Shop till you drop

It’s amazing how big these new ships are getting and more and more floor space is being given to retail space, If you like to shop when your on a cruise then P&O’s new ship Britannia is the ship for you. When I started work on my first cruise ship back in 1995 there were 4 very small shops that covered very little floor space, selling very basic items that included mainly ship logo clothing and cheap crystal and tacky souvenirs. Oh how things have changed in the last couple of years. Now personally I couldn’t think of anything worse than spending my time on a cruise shopping, i hate shopping and break into a sweat whenever I get dragged along by my girlfriend, however there are many people that just can’t wait to check out the shops when they first arrive on board their cruise ship.

So for all those people that just have to shop until they drop, take a look below at what Britannia can offer you in regards to shopping, it’s outrageous.

High fashion and high street brands to feature on Britain’s biggest cruise ship
Contemporary British brands such as Crew Clothing and The White Company will be sailing on board P&O Cruises new ship Britannia.

Britannia will feature 720-square-metres of dedicated retail space featuring a variety of contemporary new brands alongside some perennial P&O Cruises’ favourites.

Brands making their debut on Britannia when the ship launches in March 2015 include:

· Crew Clothing – the go-to label for luxury British casual-wear loved by celebrities including Kate Middleton and Ben Fogle.

· The White Company – makers of impeccably stylish, beautifully designed clothing for over 20 years with an attention to detail that extends through everything they do. Their onboard range will include super-soft joggers, t-shirts and hoodies in the finest-quality cotton which are perfect for relaxing on deck or exploring on shore.

· Beaverbrooks – a family-owned British business specialising in diamonds, jewellery and designer and luxury watches. CEO Anna Blackburn says: “We are delighted to be working with Britannia which is one of the most prestigious ships in the world. This is our first partnership in the world of cruising and we are looking forward to a successful ongoing relationship.”

· Desigual – a Spanish clothing brand noted for its patchwork designs, intense prints, innovative graffiti art, asymmetrical designs and flamboyant splashes of colour. Celebrity fans include supermodel Bar Refaeli and Suri Cruise. Guests will be able to browse t-shirts, tunic tops, summer dresses and accessories such as scarves and a range of bags including holdalls, handbags, clutches, wristlets and purses.

· Rituals – offering a luxurious collection of high quality products to enrich body and soul, from body and facial care to scented candles and perfumes to gemstone make-up. The company hopes to inspire all Britannia’s passengers with their innovative product line and transform their daily routines into beautiful, meaningful moments.

· Chopard – a Swiss-based luxury watch, jewellery and accessories company founded in 1860.

P&O Cruises’ marketing director Christopher Edgington said: “We are constantly looking to increase the choice that we offer guests in our onboard shops and are delighted to have gained the support of a number of iconic brands wanting to be part of the Britannia experience. Our guests love to indulge in a bit of retail therapy and they’re sure to appreciate the exciting new additions to the shopping line-up.”

Other brands confirmed onboard Britannia are:

Beauty, Bath and Body: Lancôme; Chanel; Dior; Clarins; Benefit; Gucci; Calvin Klein; White Company; GHD; Rituals

Jewellery: Carat London; Beaverbrooks; Pandora; Swarovski; Ralph Lauren Jewellery; Italina; Clogau; Buckley London; Audrey Hepburn.

Watches: Omega; Chopard; Citizen; Tag Heur; Raymond Weil; Michael Kors; Longines; Tissot.

Clothing , Accessories and Bags: Crew Clothing; Joules; White Company; Desigual; Ralph Lauren; Radley; Fiorrelli; Harrods; Michael Kors; Fossil; Ribkoff; Armani Jeans Bags.-