Louis Vuitton docked a life-size cruise ship and used it for 13,000 sq.ft of retail
Published on Jun 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 27, 2025 at 11:10 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Louis Vuitton has docked a cruise ship, dubbed The Louis, in Shanghai and transformed it into a 13,000 square-foot retail space spanning ten rooms.
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than that, does it?
The life-sized cruise ship is situated in Shanghai’s Nanjing West Road business district and is set to open today (June 27).
The stunning and unique retail space is a label-lover’s dream, while also working as a showcase for the brand’s long history.
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Visitors can step inside The Louis to be immersed in luxury
Measuring almost 100 feet tall (30 meters) The Louis is an immersive shopping experience quite unlike anything else out there.
Outside, the ship-inspired structure features a cabin made from classic Louis Vuitton cases, and the hull features the luxury brand’s iconic monogramming.
Inside, you’ll find 10 themed rooms that combine retail, exhibition, and hospitality.
“The shop embodies the brand’s ‘spirit of travelling’ through ideas, emotions and inspiration, in a joyful way,” said CEO of Louis Vuitton Pietro Beccari.
Spread across three levels, visitors can check out the Louis Vuitton Extraordinary Journey exhibition, or head to the Le Café Louis Vuitton for a high-end bite to eat from a menu that serves up local Shanghai flavors with a western culinary twist.
Other rooms aboard the ship, including the Perfume Room, which is packed with vintage toiletry kits, and a Sports Room that pays homage to the brand’s links to major sporting events, like the Olympics and Formula 1 racing.
The Louis offers an immersive and interactive experience, with live demonstrations inside the Workshop and Testing areas.
“This ship-shaped decoration echoes Shanghai’s urban spirit of ‘embracing all rivers and seas’ and showcases its international outlook of innovation and forward momentum,” President of LVMH Greater China Wu Yue said.
Louis Vuitton is set to open its first hotel next year
The Louis isn’t the first show-stopping structure we’ve seen from Louis Vuitton.
Last year, the luxury label announced it would be opening its first-ever hotel in 2026.
Situated on the chic-as-you-like Avenue des Champs Élysées in Paris, France.
While work is ongoing at the historical building, the French fashion house announced that a giant monogrammed trunk would cover the façade for the duration of the works, and it looks absolutely incredible.
So we can only imagine how lush it’s going to look when it’s finally ready to open its doors.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
