EUROPE. Starboard Cruise Services has partnered with TUI Cruises to introduce an expansive retail experience aboard the Mein Schiff 7, the first cruise ship designed to run on methanol operations.
This collaboration marks Starboard Cruise Services’ entry into the German market. Its sustainability and destination-inspired offer encompasses 5,629sq ft of retail space across two decks.
Starboard Cruise Services President and CEO Lisa Bauer stated: “Starboard’s new alliance with TUI Cruises represents a significant step in our global growth, affirming our status as the preferred retail partner to cruise lines worldwide. This new venture positions us to continue demonstrating our expertise in delivering exceptional curated retail experiences uniquely tailored to the German cruise market.”
The retail programme onboard Mein Schiff 7 is designed to cater to German guests and their preference for eco-friendly brands and products.
It covers categories such as beauty, fine jewellery, watches, destination-inspired products, Mein Schiff branded collections, and fashion for men, women and children. Notable sustainability initiatives onboard Mein Schiff 7 include the elimination of plastic bags.
Notable fashion and lifestyle brands include German companies Lamy and Junghans watches, along with globally recognised names such a Karl Lagerfeld and Pandora, available in the Mein Stil boutique. Additionally, AI-driven SkInsight technology is available onboard and offers cruise guests personalised skin analysis and product recommendations.
TUI Cruises Head of Onboard Commerce Carolin Bauer emphasised the importance of aligning retail offerings with guest feedback and sustainability goals. She said: “Mein Schiff 7 is the seventh addition to the Mein Schiff fleet, incorporating new features based on our guests’ feedback and it was important for our retail offerings to reflect these enhancements.
“We are thrilled to partner with Starboard as our official onboard retail partner and introduce our guests to high-quality, specially curated products, elevating their overall cruise journey.”
Starboard’s offer notably includes eco-friendly brands such as Engrace Diamonds, which offers ethical lab-grown diamonds, Certified Pre-Owned Rolex watches, and vintage selections of luxury accessories and designer handbags curated by What Goes Around Comes Around. Rituals Cosmetics, a certified B Corp wellbeing brand is another highlight.
The Baltic season destination shop offers locally sourced, artisanal products reflecting the ship’s itineraries.
This includes brands such as Sandqvist which produces bags from recycled and ethically sourced materials; Norlender which is known for its Norwegian wool products; Baltic Amber jewellery and Omnom Chocolates, an Icelandic brand focused on ethical sourcing and sustainability.
Mein Schiff 7 will operate between Kiel and Norway during the summer, transitioning to Baltic Sea cruises from Warnemünde in mid-August, and spending winter in the Canary Islands, with cruises from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. ✈
