on board shops

[mya603]

What quality of items are in the shops?

[robandana]

What quality of items are in the shops?

 

They have quite a variety of quality items from very expensive top name brands to the cheap $10 junk they pile on tables.

 

High end watches, hand bags, jewelry and some nice clothing too. They also have duty free liquor and cigarettes and they even sell candy, chocolates, chips and toiletries.

Edited May 4, 2015 by robandana

[Colo Cruiser]

What quality of items are in the shops?

 

 

What are you looking for?

[VibeGuy]

I can speak to fragrances and liquor; the fragrance selection is primarily prestige brands like you'd find in a better department store, with a few duty free exclusive sizes and varieties. Prices are competitive and if you use the various promos and coupons, darned competitive to downright cheap.

 

Liquor is mostly large global brands in liters or 40 oz bottles. Prices are decent relative to most retailers, but are not as low as some duty free shops on shore.

[mya603]

What are you looking for?

 

Was just wondering. This will be my first cruise. I don't know what to expect. Not that ill do a lot of shopping.

[Colo Cruiser]

Was just wondering. This will be my first cruise. I don't know what to expect. Not that ill do a lot of shopping.

 

Most things are pretty expensive. We may get souvenirs/duty free liquor etc from the gift shop and every once in awhile we will get an

expensive item or 2.

Swarovski Parrots that we collect were the last big ticket items we purchased.

[cr8tiv1]

They will have a "Christmas" sale and Outlet sale in the dining room from about 10 AM to 1 PM. Lots of T-shirts, ball caps, left overs from previous itinerary, clothes, etc.

 

They have a high end Jewelry Store that will have daily sales and presentations.

 

They have a Sundry store for drug store items and travel accessories.

 

If there are entertainers on board with CDs, they sometimes carry them.

 

I found that their Swarovski items are below market value and tax free.

 

Boutiques include Facets (Jewelry), Calypso Cove (T-shirts, trinkets, etc), and the Fragrant/makeup store.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

My advice is not to buy anything onboard unless you already are familiar with prices for that item, or at least hop online and check prices first. Not everything in the shops is a good deal, even duty free, but some things are. Quality of merchandise ranges from high-end prestige items to souvenier junk.

Edited May 4, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78

[skynight]

You can get the standard LOGO or port "T" shirts, caps, mugs, at a normal price, but prices in the ports are usually better. The shops leftover items for $10 or less, items like sweat shirts from the Alaska season on cruises to Hawaii.

 

The shops also carry high end brands like Tommy Bahama, etc. at the normal store prices.

[Miss Pat]

I can speak to fragrances and liquor; the fragrance selection is primarily prestige brands like you'd find in a better department store, with a few duty free exclusive sizes and varieties. Prices are competitive and if you use the various promos and coupons, darned competitive to downright cheap.

 

Liquor is mostly large global brands in liters or 40 oz bottles. Prices are decent relative to most retailers, but are not as low as some duty free shops on shore.

I don't know about perfumes but if Princess sells a particular in their shop they'll match any price you find at a port stop if you take a photo showing size & price.

Add to that an Elite 10% discount if you qualify & it's worth while. :D

I'm going to check on Perfumes next cruise.

[eandj]

A lot of the cruise line branded merchandise goes on sale big time towards the end of the cruise. T shirts, jackets, hats etc. Tables full of stuff including things they bring out from the back. So don't buy anything early in the cruise unless really needed.;)

[AKman2495]

My DW says little during the cruise about buying anything...but she is always looking....then a day or so before the end of the cruise she says "lets go shopping",,,,actually she means "Let go buying..".

 

There are nice things to buy and junk to buy and things that you would never buy. But is is fun checking it all out.....

[shredie]

On my January cruise to South America, I ended up being colder than I thought I would, so I got a nice windbreaker jacket in the shop. It's good quality, and I've been wearing it all the time at home. It cost more than I would have paid on land, but I was freezing in the lounges and the casino. :)

[caribill]

A lot of the cruise line branded merchandise goes on sale big time towards the end of the cruise. T shirts, jackets, hats etc. Tables full of stuff including things they bring out from the back. So don't buy anything early in the cruise unless really needed.;)

 

The "big time sale" merchandise is not what you would find in the boutiques earlier in the cruise at a higher price.

