During a historic handover ceremony in Italy, Cunard’s new ship Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise brand’s fleet.
Cunard took ownership of the 3,000-guest Queen Anne during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy—where master shipbuilders have been constructing the vessel.
The addition of Queen Anne marks the first time Cunard has had four ships in service since 1999
“We are so excited to welcome Queen Anne to our fleet as she completes a remarkable quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria—marking the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard.
Related: Cunard Announces New 2025 Program for Queen Anne, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Victoria
“We are now fully focused on readying her to welcome guests for her maiden voyage on May 3 before she embarks on an historic British Isles Festival Voyage, including a momentous Naming Ceremony in Cunard’s spiritual home of Liverpool on June 3,” McAlister continued in a press release.
The handover event was attended by Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, as well as Luca Ciriani, the Italian Minister for Relations with Parliament.
Other notable attendees included McAlister, Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK; Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri; Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division; and Marco Lunardi, Fincantieri Shipyard Director.
The new Queen Anne will feature more choices than any other Cunard ship
The third ship constructed for the brand by Fincantieri and the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, Queen Anne will soon depart for Southampton in preparation for her seven-night inaugural cruise to Lisbon on May 3.
The 114,000-ton Queen Anne spans 14 decks and will offer cruisers more entertainment, dining, and bar choices than ever before on a Cunard ship.
Related: Cunard Previews New Dining Venues Aboard Queen Anne
Cunard has announced several collaborations for Queen Anne, including exclusive British Film Institute screenings in The Pavilion, wellness packages handpicked by Harper’s Bazaar UK’s beauty experts, and residencies at Le Gavroche at Sea hosted by famed chef Michel Roux.
Related: Cunard Announces Exclusive Partnership With Chef Michel Roux
Queen Anne will also feature the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal, and spa facilities ever seen on a Cunard ship, including a reimagined Mareel Wellness & Beauty.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, added: “We are very pleased and eager to deliver Queen Anne to Cunard, a pioneering figure in luxury sea travel, renowned for setting new standards in oceanic voyages for over 180 years. This beautiful and iconic ship testifies [to] the longstanding partnership between our two companies, underscoring our shared commitment to excellence and tradition in the maritime industry.”
“Queen Anne, as Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, the other two ships we built for Cunard, proudly bear Fincantieri’s signature, embodying our enduring expertise, reliability, and craftsmanship in shipbuilding. Constructing a liner for such a distinguished shipowner not only reconnects us to our origins but propels us towards the future with a determination to blend tradition and innovation. Fincantieri thus confirms its leadership in the cruise shipbuilding sector, a fundamental pillar of the company’s business project, as both the Group’s Business Plan and the vitality of the post-pandemic cruise sector clearly show,” Folgiero continued.
More news about Cunard
- Cunard’s Queen Anne Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage
- Cunard Welcomes Newest Ship Queen Anne
- Cunard’s Queen Anne to Offer Elevated Retail Experience
- Theatre Producer David Pugh Will Bring West End to Queen Anne
- Cunard Announces Three-Year Partnership with British Film Institute for Queen Anne
- Cunard Announces New 2025 Program for Queen Anne, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Victoria
Are you planning to sail on Cunard’s new Queen Anne? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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