Royal Caribbean Art Auction

[Bettytrouble]

For several years, my father-in-law bought art while on cruises. At first I didn't pay much attention, because God knows he probably disagrees with how I spend some of my money. He was very proud of them and had them hung and framed all over his house (they came in the mail rolled up in tubes, as all great works of art throughout history have), creating additional expense. He has at least a dozen, all large-format, not the cheap stuff.

 

A couple of months ago he had a conversation with me during which he told me that this art was, according to the auctioneer, appreciating at such a rate that soon it was going to be a valuable part of his retirement and eventually an inheritance for my wife and myself. He was planning many more purchases during future booked cruises to increase his quality- of-life during his retirement. At that point I was broken-hearted for him, because he was so proud of these things, and because he was now figuring them into his retirement plan after a lifetime of hard work.

 

I didn't say anything for a couple of days, because I knew how emotionally invested he was in these things. I needed to develop a course of action that would prevent him from being further fleeced while not breaking his heart. I also realized that while I had my suspicions, there was a slight chance these could be genuinely valuable.

 

So the next time we spoke, I brought up the idea of having them appraised. It took a while for it to sink in, in part because he already had the "appraisal" that the art auctioneer sold him. We decided to at least call one and set up an appointment. We found one through a local museum, and called him. He said he would be glad to do the appraisal for a reasonable cost.

 

So we loaded these things in the trunk and back seat with blankets between them and went to the appraiser. He looked at each piece and said exactly this: "They are worth whatever you paid for the frames."

 

We questioned him further, and he explained how art at sea works, that most of what they sell is basically high-quality posters. The company gets away with legally calling them "limited editions" through a variety of means, including making the next batch in a slightly different dimension by changing the height or width by a centimeter.

 

That was a horrible moment, and I could see his countenance fall as the implications for his future sunk in.

 

All the art he bought is now hidden under beds and behind dressers in his house. He painted the walls to cover up the un-faded spots where the posters had protected the paint from the sun.

 

It was a dreadful thing to go through, and it was a dreadful fraud that the company and auctioneers committed against him.

 

And that you took away this pleasure from him is also dreadful. Enjoy your inheritance.

[yogimax]

And that you took away this pleasure from him is also dreadful. Enjoy your inheritance.

 

Read my post #62.

 

I think you will see that we agree!

Edited April 4, 2013 by yogimax

[time4u2go]

And that you took away this pleasure from him is also dreadful. Enjoy your inheritance.

 

Could it be that the poster simply wanted to prevent the father-in-law from counting on the art as a source of retirement income? I would see that as doing a favor for the father-in-law.

[OzKez]

Kenny, it took me forever. Did Voyager in Nov/Dec - waited to obligatory 8-10 weeks, then sent and email to the address that was on their Facebook page info@artonroyal.com

Someone got back to me after a couple of weeks to say that the item I brought was being sent by their Australian affiliate and that I would be contacted by them.

Lo & behold, I received an email from the Australian affiliate with delivery details. Then I had to wait for TNT to take TEN days to deliver it from Sydney to Melbourne.

Luckily the person I was giving it to as a Christmas present was very understanding and liked what I had bought!

All up it took from 8th December to 14th March. But I think if I had jumped up & down before I did, I would have received it sooner.

Good luck!:)

[yogimax]

the item I brought was being sent by their Australian affiliate

 

Park West was much more efficient than the Australian company RCCL now uses.

[AussieAdam]

I received an email from Royal Caribbean this morning, informing me that my artwork (well actually sports memorabilia) item that I purchased on the Voyager back in October last year, will not be fulfulled.

 

Just wondering if any other people have had similar emails recently?

