Princess fine art no more !

[caribill]

Who wouldn't want art such as this from Park West in their living room. Let the bidding start.

 

[UT-Volsfan]

When Princess was running the Art program on board, we used to enjoy going to the art auctions. We didn't make huge purchases, but we would buy art that we liked and wanted to display at our home. We got to know some of their art directors and enjoyed being greeted by name when we would see them on later cruises. And the Art Connoisseur cruises we happened to sail on were enjoyable - we met several artists on board but never felt pressured to buy.

 

When we would buy art work from Princess's program, we knew what artists we were interested in collecting (Martiros, Peter Max, Goddard (yes I do like the olives)) and had researched them on the internet as well as land-based galleries to get pricing information for their original art works as well as hand embellished limited edition prints. If the on-board pricing was comparable or better than what we would see on-shore, then we would buy the piece to display at home.

 

With Park West, I agree with other comments. They try to build up excitement and get people to make purchases with no information on the artists, the type of art work it is, and get them in a frenzy to buy without thinking. Did prices go up compared to Princess? YES. Similar size original Peter Max paintings more than doubled in price in the first four months Park West came on board. And limited edition prints by Martiros offered by PW were almost the same price as what I purchased one of his originals for from the Princess run program.

 

And some PW art directors now are just rude jerks. One guy made some tasteless jokes and comments that had people walking out. For a man working on a commission, he sure didn't know how to control his mouth.

 

The nice thing about PW running the art program? Our bill when we leave the ship is now a lot cheaper than before.

[BruceMuzz]

If you know your art and know what you are getting, its entirely possible to buy decent art at a reasonable price on board.

 

The issue with Park West, regardless of vendors, is that their people are trained in tactics which are designed to exploit those people who don't necessarily know what they are getting, plus other tactics designed to get people to impulse buy things they might not have otherwise. Jumping, distractions, blind buys, etc are all meant to cede the advantage to the seller.

 

Based on my observations, the former PFA reps had more respect for the buyer than the Park West ones. In reality, thats probably why they aren't there anymore, as disreputable as I find park west, their tactics work.

 

You are also describing what the Casino operators do on ships.

Why isn't someone complaining about that?

[SteerageJack]

Park West makes a profit, Princess makes a profit, and savvy buyers still get a steal. We should allow these people to operate the government.

[Colo Cruiser]

Park West makes a profit, Princess makes a profit, and savvy buyers still get a steal. We should allow these people to operate the government.

 

 

They already are. :rolleyes:

[jgpdx]

They already are. :rolleyes:[/quote

 

I agree. Welcome to bait and switch world. Caveat emptor.

Edited July 31, 2015 by jgpdx

[emmak8]

To each his own. I am happy not to buy art, watches, Diamond International "deals," etc. on cruises. These purchases do not add to my enjoyment of a cruise.

[suzyed]

When Princess was running the Art program on board, we used to enjoy going to the art auctions. We didn't make huge purchases, but we would buy art that we liked and wanted to display at our home. We got to know some of their art directors and enjoyed being greeted by name when we would see them on later cruises. And the Art Connoisseur cruises we happened to sail on were enjoyable - we met several artists on board but never felt pressured to buy.

 

When we would buy art work from Princess's program, we knew what artists we were interested in collecting (Martiros, Peter Max, Goddard (yes I do like the olives)) and had researched them on the internet as well as land-based galleries to get pricing information for their original art works as well as hand embellished limited edition prints. If the on-board pricing was comparable or better than what we would see on-shore, then we would buy the piece to display at home.

 

With Park West, I agree with other comments. They try to build up excitement and get people to make purchases with no information on the artists, the type of art work it is, and get them in a frenzy to buy without thinking. Did prices go up compared to Princess? YES. Similar size original Peter Max paintings more than doubled in price in the first four months Park West came on board. And limited edition prints by Martiros offered by PW were almost the same price as what I purchased one of his originals for from the Princess run program.

