Royal gives Park West the boot

[jerin]

Most, if not all, of the other activities you mention are either in an area dedicated to that activity, or in an area that would otherwise be unoccupied during that time. The Art Auction is taking up prime real estate and preventing me from using it during that time.

YES! This was one of my only complaints on my Grandeur cruise -- by the time the photographers and the art people set up, it was impossible for PASSENGERS to actually use the Centrum. It was so irritating to constantly be booted out of such a beautiful space, especially on a more intimate ship where there weren't all that many options. Now, if they'd just move the photographers to outside the South Seas Lounge (an area with less seating and more open space with fewer people needing to walk through -- all factors that seem like they'd be more conducive to a better product), we'd be set!

[Cruising89143]

For whatever reason RCL is giving them the boot-I don't care. I'm just glad they are doing so.

 

Agree 100%.

[andrzej5914]

Now if they could get rid of the casino, bingo, overpriced wine packages, gold by the inch, coffe bars that charge, on-board jewerly, drink of the day in a souvenier glass, shore excursions and all other aspects that might interest a selection of cruisers onboard. Then a cruise would be perfect I guess.:rolleyes:

 

Thanks ;)

 

that was my only point.

[huenix]

Now if they could get rid of the casino, bingo, overpriced wine packages, gold by the inch, coffe bars that charge, on-board jewerly, drink of the day in a souvenier glass, shore excursions and all other aspects that might interest a selection of cruisers onboard. Then a cruise would be perfect I guess.:rolleyes:

 

You had me right up to the Drink of the Day. Thats where it might get ugly. Lets just agree to disagree.

[AlanFromFL]

We never did like those rip-off art auctions anyhow! All they did was clutter up the ships with their stuff and then try to bribe people to attend their auctions.

 

Are you inferring that the cheap champagne was some sort of "bribe"??? :D

[xpcdoojk]

I could not agree more. A fool and his money are soon parted. If it helps pay the bills so that I can have a great vacation then it works for me. I have never attended one art auction at sea g*d bless those that do.

 

 

JC

 

I really don't care either way but that said I have to say that some of you are making me laugh.....

 

Who cares what they did at the auction? Did somebody come to your cabin and dragged you out by your hair and made you sit there? to participate? to do anything?

 

I think that bingo is a rip off, so do I complain about it? NO!!!, I just simply stay away.

 

I think some other activities on board are a joke. What do I do? I simply stay away.

 

I think the spa services is one of the biggest rip offs. What do I do? I never go to the spa. I could get a much nicer treatment on land for much le$$.

 

I couldn't agree more. People buy lottery tickets. A fool and his money are soon parted, and if it pays the bills so be it.

 

JC

RC made a business decision and that's fine, but do you really care if PW is there or not? WHY??? (and before you reply, please read my entire post).

[yogimax]

We enjoyed the art acutions, learned a lot and got some great deals on the framed take-offs.

 

Believe me, this is purely a business decision and it's clear that RCCL felt they could make more by going in another direction.

[dwillis43]

Last week on the Jewel is sounded like they were buliding something in the Centrum. Between the loud month fast talking auctioneer and the banging on the podium, it was difficult to find a spot inside to relax. This was not just a couple of hours on one day, this was several hours over several days. Thanks Royal!

[Mark_K]

I believe it was you that questioned my post. I thought we were having an honest debate and at the end I posed a simple question.

 

And that's the best reply you have?

 

K

 

Have a great day! :confused:

I think your first mistake was believing we were debating anything. You're post asked a specific question, "do you really care if PW is there or not? WHY???", I answered it. And apparently, by the other posts, I'm not the only who who does care for that reason. Whether that's an important reason to you is immaterial.

[BecciBoo]

I could not agree more. A fool and his money are soon parted. If it helps pay the bills so that I can have a great vacation then it works for me. I have never attended one art auction at sea g*d bless those that do.

JC

 

On our first cruise I was curious but when I got a look at what they were selling on display, I could only snicker. Sorry:cool:

[marci22]

I'm glad they got rid of them, finally. In my experience, the employees of Park West were rude and condescending. I don't see how they convinced so many people to pay them $35 to ship a poster in a tube but they got away with it for the longest time; they just got too greedy.

[andrzej5914]

I think your first mistake was believing we were debating anything. You're post asked a specific question, "do you really care if PW is there or not? WHY???", I answered it. And apparently, by the other posts, I'm not the only who who does care for that reason. Whether that's an important reason to you is immaterial.

 

K Mark,

 

but apparently you did not understand my ENTIRE post.

 

I was basically stating that the cruise line has many other commercial enterprises going on during the cruise that occupy some part of the ship at one time or another. You kept that part of my post out in your quote, any reason? or just to make your reply sound better.....:rolleyes:

 

Stick to the subject.

[TPKeller]

Well I checked with the preview function, it appears the board software will let me post this link here. Very interesting reading. I suppose being named as a co-defendant in a class action lawsuit would probably be ample inspiration for one to not renew a contract...

 

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/Royal-Caribbean-drops-Park-West-051110.cfm

 

Theron

 

Brief excerpt:

 

As we have been reporting, Park West Gallery has been embroiled in a lawsuit with a Phoenix company called Fine Art Registry. Park West sued FAR when it published reports online that it had proof that Park West Gallery has been selling fraudulent Salvador Dali prints on several cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean.

