Starboard enters German market with sustainable retail experience aboard TUI’s Mein Schiff 7

   July 31, 2024 ,   Cruise Industry

Starboard, a leader in maritime retail, has expanded into the German market through a new partnership with TUI Cruises, launching a comprehensive retail experience on Mein Schiff 7.

This vessel, notable for being the first cruise ship designed for methanol operations, features a 522.95-square-meter (5625 ft2) retail space spread across two decks, offering a curated selection of brands and products with a strong emphasis on sustainability and regional inspiration, reflecting the ship’s maiden voyage through Northern Europe.

The Neuer Wall Shops, a key component of this retail space, offer a diverse range of categories including beauty, fine jewelry, watches, destination-inspired products, and fashion. The shops showcase a mix of renowned German brands like Lamy Writing Instruments and Junghans watches, alongside international labels. The Mein Stil boutique features an extensive lifestyle collection of women’s apparel and accessories from Karl Lagerfeld, while Danish brand Pandora provides hand-finished jewelry pieces. Notably, TUI Cruises has introduced SkInsight, an AI-driven augmented reality skin analysis tool, marking a technological first for its beauty offerings.

Aligned with TUI’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Starboard has implemented eco-friendly practices such as eliminating plastic bags and promoting brands that prioritize sustainability. The retail selection includes lab-grown diamonds from Engrace Diamonds, Certified Pre-Owned Rolex watches, and vintage luxury items curated by What Goes Around Comes Around. Additionally, the offering includes products from Rituals Cosmetics, a certified B Corporation known for its eco-conscious practices.

The Baltic season destination shop further enhances the retail experience with a curated assortment of locally sourced and artisanal products, featuring brands like Sandqvist, which produces bags from recycled materials, and Norlender, known for traditional Norwegian wool sweaters. Other regional offerings include Baltic Amber jewelry and Omnom Chocolates from Iceland.

Mein Schiff 7 is scheduled to sail between Kiel (Germany) and Norway throughout the summer before shifting to Baltic Sea cruises from Warnemunde in mid-August. During the winter, the ship will operate primarily in the Canary Islands, with itineraries starting and ending in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.