Let’s look at the art—what a classy ship.

This post will be the second to the last of my posts from our Nieuw Statendam (NS) cruise to the Southern Caribbean from January 23 to February 2. Today I promise to give you some photos of some really great art around the ship. So let’s get started.

Before I retired last June I was a graphic designer for 40+ years. I like to think I understand color and design. Some cruise ships drive me bats. Pretty much it’s the brash, gaudy colors that look like they were furnished by the same people (as my bride says) who designed downtown Las Vegas. Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam (and I am told it’s Pinnacle Class sisters) is one of the classiest ships we have been on.

Another thing I love on a ship is art. Themed art is even better. Somehow along the way of building NS they decided that the theme should be music. It does go along with their Music Walk venues and to be honest, I loved it. Most of this art was located in the stairwells so many cruisers who take elevators never see it. I never take elevators on a ship unless I have luggage with me so I got to see a lot more. Even though I hardly ever take pictures of other people’s art, I wanted to showcase some of the ones I loved. Here’s a quick gallery with some comments of the pieces I really liked. Don’t forget, if you click the first shot, you can then scroll through with your arrow keys or by swiping…and PLEASE…don’t look at my photography on a phone. Please…

These three portraits done in a historic style were the first three pieces of art I saw.

I love the idea of Keith Richards, Dave Grohl and Frank Zappa being immortalized…

…as historical sea captains. I probably passed them 50 times on the cruise and loved them.

In another stairwell, the Fab Four blowing bubbles.

Or this guitar and blue notes

These were mix tapes. Remember those? All with handwritten titles

Fruity music.

Opera houses

From Italy. Incredible photography

Ruebens meets surfboard

A sewing machine display

Just cool art

Not sure what these are supposed to signify…

…but they gave me a lot to look at…

…on our sea days.

This awesome glass sculpture

Oprah is the godmother of this ship…meaning she launched it.

They carried the music theme to the hallways. This was at the end of a corridor leading to our stateroom.

Here’s the carpet you find in the hallways. Muted but cool.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.       —Aristotle