 

In fact - Royal Caribbean is named as a co-defendant in at least one future class action lawsuit against Park West Gallery. These prints were sold to dozens of people for anywhere from $10,000 to over $500,000 in some cases where buyers bought what they were told were complete collections of authentic prints.

 

Before the advent of these class action lawsuits, Park West decided to proceed with a lawsuit against Fine Art Registry alleging defamation for the articles concerning the Dali prints. Park West sued in a Michigan federal court asking for an incredible $46 million in damages - an extraordinary sum.

 

The trial lasted five weeks. In the end the jury awarded Park West nothing in their case. [Note: this next part is particularly outrageous! -tpk] The jury awarded Fine Art Registry damages of $500,000 for a trademark infringement by Park West who they believe used FAR's trademark to make a web site similar to the Fine Art Registry site but without the same Park West fraud allegations.

[PSCruiser]

I really don't care either way but that said I have to say that some of you are making me laugh.....

 

Who cares what they did at the auction? Did somebody come to your cabin and dragged you out by your hair and made you sit there? to participate? to do anything?

 

I think that bingo is a rip off, so do I complain about it? NO!!!, I just simply stay away.

 

I think some other activities on board are a joke. What do I do? I simply stay away.

 

I think the spa services is one of the biggest rip offs. What do I do? I never go to the spa. I could get a much nicer treatment on land for much le$$.

 

RC made a business decision and that's fine, but do you really care if PW is there or not? WHY??? (and before you reply, please read my entire post).

 

You just did the Grandeur - didn't get tired of not being able to walk through the art-clogged Centrum most days????

[andrzej5914]

You just did the Grandeur - didn't get tired of not being able to walk through the art-clogged Centrum most days????

 

I don't know about you, but I never had a problem "walking through". On couple of days I actually sat down and enjoyed the BS but the point is NOBODY FORCED ME TO DO IT. When I just wanted to get from point A to point B, through the centrum, I never had a problem.

 

And just because RCI got rid of PW, it doesn't mean they won't replace it with some other sales company in the same area.

 

That was my original point. Please read the thread.

[knotIn1]

I am sad:(

to quote a fellow CCer No more free "bubbly alcohol softdrink at the poster sale"

 

I would rather see them get rid of the announcements then the art. Can't get away from "BINGO last call last chance blah blah blah"

[yogimax]

Wow - what anger! what rage! what indignation!

 

RCCL has a similar contract with Steiner who runs the overpriced spa program and takes up much more space on the ship than PW ever did.

 

Double standard here?

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Amen!!!!!

:) :) :)

***

[Ocean Boy]

Never mind. It isn't worth getting into it.

[negc]

Wow - what anger! what rage! what indignation!

 

RCCL has a similar contract with Steiner who runs the overpriced spa program and takes up much more space on the ship than PW ever did.

 

Double standard here?

 

Probably not. Steiner has apparently cleaned up its act considerably in recent years and reportedly no longer engages in the hard sell practices that made them so obnoxious. They are also not as "in your face" as Park West and its snake-oil auctioneers. One can easily avoid the Steiner spa if you so desire. Can you truthfully say the same of the art auctions and the art work clogging the corridors? Park West was recently cited in a judicial finding for their questionable business practices. RCI is not the first to sever its relationship with Park West. Disney had already done so and I would be surprised if other lines didn't follow suit.

I don't see that much anger in the posts. It appears to be more expressions of satisfaction on the part of many who felt that Park West's activities were intrusive and at best skirted the fringes of ethical behavior.

Whatever replaces Park West and its auctions will almost certainly receive more attention from the cruiseline to insure that RCI does not suffer a similar embarrassment.

[TPKeller]

Wow, just on a whim, took a look at this site... much more background on this recent lawsuit here:

 

http://www.fineartregistry.com/

 

Theron

[isujim]

Never mind. It isn't worth getting into it.

 

I liked your first post better LOL!;):)

[yogimax]

Probably not. Steiner has apparently cleaned up its act considerably in recent years and reportedly no longer engages in the hard sell practices that made them so obnoxious.

 

On our last couple of cruises, Steiner has advertised a raffle for free spa prizes. The obvious implication is that there will be free treatments given away.

 

If you go to the raffle and waste a good amount of time, you will discover that nothing given away is free, but simply a discount to a treatment.

 

The same applies to calls you will receive later in the week. Your "prize" is simply a few bucks off a treatment.

 

That may not be hard sell, but, to me, it is deceptive.

[negc]

On our last couple of cruises, Steiner has advertised a raffle for free spa prizes. The obvious implication is that there will be free treatments given away.

 

If you go to the raffle and waste a good amount of time, you will discover that nothing given away is free, but simply a discount to a treatment.

 

The same applies to calls you will receive later in the week. Your "prize" is simply a few bucks off a treatment.

 

That may not be hard sell, but, to me, it is deceptive.

 

I agree with you but again they are not as unavoidable as the art auctions. I simply don't fill out any raffle forms for spa prizes, allegedly free or not.

[torpeedo]

We just got off the Oasis a couple of weeks ago and they have a NEW art auction company, I wish I payed more attention for name etc but didn't. We went into their show room and spoke with the auctioneer. I picked up a small, very small, bronze figure which was $4,500.... so I left:D

They were having some kind of champagne auction, but didn't go..Didn't really like the art work they had, not to mention $4,500 for a small bronze:eek:. I read most of this post so if this was already mentioned, sorry..