Souvenir Shopping on a Cruise Holiday

Souvenir shopping is a great way to take a small slice of your holiday destination home with you when your cruise getaway comes to an end. Whether it’s local food and drink, arts and crafts or something different, there is plenty of time to pick up an array of trinkets for yourself, your friends or your family on a voyage. To help you see what’s out there, here’s our guide to some of the best shopping experiences and local souvenirs in some of the world’s most popular cruise destinations.

Rome, Italy

Italy is a fascinating country brimming with vibrant culture and ancient heritage, which also makes it the perfect destination in which to pick up a range of splendid gifts and souvenirs. The historic city of Rome – Italy’s bustling capital city – is reachable from the port of Civitavecchia and filled with wonderful shops and markets selling a variety of marvellous keepsakes. Spend time browsing the city’s oldest marketplace, Campo de’ Fiori – held in the same square each morning except Sundays for over 140 years. Elsewhere, explore the Mercato delle Stampe and Via Sanno Market to find an assortment of antiques, handicrafts, clothing and accessories. Porcelain figurines and high-quality leather goods are particularly prominent within Italian markets and make for ideal gifts and mementos.

A more contemporary and extravagant souvenir shopping experience is available in Rome’s many opulent shopping malls and department stores, where you will locate a number of famous brands and high-end products such as electronics, jewellery and big-name fashion garments. The city’s Roma Est and Porta de Roma malls are both home to over 200 shops, bars and restaurants alongside impressive multiplex cinemas.

Tokyo, Japan

The city of Tokyo, Japan’s lively capital, is famous for its diverse and exciting shopping opportunities and the wide range of intriguing gifts and souvenirs on offer. There are plenty of keepsakes available across Tokyo, from authentic arts and crafts and traditional garments to quirky trinkets and local delicacies. Pick up a Japanese Kimono for that authentic Japanese style or select some traditional chopsticks or lacquered pottery to bring a small piece of Japanese culture home with you. A number of other peculiar but popular gift items are on offer in Tokyo including, fake food key rings, incense pouches, bonsai kits, manga comic books and the world famous beckoning cat – or maneki-neko – figurines.

There are many superb and varied shopping districts across Tokyo, perhaps the most popular of which are the Shinjuku and Shibuya areas of town. These two vibrant districts are hubs of entertainment and shopping, where you will find a profusion of trendy boutiques, electronic retailers and underground shopping arcades. Elsewhere, situated on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, is the Odaiba shopping district, where a plethora of shopping and entertainment options are on offer as well as a luxurious Venice-themed area known as Venus Fort.

New York, USA

New York City, on the East Coast of America, offers some of the best souvenir shopping experiences in the world at a wide range of locations across the metropolis. Many people are tempted to pick up the iconic ‘I Love New York’ souvenirs, whether it be t-shirts, mugs, key rings or fridge magnets, most of which are available in abundance from various street vendors. New York’s best shopping districts, however, offer and incredible variety of products guaranteed to delight the droves of tourists who arrive in the city every year.

Two of New York’s most famous shopping arcades are Bloomingdale’s and Barney’s, both of which offer a collection of designer fashion and sophisticated garments. Elsewhere downtown, you should take time to explore the city’s iconic streets and range of colossal stores, which include Grand Central Terminal, Soho, Macy’s, Strand Bookstore and the world-famous Tiffany & Co. Everywhere you turn in New York you will find somewhere new to shop, so make the most of your time in the region by picking up some great gifts and souvenirs.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul boasts a diverse collection of shopping possibilities, from bustling and colourful markets and bazaars to modern shopping malls filled with contemporary products. The city’s markets are a tremendous place to purchase an array of local spices and delicacies as well as an assortment of authentic handicrafts produced by local people. Alternatively, Istanbul’s opulent shopping malls are home to a range of well-known brands and high-end boutiques, many of which boast stunning 20^th and 21^st century architecture.

When it comes to markets, the city’s Grand Bazaar is one of Istanbul’s most popular. The bazaar was establishment centuries ago, in 1461, and contains around 5000 stalls, selling everything from arts and crafts to jewellery and spices. A wealth of local souvenirs are available from the city’s vibrant marketplaces, so spend time browsing the area’s many stalls to find the ideal keepsake. A very different kind of shopping experience can be found in city’s large and imposing shopping centres. Choose from a range of fashion boutiques, electronics stores and other retailers in the four-storey Kanyon Mall, the fashion-centric City’s department store or the eco-friendly Istinye Park.

These examples are just a small selection of the souvenir shopping experiences available in stunning destinations around the world. For the latest itineraries calling in these ports amongst many others, call our dedicated Cruise Concierge on the number at the top of the page or follow the links to our main website.

Image Credits:

(1) WiNG – wikimedia.org

(2) WeFt – wikimedia.org