[The-Sea-Is-Calling]

RCCL advised me last week that Art on Royal has gone out of business. RCL has removed all of the Art on Royal signs from the ships. I assume they will now bring back Park West. RCL is attempting to fine the art work that customers purchased but I suspect that most will not be found. I purchased my artwork while on board in 12/2013 and after inquiring about my purchase, I received a phone call from RCCL and email. I immediately contacted American Express and filed a dispute claim against RCCL. American Express immediately refunded my purchase price and they are now directly handling the inquiry about the missing art with RCCL. Lesson learned is as follows:

a.) Use Credit Card for purchases

b.) Note there are deadlines to file disputes so when art does not show up as promised start a paper trail then if no response file a dispute with Credit Card Company.

I expect RCCL learned a valuable lesson with Art on Royal. I expect they changed vendors because the new vendor offered RCCL more money to be on the ships. Little did they realize the future.

[squid47]

Yes they do and I'm still waiting to get my purchase. We docked Dec 22, 2013 and were told 10 - 12 weeks. Three emails later and no word from RCI. Think this is called miss representation. :mad::mad:

[sandylea18]

We cruised on the Radiance ex Sydney on 29 Dec 2013. A friend was on the cruise and they also purchased an art work. Our friend advised us that the art people had gone bust. They also advised us three weeks ago that they had finally received their artwork. We had to chase RCL ourselves and we kept getting automatic responses. I asked hubby to chase it up again on the weekend. Yesterday (Monday 12/5/2014) our artwork arrived but we were not advised it would be delivered and the "Certificate of Authenticity" was not with the artwork. We will probably never buy art that we cannot take with us ever again.

 

Good luck to all those people who have yet to receive their art. I recommend chasing them up.

[BARNET]

We cruised on the Radiance ex Sydney on 29 Dec 2013. A friend was on the cruise and they also purchased an art work. Our friend advised us that the art people had gone bust. They also advised us three weeks ago that they had finally received their artwork. We had to chase RCL ourselves and we kept getting automatic responses. I asked hubby to chase it up again on the weekend. Yesterday (Monday 12/5/2014) our artwork arrived but we were not advised it would be delivered and the "Certificate of Authenticity" was not with the artwork. We will probably never buy art that we cannot take with us ever again.

 

Good luck to all those people who have yet to receive their art. I recommend chasing them up.

 

Received a full refund for the art that I brought in November 2013 about 2 weeks ago. There is another thread on CC with the reclaim form and e-mail address for the lady at RCI who is dealing with this that I posted. Art on Royal have ripped off a lot of people RCI customers, artist and RCI themselves who are now picking up the pieces. Good luck.

 

Here are the details that you may need.

 

jtabor@rccl.com. hope this helps have hopefully attached the form as well. Below is the form unable to attach the form if anyone can advise I will try again.

 

 

 

I, ______________________________________, hereby state that I purchased the following items of artwork from Fine Arts Auction, LLC. while onboard the sailing identified below:

 

1.

2.

3. (collectively the “Artwork”).

 

For a total purchase price of $_______________ USD (the “Purchase Price”). I further state that the entire purchase price was paid while I was onboard the cruise or that $________________________ was paid towards this purchase price while I was onboard the sailing and the remaining balance was paid to _____________________________.

 

I further acknowledge that none of the Artwork described above has been received by me and that neither I nor, to my knowledge, any other person has received a refund, in whole or in part, for any of the Artwork.

 

I hereby request a full refund of the purchase price on the grounds that none of the Artwork was delivered to or otherwise received by me.

 

In the event that all or any part of the Artwork has been or is fulfilled, I understand that I have no right to any refund and agree to reimburse Royal Caribbean International for the full amount of any refund provided for that Artwork.

 

 

Signed By:_______________________________________________

Date:____________________

Printed Name:_____________________________________________

StreetAddress:____________________________________ _____________________________

City:_____________________________________________ ____________________________

State/Province/Territory:________________________________________ _________________

Country:__________________________________________ ___________________

Vessel Name:_____________________________________________ ____________

Sailing Date:_____________________

Booking ID Number:______________

Edited May 13, 2014 by BARNET