MIAMI (January 18, 2023) – Starboard Cruise Services, a LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company and leading global retailer at sea, initiated the new year with the promotions of Lisa Kauffman, now Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, and Mike Turek, now Chief Data Analytics Officer. Designed to accelerate future growth, innovation and enrich Starboard’s delivery of exceptional guest experiences, the transition went into effect January 1, 2023.

“With a strengthened leadership team comes a refreshed approach to providing our cruise line partners innovative and profitable retail concepts that ultimately translate into unparalleled vacation retail experiences that delight our cruise guests,” states Lisa Bauer, President and CEO. “Between Lisa and Mike, there are more than 55 years of experience in business strategy, marketing and sales. These strategic infrastructure changes will drive Starboard’s profitable growth, expanding our capabilities in 2023 and beyond.”

Appointment of Lisa Kauffman as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

Ms. Kauffman, formerly the Chief Marketing Officer, will be taking on the new role of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. Ms. Kauffman was the ideal candidate to leverage the power of Starboard’s shoreside and shipboard teams. Under this newly created role, she brings together the transformational work the company has begun across account team management; sales; marketing; digital and visual merchandising across the world.

Appointment of Mike Turek as Chief Data Analytics Officer
Mr. Turek, formerly the Chief Commercial Officer, will transition to the role of Chief Data Analytics Officer. In this capacity, he will oversee the business intelligence team and information technology department to take Starboard’s roadmap of data optimization, automation, process improvement and business effectiveness to the next level.

The new structural model and Mr. Turek’s appointment was modeled after other LVMH Maisons who have unleashed the real power of data to play a critical role in continuously improving customer experience and solving today’s biggest challenges at scale.

About Starboard Cruise Services
Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Resorts World Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809 | Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524 | Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services Starts 2023 With New Executive Leadership Roles appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (January 26, 2023) – Starboard Cruise Services, a LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company and leading global retailer at sea, announces the addition of jewelry industry veteran, Caryl Capeci, as a Strategic Advisor. Driving the partnership and growth strategy within the Jewelry, Luxury and Swiss categories, Capeci’s key focus will be on global revenue performance, operational excellence, exceptional customer service and a luxury approach to brand stewardship.

“Ms. Capeci has the unique background of having transformed the jewelry industry for more than 30 years, while also understanding the complexity of the cruise business and the nuances of delivering a luxury retail brand experience onboard,” states Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard Cruise Services. “Her expertise in international wholesale, retail and e-commerce will enhance Starboard as the ‘best in class’ cruise travel retail partner.”

Working closely with more than 300 of the best jewelry retailers in the world, such as Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus, Capeci helped build brand loyalty among sales associates and independent jewelers. Most recently, she was CEO of Chow Tai Fook North America (CTFNA), the parent company that operates diamond jewelry brands, Hearts On Fire and Mémoire. Prior to CTFNA, she led Hearts On Fire in multiple leadership positions before becoming President in 2016, managing the brand launch of 2,200 storefronts across China.

Capeci’s jewelry career began in New York City at the advertising agencies N.W. Ayer and J. Walter Thompson, where she worked on the Global Integrated Marketing team for DeBeers Diamonds for more than a decade. In between her time on the DeBeers team and joining Hearts on Fire, she led the agency team for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises at Arnold Worldwide.

Currently, she serves on several boards including The American Gem Society, The Jewelers of America, Diamonds Do Good, and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten worldclass cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Resorts World Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809 | Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524 | Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services Appointments Fine Jewelry and Watch Industry Veteran appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (Nov. 10, 2022) – Starboard Cruise Services, the leading cruise retailer and LVMH Moët Hennessy company, kick starts its multi-year partnership with Carnival Cruise Line’s highly- anticipated new ship, Carnival Celebration. Offering not only the most expansive retail selection across the fleet, but also the most ambitious by delivering first-at-sea brands and interactive elements.

Carnival and Starboard have catered Celebration’s retail to the ship’s environment, integrating retail concepts with entertainment experiences and designing custom-made products unique to the cruise line, its diverse guest demographics and destinations. The ship’s inaugural Caribbean season will start on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.

