Queen Anne

The 2024-built MS Queen Anne cruise ship is Cunard's newest liner joining the fleet in 2024-Q1. The boat is currently under construction in Italy, at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera/Venice. She is scheduled for launch in 2023 and inauguration in 2024 May (postponed from January due to supply chain issues).

The vessel (IMO number 9839399) will be Bermuda-flagged (MMSI tba) and registered in Hamilton.

Queen Anne is also Cunard Line's 249th vessel, since the company's establishment in 1839. Although Queen Anne is not the fleet's biggest boat by GT tonnage/volume (113000 tons in comparison to the 148500-ton RMS Queen Mary 2) she is the fleet's largest by max passenger capacity (3353 guests + 1225 crew), surpassing also the sisterships Queen Victoria (2007) and Queen Elizabeth (2010).

History - construction and ownership

Cunard Line is a British-American cruise brand, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Cunard is headquartered in Southampton (England UK) and is among the world's oldest passenger shipping companies. In 2020, Cunard Line celebrated its 180th anniversary.

The vessel (Marghera yard/hull number 6274) is of the Holland America Line's PINNACLE-class, and by design is similar to HAL's boats Koningsdam (2016), New Statendam (2018), Rotterdam (2021).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Grand Lobby (3-deck Atrium's lower level) houses a contemporary sculpture (constantly changing by the integrated lighting effect), Lobby Bar, and a sweeping staircase.

The Royal Court Theatre (designed by Richmond International) is the ship's 2-deck main show lounge that features premium amphitheatrical seating providing perfect stage views from all the 825 seats.

Cunard's new boat has a total of 15 restaurants, including the signature Britannia Restaurant, Princess Grill Restaurant, Queens Grill Restaurant, Golden Lion Pub, Wellness Cafe.

MS Queen Anne has the fleet's largest wellness complex (spa, gym, beauty salon, thermal suites, spa suites) as well as a new hull livery featuring Cunard's iconic crest and a new font inspired by the classic ocean liners.

• Queens Grill Grand Suites (designed by David Collins Studio) are the fleet's largest and most luxurious accommodations, with a large bedroom, a separate dining room, butler's pantry, walk-in closets, marble bathrooms (with seaviews), fleet's largest balconies.
• Princess Grill Suites (designed by Sybille de Margerie) feature a bar area, textured ceilings, premium carpets (by Corinne Hughes' company Mayberry Carpet & Rug Inc).
• Britannia Balcony cabins have bright bathrooms with walk-in glass showers.

Cunard's Queen Anne features a collection of ~4300 unique artworks by young contemporary British artists, like John Biggs (illustrator), Pei Chi Lee (installation artist and illustrator), and Tommy Camerno (including his portrait of Queen Anne on display in the Queen's Room).

"Bright Lights Society" is a new show bar lounge (designed by Richmond International) where are offered hosted experiences and intimate live entertainment (different singers and musicians each night).

The Aft Swimming Pool and sundeck is served by the Panorama Pool Club (bar) providing full waiter service, live band music and DJs. The poolside bar has plenty of seating and offers various beverages (including specialty cocktails) as well as al fresco dining.

"The Pavilion" is a retractable dome-/glass roof-covered venue (glasshouse spanning two decks) with an indoor swimming pool, two spa pools/Jacuzzies, a central stage (for live music performances and fun contests), a large LED screen (outdoor cinema), a sunbathing area (with sun loungers and deck chairs), shaded seating, and a full bar service and a variety of dining options. Part of the 2-deck complex is "The Pavilion Wellness Studio" (by Cunard's Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa) where are hosted indoor classes (yoga, pilates, meditation, etc) with mats and equipment being provided. The Wellness Cafe serves healthy food and beverages.

The spa complex (sized 1300 m2/14000 ft2) consists of 9x treatment rooms (for massages), 2x dry saunas, Himalayan salt sauna room, 4x experience showers, 4x foot baths (reflexology massages), steam room, cold room/ice room, hydrotherapy pool, relaxation room (with 8x heated loungers), Wellness Suite (2x massage beds, infrared sauna, shower room). The Gym is a modern fitness centre, sprung floored and equipped with top-brand cardio machines, has a separate Spinning Studio (for classes), and is served by personal trainers. The Beauty Salon provides hairstyling and barber services.

"Grills Terrace" is an outdoor venue exclusive to Princess and Queens Grill suite passengers. This private sundeck (accessed via cabin keys) features two infinity spa pools/hot tubs, a sunbathing area (with padded wooden loungers), canopy-shaded seating (padded outdoor furniture/sofas, armchairs, pouf seats, round coffee tables), F&B options (full waiter service).

