the same way as you do. It seems out of place for Disney. On the other hand their was a piece with Mickey and Minnie that I was really interested in. I decided against it thinking "I could do better." This week, our fisrt week back, I went searching, and so have found that I can't get it anywhere else and the prices were consisent with what I could get on board.

Just enjoy your piece. I hope it brings you many happy memories.

 

[mr.b]

My wife and I attended an art auction on one of our Disney cruises. We managed to 'win' a piece of art....basically a choice out of 4 or 5 very ugly pictures that I wouldn't hang in an outhouse. They were repulsive looking. All we had to do was pay (I think?) $39.95 to have it shipped to us in a tube. They would not let us just take it. We told them to keep their precious art. Our digital camera gave us all the 'art' we need to hang on our walls. I wish they'd make these art dealers walk the plank on Pirate Night.

 

[nordkin]

We have two pieces we bought from them on the Panama Canl cruise in 05 and love both pieces. They were shipped to use in a wooden crate and we received them about six weeks after the cruise. The two pieces we purchased were not Disney themed, but we have recieved nothingbut compliments on the pieces. We purchased the paintings because we liked them, had independent appraisals done after we received them, and they appraised for far more than we paid.

 

[Married_A_Disney_Nut]

I never really "got" the whole art thing on the ship. The only stuff that would seem to be consistent with the cruise would be Don "Ducky" Williams' art. Having said that, it is a rather small hallway and I'm not sure what else the space could be used for.

Speaking of wasted space, how about the "bar" in Studio Sea ?

 

[tinkerone]

so tell me how this art auction works. i saw it listed on a bunch of navagators but did not understand if it was in one of the rooms, all over the ship, if you made an appointment,if it was silent bidding or what. was it disney art, other stuff, or a mix of both. also i thought i saw somewhere that there were free drinks if you went somewhere for this at some point in time. explain it all so next time i'll know, please and thank you.

 

[Married_A_Disney_Nut]

The actual auctions take place in the main lobby atrium in front of Lumiere's.
It is standard auction format with a fast-talking auctioneer and people holding up bidder cards. It's all very friendly and non-threatening.

My wife sits in the audience just to get the free martini's. You can just hang around the lobby and the drink ladys walk around for your drinking pleasure.

 

[tinkerone]

The actual auctions take place in the main lobby atrium in front of Lumiere's.
It is standard auction format with a fast-talking auctioneer and people holding up bidder cards. It's all very friendly and non-threatening.

My wife sits in the audience just to get the free martini's. You can just hang around the lobby and the drink ladys walk around for your drinking pleasure.

hmmmm...going may not be a good idea. a few of those martinis and i may be holding up a bidding card.
so is it usually last evening or something?

 

[justmestace]

We just completed our first cruise. While there I stumbled across the art gallery and fell in love with a Tigger cel. My husband and I bought it and they said they'd send it to us with 'five free pieces of art'. I believe they are just lithographs. Upon arriving home I did some internet research and I'm NOT finding anything good about this company or its repuation . Has anyone purchased from the art auctions at sea on the Wonder or Magic? We were on the Wonder. If so...please tell me good or bad how was your experience? The head guy was supposedly a retired Master Chief in the Navy and my husband is also a retired Chief and he (the sales guy) really played on that. I can't wait to hear from you all....Cindy

We have bought pieces, all Disney art..and won a few....on DCL, Princess and Norwegian cruises and have never had a problem with our items arriving. They DO take a long time to arrive though.
All of our items were bought through Park West. I have heard of the trouble people have had lately with one company but it wasn't Park West, don't know if the two are connected. We bought our last one over a year ago, and I think the trouble people are having is more recent. I don't think I'll be buying anything on our cruise coming up this December, I'm worried about what I've heard.
I really hope that you don't have a problem receiving your cell. Sorry I wasn't much help to you.

 

[Married_A_Disney_Nut]

so is it usually last evening or something?

On the 14 day there were about 3 different auction days I think. Usually around 2pm or so.

 

[SueEllen]

I will offer you a tip. KNOW YOUR ART PRICES if you are considering bidding on any of their auction pieces. They greatly inflate the values of the artwork and often times you can purchase it directly from an art gallery for less.

I was not impressed with them or their prices.
Sue Ellen

 

[Cruella 66]

On our cruise (a three day Wonder cruise) there was an auction the last afternoon but nobody showed so they didn't have it; they may have had an earlier one but I don't know. They did bring around the free martini's though; we declined but they looked good. We purchased the cel outright, the day before the auction, as it caught my eye passing through that hall, so were just going to the auction as voyagers. Yes, Sue Ellen, I do take your advice and will follow it in the future! Actually, we had stayed at the Poly for eight days before the cruise and they had an art gallery, Wyland Galleries, in the lobby there too. We had stopped in there, talked with an associate about a couple pieces we admired, our daughter bought a pair of earrings, and we're still in contact with them about those pieces; we haven't purchased yet...still considering. Going on that experience; we just trusted the fact that we were on a Disney property and surely they wouldn't let shysters aboard??? It didn't even occur to us until we got home and I started investigating the company. Then, bells and whistles started going off. I'll let you all know how it turns out. The cel also had a pencil drawing beneath it of the cel...don't know if that would affect the value or not. Cindy

 

[jdkdorn]

We did the auctions when we sailed on the Magic last February and found that the company deserves all the bad web reviews. We bib on a print of a Paris scene and some Disney memorabilia. The Disney stuff came out fine but the Paris print was supposed to be framed and matted before being sent. It was sent to us in a used, dented and chipped frame. the mat was used, dirty and riped, and the glass over the print was plastic and very very thin. We has a quote on the re-framing and it would have cost us $300 or more to do properly. They also tell you they will give you appraisals for insurance but what they don't tell you is that they do the appraisal, not an independent appraiser. My insurance would not accept them because they were not certified art appraiser.

We will not go to them again and I wish Disney would sell their own art and leave the rest off the ship, it is really not "Disney" to have that type of behavior and reputation.

Judy

 

[webray]

We bought several (well ok, more than several, lol) pieces from them and we had a great experience. The auctions were a lot of fun, the pieces were shipped/framed and arrived as described they would be.

No complaints here.

Remember..all art is in the eye of the beholder, they have things ranging from the low $100s to six figures for auction. You bid as you see fit and are comfortable with. If you don't know what you are bidding on, then there is the internet cafe on board the ship..go and google what you are looking at. Get and idea of price, etc and you are good to go. No one ever has to bid blindly on anything.

 

[webray]

Useless, expensive and wish Disney would get rid of them. (How many families are really there to buy Rembrandt sketches for thousands of dollars?) I don't imagine too many real art collectors are sailing on the Disney Cruise Line to add to their art collections.

Plenty of art collectors sail Disney...plenty!

 

[webray]

We will not go to them again and I wish Disney would sell their own art and leave the rest off the ship, it is really not "Disney" to have that type of behavior and reputation.

Judy

I hope you contacted Park West directly to resolve the issue and get your picture replaced.

I have purchased many items on the ship, and at the Wyland galleries on disney property. I have recieved many damaged pieces from the Wyland gallery, they always make good, as I am sure park west would. We have never received anything in poor condition from Park West.

 

[tinkerone]

well i'll be going to an auction! a free martini is hard to come by .
can you say 'more'.

 

[Cruella 66]

Thank you for sharing Cheryl! And Tinkerone...the martinis were HUGE!