Retail Therapy on the High Seas

Retail therapy it seems is reaching new heights on today’s cruise ships with high-street stores and famous brands lining the on-board shopping arcades. The pull of tax free shopping has us reaching for our credit cards as we look to buy the latest designer labels on the high seas.

As cruise liners get bigger and bigger and more and more popular the designer shops are queuing up to get their presence felt. More and more cruise ships are opening designer outlets on-board to tempt those shoppers on days at sea and well into the evenings as well.

Seasoned cruisers amongst you will know that familiar sight of staff setting up their quick sales displays on an evening tempting you with 70% off this or 90% of that. Usually watches and jewellery in particular.

They have the customary Cruise line shop which sells trinkets and things from keyrings to hats and t-shirts and shot glasses as a memento of your trip and usually some of the basic things that you may have forgotten like toothpaste, a toothbrush, headache tablets etc. Although I have to say on a recent trip on Anthem of the Seas my son left his toothbrush in the Hotel room the night before we cruised and Shame on you Royal Caribbean you did not sell them on board? Toothpaste and mouthwash but no brushes!!!  But that’s another story…

Brands with a presence are Moss Bros – Obviously very popular to hire out evening wear. Chopard and Penhaligon’s on Cunard. Apple is making its presence felt in the Celebrity Cruises I-lounges and as part of the High tech world of the Quantum class ships on Royal Caribbean.  Big name brands like Fossil and Swarovski are ever present and Elemis, Lancombe, Clinique Tommy Hilfiger, Rotary, Fortnum and Mason and Disney all want a slice of the cruise action.

Royal Caribbean have Starbucks outlets on-board but I have to say I was not that impressed with the one on Anthem of the Seas. The coffee was not up to the usual Starbucks Standard. A little guidance and practice may be needed there.

If you are out to bag a bargain though just take a step back and either check before you cruise or if you have Wi-Fi while you are cruising as the tax free option is not always the best. I recently purchased a bottle of aftershave for my son which tax-free cost $60 which is just short of £40. When I returned home curiosity got the better of me and I checked online to find I could have got the same size bottle Plus an additional smaller bottle as a bonus for £10 less.  Lesson learnt!

So unless money is no object then do your research before you travel to make sure you don’t get caught out and don’t get caught up in the moment! Their 70% off may not be any different to normal high street offers back home. Don’t get me wrong they are not all a rip off and you can bag a bargain but you just need to be savvy.

But going back to the main reason for this blog. If these shopping malls continue to grow along with the size of the ships are we going to reach a point where ships do not dock in ports but sail around whilst guests on board shop, eat, drink, gamble and indulge in the entertainment at the mercy of the cruise ships and the retailers! Floating Tax free Shopping Malls!

What are your thoughts?