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Experience ultimate destinations with Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, in 2025. Lounge on pristine beaches under the warm sun of the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean, or visit the captivating Norwegian Fjords. Indulge in a city break by sipping hot chocolate in Bruges, stroll through Hamburg’s cosmopolitan streets, or admire the iconic Cube Houses of Rotterdam. At the end of each day, the elegant Queen Anne awaits with stunning interiors, thoughtful details, and a space for every mood. It’s the perfect address at sea for your next adventure.
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When Queen Anne sets sail in early 2024, she will become the first new build for the iconic cruise line in more than 12 years. Her debut will also mark the first time Cunard have had four ships in simultaneous service since 1999, as she joins the ‘Three Queens’ Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria at sea.
Queen Anne will be the largest in the fleet, with 3,000 passengers set to sample the famous White Star Service on its sailings in destinations that are still to be revealed. Details of its design will be released in due course, but the cruise line has suggested that its new arrival will merge modern luxury with signature statement features that guests have come to know and love from Cunard.
An award-winning design team, led by globally-acclaimed Adam D. Tihany, has been enlisted to oversee the interior design on board Queen Anne. A travel industry icon at both land and sea , Tihany has worked on restaurants, resorts, hotels and ships across the globe. Some of his most notable projects include The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Belmond Hotel Cipriani.
Cunard is preparing to welcome Queen Anne to the finest fleet at sea in early 2024. The arrival of their 249th ship extends the cruise line to future generations and marks a celebration of Cunard’s rich heritage, royal history, and refined status. Queen Anne joins a luxury, contemporary fleet which now honours the names of each queen that has reigned over the last millennium.
Watch the latest video, where eminent historian and television presenter Professor Kate Williams explains why Queen Anne was the natural choice for the name of Cunard’s new ship.
Cunard have an exciting announcement surrounding their fourth ship coming next week. They’ll be revealing who has the honour of being named as Queen Anne’s first captain, as well as unveiling a little more about the ship and introducing some of the team behind Queen Anne’s journey so far.
Cunard’s new ship, Queen Anne, will be available to book from May 2022. Keep an eye on this page for all the latest updates.
The arrival of Cunard’s 249th ship, Queen Anne, marks a very special time. Cunard is excited to continue celebrating each and every step of her creation, the most recent of which is known as the Keel Laying. This significant moment in Queen Anne’s history happened on 8 September 2022, at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.
The historic day was attended by the Fincantieri shipyard team and Carnival leadership team, as well as selected journalists. The guest of honour was the Captain of Queen Anne, Inger Thorhauge. Steeped in tradition, the Keel Laying ceremony is designed to bring luck to a ship during its construction, and to her Captain and crew while she is in service.
The keel of a ship is its main structural element. It’s the backbone that runs from stem to stern, supporting the entire hull. The laying of the keel is in essence the formal recognition of the start of construction, and the ceremony heralds the completion of the intensive design and development stage. To mark the occasion and acknowledge the significance of old and new, a unique Queen Anne coin has been commissioned that now sits alongside an original coin from her namesake’s reign.
Together, these were embedded into the ship by her Captain, the esteemed Inger Thorhauge. As we all watch Queen Anne take shape, we are reminded of the Cunard journey so far.
A journey of more than historic 180 years. A ship inspired by their past and built for the future, Queen Anne represents a sense of excitement for what lies ahead.
As the countdown to one of the most eagerly anticipated ships of the century edges closer, Cunard will be giving sneak peeks of Queen Anne’s progress… from the person who will know her best. Join Captain Inger, Cunard’s first female captain, as she prepares to take the helm of their 249th ship May 2024.
We’ll keep you posted with highlights from light on building milestones, signature installations and everything inbetween! Here from how Queen Anne’s build has entered a very important phase from the Captain herself…
Packing up in my captain’s quarters on board Queen Elizabeth usually means looking forward to a spell of leave ashore. Not this time though! This is because I’ll be joining another ship in what promises to be a true voyage of discovery, a journey unlike any other I have completed in my 25 years with Cunard. And I am delighted to be able to share this exciting adventure with you all.
