There’s something synonymous between holidays and shopping. And I always seem to come across items I’ve always wanted but never new existed.

This is especially the case when travelling abroad investigating local markets and speciality shops.

I sometimes think that when my family goes on holiday we need to budget in advance for double our costs just to cope with the likely purchases to be made en-route – and that’s just the adults, never mind our seven and four-year-old children.

However, buying bonanzas of this nature when flying have to be self-limiting, especially when going in Europe with certain well-known so-called low cost airline that charges the earth for every extra including checking in well laden luggage into the hold.

And cruise ship shopping can be pretty ropy in my experience – a bit like a dodgy flea market selling discounted watches, chunky jewellery and odd-shaped glass ornaments that would do any self-respecting mantelpiece no favours whatsoever.

Improvements have definitely been made on newer ships, but there’s still a predominance of what I would politely call tat amongst the more quality items.

The ship’s the store

Cruise holidays help circumvent concerns over excessive shopping as you can carry on as many bags as you can physically handle from the many shore (shopping) excursions. The downside on fly-cruises is being prepared to cough up for excess baggage charges at the airport before your flight home.

This I confidently predict will become a cash cow for airlines flying passengers home to the UK after their cruise around the Caribbean on what will be the world’s largest cruise ship when it enters service from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the end of the year.

For Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, is going to feature 13 stores, including an open-air shopping space covering more than 10,000 square feet. The shops are going to range from those appealing to children and teenagers through to jewellery and duty-free outlets for adults.

All in all, four of the vessel’s seven themed neighbourhoods will be out to entice shoppers – the outdoor Central Park, Broadwalk and Pool and Sports Zone and the internal Royal Promenade – already a familiar feature on the line’s Voyager and Freedom-class ships.

What’s in the shops?

All the signs appear to be promising, with an abundance of designer label brands being touted and even, wait for it, “organic” T-shirts from a store featuring ethnically sourced gifts that are supported by the World of Good organisation.

Brands new to the Royal Caribbean fleet include jewellery from Roberto Coin, Charriol and Yvel, as well as cruise line favourites, such as cosmetics by Chanel and Christian Dior.

Also new is luxury leather goods retailer, Coach, to be located in the Central Park ‘neighbourhood’ on the massive 2,700-cabin ship, selling designer handbags, leather goods, sunglasses and scarves.

The family entertainment-focused Boardwalk area will include Star Pier. Described as an interactive, hybrid shop, this outlet will feature the latest technology and clothing from the likes of Roxy, Quiksilver and DC Apparel, as well as a DJ station and Nintendo Wii game area.

The spirit of Woolworths will live on with a pick’n’mix sweet store called Candy Beach offering more than 70 varieties of sucky stickiness.

If this alone doesn’t send pester power into overdrive, then a traditional merry-go-round with souvenir shop and Pinwheels children’s clothing and accessory store with play area should do the trick.

And all of this is before reaching the open-air shop on the pool deck called Breeze which is to be stocked with books, sunglasses, tote bags and sun care items.

I, for one, hope Oasis of the Seas can live up to its pre-launch promise to “fully transform the shopping experience at sea”.

But my advice is to wipe out all your credit cards well in advance as you’re going to be on a 24/7 shopping and entertainment Oasis where retail therapy will play a significant part of your seven-night sojourn in the sun. And don’t forget spare cash to cover the excess airline baggage charges on the way home.

If you’re interested in cruising on the largest cruise ship in the World, Virgin Holidays Cruises have departures from January 2010 until November 2010 for 14 nights.
7 nights in Orlando, 7 nights cruising the Caribbean from £1,199.

Phil Davies

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