INTERNATIONAL. Princess Cruises’ new Sphere Class ship Sun Princess began her maiden voyage on 28 February with 5,800sq ft of luxury shopping space spanning two decks. The retail business is managed by Harding+.
The offer includes more than 25 first-at-sea brands, including Chanel No. 1, Beyond Yoga and Varley, sustainable fashion from Neu Nomad and Pinko handbags from Italy. In addition, the first Princess-branded merchandise boutique – Waves – debuts on board, offering the Princess Inaugural collection that celebrates the new ship as well as new lines featuring the Princess Seawitch.
Overall the offer includes more than 200 brands from fine jewellery and premium timepieces to fashion and leisurewear, beauty and wellness and accessories, complemented by lifestyle and experiential activations.
Princess Cruises Vice President of Onboard Revenue Experience Sabine Muhlberger said: “This expansive retail environment, created in partnership with Harding+, marks a new level of excellence for Princess retail.
“Our guests are going to love this new and unique shopping experience that will enhance the already spectacular cruise experience aboard Sun Princess.”
The retail design aboard Sun Princess removes traditional boundaries, said the cruiseline company, “creating open and spacious areas for extended discovery”. Interactive retail and pop-up locations will add “an engaging and exciting retail experience”, it noted.
Deck 8 features The Premium Watch Lounge, featuring the first-at-sea Breitling Lounge concept and the latest TAG Heuer boutique design, as well as The Fine Timepieces Boutique, which features timepieces for both men and women from Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton, in addition to pre-owned Rolex watches.
Within The Beauty & Wellness Boutique on Deck 8 guests will find many cosmetics and skincare brands such as Chanel, Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Clinique, and a curated range of sustainable and organic skincare brands including Comfort Zone, Neom Organics, This Works, Rituals and unisex clean skincare by REN Skincare.
The shipboard shopping experience also includes:
- Professional-grade skincare education, products, and services from Chanel, Dermalogica and Prai Beauty.
- Three new fine jewellery brands, including London-based designer Shaun Leane, Paris-based designer Yvonne Leon as well as gender-neutral precious metals and materials from John Hardy, and costume jewellery featuring the latest retail store concept design from Swarovski.
- Spirits offering onboard experiences, such as Johnnie Walker Blue Xordinaire as a travel retail exclusive.
Pop-ups include designer eyewear activations from brands such as Tom Ford, Prada, Oakley and Maui Jim, pre-loved luxury leather and accessories from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci and Pandora jewellery.
The 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess offers various entertainment and experiences, culinary experiences from celebrated chefs and celebrity collaborators, as well as luxury staterooms and suites.
Note: Leading cruise retail concessionaire Harding+ is a Gold Partner for The Retail Day at Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s biggest annual gathering of the cruiseline community. The Retail Day – a series of conference sessions dedicated to retail at sea – takes place at Miami Beach Convention Center on 10 April, and is co-organised by The Moodie Davitt Report. Seatrade Cruise Global runs from 8-11 April. For information or to register, click here. ✈
