Art Auctions - should they go overboard?

[pnhmrk]

Who was it said that England and America are two nations separated by a common language?

 

Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Bertrand Russel, Dylan Thomas or Winston Churchill! There is some debate on attributing the quote. See http://www1.btwebworld.com/quote-unquote/p0000149.htm

[LunchCompanion]

ahaa. Someone admitted that us of irish decent know how to spell "art."

[travel-to-go]

Who was it said that England and America are two nations separated by a common language? In my day, if any pupil had written 'still haven't gotten over' this would have merited 'six of the best'. At University it would have been a 'hanging offence'. Acceptable in America - taboo in England! It's a funny old world.

Uh oh!

 

What's wrong with it? I am willing to change. They mightn't let me in the dining room on formal nights if they knew that I speak inferior "English".

 

It's a perfectly normal construct in America.. AFAIK! <LOL>

 

Karie,

who did okay in Miss Gammage's English class.

[ladymacwilly]

OOH! Those pesky Irish....:D (<------ had to do the green smilie)

 

You ladies and gentlemen are great

[ray77]

The art auctions are a good thing !

 

It's true that they are a scam; that they are not true auctions, and that they sell generally overpriced product.

 

That said, they do generate onboard revenue for the cruise lines, and the onboard revenue -in effect- subsidizes the cost of the cruise for those who opt not to participate.

 

Cruises are filled with "intelligence tests." Those who fail the tests purchase the ship's shore excursions, "bid" for "art" at the onboard auctions; buy drinks in special souvenir glasses, and dump their quarters (or dollars) into slot machines. Thanks to them, the rest of us are able to enjoy a wonderful vacation at an affordable price.

 

You may remember that years ago, when you rented a car, you got an intense high pressure sales pitch to buy insurance. The insurance often doubled the daily cost of the car, and frequently the agent was rewarded with 30 to 50 % of the extra amount. Some people objected to the car rental insurance scams, and so called "consumer friendly" laws were passed outlawing the practice.

 

The bottom line: A car that you could once get for $14.99 per day (because they conned most others into paying an extra $20.00 per day in insurance), now costs everyone $30.00 or $40.00 per day.

[Slow Foxtrot]

You ladies and gentlemen are great.

 

 

"Thank you Ladymacwilly for stating the obvious. Glancing through Burke's Peerage there doesn't seem to be a Lordmacwilly. Is your nom-de-plume a sublimal attempt to ingratiate yourself with the Cunard heirarchy? They are very fond of people with titles and, if you use it on the booking form, there's every chance you'd be upgraded to a Grand Duplex. It's worth a try, my dear, but I wouldn't mention Santa Fe!"

[ladymacwilly]

LOL!

 

Spoken like someone who has never been. :D

 

Awww...what have you got against Santa Fe? It's "real" RTA...no...TRA...darn it.... what am I trying to say....? A R T scene?!! Yeah, that's it!

 

(Must be the Scottish side of me kicking in...) :rolleyes:

 

Although the ports do really suck here...

[ladymacwilly]

OH BTW, the "Lord" is actually a Dr. Funny how in the States they go by actual merit as opposed to "entitleships"....go figure....:rolleyes:

 

I rather like my nom-de-plume and wear it like a peacock feather in my outragious hat! :D

[travel-to-go]

OH BTW, the "Lord" is actually a Dr. Funny how in the States they go by actual merit as opposed to "entitleships"....go figure....:rolleyes:

 

I rather like my nom-de-plume and wear it like a peacock feather in my outragious hat! :D

 

Would that be a RATTING CAP, m'lady?

 

Karie, who is trying to rouse the rabble once again!

[ladymacwilly]

I dunno...maybe a tam! :rolleyes:

 

Sometimes I like to put on my Maureen O'Hara wear...just have "A good stretch of the legs!" Mix up that 'ol crazy Scots-Irish blood...add a peacock plume for well..... just plumage I suppose....:rolleyes:

[LunchCompanion]

hey, did I ever tell youse that I saw the red head, Maureen O'hara off of st. lucia ? she came in on one of the antilles air boats four engined craft into the harbor off of the holiday inn, st lucia.

What was I doin in st. lucia? I aint tellin!

[Slow Foxtrot]

The art auctions are a good thing !

 

It's true that they are a scam; that they are not true auctions, and that they sell generally overpriced product. That said, they do generate onboard revenue for the cruise lines, and the onboard revenue -in effect- subsidizes the cost of the cruise for those who opt not to participate.