I’ll soon have a chance to board my (very) new ship Queen Anne, the latest in our fine line and the 249th ship to sail in Cunard colours. This newest Cunarder is being built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Italy, and I’ll be looking forward to spending lots of time at the Marghera site near Venice over the coming months.
It’s a rather special place to build cruise ships! Arriving at the yard by water taxi from the Grand Canal is an experience in itself. From there, I’ll be writing my Captain’s Log, giving readers a unique insight as Queen Anne is brought to life. The sprawling yard at Marghera is a place already steeped in Cunard history. It was here that my former command Queen Victoria was built and delivered to Cunard in 2007. Fincantieri also built my last ship, Queen Elizabeth (at the Monfalcone shipyard).
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From a technical point of view, these sisters in the fleet are very similar. Each has evolved from the same “Vista” class of design pioneered by Fincantieri and our own shipbuilding team of experts. I remember vividly my first voyages on both ships. I was impressed by both the quality of their build as well as their seaworthiness and the very sophisticated kit at my disposal on the bridge.
Queen Anne is a “Pinnacle” class ship with a different hull design to her sisters, although again one from the Fincantieri drawing boards (or computer screens!), with a huge input from the new-build team at our parent company Carnival Corporation & plc. Modern shipbuilding is an immensely complex process requiring extraordinary expertise in both planning and production. A giant jigsaw doesn’t come close!
Each time I visit a shipyard and see a new vessel being built, I am amazed by the display of skill and technical prowess in so many essential disciplines.The Queen Anne project has now entered a very important and dramatic phase. Her hull is complete, and all the major plant and machinery is in place, deep inside the cavernous steel compartments assigned to house all the things required to operate a 113,000-tonne ship, designed to take guests on the voyages of their dreams. The team are in the process of installing her upper accommodation decks and fitting out the bridge – seeing my new office for the first time will be another memorable milestone to share with you.
I’ve spent a good deal of time poring over deck plans and looking at computer-generated visualisations of the public rooms on board my new ship. She already looks magnificent as you can see in this video. Walking into the Bright Lights Society lounge, and the Golden Lion pub is already a great experience. These are bare steel, covered in scaffolding and with a maze of cabling above my hard hat and below my safety boots, but, already, I can imagine how they will look during the coming months as our renowned designers bring their striking and beautiful concepts to life on board Queen Anne.
The first time I saw my new ship was a for a big milestone in her life in September. It was also a milestone for me as I was asked to don welding gear and secure a set of specially minted coins deep inside the ship’s keel. Cunard commissioned a special Queen Anne coin for the occasion, and this was paired in a sealed container with an original coin from the reign of Queen Anne herself. These will remain in their very special place, far, far beneath the bridge, for a very, very long time as Queen Anne crosses the world’s oceans. When the day dawns for Queen Anne to leave Venice and start her first voyage to Southampton, I have no doubt I will remind myself about those coins.
In the meantime, we’ll be creating all the other very special features which will make Queen Anne such a spectacular addition to the fleet. I’ll keep you posted along the way – and look forward to welcoming you on board my new ship in a little over a year. Believe me, it will be worth the wait!
THERE have been many milestones in the building of my new ship Queen Anne. I have been fortunate enough to witness key moments with my own eyes. For others, video clips and stunning images pinged around the world using the technology we take for granted, have kept me both up to date and excited by progress at the shipyard.
One day firmly anchored in my diary for a long, long while, an occasion I was determined not to miss, was the Float Out. As well as being hugely symbolic, I think the moment the completed hull of a new vessel initially meets water is incredibly moving. Call it a seafarer’s romantic notion, but this process, when water floods into a previously dry dock, raising the hull of the new ship for the first time, is immensely powerful. It’s that transition which sees the complex jigsaw of huge, assembled steel blocks meet water which, I believe, turns a hull into a ship.