Observation Deck (deck 14) is served by the Sky Bar and is the boat's best vantage point to enjoy the sea views. Sky Bar also serves Cunard's signature cocktails. Observation Deck also houses a deck games zone (quoits, shuffleboard), a full-size Paddle Tennis Court, a Putting Green Course, Golf Nets (driving range).

"Cabana Bar" (F&B venue) is partially covered, has two outdoor telescopes and serves a selection of premium rum-based cocktails, as well as light food and bar snacks. Nearby is positioned a Giant Chess Board.

Outside decks are six. On Deck 3 is the wraparound Jogging/Walking Track.

Decks and Cabins

Cunard Queen Anne staterooms (1397 total) include 192 Suites, 744 Balcony (of which 59x Club), 74 Oceanview (of which 22x Deluxe), 348 Inside rooms, in all 28 categories. The ship has 27 wheelchair-accessible/handicap staterooms and no connecting/family cabins or studios (single-occupancy cabins). The largest are the Grand Suites (1240 ft2 / 117 m2, with a 200 ft2 / 19 m2 terrace).

The boat has 13 passenger-accessible decks, of which 9 are with cabins. Passenger staterooms are in the following types: Standard Inside (windowless), Standard Oceanview, Deluxe Oceanview, Britannia Balcony and Britannia Club Balcony (with glass-fronted, step-out balconies) and the rest are Suites in categories Princess (127), Queen (25), Penthouse (34), Master (4), and Grand (2).

Standard for Cunard/complimentary cabin amenities include King-size custom beds (Sealy Cunarder), smart HDTV, phone, electronic safe box (in the closet), mirrored writing desk with chair, mini-refrigerator, tea-coffee-making facilities, hairdryer, bathrobes-slippers, premium brand toiletries (by Penhaligon's), en suite bathroom (wall-mounted toilet, walk-in shower), 24-hour room service, USB charger points and Europe-UK-USA power sockets (220V/110V).

Theoretically, Queen Anne is a classless ship, but passengers are actually separated (like on all Cunard liners) as their onboard dining locations are according to their cabin's category/cruise fares paid.

Shipboard dining

Traditionally for Cunard's cruise liners, Queen Anne's onboard complimentary main dining room options are four - Britannia Restaurant (for Inside-Outside-Balcony cabin categories), Britannia Club Restaurant (for Britannia Club passengers only), Princess Grill Restaurant (for Princess Grill Suite passengers only), Queens Grill Restaurant (for Queens Grill Suite passengers only). Children's menus are also available. Also cruise price-inclusive is the Lido Restaurant that offers self-service meals including Continental Breakfast cooked breakfasts, fresh-baked pizzas by the slice, seafood (sushi), share boards, desserts.

Alternative options include Mediterranean Restaurant, Pan-Asian Restaurant, Steakhouse at The Verandah (among the specials are Darragh O'Shea Steak, Fruit de Mer Seafood, and The "Beyond Meat" Burger/vegetarian), Wellness Cafe (healthy food and beverage options), as well as alfresco/outdoor dining (barbecue and casual food specialties) and the complimentary Room Service. Grills Suites passengers can make room service orders (for in-cabin dining) from their exclusive MDR restaurants' (Princess Grill / Queens Grill) menus.

At The Golden Lion Pub is offered classic pub fare, ales on tap, craft beers (including 3x ales developed for Cunard by Dark Revolution Brewery - Cunard Black (breakfast stout made with roasted malts, Sumatran coffee, Spanish almonds, Madagascan vanilla), Cunard Red (IPA/India Pale Ale made with robust malts and citrus fruits, served with a hot meal and red wine) and Cunard Gold (classic German pilsner brewed with British malts). Other signature venues to enjoy classic drinks (including Cunard's mocktails Bee-Dazzled, Forbidden Fruit, Cosmopolitan) are the Champagne Lounge, The Commodore Club, The Chart Room, Jin & Fizz Bar, J32 (disco nightclub), Grills Lounge & Bar, Carinthia Lounge, Winter Garden.

The "Perfect Serve" offers 3 gin cocktails using the "Three Queens Gin" (crafted by Pickering's Gin/Summerhall Distillery). Cunard's crafted beers and private-label wines are also offered on tap.

Cocoa fans can enjoy Cunard's signature desserts Belgian Chocolate Orange Cake, Dark Rum Truffles, Bakewell Muffins, as well as the popular Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese tarts), Dalmatian doughnuts (doughnut-type Croatian pastries), Belgium chocolate-based sweets.

Afternoon Tea service is complimentary and inclusive of brand teas and gourmet sweets, including Cunard's fresh-made Classic Scones and the red-black Cunard Macaron. The impeccable white-gloved service is marked by premium tableware and linens, display dishes, stylish decorative pieces, live piano performances. While the Traditional Afternoon Tea is complimentary, at additional cost are offered Champagne Afternoon Tea (premium desserts and fresh fruits served with Laurent-Perrier Champagne) and Godiva Chocolate Afternoon Tea (2x cakes and 2x white chocolate scones served with lime marmalade, clotted cream, Tea Forte, Godiva pralines).

