Let’s face it: at least 50% of all cruise lovers also love to shop. This is not gender-based discrimination, although the 50% in questions does belong mainly to a specific gender.

These people will no doubt be delighted to hear that Royal Caribbean has decided to refurbish and revamp the retail section on board the company’s Independence of the Seas.

The Royal Promenade shopping street, a retail area with an area of 427 square feet, runs the full length of the ship. It has now undergone a number of upgrades to existing shops to make shopping on board the ship a more pleasurable experience.

The General Store will in future be known as The Gift Box and will now sell souvenir items as well as general gifts.

The Perfume and Cosmetics shop has been given a new name: Desire. It will now sell handbags and costume jewellery.

The store hitherto known as Get Out There has been re-branded as Season and will in future sell fashion accessories and clothing items.

What used to be Fashion Boutique will from now on be known as Duty Free Emporium and sell premium alcohol brands and designer sunglasses to help with the after effects.

Logo has undergone a major revamp and is now know as The Perfume House. Not surprisingly, it will sell perfumes as well as beauty products and cosmetics.

Jo Rzymowska, the company’s UK General Manager, said “We’re dedicated to making sure our guests get value for money from their cruise holiday and now they can take advantage of even more tax-free savings on some of their favourite shopping purchases.”