 

And some PW art directors now are just rude jerks. One guy made some tasteless jokes and comments that had people walking out. For a man working on a commission, he sure didn't know how to control his mouth.

 

The nice thing about PW running the art program? Our bill when we leave the ship is now a lot cheaper than before.

 

Funny...perception is everything. I have gone to one Princess art auction and found the auctioneer rude and condescending. We never went to another one.

All the vendors on cruise ships are there to make money. I would rather make a decision to buy a picture with eyes wide open than go to the spa where they have you vulnerable, without clothes or glasses and tell you that you face with never look this good again unless you buy the product.

I had a massage and a facial, and when it came time to sign the receipt, I had not yet put on my glasses and placed a tip on the receipt and the tip was already on there and she chose not to tell me that.

[suzyed]

You are also describing what the Casino operators do on ships.

Why isn't someone complaining about that?

 

Exactly! And the liquor store and the bingo and the shops and the yucky $10 sale, and the "port talks" (read excursion sales) and shops in port......

[Hlitner]

P. T. Barnum said "there is a sucker born every minute" and aggressive sales people have been taking advantage of these folks for all time. And another tenant is that a "sucker" does not ever admit they are a "sucker" and always think they get a good deal. It is just a matter of ego that nobody wants to admit they have been "had." And hence we get Art Auctions on cruise ships which takes advantage of a captive audience who can be bought for a glass of $2 a bottle cheap sparkling wine.

 

Art Auctions are on ships (and they take up a lot of space) because they generate a large amount of "Onboard Revenue." These days, all the mass market cruise lines consider "maximizing onboard revenue" as a major part of profits. So, as a loyal stockholder of both Mass Market cruise stocks we salute those who partake of these Art Auctions. Thank you for helping boost my dividends and stock prices :).

 

Hank

Edited August 1, 2015 by Hlitner

[donaldsc]

Hi Caroline!

Park West is based here and I'll tell you privately later what a good friend who is familiar with them said about them - it wasn't good.

I don't get why Princess would do this. :confused:

 

Do you think that it might maybe perhaps be due to the fact that Princess gets more money from Park West?

 

DON

[Loonbeam]

Because the Casino always has been that way.

 

If PFA had never existed and Park West had always been there, it would be a non-issue, but now people have seen other ways of doing things.

 

Over time, PFA will fade from memory and PW will be the new norm.

 

You are also describing what the Casino operators do on ships.

Why isn't someone complaining about that?

[BruceMuzz]

P. T. Barnum said "there is a sucker born every minute" and aggressive sales people have been taking advantage of these folks for all time. And another tenant is that a "sucker" does not ever admit they are a "sucker" and always think they get a good deal. It is just a matter of ego that nobody wants to admit they have been "had." And hence we get Art Auctions on cruise ships which takes advantage of a captive audience who can be bought for a glass of $2 a bottle cheap sparkling wine.

 

Art Auctions are on ships (and they take up a lot of space) because they generate a large amount of "Onboard Revenue." These days, all the mass market cruise lines consider "maximizing onboard revenue" as a major part of profits. So, as a loyal stockholder of both Mass Market cruise stocks we salute those who partake of these Art Auctions. Thank you for helping boost my dividends and stock prices :).

 

Hank

 

Actually, Art Auctions take up very little space on ships. The Art Gallery on a ship is rarely as big as a Casino or even a single bar - yet it generates 10 times - or more - revenue than a Casino or a bar would ever make.

The great part is that they usually "borrow" a public space for a few hours to do an auction, make an obscene amount of money and profit in that space, then give it back.

You can look at it by square footage, or you can look at it by number of staff, but no matter how you view it, Art Auction is - by far - the most profitable venture on a cruise ship.

Edited August 1, 2015 by BruceMuzz

[lake5298]

I bought several Godard giclee limited editions and one Godard original from Princess Fine Arts. Always a pleasant experience.

 

More recently I bought a Godard giclee from Park West. While the price was good ( I think they looked up the wrong price ) the service was poor. Staff were either inattentive or pushy and the delivery was very slow - almost 5 months!