Holland America boasts millions of dollars’ worth of “museum quality” art on its ships.  But what type of museum?  Some museums are a hodge podge of stuff, granny’s attic.  Others have a lot less stuff, replaced by interpretive sign boards punctuated by a few key artifacts.  I enjoy both kinds of museums.

Holland America has interesting artwork, some based on a ship theme, like music on Zaandam, and some seemingly random.  These are supplemented by the maritime paintings of Steven J. Card.  Those works of art have brought me a lot of pleasure as I pass them daily, sometimes taking time to look at them more closely.

I find the artwork on QM2 less interesting.  Some of it is massive and, to me, pretentious. 

There is some maritime art on QM2. especially ship models, which I like,  and some of the art is pictures of royalty, which interests me not at all. 

BUT QM2 has mastered the art of the museum story board.  Walking the hallways and standing in some of the elevator lobbies you get a history of transatlantic travel and especially of Cunard.  (I find it curious that when they talk about Hales Trophy, the award for the speediest trans-Atlantic voyage they only include Cunard ships.  It would have been more interesting to highlight the rivalry between the Brits, Germans, Italians, French and ultimately the Americans.)  And the signboards change.  I looked for some of the ones I saw in 2023 and found them replaced.  Rotating exhibits like any good museum.  These exhibits added to my voyage.  I wish Cunard would publish a book with the content of these sign boards so I could contemplate them at home after the voyage is over.