“We’ve developed, designed, and curated engaging retail offerings, including many first-at-sea launches as well as sustainable brands and products that exemplify inclusivity for Carnival Celebration,” says Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s president and CEO. “Bringing Carnival’s brand to life, Starboard delivers an exciting assortment of Carnival-branded merchandise with a really fun in- store experience – a perfect tribute to our 30-year partnership.”

“Carnival’s 50^th birthday was the perfect occasion to level up our retail offerings and refresh what our guests have come to expect from our ships,” says Jeremy Schiller, vice president of retail operations for Carnival Cruise Line. “Our long-term partnership with Starboard continues to deliver groundbreaking retail concepts that have fundamentally improved cruisers’ vacation journey.”

Interactive Floor Experience

The first-at-sea Interactive Floor Experience, located in The Carnival Store (Deck 8), will offer an experiential activity where an interactive retail installation changes as guests walk over it. With plenty of space to move around, vacationers of all ages can engage in a wide range of Carnival-themed moments while shopping, from floor hockey with the Carnival funnel, to riding on the ship’s BOLT rollercoaster virtually, and more.

Loads of FUN Launches

In the Beauty shop, guests will discover notable brands including signature fragrances from American pop singer Ariana Grande and the sought-after beauty line, ICONIC London, famous for its GLOW-giving products.

In the Swiss time piece shop, launching first at sea on Carnival Celebration is Gorilla, cutting edge watch brand founded by Octavio Garcia, an industry veteran. Inspired by iconic luxury sports cars, the stylish watches are powered by Miyota automatic mechanical movements and state-of-the-art high-tech materials such as carbon-fiber cases, ceramic bezels, anodized aluminum and titanium. Featured in the collection is the Fastback Espionage Limited Edition with only 500 manufactured worldwide. The watch design was inspired by the craft of “restomodding” – the art of restoring vintage cars with modern technology to expand the performance and style. The name and color scheme comes from a 1965 Ford Mustang built by legendary custom car builders, the Ring brothers, masters of the art of restomodding.

Also launching for the first time at sea is time piece brand Cuervo & Sobrinos. The only luxury watch brand with a true Latin legacy. Founded in Cuba in 1882, the Swiss manufactured timepieces are designed to honor historic models from the 1930’s and 1940’s, the golden age of Havana.

Luxury Vintage Retail

Carnival Celebration will be the first ship to introduce a standalone, dedicated Luxury Vintage Boutique at sea promoting responsible fashion and offerings from iconic globally desired brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and more.

Guests will find luxury handbags and accessories from What Goes Around Comes Around, the premier purveyor of the finest luxury vintage pieces, as well as leather goods, watches and accessories from Tokens & Icons, who are leaders in transforming authentic artifacts such as sports memorabilia into one-of-a kind gifts.

In keeping with Carnival’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, plastic bags have been eliminated and guests are encouraged to purchase Carnival-branded reusable shopping bags on board.

Miami and Destination-Inspired Partners

Carnival Celebration’s destination offerings echo its ports of call in the Caribbean and the City of Miami, where the line was established 50 years ago. Playing off the ship’s tropical feel, Starboard curated a memorable assortment of authentic brands that take guests on a journey and inspire wanderlust.

• MAVRANS: Miami-based apparel brand known for gender-neutral, relaxed prints and designs made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastic water bottles.
• Pitusa:Female-led Miami based company creating vibrant dresses and beachwear with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable production.
• Alma Weaving:Handbags handwoven from recycled plastic by Salvadorean artisans.
• Sal de Aqui:Female-founded gourmet salt line hand-harvested in Mexico.
• My Ocean:Soaps, ceramics, and gift items inspired by the beauty of the ocean and created by Bahamian artisans.
• Tagua:Handcrafted from a palm tree nut, the organic jewelry brand creates financial independence for native artisans in Ecuador.
• Nopalera:Female owned, botanical derived bath and body care brand founded to elevate and celebrate Latina culture.

Carnival-Themed Retail Collections

The ship will offer eight distinct collections celebrating Carnival’s 50^th Birthday – including a special collection from famed Miami-based artist Romero Britto.

Reimagined Carnival-branded merchandise offerings, developed in collaboration with Starboard, bring Carnival’s bestselling items over its storied 50-year history to life. Specifically designed with guests in mind, the collections are destination-driven, Carnival-centric and inspired by the ship’s various entertainment venues, such as the Heroes Tribute Bar and BOLT, the Ultimate Sea Coaster®.

