Today’s leading luxury cruise ships feature artworks that are worth many millions of dollars. Here’s Karryon Luxury’s selection of the most view-worthy exhibitions at sea.
Some years ago, I sailed on Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, a super-stylish ship launched in 2013 that regularly took the No.1 spot in the Top 20 Small Ships category in Douglas Ward’s influential cruise bible, the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships.
As a former art history student, I remember being amazed to see artworks by famous British artists such as David Hockney and Damien Hirst around the ship. Guided tours for guests introduced us to pieces by Gerhard Richter, one of Germany’s best-known contemporary artists, as well as many other original paintings and sculptures.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ collections
In July 2016, the first of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ three Explorer-class ships, Seven Seas Explorer – billed as “the most luxurious ship ever built” – set sail in the Mediterranean.
Her art collection was valued at US$6 million at the time and includes works by Picasso and Chagall and contemporary Spanish, Cuban and French artists. Frank Del Rio, then president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which owns Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania and Norwegian Cruise Line), spent two and a half years finding the art for Seven Seas Explorer himself – then he chose where every piece was placed.
Seven Seas Splendor debuted in 2020 with another impressive, multi-million-dollar art collection, although Mr Del Rio let a curator amass the pieces this time. In 2023, Seven Seas Grandeur sailed into the picture, showcasing an astonishing Fabergé Egg called Journey in Jewels.
Guests can take interactive tours of Grandeur’s 1,600-piece collection, which includes several Picassos, a huge handwoven tapestry, a hand-cast glass Bonsai Cherry Tree Sculpture and, of course, the specially commissioned Fabergé Egg.
Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, said, “It is extremely rare to enjoy such personal access to artwork of this calibre, and now guests can connect deeper with the art and artists they’ve fallen in love with onboard our ships through our first ever virtual art tour. “Regent’s art-loving guests will find Seven Seas Grandeur to be one of most engrossing galleries they have ever explored.”
Silversea’s Silver Nova
Another ship that boasts an impressive display of art is Silver Nova. Her 1,800-piece collection is by far the biggest onboard any Silversea ship and includes works by 59 artists from 25 countries.
It was curated by ICArt, an international art consultancy that sourced more than 1,250 framed artworks, nine installations, eight sculptures, antiques, Murano glassware and books – all of which can be seen by local Silversea cruisers when the ship sails in Australia and New Zealand over the next two summer seasons.
Highlights include The Messina collection, 38 bronze sculptures by Italian sculptor Francesco Messina. Silversea acquired the collection in 2006 and 14 of the sculptures were exhibited together for the first time on Silver Nova.
Photographs by acclaimed photographer Steve McCurry are shown alongside maps in suite corridors, focusing on different geographic regions on Decks 3 to 9. On Deck 10, Albanian artist Artur Sula created a dramatic mural on the ceiling of the Library; the 26-square-metre mural was hand-painted in place and highlighted with 24 karat gold leaf.
Roman-inspired artworks decorate the Otium Spa and the two Otium suites (there are five pieces in each suite).
Scenic Eclipse II
The sleek Discovery Yacht is another floating gallery, the suites, bars, restaurants and public spaces each having their own dedicated artworks and personality. Karen Moroney, Project Director – Design, Scenic Group and wife of Scenic founder and CEO Glen Moroney, was closely involved in curating the artworks onboard both Scenic Eclipse ships.
One noted artist whose work is featured in the Scenic Bar & Lounge and in the suites of both ships is Byron Bay-based Mitch Gobel; another is UK artist Carl Hush, whose “geisha art” stars in Koko’s Asian Fusion restaurant on Scenic Eclipse II.
“His unique works are striking, an amalgamation of collage, graffiti, stencil, painting and drawing. He is known for using these mixed techniques to create his geisha inspired works,” said Karen Moroney. “They are the perfect complement to the warmth and subdued atmosphere of our ship design.”
Slaven Kosanovic (known as Lunar) is the Croatian artist behind the art in Night Market at Koko’s on Scenic Eclipse II and the walls of Elements restaurant are decorated with art by 20th-century Spanish artist Joan Miró.Scenic Eclipse II is sailing in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from now until February 2026, interspersed with Antarctic expeditions.
Viking ocean ships
Edvard Munch, whose 1893 Expressionist painting ‘The Scream’ is instantly recognisable, is arguably Norway’s best-known artist. So it seems only fitting that the Norwegian-owned Viking cruise line owns the largest collection of Munch artwork outside of Oslo.
Through an exclusive relationship with Oslo’s Munch Museum, Viking has been granted the digital rights to the entire collection. Daily “Munch Moments” are held in The Living Room onboard the line’s ocean-going ships – these interactive events showcase themed pieces set to live music.
Viking Ocean ships also display a diverse range of artworks, ranging from paintings to sculptures, carvings, digital works and photography, by established and emerging Norwegian artists.
Guests can find out more about the artworks with the Viking Voyager App’s Viking Art Guide, which features commentary by Executive Vice President Karine Hagen and a variety of art experts.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ collection of ‘floating boutique hotels’ feature highly detailed furnishings and spaces adorned with an incredible collection of original artwork curated from the Tollman family’s private collection.
On each one of Uniworld’s ships in Europe guests can expect to see Matisse’s vibrant colours, Opie’s modern lines and Degas’ expressive forms, just to name a few. Each piece has been hand selected and curated for specific walls, hallways and cabins across Uniworld’s fleet, with an aim to immerse guests in the European destinations in which they are cruising.
A highlight of the collection is found on the S.S. Beatrice where each of the two Royal Suites has its own original Picasso piece hanging in the living room, making a stay in one of these suites particularly memorable.
