Swiss-based MSC Cruises, part of the MSC Group, is preparing its MSC Splendida ship for an ‘exciting and ambitious retail project’ later this year after which it will set sail on routes to South Korea and Japan from Shanghai in April 2018.

 

Adrian Pittaway, Head of Corporate Retail for MSC Cruises tells TRBusiness that following the successful launch of the company’s first ship in China– the MSC Lirica – it plans to offer an equally ‘elevated retail offer with top luxury brands’ onboard the Splendida.

 

MSC Splendida – targeting the Chinese market – will start sailing from Shanghai to destinations in Korea and Japan from April 2018 after being refurbished in November 2017.

 

There will be nine shops onboard MSC Splendida offering perfumes, cosmetics, Korean products (especially Korean cosmetics), luxury watches & jewellery, fashion accessories, liquor, tobacco and confectionery alongside some MSC exclusive ranges.

 

PASSENGER CAPACITY OF 4,000

The total retail footprint, the cost of building the new shops and the selection of luxury brands on offer are all still to be confirmed.

 

 

MSC Lirica has a passenger capacity of 2000, but the MSC Splendida has double that at 4,000.

 

The ‘No 1 cruise line in Europe, South America and South Africa’ commenced a 10-year $10bn investment programme last year, which includes 11 news ships, four extended ships and a private resort island in the Caribbean.

 

Founded in 2003, the company currently operates 12 ships carrying 1.6m passengers a year, from 45 different countries.

 

IN-HOUSE RETAIL OPERATION

“From a retail perspective we are really unique in cruise-ship travel retailing,” Pittaway tells TRBusiness. “Unlike most other cruise lines who operate with third party concessions (Flagship – Dufry; Starboard – LVMH and Harding Brothers – Flemingo) we operate all of the retailing on-board ourselves as an in-house operation.

 

“We currently operate 110 boutiques across our 12 ships selling watches, jewellery, liquor, tobacco & confections, P&C as well as own brand and luxury goods.”

 

MSC started operating in the Chinese cruise market in Tianjin, China from May 2016 with the MSC Lirica, which currently sails to South Korea and Japan.

 

“It has been a really positive first 10 months for us from a retail perspective with a unique and adapted offering…[It is run by] an entirely Chinese team and offers unique product ranges only requested by Chinese passengers, such as Korean cosmetics and Japanese Rice Cookers.

 

 

“Alongside the many firsts we have seen we were also the first cruise line to offer Bally accessories and Tudor watches onboard. Alongside these unique elements we have over 150 brands such as Omega, Salvatore Ferragamo, Chopard, Lacoste, Coccinelle, Furla, Swarovski, Bvlgari and Longines.”

 

Pittaway says the company was awarded the ‘Best Cruise Ship Shopping Environment’ and the China Cruise Awards in winter 2016 presented by the CCYIA.