• 50^th Birthday: Limited-edition 50^th Birthday merchandise that sold out in March will be relaunched and only available on Celebration until the end of this year. Special commemorative items include the 50th Birthday edition Monopoly game and “piece of history” souvenirs, among other guest favorites.
• Miami Celebration: Paying homage to the ship’s 820 Biscayne Zone, the collection features beach totes, drink coasters, bucket hats, towels, and matching apparel sets for the whole family to enjoy.
• Heroes: Exclusive assortment of apparel and drinkware is only available on Carnival Celebration and is inspired by the guest-favorite Heroes Bar in tribute to Armed Services members and their families.
• Carnival|Sprayground collaboration: Limited edition collaboration includes one-of-a-kind accessories and backpacks that combine Sprayground’s singular blend of style and function with Carnival’s brand exuberance.
• Romero Britto: Based on the fan-favorite partnership, the Celebration-specific line will have colorful handbags, luggage tags and passport holders.
• Ruby and Sapphire (R&S): The extensive collection of R&S apparel and fun souvenirs shouts Funderstruck.
• Signature Hull: For the first time, a collection of backpacks, clothing and accessories will be inspired by the line’s stunning new red, white and blue hull livery.
• Key Collectors: The limited-edition collectors’ items will include unique ship models, Funship Freddy plush toys and headbands.

The Overview

Carnival’s celebratory theme is carried throughout The Fun Shops, covering more than 4,580 square feet across three decks:

Deck 6
o Beauty, skincare, and fragrances
o Lifestyle multi-category
o Vintage luxury

Deck 7
o Inaugural Carnival brand merchandise
o Spirits

Deck 8
o Main Carnival brand merchandise
o Fashion accessories
o Swiss timepieces

Carnival Celebration will sail six-to-eight-night voyages year-round from PortMiami visiting popular destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean, such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, Amber Cove, San Juan, Grand Turk and more.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Resorts World Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services (786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

About Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is proud to be known as America’s Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise sector, making a cruise vacation an affordable and popular option for millions of guests. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 24 ships and is in an exciting period of growth, with Carnival Celebration and Carnival Luminosa, which began guest operations in November, and three additional ships joining the fleet by 2024.

Media Contact: media@carnival.com

The post Carnival Celebration Makes a Splash with First-at-Sea Brand Launches and New Experiential Retail Concepts appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (September 30, 2022) – Starboard Cruise Services, an LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company and leading global retailer at sea, has promoted Sherrie Day to Global Head of Merchandising. Ms. Day will spearhead all aspects of Starboard’s worldwide merchandising strategies and strengthen company tactics to deliver outstanding product assortments and operational excellence.

“Sherrie’s 30 years of retail experience, with a proven track record of custom product development has been instrumental to innovating our offerings. As the Global Head of Merchandising, Sherrie is uniquely positioned to carry out our company purpose to Curate a Vibrant World,” states Lisa Bauer, President and CEO. “Combined with her merchandising expertise, Sherrie’s inspiring leadership contributes greatly to our company culture and will certainly help Starboard continue our position as the industry-leading retailer in cruise.”

Most recently Ms. Day served as Starboard’s Vice President of Merchandising. In her new role, she will join Starboard’s senior leadership team and report to Lisa Bauer. Her duties will encompass overseeing global buying functions and working with more than 700 brands across various categories, price points, and geographies. Under her leadership, the merchandising team will also create onboard activations with product brand partners that contribute to the guest’s overall vacation experience. Reflecting Starboard’s continued commitment to dedicated cruise line account strategies, the brands, products and experiences will be curated to align with each cruise line’s unique brand positioning and guest mix. Before joining Starboard in 2019, she held multiple senior leadership positions at JC Penney, Target and Soma.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Resorts World Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809 | Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524 |Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services Appoints Sherrie Day as Global Head of Merchandising appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

The continuation of partnership also recognizes Starboard’s significant contributions to Carnival’s expanding shopping options, showcasing recognized LVMH brands, exclusive first-at-sea collections, innovative retail concepts and rich market insights.

“Our extensive and successful partnership with Carnival Cruise Line uniquely positions us to build upon our track record of keeping families at the center of our retail offerings and bringing to life fun retail vacation experiences,” says Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s President and CEO. “Our dedicated account team of industry experts is excited to continue taking Carnival’s memorable vacation retail concepts to the next level with new offerings and a revamped commercial model.”

