Cunard Line’s new ship Queen Anne departs Southampton on maiden voyage

Queen Anne, the newest ship for Cunard Line, has embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton, a 7-night cruise to Lisbon.

The new ship, the fourth in the Cunard fleet, departed Southamton amid a stunning fireworks display on Friday while thousands of spectators gathered on the shores of Southampton water.

Queen Annge is the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, and joins Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth as one of the line’s three dedicated cruise ships. The cruise line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, is the world’s last remaining dedicated trans-Atlantic ocean liner.

Guests aboard the 3,000-passenger ship will enjoy several celebrations throughout the voyage, which includes a special Maiden Gala Evening and performances by tenor Russell Watson.

“Queen Anne’s maiden voyage signals the dawning of a new era in luxury ocean travel, and her historic sail away from Southampton was a very special moment for everyone connected with Cunard,” said Katie McAlister, President of Cunard Line.

“Here in the UK and across the globe, Cunard is famous for our beautiful iconic Queens. With Queen Anne joining our fleet, she marks not just a new icon but the completion of a perfect quartet.”

Queen Anne will sail to Lisbon via La Coruna and then return to Southampton. From there, the ship will embark on a 14-night voyage to the Canary Islands.

At 113,000 gross tonnes she is the second-largest ship in the fleet after Queen Mary 2, and features a range of updates and enhanced amenities and faciltiies.

These include a redesigned wellness and spa concept, a new Indian dining experience, as well as updated livery and ‘re-imagined’ popular public spaces, such as the Grand Lobby, Golden Lion and Royal Court Theatre.

Queen Anne offers more choice than ever before in terms of entertainment and cuisine, from fine dining to casual meals, and Cunard’s signature Afternoon Tea.

In addition to the four main dining rooms, Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess and Queen’s Grill, there will also be Asian fare at Aji Wa, tastes of India at Aranya, steak at Sir Samuel’s, pub classics at the Golden Lion, and healthy options at the Wellness Cafe.

The ship also debuts an Artisan Food Hall, which serves as the reimagined buffet.

The ship features a new music lounge, and a new headline production show in its Royal Court Theatre based on Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. 

All the ship’s stateroom categories, Britannia, Princess Grill, and Queen’s Grill, have been reimagined to reflect a bolder, more contemporary interpretation of Cunard’s design.