MIAMI, Sept. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Azamara – the boutique cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion® experiences – is pleased to announce that premier retailer at sea, Starboard Cruise Services – an LVMH Moët Hennessy company – is now the fleetwide retail partner for the destination-focused cruise brand. The two industry leaders will redesign a destination-tailored retail program, offering experiential, cultural and artisanal touchpoints curated specifically for each travel journey of Azamara’s fleet of ships.
“Our well-traveled guests desire exclusive escapes and thoughtfully selected excursions inspired by local culture and traditions,” says 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.”
Deep-Seated Destination Creators, Cultural Collections
The reinvented retail vision is established on a fresh and formidable concept, designed to complement Azamara’s distinct shoreside evening activities and overnight port stays. Offering bespoke experiences onboard 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 have exclusive access to these local treasures to take home with them as a reminder of their experience. Highly curated cultural collections – inviting seasoned travelers to “Explore Further” by connecting people with people, people with cultures and people with themselves – will be reflective of and genuine to each destination, such as one-of-a-kind Māori carvings while sailing New Zealand or handspun wool knitwear in Norway. Furthering destination-inspired shopping, Starboard is bringing onboard 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,” says 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 travelers seek transformative, memorable and purposeful experiences – collecting priceless and authentic mementos that tell one’s personal tale of traversing by sea.”
The newly anointed partnership between Azamara and Starboard commenced on August 28, 2021, when Azamara Quest welcomed the first guests for a seven-night Mediterranean voyage from Greece.
About Azamara
Azamara is an upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences. Presently with three mid-sized ships sailing to all seven continents of the world, and an additional fourth ship scheduled to join the fleet in 2022. The boutique-style ships allow them to reach marquee ports around the world and dock in smaller, less-visited hidden gems. Azamara’s commitment to creating immersive experiences allows guests to travel deeper with longer stays, more overnights, and night touring. Guests can experience a boutique hotel at sea with inclusive amenities such as gratuities, select beverages, exclusive cultural events and more. For more information visit www.azamara.com.
About Starboard Cruise Services
Starboard Cruise Services is the premier retailer at sea, providing the finest selection of coveted brands and engaging experiences to global cruise vacationers, and the only vacation retail operator that includes a division focused exclusively on the luxury segment. Starboard proudly provides retail operations for nine leading cruise line partners around the world, including Azamara, Crystal, Silversea, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Dream Cruises, Norwegian Cruise and Royal Caribbean International. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury provider. Starboard has been consistently recognized for excellence by the travel retail industry with numerous awards, including DFNI-Frontier Americas Travel Retailer of the Year; Asia/Pacific Cruise Retailer of the Year; Global Cruise Retailer of the Year; and Exceptional Achievement by a Cruise Retailer. The company is headquartered in Miami and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Genoa, Italy.
SOURCE Azamara
