Inspired by Italy: Starboard curates diverse retail offer onboard Costa Firenze

EUROPE. Starboard Cruise Services has partnered with Costa Cruises to launch an Italy-themed retail area onboard the Costa Firenze, which left the port of Savona on 4 July on her first cruise.

The Galleria Shops onboard span 13 stores offering categories from fine jewellery and apparel to handbags, trip souvenirs and travel essentials. Key features include the ship’s rotating Italian collections, with merchandise refreshed twice on each voyage. These include Florentine keepsakes such as pottery, magnets, miniatures, keyrings and more. The shops also offer a Retail Concierge service, enabling stateroom shopping, private retail appointments and concierge-led store outings.

Established and emerging Italian brands are at the heart of the broad, diverse offer

Designed and built by Fincantieri in the Marghera shipyards, Costa Firenze was created in a style inspired by the Florentine Renaissance. It is the fourth Costa ship to sail again in 2021, after Costa Smeralda, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa, following the company’s gradual restart of guest operations.

“Appealing to Costa’s incredibly diverse guests, our teams have created an authentic Italian-style shopping experience amplifying our partner’s vision to bring the warm Italian hospitality to sea,” said Starboard President and CEO Lisa Bauer. “Costa Firenze represents a further step of our long-term partnership with Costa Cruises. It really has been a pleasure working closely together to capture the spirit of the Italian brand and creating personalised onboard retail experiences for its unique guest profiles.”

Italian brands are at the heart of the fashion & accessories range, among them Ferragamo handbags. Other Italian names debuting on a Costa ship include the fashion jewellery brands Ciclamini and Myto Firenze; and Save My Bag, a collection of colourfully designed chic totes, clutches, crossbodies and bucket bags.

New to European guests, What Goes Around Comes Around offers Costa Firenze’s guests a curated selection of designer handbags from Louis Vuitton. Also, the Together as One collection of diamond enhancers makes its debut onboard.

Offered on Costa Firenze for a limited time is the fashionable men’s professional clothing brand Stone Rose offering custom-designed prints. Also new is Lemlem, an artisan-driven brand founded by supermodel, Liya Kebede, with a collection of resort wear, shoes and handbags made in Africa. Debuting soon after launch for the first time at sea and for a limited time will be Di Modolo, a fine jewellery label.

There are also travel retail exclusive collections, including Bally Escapes’ travel-inspired multifunctional travel essentials of water-resistant and collapsible backpacks, carry-on bags and accessories.

Vice President, Guest Experience and Onboard Sales Giuseppe Carino said: “Costa Firenze is the perfect ambassador of Italian style, which we have combined with a series of product innovations designed especially for families and couples. The onboard shop offer completes the immersive Italian cruise vacation experience for all our European guests.”

Costa Firenze is currently sailing a one-week itinerary dedicated to Italy with six destinations – Savona, Civitavecchia, Rome, Naples, Catania, Palermo and Cagliari. From the end of July to the end of August, guests can also visit Malta, with a stop in Valletta.

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