Page 13 - European Cruise Traveller Duty & Tax Free Retail

Although this is conducted via on-board services, such as some cruise liners incorporating speciality restaurants, theatre shows or celebrity guests, the geographical make-up of the European region provides fairly significant service differentiation within itself. For example, although the Mediterranean and Northern European markets are seen as the two key European cruise sub-region, each sub-region in isolation has the potential to offer various cruising experiences.
The Mediterranean region is split between the Eastern and Western areas, with industry sources suggesting that first time cruisers are more suited to services in the Western services (where itineraries incorporate locations such as Rome, the South of France and Spain) as opposed to Eastern services (where itineraries incorporate locations such as the Greek islands and Turkey) which are described as for those wishing to take the ‘next step’.
A similar situation exists in the North European region with various cruise services around the British Isles and Western Europe (where itineraries incorporate locations such as London, Amsterdam and Hamburg) as well as those within the Baltic / Nordic region. However, the Baltic / Nordic region in itself offers two very different cruise experiences, with Nordic cruise itineraries incorporating Norway's west coast, the Norwegian fjords and more Western locations such as Iceland. In contrast to the geographical sightseeing nature of Nordic cruises, Baltic cruises are designed more around art, culture and history, with leading destinations including Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and Copenhagen.
The Mediterranean region is split between the Eastern and Western areas; the North European region offers services in the UK & Western Europe area as well as the Nordic & Baltic areas
Industry Insider:
European Cruise Duty & Tax Free Retail 2015
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