30 Years of Fun Retail Experiences
Since partnering in 1992, Starboard has been inviting Carnival’s guests to ‘Shop Fun,’ — a marketing strategy originated by the retailer —and continues to deliver innovative, custom-designed merchandise to sea, bringing the most in-demand, consumer-relevant offerings across all price points.

From socially responsible accessories by Pura Vida to vintage luxury from the world’s most coveted brands curated by What Comes Around Goes Around, as well as an expansive line of Carnival-branded products, Starboard’s distinguished merchandising savoir-faire is unparalleled in the industry.

The retailer’s nine current ships within the fleet are Carnival Dream, Freedom, Horizon, Legend, Magic, Miracle, Pride, Sunrise and Sunshine – with Celebration launching later this year.

“Starboard is a trusted retail partner who knows exactly what our guests want and expect – more Carnival branded assortments and products that remind them of where they’ve traveled to with us,” says Jeremy Schiller, vice president of retail operations for Carnival Cruise Line. “As retailers, we saw more opportunity to really kick it up a notch on Carnival Celebration, so we’re excited to see how our guests love our new offerings as much as our classics.”

Aboard Carnival Celebration, guests can expect to shop first-at-sea brand launches, destination-inspired merchandise and the largest logo assortment offered on a Carnival ship to date.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Resorts World Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services (786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services and Carnival Cruise Line ink Five-Year Extension appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI, FL (August 17, 2022) – LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company, Starboard Cruise Services’ Luxury Division, announces a strategic alliance with Virtuoso®, the industry’s leading luxury travel network, to redefine transformative cruise travel by curating tailored-made destination retail moments with Virtuoso’s preferred luxury cruise partners. The union promises a better understanding and appreciation of destinations by enabling guests to purchase hand-made goods from artisans, gaining first-hand insight into their traditional techniques and hearing their personal stories.

“Our collaboration with Virtuoso is a natural partnership for Starboard Luxury. The alliance is rooted in shared values to preserve cultural heritage and uplift local economies through a wide range of novel and bespoke experiences,” says Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard Cruise Services. “Starboard Luxury’s proven formula for exceptional retail vacation programs has positioned us to capture a destination’s essence by introducing guests to an assortment of locally sourced goods, native brands and hosting emerging artisans on ship and on shore.”

Leading up to the program’s 2023 launch, Starboard Luxury will work jointly with Virtuoso’s On-Site partners (destination management companies) to discover native artisans and create branded retail activations that will take place onboard and on land. These exclusive offerings will be available to Virtuoso’s preferred cruise partners that are also part of Starboard Luxury’s portfolio.

“Our alliance with Starboard Luxury is one of our many solutions to the increased travel demand for more experiential, meaningful and genuine interactions with locals while cruising the world,” says Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso. “This desire for more meaningful experiences transforms the way they experience and enjoy our luxury cruise line partners. We’re excited about the great potential this collaboration brings to our network of preferred partners and operators.”

Starboard Luxury is renowned for curating luxury retail programs that bring destinations to life. Under the leadership of Stacy Shaw, Vice President, Starboard Luxury, the group has successfully executed numerous tailored-made retail programs showcasing bespoke vacation offerings and brand activations for the best-in-class luxury cruise lines. Its portfolio of cruise brands has exponentially grown over the past two years.

Starboard Luxury and Virtuoso’s collection of exclusive destination retail experiences is slated to launch in early 2023.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services is the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for eight world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

About Virtuoso

Virtuoso® is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,200 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $25–$30 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.

For Contact:
Misty Belles | Vice President, Global Public Relations
+1-202-553-8817
mbelles@virtuoso.com

The post Starboard Luxury And Virtuoso® Partnering to Create Conscious Destination Retail Experiences appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection collaboration represents a milestone for our Luxury Division,” says Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard Cruise Services. “Guided by newness and destination brands, we have curated an exclusive retail concept representing the relaxed luxury of the yachting lifestyle while capturing the destinations’ essence.”

