Sale speculation surrounds Miami Cruise Line business

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Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) is understood to be seeking a buyer for Miami Cruise Line, which it bought in 2000, as the parent company seeks to scale back its retailing operations.

Late last year LVMH declared its retail arm "non-core". Its retail businesses include DFS Group, the cruise arm, Sephora and French department stores. DFS manages Miami Cruise Line and the Sephora western hemisphere operations for LVMH.

Starboard Cruise Services, the concession business of Miami Cruise Line, holds contracts on many leading cruiselines. Pressed on the sale speculation, Starboard Cruise Services president and ceo Rob Norris declined to comment. Starboard chairman J P Miquel would not be drawn on the talk of the sale but he said, "In general in my experience, when you are told you are non-core, then the ownership doesn't often last long."

On the Orlando show week, Miquel said that trade seemed a little slow but that it was still very worthwhile to attend. Norris added that the event provided a golden opportunity to meet the vendors and discuss key issues such as merchandising.