Shopping at Sea

It's no secret that cruises offers lots of shopping opportunities. In port, you'll find local handicrafts and jewelry stores as well as fun vacation trinkets, t-shirts and beachwear. Aboard ship, you can also shop till you drop. You can spend hours leisurely browsing amidst the Lladro porcelain, Aynsley bone china, Swarovski crystal, and clothing and accessories from the likes of Gucci, Burberry's, and Bally. For your friends and family back home, wade through the myriad T-shirts, mugs, magnets and key chains. There are books for sale along with sundries like film, aspirin, toothpaste and sunscreen. Even the ship's spa is like a mini store; shelves are lined with expensive imported creams, ointments, the latest European firming gel or exfoliating scrub, and workout clothes. You'll also have plenty of duty-free items to pick among, from scotch, whiskey, vodka, gin, and all kinds of booze to cigarettes and chocolates. No matter what you're looking for, onboard gift shops and boutiques are well stocked and you're bound to find something that tickles your fancy.

Keep in mind, sales on select souvenirs and clothing are often held toward the end of the cruise, so you may want to wait.

The Fossil stores on Carnival's ships are a great place for browsing. Besides watches, the hip stores also sell cool belts, handbags, wallets and other leather goods.