Shopping and Shows

Looking for some Continental style? Let your passengers check out some of the best shopping cities in Western Europe. And in the evening, tailor-made programs may include a night at a great show or at the opera.

There are, of course, many different places to shop along the Atlantic Alliance coast: many shopping malls are being built in the cities and in the suburbs, offering every kind of store imaginable; huge parking lots; multi-screen movie theaters; and a wide enough variety of activities to ensure that your guests can spend the whole day there.

Famous Stores at the Best Addresses

But what we’re going to talk about here are the famous department stores inextricably associated with certain major European hubs. Moreover, in many cities the tradition of temporary markets still prevails. The big department stores have become institutions, and tourist attractions unto themselves:

They’re often in the heart of downtown, which makes it possible to mix shopping with cultural visits. And they are often housed in magnificent old buildings, which give customers a sense of exclusivity and privilege. Here one location unites a vast number of designer labels, china, linens, jewelry, cosmetics, perfumes, toys, and often a gourmet grocery section that no one can resist.

The stores’ own brands have become a style phenomenon; shoppers want to be seen with logo-embossed bags from such and such a store – it’s très chic!

Most of the stores offer advantageous tax refund schemes to foreign shoppers.

Go On to a Show after Shopping

There are two events at the big department stores that definitely shouldn’t be missed: the Christmas season, when capital cities vie with one another to have the most lights, garlands, and fabulous decorations transforming the streets. In addition, the window displays are spectacles in their own right: fairylands bursting with marvelous, mechanical toys that mesmerize both children and adults, noses glued to the glass, breath fogging the window with each astonished breath.

The second event your passengers should not miss often occurs twice a year, in January and July: the Sales! However, here again, there is no need to be afraid of a crush.

After shopping end an exciting day ashore with a visit to one of the top musicals or a show.