Apple stores take to the seas

Truly, there is no place on earth that couldn't use a genius or two: Celebrity Cruises, which is now an authorized Apple reseller, says it will have the full-on Apple experience on one of its upcoming cruise packages.

Launching in April, the Celebrity Eclipse cruise will include the first "Celebrity iLounge," which is:

composed of three main areas: a series of 26 contemporary workstations where guests can check their e-mail, retain their social media connections, or print boarding passes; a retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to see and try out the latest MacBooks, iPods and accessories; and an enrichment center where certified staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.

"Our new Celebrity iLounge is a direct outgrowth of our 'Designed for you' brand platform, and our commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences and programs expressly designed for them," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our surveys show that our guests rely heavily on the Internet for research, learning and staying in touch, so we think this new offering will be a big hit, as will the contemporary online classes offered through the 'Discover' series of our inspiring and enriching 'Celebrity Life' experiences."

According to a press release, those iPods and MacBooks will be for sale in the retail area, which also will include a 56-inch flat screen for classroom use.

What do you think of this ... if you pay four digits for a luxury cruise, do you want it to become an extended shopping opportunity? Or do you go on a cruise to get away from shopping?