She’s the next in a fine line for Cunard and yesterday (19 April), Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line’s iconic fleet during an historic handover ceremony in Italy in the presence of Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and Italian Minister for Relations with Parliament, Luca Ciriani.
Cunard took ownership of their stunning 3,000-guest ship during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice – where master shipbuilders have been constructing the luxurious vessel.
The event was attended by Katie McAlister, President of Cunard; Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri; and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division.
“We are so excited to welcome Queen Anne to our fleet as
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard,
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. We are now
fully focused on readying her to welcome guests for her maiden voyage on 3 May before she embarks
on an historic British Isles Festival Voyage, including a momentous Naming Ceremony in Cunard’s
spiritual home of Liverpool on 3 June.”
Queen Anne, the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag – and the third built by Fincantieri – will now set sail for Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 May. She will arrive in her homeport on 27 April.
As the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne’s design concepts have been founded on heritage, craftmanship, style, storytelling, and innovation, and the 114,000-ton ship, which spans 14 decks, will offer travellers several breath-taking experiences, and more choices of entertainment, dining, and bars than ever before.
“We are very pleased and
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri
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 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 our Business Plan.”
Cunard has previously announced a series of partnerships for Queen Anne, including Le Gavroche at Sea residencies hosted by two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux, wellness packages curated by Harper’s Bazaar UK’s beauty experts and exclusive British Film Institute screenings in The Pavilion.
She will also boast the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship, with her reimagined Mareel Wellness & Beauty proposition heralding a new era of wellbeing at sea.