Hours before the dock valves were opened, I descended to the dry floor of the huge construction site at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard near Venice. With the flood of hundreds of thousands of litres of water imminent, the dry dock had been cleared and was looking shipshape. It was a striking experience to see Queen Anne’s sophisticated azipod propulsion system beneath her stern. I walked the 300-plus metre length to the bow, covering the entire distance underneath the hull. There, above my head, were the vast spaces assigned to house all the technical kit and other installations required to keep the ship on the move. And above all this were the 13 passenger decks with the luxurious accommodation and sumptuous public rooms which will become the hallmarks of the 249th ship in our Cunard fleet.
I stopped my awe-inspiring stroll at the huge bow thrusters – the units which will put such incredible power and manoeuvrability at my fingertips on the bridge. Forward of the thrusters, the long, elongated form of Queen Anne’s bulbous bow stretched towards the head of the dock. Within a few hours, all of this would be covered in water, the ship assuming her natural state. With the immense scale of what will be the second largest Cunarder in the fleet towering above me, and taking in so much of the technical detail of her design and build, it was easy for a moment to lose sight of the fact that Queen Anne also promises to give our guests an unrivalled experience at sea.
Even before the Float Out, the fitting out of her spectacular public rooms has been continuing at a pace, and two things surprised me since my last visit to the shipyard.
Now, what for weeks have been bare metal walls, ceilings and walkways are being transformed as many of the ship’s stunning spaces are brought to life with the beautiful design and décor, which I know will become a hallmark of the ship.
It’s all a testimony to the imagination and skill of our design team David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie. Their collaboration is creating a modern approach to the venues, suites, and décor. Their portfolios already include luxury hotels, spas, restaurants, and bars as well as high end yachts, and private grand residences. All that experience – not to mention skill and attention to detail – is now emerging on Queen Anne. And it is stunning.
Passing through the Queens Room, it is easy to imagine the magnificent spectacle of Afternoon Tea (served by our white-gloved waiters and waitresses of course!) being enjoyed by the accompaniment of a string quartet. And, nearby, our on board boutiques will offer a very exclusive retail experience for our guests who will be able to browse beautiful goods from many of the world’s most famous luxury brands. Perhaps the most striking transformation in recent weeks has been in the Royal Court Theatre. There is now no mistaking the beautiful design and layout of this fantastic space. The theatre spans two decks and will seat more than 800 guests in supreme comfort. As you would expect, the theatre designers, Richmond International, are tracking progress with very keen interest. They tell me they have been influenced by some of the great sound halls of the world.
I can’t wait to take to the stage here to welcome our guests on board. And when I do, I know that everyone in the audience will have a superb view thanks to the perfect sightlines achieved by our designers.
There are two distinct workstreams underway on board Queen Anne – and they pretty well mirror how we will run the ship when she finally becomes our new Cunarder. On the hotel side, as well as the work in the large public rooms, things are certainly taking shape on Queen Anne’s accommodation decks. Guest accommodation on Queen Anne will be breath-taking. Our designers have excelled themselves to produce suites and staterooms of exceptional style and comfort. Our Queens Grill Grand Suites, designed by David Collins Studio, represent the apex of luxury accommodation at sea. The Princess Grill Suites, designed by Sybille de Margerie, include pattern wall panels inspired by the flowing lines of Cunard’s past liners. These features promise to be wonderful reminder of our history and heritage – in our newest and most exciting ship. Each of these suites is manufactured to Cunard’s very exacting and highest standards, before being installed on board by a team of highly skilled engineers. Once in situ and constructed with all the necessary plumbing and wiring, each stateroom is given the luxury treatment – with furniture, carpets, TVs, and artwork all subsequently installed piece by piece. Once completed, and tested, each stateroom is given a thorough quality assessment so that we know our Queen Anne guests will receive the uniquely iconic Cunard experience. Precision is absolutely imperative, and seeing the development of the ship’s accommodation, room by room, deck by deck, is truly impressive – just like every other aspect of Queen Anne!