 

As someone else pointed out, it is usually items from past cruises in another part of the world.

[Lynda90]

To me the choices in women's type attire is terrible. The same stuff they have had year after year and very dated styles. I wish they would have more shops with actual things that are worth buying. JMHO! :p

[boomerone]

Sailed on Sapphire in January in southeast Asia and was shocked to see the outrageous prices ($350-400 USD for a shirt or windbreaker) and woeful inventory (mostly small sizes) for most of the clothing items in the boutiques. Strolled through on day one and didn't go back. Princess is obviously catering to their cashed up Chinese, Japanese, and Russian clients. Would not want to be a sales clerk in the boutiques as very few folks were in the shops. I've heard the Diamond has done the same thing. Hopefully the other ships won't have the same high prices and poor inventories.

[shredie]

Sailed on Sapphire in January in southeast Asia and was shocked to see the outrageous prices ($350-400 USD for a shirt or windbreaker) and woeful inventory (mostly small sizes) for most of the clothing items in the boutiques. Strolled through on day one and didn't go back. Princess is obviously catering to their cashed up Chinese, Japanese, and Russian clients.

 

I was on the Sapphire just before she left the west coast. They were modifying the shops at the time. I guess the new demographic wants expensive goods.

[Flo71]

A lot of the cruise line branded merchandise goes on sale big time towards the end of the cruise. T shirts, jackets, hats etc. Tables full of stuff including things they bring out from the back. So don't buy anything early in the cruise unless really needed.;)

 

Yep window shop only first few days, no buying until the end of cruise sales.;):D

[GUT2407]

We got matching watches on Pacific Princess about 10 years ago, they are still going strong and cost about 35% of what they were on land.

[Miss Pat]

They seem to have changed their clothing designs somewhat but the prices I've seen lately are outrageous. Especially when I can buy similar outfits here in Florida at Bealls outlet for a fraction of what they were asking on the ships.

Does anyone actually purchase these things? ;)

[caribill]

Both on the ship and at the ports the big push is that the items are "duty free."

 

However, very few items in the USA carry any meaningful duty costs anymore.

 

So most of the items sold as "duty free" are at the full manufacturer's suggested retail price. What you save is any local sales taxes at home.

 

Of course alcohol and tobacco do come without the federal and state alcohol taxes, but some states (especially Texas now) will charge you the state tax when you disembark there. Some countries will do the same (example: Singapore if your cruise stopped in Malaysia).

 

And quantities of alcohol and tobacco are allowed tax free into the USA (and many other countries) are very limited.

Edited May 5, 2015 by caribill

[SoCal Cruiser78]

They seem to have changed their clothing designs somewhat but the prices I've seen lately are outrageous. Especially when I can buy similar outfits here in Florida at Bealls outlet for a fraction of what they were asking on the ships.

Does anyone actually purchase these things? ;)

 

I'm guessing most of the sales are to those who have lost their luggage or forgot to pack something needed. They wouldn't keep the shops open if they didn't make money.

[kendon]

I just bought a Citizen watch on the Regal that beat any price I've seen on land.

[shredie]

I'm guessing most of the sales are to those who have lost their luggage or forgot to pack something needed. They wouldn't keep the shops open if they didn't make money.

 

I think that may be true. I know another thing I get talked into buying is a toy when I have the grandkids along. ;)

[BratDet]

interest you.

 

We have bought watches....at assorted price point and brands...nothing super expensive (over 500$).

 

I also love buying a 10$ watch every time I sail Princess, as I use them for work and try to find different colors...

 

My last purchase was a Jackie O necklace...just because I had seen it on one of my earlier Princess cruises, but then it disappeared from the ship selection.

Was shocked to see it in the shops, so I was thrilled to buy it. Don't remember exact cost...at least 150...but definitely under 200$. I could care less it is a Jackie O item, I just liked the necklace...

 

Clothes overall are pretty ugly, but I look just in case they have improved the selection....the 10$ evening bags and pashminas are good in a pinch....

 

The only true gemstones (Bermuda) (same day resizing!! woo hoo) and blue diamond rings (St. Thomas) (not superexpensive) we bought while cruising...were off the ship....

So, it's always fun to look!

Bernadette

Bernadette