Queen Anne History

Cunard’s Pinnacle Class Cruise Ship

Queen Anne was officially ordered in 2017. Cunard announced their intention to build the ship during the 50th Anniversary of QE2 Celebration. Today known as Queen Anne, the new ship’s name was kept a secret for much of her construction. She is the 249th vessel built for Cunard, and was ordered from the Fincantieri Shipyard, Italy.

The ship’s design is based on the Pinnacle-class (utilised by Holland America Line). The selection of the Pinnacle-class platform makes the new 114,188 gross ton ship larger than the Vista-class Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Although smaller than the 149,500 gross ton flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne has a higher passenger capacity.

Cunard announced the design team for the public rooms aboard the then-unnamed ship in 2019. Led by Creative Director Adam D. Tihany, the design houses included David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie Paris.

Construction

Cutting of the ship’s steel commenced at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on 11 October 2019, and work commenced on constructing the ship during the early months of 2020. Throughout 2021 and 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic created global workforce shortages and materials delays, with major impacts on global supply chains. This impact led to a delay in the construction of many new ships, including Queen Anne. It led to the planned maiden voyage being pushed out to early 2024.

As mentioned, Cunard initially kept the name of the new ship a secret. This secret was held throughout the global cruise pause, and there was a lot of speculation that Cunard may break with their current ‘Queen’ naming convention. However, in February 2022 the company revealed the name of the ship to be Queen Anne, named after the 18th-century Monarch of Britain and Ireland.

Of the name, Cunard said:

Our close relationship with the British monarchy is a key part of our heritage, and we pride ourselves on a history that is closely interwoven with that of the nation. A fitting name for the fourth in a fleet of prestigious queens, Queen Anne was chosen because of the monarch’s many merits. Reigning between the years of 1702 and 1714, in just twelve short years Queen Anne achieved a great deal, including the unification of Great Britain and pushing forward the boundaries of arts and education, enabling great progress and change. An often overlooked and even mistreated sovereign, Queen Anne was an accomplished and dedicated woman. Well-loved by the people, she was an example of true grace and refinement: two qualities that are emulated by her namesake, our fourth ship.

Queen Anne’s bow section (known in Italy as the Troncone) was launched at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard in May 2022, and later towed to the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard to be added to the stern section. Queen Anne was floated out one year later, in May 2023. At the float out, her Madrina Roberta Mundula performed a christening ceremony. Mundula was selected for the honour due to her contribution to Fincantieri over almost 30 years.

Entry to service

Queen Anne’s construction was undertaken in phases, with the bow and forward hull being built and launched separately to the stern. The block-style construction method makes shipbuilding far more efficient than more labour-intensive methods of days gone by.

The bow section was transferred to the Marghera yard in August 2022, where it was connected to the ship’s keel at a keel-laying ceremony.

During the ceremony, Queen Anne’s first master, Captain Inger Thorhauge, welded an 18th-century coin to the ship’s hull, signifying a major milestone in the construction process. The coin was selected as it was minted during Queen Anne’s reign and was placed alongside a Cunard-commissioned modern coin.

Internally the ship features many of the Cunard signature spaces. This includes the Grand Lobby, Golden Lion Pub, Queens Room, Britannia Restaurant and the Grills.

However, the internal design of Queen Anne sees a radical departure from the line’s other 21st-century ships. She sports a modern interior design while taking some cues from QE2’s 1960s interior, including the use of open-air spaces, glass and bright colours.

The ship also introduces several new amenities, including the Bright Lights Society, a small show lounge with an internal design theme that incorporates hundreds of bright lights that was said (at the time) to be a nod to Servia, Cunard’s first ship to carry electric lighting. Additionally, the Pavilion is a large entertainment space set atop the ship and incorporates a curved glass dome designed by architect Martin Francis.

