LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s retailer at sea, Starboard Cruise Services, and Celebrity Cruises have joined forces to create an unparalleled shopping experience on the latest addition to the Celebrity fleet, the Celebrity Ascent. Embarking on its inaugural Caribbean season from December 2023 to April 2024, the cruise will navigate through the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands before setting sail for Europe, gracing Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and France with its presence.
The retail offerings aboard Celebrity Ascent are curated to align with Celebrity's brand pillars, emphasizing premium vacations and bringing destinations to life on board. The vessel is set to provide innovative retail concepts, including first-at-sea launches and cutting-edge digital activations that facilitate personalized gift-giving.
Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "Our long-time partnership has boasted multiple groundbreaking concepts that have taken the creation of enduring memories to a whole new level. And we can’t wait for guests to experience them aboard Celebrity Ascent.”
The 8,966-square-foot shopping space spans two decks, featuring distinct zones such as the Luxury District, beauty, fashion, resort/Caribbean lifestyle, Swiss timepieces, spirits, and celebrity-branded offerings. The retail selection includes popular brands from previous Edge Series vessels as well as new additions in fragrance, jewelry and watches, apparel, and spirits.
Celebrity Ascent will witness exclusive first-at-sea launches, including fragrances from luxury brand Loewe, presenting signature artisanal creations inspired by nature. Nate Berkus' sophisticated travel and home accessories for The Sunset Collection, which is only available on Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond, will draw inspiration from Berkus' design for The Sunset Bar.
For wellness enthusiasts, the cruise taps into Starboard’s “Beauty for All” concept, introducing a diverse range of hair care offerings with the first-at-sea brand, Olaplex, along with Moroccan Oil Tools. Additionally, body care assortments from Mario Badescu and L’Occitane will be available.
Further, the luxury district on Celebrity Ascent features a debut Piaget boutique, showcasing fine jewelry and watch collections, alongside a standalone boutique for Bulgari. The Time is Now boutique will offer iconic Swiss timepieces from Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Breitling with personalized messages on satin ribbon, a first-at-sea feature. John Hardy unveils its revamped store, engaging guests through interactive installations.
Celebrity Ascent also introduces a multisensory Spirited Exploration at the Spirited Shop, featuring an immersive experience in collaboration with Diageo. Through a quiz and a selection of wines, including vintages with limited production, the "What's Your Whiskey" interactive experience enables guests to determine their preferences for whiskey.
The cruise highlights purpose-driven retail with brands such as Eva Innocenti, Fahlo, Tagua, Mary Frances, and Les Iles du Monde, each offering artisanal goods and inspiring founder stories. In the Sense of Self boutique, Farm Rio, a woman-founded brand from Brazil, makes its debut on Celebrity, showcasing vibrant clothing embodying the spirit and colors of Rio.
Celebrity Ascent is poised to redefine the cruise retail experience, blending luxury, innovation, and purpose-driven offerings to create lasting memories for its guests.
