Starboard Group held its 2026 Unleash the Potential Summit in Cancún, Mexico, last week, bringing together more than 200 Starboard retail managers and senior corporate leaders as well as executives from the world’s top cruise lines and retail brands. The three-day summit featured speakers from several of Starboard’s cruise line partners, including Christine Duffy, President […]
Cruise
PortMiami sets new passenger record
PortMiami set another passenger record for its Fiscal Year 2025, while also achieving significant cargo performance. PortMiami welcomed a record 8,564,225 cruise passengers in FY 2025, up from 8,233,056 the previous fiscal year, a 4.02% increase the highest annual passenger count in the seaport’s history. The port also recorded a significant cargo performance, reporting 2.35% […]
Campari Group brings Aperol and Espolòn Tequila to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay
Campari Group Global Travel Retail (GTR) Americas and Royal Caribbean marked a milestone in their partnership during Royal Caribbean’s 2025 President’s Cruise, unveiling a first-ever activation at the vacation brand’s exclusive destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. On September 24, Oasis Lagoon – the destination freshwater pool – and Hideaway Beach, the island’s adults-only area, were […]
Suntory offers first ever Knob Creek barrel pick with Holland America
Suntory Global Spirits has partnered with Holland America Line to launch two special barrels of Knob Creek exclusively with the cruise line, a big step for Suntory’s ambitions for its cruise business. Drew Foulk, Senior Manager, Dining & Beverage Operations and Innovation for Holland America Line & Seabourn, traveled to the James B. Beam Distilling […]
Starboard unveils multisensory shopping experiences onboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Xcel
Starboard Group has unveiled an entirely new multisensory retail experience aboard Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Cruises’ fifth ship in its groundbreaking Edge Series. Crafted around the ship’s design, Starboard’s offering merges modern luxury, sensory exploration and technology to create a retail world that it says transcends traditional shopping. Guests are invited to discover exclusive first-at-sea brand debuts, immersive digital […]
Hampton Water Rosé joins Princess Cruises’ celebrity-crafted Love Line Premium Liquors Collection
Princess Cruises has added Hampton Water Rosé to its Love Line Premium Liquors Collection. Crafted in partnership with Jesse Bongiovi and his dad, Jon Bon Jovi, along with world-renowned winemaker, Gérard Bertrand, Hampton Water Rosé has received critical acclaim for its quality and lively fresh wine. The wines are available fleetwide and included in Princess […]
Port of Seattle 2025 cruise season ends with record passenger numbers
The Port of Seattle announced a record 2025 cruise season, one which delivered an estimated $1.2 billion in regional economic benefit, while providing more than 5,120 individuals direct and indirect jobs throughout the season. The season – which ended on Oct. 21 –also served a record number of passengers and sailings, plus significant shore power use by ships in […]
Harding+ and Pandora launch bespoke engraving machines at sea
Cruise retailer Harding+ has announced the launch of Pandora engraving machines onboard select cruise ships. A global first in travel retail, the engraving machines offer guests the chance to create bespoke personalized jewelry pieces while at sea. Following its debut in October, the service is now live across five ships – P&O Cruises Arvia and Iona, Sun Princess, and […]
PortMiami welcomes 10 new cruise ships for the 2025-2026 cruise season
PortMiami will welcome 10 new cruise ships, including five new build vessels, during the 2025-2026 cruise season. Starting in October 2025, a new roster of ships will set sail from PortMiami, including Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady. In November, Holland America’s Zuiderdam, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel and Oceania Cruises’ Allura will make their debut. In December, the port welcomes MSC […]
Starboard to debut vibrant, immersive “concept gallery” retail experience aboard Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady
Starboard Group has announced the latest expansion of its partnership with Virgin Voyages as the exclusive retail partner for Brilliant Lady, where it will offer a blend of luxury, sustainability and discovery across 5,500 square feet of retail space when the ship departs from New York City on its inaugural voyage on Sept. 5, 2025. “We’re […]
Heinemann highlights top-tier spirits onboard Star of the Seas
Heinemann Americas has unveiled a “bold new cruise retail concept” aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which the company says further strengthens a partnership that has grown steadily since 2019. With 10 distinct retail venues on board, the ship delivers a next-level shopping experience, featuring everything from exclusive Royal Caribbean logo merchandise, fine watches, […]
Azamara Cruises appoints former Starboard executive Lisa Kauffman as Chief Marketing Officer
Azamara Cruises has has announced the appointment of Lisa Kauffman as Chief Marketing Officer. Kauffman most recently served as Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Starboard Group, where she led global B2B as well as B2C marketing strategies, digital innovation, integrated communications, and Retailtainment. In her new role, Kauffman will oversee marketing and communications, including […]
Starboard debuts luxury retail onboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s new superyacht, Luminara
Starboard Luxury, in collaboration with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, has debuted dedicated retail spaces for Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, and Piaget aboard the fleet’s newest yacht, Luminara. These luxury retail offerings represent first-at-sea experiences for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and feature an array of jewelry, Swiss timepieces, and accessories expertly curated by Starboard Luxury. “Starboard Luxury is honored to bring together […]
Avolta expands presence in cruise retail onboard NCL’s newly launched Norwegian Aqua ship
Avolta, the main retail partner for the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet, has expanded its presence in the cruise channel with the recent launch of NCL’s latest ship, Norwegian Aqua. Avolta has opened eight duty free shops, together with additional spaces for sunglasses, fashion, watches and pre-loved luxury. Showcasing a range of products across all the […]
Starboard Group and Invicta Watch Group to launch exclusive Invicta Tequila on 26 cruise ships
Starboard Group has announced the launch of Invicta Tequila, a new lifestyle product developed in collaboration with Invicta Watch Group and produced by Casa Maestri Distillery in Mexico. The premium tequila will launch exclusively on 26 cruise ships this summer; it is Invicta’s latest expansion as a lifestyle brand and is a first-of-its-kind—and first-at-sea—collaboration between […]
