Art auctions are a staple activity on most cruise ships, offering not only paintings and sculptures, but also memorabilia from famous athletes, actors, and movies. But how authentic are the items?

One Royal Caribbean cruise guest is warning other travelers not to necessarily trust auctions, as you may not actually be bidding on the exact item you see onboard.

According to A Current Affair, a Brisbane man and his wife attended an onboard auction during their cruise vacation. While they were enjoying the event, they reminisced about how a signed Muhammad Ali glove was available at a cruise auction they’d attended many years ago and how they regretted not bidding on it.

Unbeknownst to the couple, a signed Muhammad Ali glove was part of the auction they were watching, and it hadn’t been listed in the preview.

The couple saw the coincidence as a sign and immediately decided to bid, ultimately winning the glove with a $5,000 (AUD – approximately $3,500 USD) bid. As their son is a great Ali fan, they believed the glove would make an amazing and one-of-a-kind gift.

The couple offered to take the item as-is off the ship at the end of the cruise, but were not permitted to do so. As is standard procedure with cruise ship art auctions, the item would be shipped to them after it was re-framed.

The auction was run by Park West Gallery, the world’s largest art dealer and the most prevalent company for cruise ship art auctions. The gallery operates auctions on more than 90 ships, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Celebrity Cruises.

The exact ship and sailing the guest was on was not disclosed, but onboard auctions are always much the same, with a variety of pieces available for bidding. Park West Gallery describes its auctions as having “something for everyone” and that the artwork is “specially curated for each and every cruise.”

Memorabilia auctions can be particularly popular, offering seemingly unique items from celebrity figures, blockbuster hits, and more.

Did They Receive the Same Glove?

The problem for this guest began when, 10 weeks after the cruise, the glove arrived at the couple’s home – or did it?

Their son was ecstatic to open the glove, but the family soon noticed it wasn’t exactly the same glove they’d bid on while on the cruise ship. They were quick to compare the glove they’d received with photos of the item on the ship.

An extra ink dot, slight variations in the signature, and even a different serial number confirmed the couple did not receive the exact same glove.

“It was just lucky enough that we took photos of the glove prior to leaving the ship,” the guest noted.

The couple had been assured that they would receive the exact item from the auction, which was apparently an error on the auctioneer’s part.

Park West Gallery did reach out to the couple to clarify that items onboard ships are “display pieces” only, and the purchase contract does stipulate that different, similar items may be substituted if a specific auction item is unavailable.

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To cruise guests who bid on memorabilia artwork, this can feel like a bait-and-switch tactic and calls into question the authenticity of the item.

“Who would bid on an auction if they knew that?” the guest commented.

Forgeries are common with celebrity memorabilia, and while Park West Gallery does provide a Certificate of Authenticity with every purchase, it would take a forensic investigation to verify any single item.

The gallery has offered to correct the situation with this particular guest, ensuring they receive the exact item from their cruise ship. The situation has been off-putting, however, and it is unknown whether or not the offer was accepted.

This is not the first time cruise ship art auctions have come under scrutiny. In May 2025 onboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, a family believed they’d won an auction with a $650 bid, only to later learn the actual price was $2,700.

Park West Gallery, while it does operate onboard many cruise ships, is a separate company and not run by the cruise lines. Nevertheless, cruise guests interested in art auctions should be sure to always practice “caveat emptor” – buyer beware – to be sure they are confident in their purchases.

Cruise Guest Says Auction Item Was Swapped After $5,000 Winning Bid