Queen Anne’s accommodation is of a modern standard and features a variety of cabins, staterooms and suites. The six top suites are named after waterways that are important to Cunard’s heritage. Cunard worked with noted maritime historians Chris Frame (of this website) and Rachelle Cross to identify and research the names of the suites, with the two Q1 Grand Suites named Mersey and Solent, while the four Q2 suites are called Boston (Harbor), Hudson, Halifax (Harbour) and Clyde. The ship features cabins across four grades of accommodation: Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia Club and Britannia.

Queen Anne’s maiden voyage sold out within minutes of going on sale, making it one of the most anticipated new arrivals in Cunard’s history. The maiden voyage was rescheduled from its original January 2024 sailing date to 3 May 2024 due to supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused delays to the ship’s construction. Similar issues plagued other new ships, with the Princess Cruises vessel Sun Princess’ maiden voyage also being delayed.

In October 2023, Cunard hosted a group of travel agents and media aboard Queen Anne at an exclusive shipyard visit. The group were escorted around the ship by Cunard’s brand manager Francis Fred and maritime historian Chris Frame, who pointed out the various amenities and design traits being included in the new vessel.

Queen Anne set sail on her first sea trials on 2 February 2024. The voyage from Venice to Palermo lasted three days and allowed the ship to be run at sea for the first time. The ship was officially handed over to Cunard on 19 April 2024 at a ceremony held at Fincantieri. It was intended to sail Queen Anne to Southampton ahead of a 29 April travel agent preview, however on 20 April this event was cancelled to allow the line to complete ‘finishing touches’ to the ship ahead of the Maiden Voyage.

Queen Anne departed Southampton on her maiden voyage on 3 May 2024, sailing to A Coruña and Lisboa before returning to Southampton. The voyage took place under the command of Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, with Chief Engineer Jon Cammish overseeing the technical side of the ship’s introduction into service.

Neil Kelly was the ship’s inaugural Entertainment Director, with Maritime Historian Chris Frame joined by Yeoman Warder Peter McGowran and Sports Broadcaster Clare Balding as the maiden insights presenters.

The ship was officially christened in an unusual ceremony held in Liverpool on 3 June 2024. Cunard took the unconventional step of selecting the ‘City of Liverpool’ as the ship’s ‘Godparent’ rather than one individual human. It had been anticipated by many that a member of the Royal Family might christen the ship, as Cunard had seen on every Queen since Queen Mary in 1936.

Five ‘Liverpool icons’ were invited on stage to represent the city, including former Spice Girl and author Melanie C, broadcaster Ngunan Adamu, local restaurateur Natalie Haywood, Liverpool musician Jayne Casey and British Olympian heptathlon athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Of the naming ceremony, Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said:

“I would like to thank our Liverpool Icons, these amazing women, for representing the city and taking part in this historic ceremony and to all of the people of Liverpool for once again opening your hearts and welcoming Cunard and Queen Anne.”

Service Career

Queen Anne’s initial months were marred by low levels of food and service, which were reported by travel journalists and vloggers in May and June 2024. However, the ship has since relaxed into a schedule of successful cruises, based out of Southampton.

In January 2025, the ship undertook her first transatlantic crossing as a direct service from Southampton to New York.

This winter crossing saw the ship battered by bad weather, resulting in damage onboard the vessel as well as delays to her New York arrival. It illustrated the difference in handling characteristics of Queen Anne compared to the QM2. That same month, she departed on her first World Cruise. The voyage included her maiden transit of the Panama Canal and calls at Auckland and Sydney.

The ship repeated its World Cruise in 2026, though this time it avoided the direct transatlantic crossing. The voyage included a call at Luganville, Vanuatu, which was a last-minute diversion to avoid unfavourable tender conditions at Port Vila, whose pier was damaged by cyclonic weather. A few weeks later, north of Australia, Queen Anne passed QM2 at sea.

Cunard announced later that year that in 2028, Queen Anne will rendezvous with the other Cunard ships in Liverpool.

Image of Queen Anne under construction is by Chris Ison, Courtesy Cunard.