Cunard’s newest vessel, Queen Anne, made a brief return to Liverpool, the city long associated with the origins and heritage of the British cruise line. The call formed part of a British Isles itinerary, allowing ~3,000 passengers to spend a day ashore before the ship continued onward to Cobh in the Republic of Ireland.
The 113,000-tonne vessel occupies a significant place in Cunard’s modern fleet and maritime history. In June 2024, Queen Anne was officially named on Liverpool’s waterfront, reinforcing the enduring connection between the city and the company. The naming ceremony featured five women representing Liverpool, including singer Melanie Chisholm and athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, with the city itself designated as the ship’s godparent.
With 14 passenger decks, Queen Anne embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton on May 3rd, 2024. Her return to Liverpool highlighted a relationship that stretches back nearly two centuries. Cunard’s first transatlantic crossing departed Liverpool in July 1840, establishing a service that would become a defining chapter in the history of ocean travel.
Liverpool served as Cunard’s headquarters for 128 years, from 1840 until 1967, and remains widely regarded as the company’s spiritual home. The arrival of Queen Anne on the Mersey therefore represented not only a routine port call, but also a continuation of the long-standing maritime ties between the city and one of the world’s most recognised passenger shipping brands.