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

"Well sir, that's one way of looking at it. But if Elmer from Texas keeps bidding, and Cunard's profits keep swelling, could it be the thin end of the wedge? What next? .. porcelain sales in the Chart Room? Cutlery auction in the Commodore Club? etc. etc. The profits may make the cost of cruising a little cheaper, but Cunard will find that the price is not everyone's major criterion. Too much commercialism on what is supposed to be an up-market holiday cruise may well prove counter-productive. My neighbour (and Chairman of the Hunt Ball), Jonquil Carruthers, has now decided to give Crystal Cruises a try. I fear he will have apoplexy if they try to flog him some dodgy 'limited editions' there!

[travel-to-go]

--------------------------------------------------

 

" Cutlery auction in the Commodore Club? etc. etc.

 

 

Hey, Hey, Hey!

I was planning on paying for my September cruise by selling the cutlery I stole from the Brittania in the Comodore Club! I figgered by the time folks up there had had a few martini of the days in those floozy glasses, they'll think i'm giving them a bargain!

 

Karie,

Who doesn't remember the spoons being anything too special in the Britannia. Must've saved the good silver for company!

[Slow Foxtrot]

....by selling the cutlery I stole from the Brittania in the Comodore Club!. I figgered ...

 

Gosh Karie, I'm reluctant to mention this, but a couple of posts earlier you were telling us how well you did in 'Miss Gammage's English class'. Did she not teach you how to spell Britannia, Commodore, and figured?

Perhaps you had been at the claret, in which case you are excused on the grounds of good taste!

[pepperrn]

Gosh Karie, I'm reluctant to mention this, but a couple of posts earlier you were telling us how well you did in 'Miss Gammage's English class'. Did she not teach you how to spell Britannia, Commodore, and figured?

Perhaps you had been at the claret, in which case you are excused on the grounds of good taste!

 

Now come on, Karie had laid off the "martini of the days in those floozy glasses" by time she spelt Britannia the second time!

[travel-to-go]

Gosh Karie, I'm reluctant to mention this, but a couple of posts earlier you were telling us how well you did in 'Miss Gammage's English class'. Did she not teach you how to spell Britannia, Commodore, and figured?

Perhaps you had been at the claret, in which case you are excused on the grounds of good taste!

 

Well, I'm not sure Ihave good taste,but some have said I taste good... No, Wait!

Okay, I admit it. I won the eighth grade spelling bee. However. I did NOT win the typing contest EVER! (figgered was on porpoise!- Wait, that looks a little fishy...!)

If I don't go back and proofread, you would not beLIEVE the things I have grossly mistyped!

 

Karie, Who shall keep her day job, and not join the secretarial pool- that is if they let me stay. No new news, but the countdown starts on Friday. I'm not worried...yet. Just don't make me take a typing test!

 

P.S. I have a friend who calls the above accusation (Claret and Martinis du jour) TUI- Typing Under the Influence

[Slow Foxtrot]

Cruises are filled with "intelligence tests." Those who fail the tests purchase the ship's shore excursions, "bid" for "art" at the onboard auctions; buy drinks in special souvenir glasses, and dump their quarters (or dollars) into slot machines.

 

By my estimation, sir, your assertions would indicate that at least 60% of Cunard passengers are cerebrally-challenged! Ho, Ho, Ho, after reading some of the comments on this board it seems impossible to refute that conclusion!

So, now we all know why they have 'art' auctions!

[winterstar]

We enjoyed the art auction! It was fascinating (and horrifying) to see what other people consider worth buying. We loved it for its entertainment value. Hubby won a free print of the QM2, so it was worth going to. (Although he was very cranky with me for not letting him shell out over $800 for a David Beckham jersey. Forget it. I'm an Italian fan. :D )

[mtbny7]

"Well, young man, I don't suppose you have much to laugh at if you're living in the Bronx .........

 

 

Foxtrot,

 

I'm not understanding.

 

?

 

 

-Michael

[Slow Foxtrot]

"Well, young man, I don't suppose you have much to laugh at if you're living in the Bronx .........

------------------------------------------

 

Foxtrot,

 

I'm not understanding. ? -Michael

 

"Well, Michael from the Bronx, for your edification, we unenlightened Englishmen have long since had the impression that the Bronx is not the most salubrious of environments. Perhaps this is partly due to Cagney, Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and those wonderful black and white movies of yesteryear. And you can also blame the French! They have an expression "C'est le Bronx" which, roughly translated, means "It's the pits". Are we living in the past? No doubt you will enlighten us. Incidentally, my hunting friend Jonquil Carruthers tells me that Linda Lovelace once resided there, so it must have had attractions in the past! One just hopes that it is not renowned for its 'Art Auctions'"

[mtbny7]

Oh! I see now. I guess we all rely on what we hear. I know I do, and sometimes (well, too often!) it's wrong too!

 

 

Happy sailings!

 

-Michael