The first ever DFS T Galleria at sea to open on board Dream Cruises ships

Luxury travel retailer DFS Group is to launch its retail concept T Galleria at sea on board Dream Cruises’ two new global class ships, Global Dream and its yet-to-be-named sister ship.

The launch is a result of a partnership between DFS Group’s sister company Starboard Cruise Services and Genting Cruise Lines, the owner of Dream Cruises, along with other cruise line brands Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises.

Starboard Cruise Services is a premier retailer at sea, providing retail operations for eight cruise line partners around the world. The company is part of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Group, which also majority owns the Hong Kong-based DFS Group.

The T Galleria at sea retail spaces at these ships will span around 18,000sqft, offering various categories, including fashion and accessories, beauty and fragrance, watches and jewellery, and food and gifts. The retail offering will include a combination of brand firsts, product introductions and activations, culminating in a seamless experience that is specifically curated for the guests.

“DFS is proud to partner with its sister company, Starboard, on this first-of-its-kind travel retail opportunity. Starboard’s expertise in cruise retail, coupled with DFS’ skill in curating products and experiences for the global traveller, make it the perfect match for the world’s two largest passenger cruise ships,” said DFS Group CEO and chairman Ed Brennan.

Dream Cruises’ two new global class ships will weigh in at approximately 208,000 tons and are expected to accommodate 9000-plus passengers and 2500 crew during peak holiday seasons, making them the world’s largest cruise ships by passenger capacity.

“Dream Cruises is delighted to continue its long-standing collaboration with Starboard and to welcome the first DFS T Gallerias at sea on board our new global class ships. With Genting Cruise Lines’ over 25 years of experience operating cruise ships in Asia, we know that retail and shopping is an important component of our guests’ vacation plans, and we are excited to have the highly coveted brands that both Starboard and DFS represent available on our ships,” said Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines.

Starboard and Dream Cruises have been partners since 2016 when the former opened a boutique at its Genting Dream cruise ship and continued through the latter’s subsequent ships, World Dream in 2017 and Explorer Dream in 2019.

Global Dream will focus on taking Asian travellers around the world to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean from early 2021. 

“We invite everyone to come on board to experience our innovative facilities, thoughtful amenities, impeccable service, authentic Chinese cuisine and the largest variety of Asian and International dining at sea,” said Zhu during a presentation at August’s IBTM China.

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