By
Kasturi Datta |
Chinese operator Adora Cruises has partnered with global vacation retailer Starboard to develop a duty-free shopping centre for Adora Flora City ahead of its maiden voyage in November 2026.
The duty-free retail space will cover more than 600 square metres and bring together luxury fashion products from close to 100 Chinese and international brands including Prada, Balenciaga, Fendi and Vivienne Westwood.
The ship will also feature a the ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ collection, which will comprise vintage items from prestigious brands including Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. This is a first for the Chinese cruise sector.
“We’re extremely proud to partner with Adora Cruises to debut a retail experience aboard Adora Flora City that is as stunning and memorable as the ship itself,” said Lisa Bauer, CEO and president of Starboard. “We’ve curated exceptional Chinese and global luxury brands, rare vintage offerings, unforgettable immersive experiences and exclusive collections for the ship’s inaugural season to create an onboard shopping destination where every guest can find something personal, unexpected and uniquely connected to their vacation at sea.”
Alongside the Starboard-curated retail experience, the ship will feature smart and artificial intelligence-powered technologies designed to enhance guests’ experiences.
“We are delighted to join forces with Starboard to bring a world-class, yet distinctly Chinese, shopping experience to our guests aboard Adora Flora City,” said Roger Chen, CEO of Adora Cruises. “We look forward to every guest discovering something they truly love at the Adora duty-free shopping centre and enjoying a relaxing and rewarding retail experience as part of their voyage.”
Adora Flora City, which is the second of two new ships built in China for the cruise brand, will be christened by Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing at Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port in November. The ship will then start its maiden journey from Guangzhou Nansha on 22 November 2026.