Global cruise retailer Harding+ has revealed high end indulgent retail plans onboard Queen Anne, which will become Cunard’s largest ship when it launches in May.
The 3000-passenger capacity Queen Anne is Cunard’s most ambitious ship to date, and the Harding+ curated range of brands, experiences and customer-insight led levels of detail will provide a retail experience to match, says the company.
Cabinet of Curiosities plays off Cunard heritage
One centerpiece experience is the Cabinet of Curiosities, a close collaboration between the retailer and cruise line that features an immersive, multi-sensory display in the heart of the retail space. The Cabinet tells the Cunard story though an eclectic and rare set of brands and curiosities.
A combination of state-of-the-art transparent screens and stylishly illuminated cabinets weave together elements of both the Cunard heritage and future ambitions with iconic pieces from Garrard, Chanel, Theo Fabergé, Launer, By Alona and more. Many items have never been available at sea before.
Experience Lounge allows testing
The wider retail space also includes an Experience Lounge where guests will be able to taste, try on and learn the provenance, heritage and quirks behind key brand partners.
partners. Visually stunning and with the room to curate and change range based on destination and season, this delivers against Harding+ insights on the increasing guest desire for experiential retail.
Key brand partners include Garrard, with a dedicated boutique on board the ship, featuring an exquisite assortment of fine jewelry; Bremont, showcasing their unique British watch collections within both the watch store and the Cabinet of Curiosities; and Harding+’s own dedicated Reloved brand for preloved luxury goods, that will include vintage leather accessories and a range of globally renowned luxury vintage jewelry by Susan Caplan.
The Cunard merchandise store includes the brand new Queen Anne collection and also a completely new Cunard heritage range of gifts and mementos that draw their inspiration from the Cunard archives, but with a contemporary feel.
Service will play a key role to ensure that guests are constantly delighted. For the first time, Queen Anne guests will benefit from having a dedicated shopping host on board, whose role will be centered on ensuring that the guests feel fully welcomed and that their needs are understood.
When combined with an extensive and engaging program of retail events each day of each voyage, the Harding+ mission of ‘making every cruise better’ will be the mantra for very element of the retail model.
Harding+ COO Peter Newbould explains “We are hugely excited to see Queen Anne setting sail. The ship is truly beautiful – a spectacular addition to the Cunard fleet – and we have worked closely with the Cunard team to create a truly premium retail experience. We have used our combined guest and customer insight to deliver a unique retail proposition, with a number of first-at-sea or exclusive partnerships with Garrard, Chapel Down, By Alona, Launer, Raishma and Atkinsons to attract guests to the retail area and new reasons to shop. Chief among these is the Cabinet of Curiosities, a one-of-a-kind gallery unlike anything on any other ship. The palatial surroundings, hands-on customer service and world-class brand roster really exemplify the Cunard experience. We’re hugely grateful to Cunard, our brand partners and, of course, all of our office and shipboard team for helping us to make this a reality. We can’t wait for the ship to sail and for customers to experience it.”
