It’s a big, big day for Cunard, the storied cruise brand that once operated such legendary ocean liners as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2.
The 184-year-old shipping company is finally beginning sailings with Queen Anne, its first new ship in 14 years.
Under development since 2017 and delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the much-awaited 2,996-passenger vessel will depart late Friday from Southampton, England, on a seven-night voyage to La Coruna, Spain, and Lisbon.
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The ship will then return to Southampton May 10 for a months-long series of sailings out of the port to such destinations as the Canary Islands, Scotland and Norway.
Queen Anne’s arrival marks a major expansion for Cunard. Long a three-ship line, the brand will now have four ships for the first time in years. It’s an expansion that will bring a 42% increase in cabin capacity and allow for a greater mix of itineraries.
It also signals an evolution of the brand, which has long traded on its history and nostalgia for the Golden Age of ocean liners.
Built to an all-new design, Queen Anne embraces the latest trends of travel and cruising in a way that Cunard ships haven’t done before; it’s including a new focus on choice in dining and entertainment, wellness and onboard celebrations.
Related: A sneak peek inside Queen Anne under construction
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“With Queen Anne, what we sought to do is to preserve that quintessential Cunard essence but also to introduce an innovative modernity, which we believe truly heralds a new era in luxury travel,” Katie MacAlister, Cunard president, said Wednesday during a preview event for the ship in Southampton.
Queen Anne offers an impressive 15 places to grab a bite — more than double the number of dining options on the line’s other ships. The venues include Aji Wa, a new restaurant concept for Cunard that serves Japanese cuisine influenced by the seasons of the year. Also new is Aranya, an Indian eatery; Sir Samuel’s, a high-end steakhouse; and Tramonto, which serves Mediterranean dishes.
Wellness-focused areas include a new-for-the-line, glass-enclosed Wellness Studio at the top of the ship that offers yoga, Pilates, Zumba and line dancing during the day as well as ballroom dancing classes at sunset.
A new juice bar and a cafe near the main pool serve healthy dishes, and the ship’s spa was built as a temple to wellness.
The spa offers a sprawling thermal pool complex that features eight heated loungers, four experiential showers, a reflexology footpath with textured stones flowing with hot water, a cold room (a first for Cunard), a large steam room, a Himalayan salt sauna and a traditional sauna. A relaxation room and a wellness suite will round out the offerings.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Cunard ship
On the celebrations front, Queen Anne has a lounge specifically designed for weddings that spills into an indoor reception room. Just beyond the reception room is a new-for-the-line private rooftop terrace space for wedding and vow renewal receptions.
Other notable features of the ship include an expanded Commodore Club observation lounge. The main pool area of the ship, called The Pavilion, is topped with a retractable glass roof designed to be as much a showpiece as a functional structure.
Not everything about Queen Anne is different from previous Cunard ships. As is always the case for Cunard vessels, Queen Anne has a soaring Grand Lobby with a cascading staircase where you can take selfies in your formal night splendor.
You’ll also find the Queens Room, a ballroom that is a staple of Cunard ships.
Queen Anne is the 249th ship to sail for Cunard since the line was incorporated in 1840. Cunard famously began as a transatlantic steamship company carrying mail and travelers between Liverpool, England, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston. It was originally called the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company.
Based in the U.K., the brand is now owned by Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Seabourn and several other brands.
Queen Anne will initially sail in Europe before departing on an around-the-world cruise in January 2025. Fares start at $201 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a quick two-night cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany. Seven-night European sailings start at $618 per person, not including taxes and fees.
Earlier this year, Queen Anne was named one of the nine best new cruise ships of 2024 by TPG’s cruise team.
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