AUSTRALIA. Carnival Cruise Line today announced the launch of what it described as a “state-of-the-art” duty free store on the ship Carnival Spirit.
The store is a partnership between Carnival Cruise Line and Gebr Heinemann subsidiary Heinemann Asia Pacific. The shop opens on 25 June.
The offer will comprise a mix of local and global brands, including Seafolly, Quay Australia, Swarovski, Swatch, Lacoste and Clinique.
Carnival Spirit boasts some of the largest square footage dedicated to retail in the Carnival fleet. Heinemann Asia Pacific will operate all categories except fine jewellery.
Heinemann Asia Pacific’s foray into the Australian market follows the commencement of a successful partnership between the retailer and the cruise company in the US onboard Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Ecstasy.
“We are thrilled to embark on this new partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, especially at such an exciting time in the cruising market,” said Heinemann Asia Pacific CEO Marvin von Plato, who was recently promoted to the role. “Combining our retail and logistics management experience with our expertise in the Australian market, we look forward to providing a world-class shopping experience onboard for Carnival guests.”
Australia is now familiar territory for Gebr Heinemann. The company has been a master concessionaire at Sydney Airport since 2015, developing one of the airport world’s most extensive duty free and travel retail offers.
“We’re pleased to continue our excellent relationship with Gebr Heinemann with this enhancement of the retail experience aboard Carnival Spirit following its extensive dry dock,” said Carnival Vice President of Retail Services William Butler. “The retail experience at Carnival continues to evolve with sought-after brands and exciting new spaces and we’re delighted to work with Gebr Heinemann in providing our guests with the widest variety of retail choices at sea.”
Carnival Spirit will undergo a two-week dry dock in Singapore and receive new ‘family-friendly’ entertainment features offering new spaces for kids and teens in addition to the new duty free experience. The ship will resume year-round departures from her home port of Sydney on 25 June.