Discover The Mediterranean
Designed to embody the signature service and luxury of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, “The Boutique” presents Starboard Luxury Division’s edit of best-in-class international brands across women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections, accessories, footwear, and elevated logo collection. Numerous luxury first-at-sea brands, such as Onia, classic swim and resort wear, as well as artisanal fragrances from Grasse-based heritage perfumer, Fragonard, serve as category leaders.

“Our yacht experience sets a new standard for luxury at sea, redefining travel for guests seeking to discover the world in a relaxed, casually elegant way,” says Douglas Prothero, CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “With the unmatched global influence of Starboard’s Luxury Division, we look forward to providing guests with an elevated retail experience at sea.”

Guests can take home a piece of the experience by shopping The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s inaugural line that includes exclusive branded apparel, home goods and luxury travel essentials. In addition, luxury skincare and hero beauty favorites will be offered from 111Skin. Visitors can also reminisce on their Mediterranean travels with one-of-a-kind jewelry from the Evrima Signature Collection – designed and manufactured by sustainable 64 Facets. Pieces feature the premier jeweler’s signature rose-cut diamonds for women.

Destination offerings spotlight brands with rich stories and vibrant colors, effortlessly curated and styled for any vacation moment. Guests can shop sought-after labels, such as Italian brand La DoubleJ; stunning and colorful fine jewelry from Athens-based designer, Ileana Makri; and K. Jacques Saint Tropez strappy leather sandals. Meant to be used on the voyage and enjoyed back home, items will be refreshed with merchandise sourced from the ports visited throughout the year. “It was very important to us for our retail partner to have a true connection to the world of luxury goods and a very relevant understanding of the expectations of The Ritz-Carlton customer. The combination of such an incredibly talented leadership team at Starboard and the global reputation of LVMH that is synonymous in luxury, made this collaboration a very natural fit,” says Mark Lockwood, Senior Vice President, Cruise Hotel Operations of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

About Starboard Cruise Services

Starboard Cruise Services the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for eight world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services Brings Narrative-Driven Luxury Shopping to Sea With Upcoming Launch of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (April 22, 2022) – Starboard Cruise Services, the leading cruise retailer and LVMH Moët Hennessy company, and Celebrity Cruises, reunite to deliver an immersive lifestyle shopping experience onboard Celebrity Beyond. The curated vacation retail offerings showcase notable fashion brands, wellness collaborations and sustainable offerings. Celebrity Beyond embarks on her maiden voyage to Western Europe on April 27, 2022, from Southampton, U.K.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Celebrity once again for the launch of the third ship in the revolutionary Edge® Series,” says Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s President and CEO. “Onboard, guests will find a thoughtfully-curated collection of upscale and sustainable products, first-at-sea concepts and iconic heritage brands that contribute to the guests’ transformative and stylish retail experience.”

The Celebrity Shops exhibit a sleek, modern design featuring new luxury concepts and many first-at-sea brands, products and experiences. Covering a total of 8,966 square feet across two decks, the space is divided into distinct zones: experiential luxury boutiques (Deck 5), and lifestyle, Swiss time pieces and immersive multi-category shops (Deck 4). Each zone offers a wide range of merchandise, from apparel, accessories, spirits, eco-friendly products to beauty, logo, destination, watches and more.

“Our collaboration with Starboard has cultivated long-term partnerships with the world’s most sought-after lifestyle brands and crafted immersive luxury experiences that align perfectly with our commitment and focus on destination, inclusivity and sustainability,” states Brian Abel, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations for Celebrity Cruises.

First-at-Sea Launches
Making its ocean debut, Stella McCartney, a luxury British brand committed to responsible fashion, creates beautiful, desirable products with the least impact on our environment. Their conscious values are the inspiration behind the innovation that makes them the industry leaders in creating the most cutting-edge materials and animal alternatives. The first-at-sea onboard offering will include apparel, footwear, handbags, and sunglasses.

Goop, a lifestyle brand founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, Celebrity’s Well-being Advisor, will offer a curated capsule of products from the popular GOOPGLOW skincare and GOOPGENES collection. The debuts continue across fashion and skincare with Marni, a multifaceted Italian fashion house that celebrates individuality with its apparel and handbags; Beekman 1802, the world’s largest goat-milk skincare company with clinically tested, scientifically proven formulas; Supergoop, the only prestige skincare brand 100 percent dedicated to sun care made with clean ingredients.

