10 Best Ships for Art Lovers
10 Great Cruise Ships for Art Lovers
Sure, you can sail to the best destinations in the world for art lovers, from Livorno (to spend the day in Florence) to Le Havre ( to explore Paris’ unforgettable museums). However, there are cruise ships that are art destinations unto themselves, with collections that might surprise even the most astute connoisseurs. Read on for where you’ll find some of the most significant works of art at sea.
EUROPA 2
The first time I boarded Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2, I was stunned by the artwork. It’s everywhere, and it’s such a striking, playful collection that — even though the whole ship is exquisitely designed — it dazzles nonetheless. Step into the Elements restaurant, and you’ll be drawn to the Lei Xue vase from the 1970s, which looks like classical Chinese porcelain, but has Disney characters hidden in the patterns. With almost 900 pieces, including those by artists Damien Hirst, Gerhard Richter, David Hockney, Olafur Eliasson, and Hans Hartung, the ship is a floating museum. In fact, there are onboard tours of the collection with a curator, as well as special “art2sea” sailings with notable art dealers, art editors, and artists.
MARINA
Oceania Cruises made a serious investment in artwork when the line launched its two purpose-built ships, Marina and Riviera. You’ll see impressive lithographs by Joan Miró, etchings by Pablo Picasso grace the walls of Marina’s Casino Bar, and a dramatic Damien Hirst is featured in Marina’s Canyon Ranch spa lobby. On Riviera, be sure to check out the Picasso etchings in the Grand Bar — you’ll find 16 signed and numbered
etchings on the ship. In addition, these two ships and Insignia all feature the Artist Loft, with rotating artists-in-residence who teach classes in their specialties — from watercolor to oils, sketches, collages, or printmaking — encouraging passengers to take inspiration from their surroundings.
SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ self-proclaimed “most luxurious ship in the world” features two authentic Picasso lithographs (which flank the doors to the $10,000-per-night Regent Suite) and a two-ton, castbronze Tibetan prayer wheel, which cost approximately $500,000 and sits outside Pacific Rim, the ship’s Asian fusion restaurant. You’ll also find works by Joan Miró in the Master Suites, a Marc Chagall in the bar of Prime 7 steakhouse, and large canvases created by Eduardo Arranz-Bravo.
CELEBRITY REFLECTION
While Celebrity Cruises has long been committed to its art collection — the line was first to offer iPod tours — Celebrity Reflection stands out as having a special collection of works, 5,607 of them, each offering a take on the concept of reflecting. Celebrity has done a beautiful job of not taking that idea too seriously, such as with a lighthearted Richard Prince silkscreen from his “Monochromatic Jokes” series. There’s also a mirrored flower sculpture by Jeff Koons and a colorful glass installation by Graham Caldwell. Don’t miss “Banco (Ground Rules),” a Robert Rauschenberg print layered with foil and text that’s hung in the Passport Bar.
VIKING STAR
Viking Ocean Cruises’ ships have the largest collection of Scandinavian artwork at sea, and each ship showcases Scandinavian artists, particularly Norwegians. Viking Star’s collection is designed around the idea of “The Traveler as the Collector,” inspired by the travels of the Viking explorers. The ship boasts original pieces by Edvard Munch, including a lithograph in the Owner’s Suite, as well as pieces from contemporary artists such as an etching by H.M. Queen Sonja of Norway, a gorgeous mixed medium piece (using glass and photography) by Cathrine Maske, a lithograph of a Norwegian landscape by Ørnulf Opdahl, and an abstract oil by Jakob Weidemann. Viking also has a complimentary art tour app and a partnership with Oslo’s Munch Museum that showcases one masterpiece per day on the massive digital screen in the atrium. Lovers of ’80s music, take note: Viking Star features a piece by Magne Furuholmen, a Norwegian musician in the band a-ha.
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam boasts a $3 million collection (compared to the average of $2 million on the rest of the ships in the fleet). Works include Dutch Masters and antiques from the Dutch West Indies as well as pieces by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. (Holland America also offers a complimentary iPod tour.) Another ship for art lovers is Westerdam, the only Holland America ship with the Rijksmuseum at Sea partnership, which is a great opportunity for budding artists to participate. There’s a creative space on board where passengers are encouraged to create their own works of art using drawing and photography supplies. And a different life-size reproduction of a masterpiece from the museum is presented every day as inspiration with related techniques discussed and taught.
QUANTUM OF THE SEAS
Royal Caribbean International’s first Quantum-class ship features a $5.2 million contemporary art collection that includes a self-portrait by Andy Warhol as well as an installation called Crossing by Paul Villinski, which encompasses a wall of 210 butterflies representing 30 species, each made of aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, and enamel. There’s also a hot pink bear sculpture by Lawrence Argent that’s a whopping 8 tons and 30 feet tall. This ship now serves the Chinese market, but Royal Caribbean upped the ante with a $6.5 million collection on with more than 1,000 pieces in public spaces.
COSTA LUMINOSA
Costa Cruises’ Costa Luminosa boasts almost 5,000 copies of artwork, but if you know where to look, there are also 288 original works of art hidden among the reproductions. The most arresting is in the 11-story central atrium where you’ll find a 2,000-pound bronze sculpture of a woman laying down and staring into space by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The piece should be easily recognizable by fans of Botero’s work. Other pieces include works by Italian artists including realist figurative painter Mario Donizetti, painter Elisa Rossi, and sculptor Flavio Lucchini, all of which are displayed in public spaces.
PAUL GAUGUIN
You’d expect a line that’s dedicated to sailing in French Polynesia (Paul Gauguin Cruises) to have an impressive collection of South Pacific art on board. In fact, just outside La Veranda restaurant, you’ll find work by Paul Gauguin himself, along with other framed prints and paintings, cases of sculptures by Polynesian artists, and artifacts. The ship’s Piano Bar also serves as a gallery space for local artists and you’ll even find tiki sculptures in your stateroom.
QUEEN VICTORIA
Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria features a $2 million collection that showcases British artists. The Grand Lobby is home to a sculpture by Scottish artist John McKenna, a portrait of Queen Victoria by maritime artist Robert Lloyd, as well as Victorian and contemporary sculpted Cunard logos by Ian Brennan, the designated sculptor to Queen Elizabeth. The Queens Room features three etchings of the royal dogs and the artists are none other than Prince Albert and Queen Victoria herself, as well as striking black-and-white photographs of the royal family. In the Britannia Restaurant, there’s a 10- foot- tall globe by U. K. artist David Norris; and in the Royal Court Theatre, keep an eye out for a collection of Kevin Sazackerely murals. Afraid you’ll miss something? Take the audio iPod tour of the ship’s collection, which includes interviews with some of the artists.