Itineraries

Bookings on Cunard Queen Anne cruises were initially to open in May but were eventually postponed for December 2022. Queen Anne's inaugural season went on sale on Dec 6th (for Cunard World Club/loyalty program members) and on Dec 7th (for general customers).

On May 4, 2022, Cunard announced that Queen Anne's inaugural season will be based on ex-UK roundtrips and homeporting in Southampton England.

The Maiden Voyage (7-night from Southampton to Lisbon/without call ports) was initially scheduled for January 4, 2024. However, in November 2022 Cunard postponed the inaugural cruise to May 3rd (2024) citing supply chain issues affecting the vessel's construction. The new maiden voyage (7-day itinerary from Southampton to Lisbon/Cunard booking code H411N) visits only La Coruna (Spain).

The liner's original 2024 itinerary program included 32 seaports (visited on departures from Southampton) in Europe (Mediterranean, Baltic) and the Caribbean (via an ex-UK Transatlantic crossing).

• Between January and March 2024 were scheduled voyages to Iberia and the Canary Islands.
• In January 2024 had to start a 35-night roundtrip Transatlantic crossing (UK to the Caribbean) visiting the islands Barbados, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Thomas USVI.
• In March-April 2024 was the 13-night Norwegian Fjords voyage visiting 5 ports in Norway, including Haugesund, Olden, Stavanger.
• Mediterranean roundtrips from Southampton in 2024 visit ports in Italy (Civitavecchia-Rome), Spain (Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca), Portugal (Lisbon), France (Ajaccio Corsica).

One-way Transatlantic crossings between the UK and Florida USA (Southampton-Fort Lauderdale) were also offered, including a 12-night westbound (with Ponta Delgada Azores) and a 10-night eastbound (with hamilton Bermuda).

Inaugural cruise schedule 2024 (canceled)

Next are listed the ship's itineraries originally scheduled for the maiden season (2024) as departure dates, lengths, themes and booking codes.

• (Jan 4-11) 7-night "Queen Anne Maiden Voyage" (H403) Southampton to Lisbon (overnight), fares started at US$1900 per person (EUR 1825 / GBP 1560) with double occupancy.
• (Jan 11-27) 16-night "The Canary Islands" (H404) Southampton roundtrip
• (Jan 27 - Feb 8) 12-night "Westbound Transatlantic" (H405A) Southampton to Fort Lauderdale
• (Jan 27 - Mar 2) 35-night "Eastern Caribbean" (H405) Southampton roundtrip, prices from US$7800 pp
• (Feb 8-21) 13-night "Caribbean" (H405B) Fort Lauderdale roundtrip
• (Feb 21 - Mar 2) 10-night "Eastbound Transatlantic" (H405C) Fort Lauderdale to Southampton
• (Mar 2-16) 14-night "The Canary Islands" (H406) Southampton roundtrip
• (Mar 16-29) 13-night "Norway And Northern Lights" (H407) Southampton roundtrip
• (Mar 29 - Apr 14) 16-night "Western Mediterranean" (H408) Southampton roundtrip, prices from US$3300 pp
• (Apr 14-26) 12-night "The Fjords" (H409) Southampton roundtrip.

In September 2017 was officially announced the planned addition of a 4th vessel to Cunard's fleet. The investment (EUR 540 million / USD 600 million) was part of the shipowner's/Carnival Corporation's fleet expansion program, adding newbuilds to the fleets of its subsidiary companies and travel brands AIDA, Costa, Princess, P&O UK.

Cunard's shipbuilding contract (MoA/memorandum of agreement) with Fincantieri was signed on Sept 25, 2017.

In October 2018, Cunard contracted the company Tihany Design (led by Adam D Tihany) to oversee the interior design works on the newbuild, which back then was planned for inauguration in 2022. Adam Tihany's latest project started with the layouts of the onboard dining venues, including Cunard's traditional "class restaurants" Queens Grill and Princess Grill. Besides Tihany Design, other companies currently involved in this project include the London UK-based David Collins Studio (led by Simon Rawlings) and Richmond International (by Terry McGillicuddy) as well as the Paris France-based SM Desing (by Sybille de Margerie).

The vessel's construction (Marghera yard/hull number 6274) officially started on October 11, 2019, with the steel-cutting ceremony held at Fincantieri's production yard in Castellammare di Stabia (near Naples). The special event was attended by Simon Palethorpe (Cunard's President), Gilberto Tobaldi (Fincantieri Castellammare Shipyard's Director) and Sam Shendi (British sculptor).

