Boutique cruise ship operator, Azamara has signed up Starboard Cruise Services – an LVMH Moët Hennessy company – as a retail partner across its fleet.
The two companies will redesign a destination-tailored retail programme, offering a retail experience specifically for each Azamara cruise.
“Our well-travelled guests desire exclusive escapes and thoughtfully selected excursions inspired by local culture and traditions,” said Azamara President, Carol Cabezas.
“The retail experience should not be an exception, but rather an integrated layer to amplify meaningful memories across the cruise journey.
“Partnering with Starboard’s Luxury Division, we are in a greater position to reveal even more of the history, art, cuisine and local customs that make each destination rare and beautiful,” she added.
The retail vision was established, designed to complement Azamara’s distinct shoreside evening activities and overnight port stays.
Offering bespoke experiences on board and ashore with local artisans and craftsmen in their native studios and shops, guests will participate in an exclusive opportunity to see authentic work come to life and will also have exclusive access to these local gifts to take home with them as a reminder of their experience.
For example, Māori carvings while sailing New Zealand or handspun wool knitwear in Norway, will further destination-inspired shopping.
Starboard will bring on board limited time experiences, such as hand painted silks from Barcelona, and socially conscious items, including Chilean-made infused glass art sourced from recycled windows and bottles.
“We are thrilled to be working with Carol Cabezas and her team at Azamara on our common vision for the journey ahead during a very exciting restart of the industry,” said Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s President and CEO.
“With our shared philosophies surrounding discovery, creativity, quality and craftsmanship, collaborating with Azamara will deliver a completely innovative and immersive approach to exploring destinations.
“Beyond luxury and opulence, today’s affluent travellers seek transformative, memorable and purposeful experiences – collecting priceless and authentic mementos that tell one’s personal tale of traversing by sea,” she said.
The new partnership between Azamara and Starboard commenced on 28th August, 2021, when ‘Azamara Quest’ welcomed her first guests for a seven-night Mediterranean voyage from Greece.