In swiss time pieces, Celebrity Beyond will be the first cruise line to introduce NORQAIN. Founded in 2018, NORQAIN is a fully independent, family-owned Swiss watch company that celebrates exploring the road less travelled.

Bringing Destinations Aboard
Celebrity’s Mediterranean itineraries come to life onboard with a fresh new lifestyle approach through unique artisan offerings from apparel to accessories and authentic mementos. Roam Spain with Respoke footwear, a sustainable brand that repurposes designer silk scarves into one-of-a-kind footwear; Artenseda, Spanish silk scarves and wraps adorned with hand-painted artwork. Explore Italy with The Bridge, leather handbags and accessories that blend modernity and skilled craftmanship. Discover France with Gas Bijoux, an haute-fantaisie jewelry house renowned for its handcrafted bohemian artisan pieces. Journey through Greece with Rizes Crete, locally produced natural cosmetics, soaps, and decorative items for the home crafted from olive wood.

Refined Luxury
Dubbed the “Luxury Avenue,” Deck 5 showcases highly-covetable boutiques and the first Richemont luxury watch boutique at sea, featuring all three iconic Swiss timepiece brands – Cartier, IWC, and Panerai. Montblanc continues its expansion on Celebrity ships with a lifestyle assortment across writing instruments, watches, leather goods and more, along with niche discovery brands in an all-new men’s lifestyle shopping concept. Rounding out the lineup of world-class designers is the Italian luxury brand, Bvlgari, with a stand-alone lifestyle boutique offering jewelry, watches, handbags and accessories.

Responsible Retail
In keeping with Celebrity’s commitment to women empowerment and sustainability, guests can discover brands that pursue meaning beyond commerce. Fashion-inclusive brand, Summersalt, offers swimwear and resort wear made with earth-friendly practices for every woman’s body. Accessory brand, 4Ocean, supports beach and ocean cleanups with proceeds from global sales. Starboard’s exclusive relationship with 4Ocean has already resulted in over 25,000 pounds of plastic removed from global waterways.

About Starboard Cruise Services:
Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for eight world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez
FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador Corporate Communications Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Boutiques at Sea Celebrating Diversity, Sustainability, Destinations and Luxury Lifestyle Onboard Celebrity Beyond appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (May 18, 2022) – Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – unveiled a highly curated artisan shopping experience on Azamara Onward with leading global retailer at sea, Starboard Cruise Services, a LVMH Moët Hennessy company. The destination-tailored retail program caters to the cruise line’s well-traveled guests with craftsmanship brands, curated boutiques, and exclusive bespoke experiences. Azamara Onward welcomed its first guests on May 2, 2022, for its inaugural European summer cruise.

“Destination immersion has always been our main priority at Azamara and we are constantly looking for opportunities to provide our guests with a connection to local culture and crafts in each destination,” says Azamara President, Carol Cabezas. “Across our fleet, Starboard’s cultural shopping concepts and highly curated retail offerings have elevated our immersive sailing and strengthened our standard for destination immersion across our whole guest experience.”

Treasured Cultural Mementos
Aligned with Azamara’s immersive itineraries, Onward delivers an in-depth look into the world’s most hidden gems and storied cities through a lens of authentic artisanal goods mixed with resort wear, handbags, jewelry, travel accessories, gifts and more. The Mediterranean inaugural season will introduce new offerings, including fragrances, home décor and food locally sourced from Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy. Loyal cruisers can shop a ready-to-wear logo collection designed with subtle nods to Azamara’s awe-inspiring destinations.

“Our Luxury Division designed an exclusive program full of memorable encounters with rare glimpses into local artisan studios,” says Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s President and CEO. “The off-the-beaten-path experiences are complemented with hard-to-find worldly pieces discerning guests can treasure as a symbol of their wanderlust and a journey to be remembered for a lifetime.”

Destination-focused offerings will feature:

• Hermina Wristwear, curated assortment of timeless jewelry influenced by a rich heritage rooted in Greek mythology and art.
• Zahati, a family-owned lifestyle brand offering a wide range of products since 1920. Braided accessories are made by hand and created exclusively with vegetable fibers.
• JMonteiro Milano, 100% handcrafted Italian resort wear and fully customized timeless pieces.
• Caroline de Benoit, fine jewelry from France echoing the colorful and refined worlds of Indonesia and India with special curated stones.
• Greekazon gift sets, celebrating Greek community and culture.
• Popolo, a French brand with an Italian heart, curating collections of handmade Italian ceramics overflowing with bright colors and personality.
• Pitusa, a female-led brand placing an emphasis on luxurious fabrics sourced from around the world.

