THE high-end business, which falls under the umbrella of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, will collaborate with Virtuoso to create tailor-made “destination retail moments” with its preferred luxury cruise partners.
Guests will be able to purchase hand-made goods from artisans, allowing them to gain “first-hand insight” into their traditional techniques and hear personal their stories, offering a better understanding and appreciation of destinations.
“Our collaboration with Virtuoso is a natural partnership for Starboard Luxury,” said Starboard Cruise Services CEO Lisa Bauer, announcing the move in Las Vegas overnight.
Bauer highlighted the companies’ shared values of preserving cultural heritage and supporting local economies as a defining factor in the alliance.
“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,” she enthused.
The program, which will officially launch early next year, will be developed alongside Virtuoso’s on-site destination companies to discover local makers and host branded retail activations on board as well as on land.
Virtuoso’s preferred cruise partners will be able to access the exclusive offerings, which will also be added to Starboard Luxury’s portfolio.
Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch praised the partnership as “one of our many solutions to the increased demand for more experiential, meaningful and genuine interactions with locals while cruising the world”.
“This desire for more meaningful experiences transforms the way they experience and enjoy our luxury cruise partners,” he concluded.
