*** More Bogus Cruise Ship Art? If you’ve been following the ongoing legal problems of Park West, the company which operates the ubiquitous art auctions on cruise ships, Gene Sloan reports the most recent problem in USA Today.  A Chilean artist is suing Park West alleging the company is printing and selling copies of his work without his permission.    In June, Sloan reports, 27 customers alleged in a separate lawsuit that the company sold them fake, forged or overpriced artwork. The company also is facing several other state and federal suits over its practices in the Detroit area and Seattle.    Cruise lines which announced it has stopped doing business with Park West include Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Disney Cruises Line.  For the full report, click here.

Absurd Cruise Policies? Consumer advocate Chris Elliott frequently tackles cruise line policies that he believes aren’t consumer friendly.  In a recent column in the Orlando Sun Sentinel,  troubleshooter Elliott criticizes alternative restaurant surcharges, airline deviation fees, cruise contracts and maritime law in “Crazy Cruise: Seven Absurdities of the Sea”.   See if you agree.  To read his article, click here.

*** Carnival’s New Round-trip Hawaii Cruises. After Carnival Cruise Lines announced its first round-trip Hawaii cruises from L.A. and San Diego, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Hawaii editor, Jeanne Cooper,  points out that the 15-day voyages include four days at sea in each direction.  Add to this, “interior cabins start at $1,199 base rate for the Los Angeles route, $1,299 for San Diego, per person with double occupancy (plus government taxes, fees, gratuities and excursions.) Ocean-view rooms cost another $300, balcony staterooms an extra $600 per person,” writes Cooper.   Does this appeal to you or are you like Cooper, who prefers to fly and skip the long time at sea.  Click here.