Guests will soak in even more from their Azamara Mediterranean cruise while ashore when exploring Starboard’s signature limited time experiences, including collecting a one-of-a-kind Attic Black hand-thrown ceramic while sailing Greece; creating fragrance art with Claus Porto, a beauty and lifestyle house in Portugal; weaving tradition into modernity with handcrafted bags from Heimat Atlantica in Spain.

About Azamara:
Azamara is an upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences. With a fleet of four intimate-style ships, Azamara Quest®, Azamara Pursuit®, Azamara Journey® and its newest ship, Azamara Onward, the cruise line allows travelers to reach marquee ports around the world and dock in smaller, hidden gem destinations. Azamara aims to Change the Way You Sea, through its commitment to creating immersive experiences for guests through longer stays, more overnights and night touring for a deeper and more meaningful travel experience. Guests can experience an intimate hotel at sea with inclusive amenities such as gratuities, select beverages, cultural events and can take advantage of exclusive loyalty membership benefits through the Azamara Circle Program. For more information visit www.azamara.com.

About Starboard Cruise Services
Starboard Cruise Services the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for eight world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez | FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador | Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Artisanal Discoveries Inspire Shopping Experience Aboard Azamara’s Newest Ship appeared first on Star Board Cruise.

MIAMI (March 22, 2022) – Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea and LVMH Moët Hennessy company, has announced the appointment of John McGirl as Chief People Experience Officer. In the newly created role, Mr. McGirl will serve as a core member of the Starboard Executive Leadership Team and report directly to the President and CEO, Lisa Bauer. Starting April 4th, he will lead, shape and advance all aspects of Starboard’s worldwide employee experience by implementing new strategic initiatives and identifying opportunities that align with the company’s overall mission.

“We are excited to add John’s vast experience, valuable insights and innovative thinking to our executive team,” states Lisa Bauer. “His track record, depth of industry knowledge and excitement to drive the growth of our business as well as our customer-centric culture, makes him the ideal leader to enhance the employee experience.”

Mr. McGirl brings more than 30 years of experience in people, culture and leadership to Starboard. A trusted advisor and expert in building customer centric, performance driven teams, he will be essential in shaping and advancing the company’s culture while fostering diversity, equity and inclusion standards.

“I look forward to joining Starboard during a pivotal moment of growth and being able to scale its inclusive culture across the land-based and shipboard staff members,” said Mr. McGirl.

Previously, Mr. McGirl was Chief Operations Officer for The World, the largest privately-owned residential yacht, where he led developing and directing business initiatives, delivering a world-class experience onboard for residents, guests and crew. He has held multiple executive-level positions in the cruise sector as Vice President of Human Resources and Quality Assurance at both Cunard Line and The Yachts of Seabourn; Vice President of Human Resources for Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Cruise Lines; Chief Human Resources Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Mr. McGirl holds a master’s and doctorate degree from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom. He has served as an adjunct professor at Florida International University, School of Hospitality Management; Chair of the Educational Committee for the Marine Hotel Association Scholarship Foundation and is currently Secretary of the Marine Hotel Association. His pursuits outside of work include a keen interest in healthy eating, boating, water sports and general fitness. Philanthropically, he has served on the board of the Covenant House of Florida and on the food committee for Camillus House in Miami and continues to be actively involved in a number of local charities related to services for children and young adults.

About Starboard Cruise Services:
Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea, curates a vibrant world through the finest offering of coveted brands and experiences, creating moments that matter for global cruise vacationers. Starboard proudly goes above and beyond, managing retail operations for ten world-class cruise line partners including Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. The company is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, the world’s leading luxury provider. For more than 60 years, 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.

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gonzalez |FINN Partners
(954) 368-9809
Maureen.Gonzalez@FinnPartners.com

Paula Amador| Starboard Cruise Services
(786) 845-7524
Paula.Amador@starboardcruise.com

The post Starboard Cruise Services Appoints John McGirl in New Role of Chief People Experience Officer appeared first on Star Board Cruise.