On the technical front, the huge job of connecting all the ship’s systems is a mammoth task. So too is all the work required to equip my new office – the bridge! We are looking forward to starting the ship’s engines for the first time so there is a huge focus on both the engines and the engine room.
Of course, much of this machinery is in the very lowest sections of the ship – and my ‘office’ will be at one of the highest points on board – so lots of cables running between the two places.
Since our float out, we have started to see more and more of Queen Anne as she will be seen by our guests.
Queen Anne arrives in:
After years of careful planning and hard work, everyone at Cunard is so excited that Queen Anne is well and truly on her way. In fact, the days are counting down until her arrival. The countdown begins on an important day in the progression of her build, the float out. This is when the whole ship officially touches water for the very first time. At this ceremony that’s steeped in tradition, Queen Anne received blessings and best wishes as they celebrated the flow of water into the ship’s dry dock. Learn more about the event, and stay in the know about all things Queen Anne, thanks to the one-of-a-kind insights provided by her captain.
Queen Anne’s float out 3 May saw another momentous occasion in the construction of Queen Anne, the float out, when she touched water for the very first time. This happened precisely 365 days before Queen Anne is due to set sail on her maiden voyage to Lisbon, on 3 May 2024. At the float out ceremony, all at Cunard celebrated the flow of water into the ship’s dry dock, and we now find ourselves even more easily picturing life on board their newest ship, as she sails the four corners of the world. Carnival UK President, Sture Myrmell, said: “The float out ceremony marks the ship’s transition from her building dock to where she truly belongs – in the water. Today marks a significant moment for Queen Anne as we recognise the dedication by the master ship builders at Fincantieri to build a ship that reinforces our position as a world-famous luxury brand.”
On Friday 14 April Cunard celebrated another milestone in the construction of Queen Anne, the moment she received her crowning glory – the iconic Cunard red and black funnel. She’s now instantly recognisable as a Cunard Queen, sporting a feature that’s adorned their ships for more than 150 years. A feature that’s become synonymous with Cunard’s rich seafaring heritage and reputation for luxury ocean travel.
This step in her development reminds us that Queen Anne is fast approaching her maiden season in May 2024, which includes enticing locations, from the cultural gems of the Mediterranean to the mystical landscapes of the Norwegian fjords. She’ll be the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, completing an impressive quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. Angus Struthers, Senior Vice President Cunard, said: “We are thrilled to mark this important milestone in the construction of Queen Anne. The installation of the funnel is a significant step in the building process and brings the ship one step closer to joining our fleet. For Cunard, the distinctive red and black funnel is an iconic symbol of our heritage and will be one of Queen Anne’s most recognisable features.”
On 4 July 2023, Cunard celebrated their 183rd birthday. That’s 183 years of film premieres, celebrities and memories made on board Cunard ships! To mark the occasion, they’ve unveiled a new image of Queen Anne that pays homage to their rich history and iconic art deco style illustration posters.
The playful tip of the hat to the past 183 years of Cunard was sketched by Polish artist Dominik Bulka. Established favourite venues like the Golden Lion and brand-new Queen Anne exclusive spaces like the exciting Bright Lights Society show bar are featured in the new image, but there’s plenty of light-hearted references to Cunard’s history to discover too.
Keep an eye out for iconic Cunard bellhops and the founder Sir Samuel Cunard, as well as a few famous faces. Can you spot David Bowie dining with his alter ego in the Britannia Restaurant? Or Elizabeth Taylor taking in the air on a stateroom balcony with a four-legged friend? How about Ed Sheeran tinkling the ivories in the Queens Room? There’s even an affectionate reference to Jimmy the hippo, a very special Cunard guest who made his way from Naples to Chester Zoo on board a Cunard ship in 1963.
If you would like more information on Cunard’s new cruise ship launching in 2024, please call us on 01246 819 819.
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