Carnival Cruise Line is famous for making cruising fun and accessible for all. This is one of the reasons the longstanding partnership between Park West Gallery and Carnival has been so successful — because the world’s largest art dealer has made art both fun and accessible for everyone! On the brand new Carnival Jubilee, setting sail from its homeport of Galveston, Texas, Park West has a beautiful art gallery on deck 7, opposite the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and adjacent to the Alchemy Bar, a fine location to indulge in a signature cocktail while discussing the works of art you plan to bid on during one of the three thrilling auctions during 7-day Western Caribbean cruises.

Park West’s Executive Vice President John Block is excited to be on Carnival’s latest FUN ship because, as he puts it, “Carnival has been dedicated to making cruising fun for all and we’ve also  had the privilege of making fine art fun and entertaining, too. It’s a perfect marriage when family vacations and collecting fine art is available to everyone.”

Park West auctioneer Rachel Jones, who hails from Worcester in the UK is the one who will be banging the gavel on Jubilee, but she’s not alone in representing Park West on the ship. She’s got a knowledgeable and passionate team that includes her Danish husband, Soren. Jones tells us that the gallery is a “Fixed space with a huge glass front which we will use to curate displays rotating daily to offer guests the chance to experience our vast collection,” adding, “we will feature easel displays inside the gallery where we will put together intimate themed exhibitions and showings with a boutique feel and a warm friendly atmosphere.” But the gallery isn’t the only place guests can expect to encounter fine art while on vacation. The Park West team on the Jubilee will also be curating art displays in the main walkways around the ship to offer a taste of the collection as guests explore and enjoy their daily activities during sea days when you can enjoy the BOLT roller coaster and while in exotic ports of call like Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay.

Most people think that space is at a premium on cruise ships, and while your stateroom might not be as big as your home, the Park West will feel like a museum inside! Jones notes that there will be a vast collection of art onboard, some 400-500 artworks including everything from bronze sculptures, oil and acrylic paintings, serigraphs, and lithographs, as well as cutting-edge new art innovations such as the work of Tim Yanke whose art incorporates digital and augmented reality to bring his creations to life. But the breadth of the Park West collection on Carnival Jubilee isn’t limited to contemporary greats. Jones personally cannot wait to be able to put together an exhibition of original color wood engravings by Salvador Dalí for her guests sailing on the Jubilee. In her role of auctioneer, she’ll do more than just call out numbers quickly and help guests collect fine art, she’ll educate them about art, artists, and art history too, helping to navigate the dark and heart-wrenching beauty in Dalí’s treatment of the Divine Comedy. Jones says that she loves seeing the shock and delight on the faces of our guests when they discover they can view, access, and collect works by famous masters of art like Dalí and Picasso while enjoying a sun-kissed vacation at sea.

Guests cruising on Jubilee will be able to partake in three fast-paced, fun, and entertaining auctions happening in the Punchliners Comedy Club on deck 6. Jones remarks that, “This a fantastic venue with ample seating in booths and theatre-style arrangement which will offer a comfortable environment for our guests to relax and enjoy our fun and informative events,” adding that it’s a, “large space which will allow us to really show off the onboard art collection in the auction preview before the show begins giving our guests the opportunity to view and request their favorite artworks to be featured and auctioned off.”

Another highlight for Jones is the opportunity to showcase emerging and up-and-coming artists alongside famous names like Thomas Kinkade and Peter Max. For instance, she points out, “One of the fastest-rising artists of today, Michael Godard, who was recently made the official artist of the Las Vegas Raiders, will feature prominently in my auctions. This is something particularly exciting sailing out of Galveston because I know Texans love their football!”

Our cruise ship auctions begin with complimentary champagne service, and each will include unique unveilings of brand-new works and featured pieces that will set the theme for the auction. They are fun and educational in equal measure, and Jones says that she will also carefully plan and put together exclusive discounts, packages, and recommendations for guests to take advantage of at each event to help guide and assist them in building their own art collection. And best of all, every guest will receive a complimentary seriolithograph by one of our world-class artists that they can take home with them.

What sets Park West apart in the art world is that we don’t want to simply sell you fine art, we want to teach you about art and art appreciation so that you understand the history and importance of works and the artists who created them, techniques, and the differences between oil on canvas and a hand-embellished serigraph. That’s why there will be seminars free to attend on Jubilee. This is where guests can learn about Pop Art during an interactive night, an enrichment seminar on Salvador Dalí with a chance to view some of his most highly revered illustrative wood engravings, and a journey through the life and Art of Thomas Kinkade with an unveiling of a number of his incredibly popular Disney works and the chance to win one of his original lithographs!

If you’re already a Park West VIP, Jones and her team have you covered! She notes that, “For our VIP collectors there will be exclusive previews, sneak peeks, and private viewings throughout each cruise.”

Are you planning a cruise on Jubilee or another ship? Join us for an exciting art auction by pre-registering now! When you do, you’ll receive a gift and a $100 art credit to help you collect a new work of art during your vacation at sea!