• Sam Shendi was commissioned to create a unique artwork using as a core element the ship's ever-first piece of metal (the steel-cut) integrated into a sculpture that will be displayed in the Atrium. The Egypt-born Sam Shendi will create the sculpture using contemporary industrial materials, metals (steel and aluminum) and fiberglass.
• The special ceremony was celebrated with a Grand Dinner held in Naples.

For choosing the cruise liner's name Cunard asked for assistance/research the British historian Kate Williams (1974-born). She is also an author of several British Royal Family-related books, as well as a TV presenter (at BBC Two and BBC4 series) and expert historian who specializes in social, constitutional and royal history. Kate Williams often appears in documentaries and TV and radio discussions themed on British history, literature and culture.

On April 29, 2022, at Castellammare di Stabia shipyard was launched the troncone (hull's forward lower/bow section) with which for the first time the vessel touched the water. The troncone (length 165 m/541 ft, width 35,6 m/117 ft, weight 12402 tons) was then towed by tugboats to Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard (Venice) where the boat will be completed.

The vessel's physical construction started on September 8, 2022, with the keel-laying ceremony at Marghera Yard. The ceremony was attended by Carnival UK's management team, as well as Fincantieri and Marghera yard employees. During the special event, into the hull's first keel block, the ship's Master (Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge) welded a unique/newly-minted ceremonial coin, together with an original Queen Anne crown coin.

The ship is powered by four MAK marine diesel engines (model 12V43C) with combined power output 50,4 MW. The propulsion system is based on two ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters) with combined output 28 MW.

The boat's name (Queen Anne) was officially announced by Cunard in February 2022. The boat's Master (Inger Klein Thorhauge) and some of the public areas were announced in March. Captain Thorhauge is Cunard Line's first female Captain and joined the company in 1997 as Second Officer on MS Vistafjord (1973-built/2017-scrapped as "Oasia", aka "MS Caronia" and "Saga Ruby"). Born in the Faroes, Thorhauge became MS Queen Victoria's Captain in 2010. Queen Anne's Second Captain is David Hudson (with Cunard since 2006).

Cunard's newest liner is named after Anne (1665-1714) - The Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland (1702-1707) and The Queen of Great Britain (1707-1714). During her reign (on May 1, 1707) the kingdoms of England and Scotland were united into Great Britain. In 1714, Queen Anne was succeeded by her second cousin - King George I (1660-1727).

In 2025 is scheduled Queen Anne's first full World Voyage out of the UK. The 107-night is roundtrip from Southampton (departure January 9, 2025) and visits 30+ ports/destinations (5 continents) offering 9 overnights and 3 late-evening departures.

Inaugural itineraries 2024 (CANCELED)

Next tables show the liner's first cruises (by destination/all roundtrips from Southampton, England UK) from Cunard's schedule announced in June and CANCELED in November 2022.

The below prices are in USD (Inside cabin rates per person, with double occupancy), EUR and GBP.

7-day "Queen Anne Maiden Voyage" - from US$1900 pp (EUR 1825 / GBP 1560)

(inaugural UK to the Canaries)16-day "The Canary Islands" - from US$3360 pp (EUR 3190 / GBP 2710)

(inaugural Transatlantic crossing roundtrip from the UK) 35-day Eastern Caribbean - from US$7290 pp (EUR 6920 / GBP 5885)

(repositioning) 12-day Transatlantic from the UK to the USA - from US$2210 pp (EUR 2100 / GBP 1785)

(inaugural Caribbean roundtrip from the USA) 13-day - from US$3100 pp (EUR 2940 / GBP 2500)

(inaugural Norwegian Fjords) 13-day "Norway and Northern Lights" - from US$2300 pp (EUR 2185 / GBP 1855)

(inaugural Mediterranean from the UK) 16-day "Western Mediterranean" - from US$3060 pp (EUR 2905 / GBP 2470)

Queen Anne's inaugural sailing was rescheduled for May 3th (2024) and a total of 10x voyages were canceled.

1. (Jan 4) 7-day "Queen Anne Maiden Voyage"
2. (Jan 11) 16-day "The Canary Islands" US$3360
3. (Jan 27) 12-day Westbound Transatlantic (Southampton to Fort Lauderdale) US$2210
4. (Jan 27) 35-day "Eastern Caribbean" US$7290
5. (Feb 8) 13-day "Caribbean" US$3100
6. (Feb 21) 10-day Eastbound Transatlantic (Fort Lauderdale to Southampton) US$1830
7. (Mar 2) 14-day "The Canary Islands" US$2290
8. (Mar 16) 13-day "Norway And Northern Lights" US$2400
9. (Mar 29) 16-day "Western Mediterranean" US$3060
10. (Apr 14) 12-day "The Norwegian Fjords" US$2510

Godspeed!