Cunard, synonymous with traditional and luxurious cruising, harks back to the golden age of travel. Now Cunard’s new ship Queen Anne has sailed onto the scene – this is what you need to know.
Cunard, synonymous with traditional and luxurious cruising, harks back to the golden age of travel. Now Cunard’s new ship Queen Anne has sailed onto the scene – this is what you need to know.
Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship celebrated her maiden voyage on a sailing to Lisbon on May 3, 2024.
The much-anticipated vessel – the line’s 249th! – joins fellow Cunard cruise ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth on the high seas.
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the ship and how to get your hands on the best Cunard cruise deals.
Cunard’s Queen Anne has a gross registered tonnage of 113,000. There are 14 decks, two swimming pools and 15 restaurants onboard.
On Cunard Queen Anne cruises, as onboard the rest of the fleet, guests can enjoy a dedicated restaurant corresponding to each accommodation category all plating up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Elsewhere cuisines include Mediterranean, Pan-Asian, pub grub, tapas and steak plus plenty of healthy options, and of course, Cunard’s famous afternoon tea.
Queen Anne is smaller than Queen Mary 2 which has a tonnage of 150,000. However, the latter only has 13 decks and six restaurants but it does have four swimming pools.
Queen Anne has capacity for 3,000 passengers and 1,225 crew.
Despite her smaller size, Queen Anne will carry around 300 more passengers than Queen Mary 2 on Cunard 2024 and beyond (the latter having capacity for 2,691).
Queen Anne is not an ocean liner. The only remaining ocean liner in the world is Queen Mary 2.
Ocean liners were built with the primary purpose of transporting travellers between continents and were built for speed in a pre-air travel age, they also carried cargo, such as mail. However contemporary cruise ships cater for the modern, leisure traveller and are more like hotels at sea, offering a wealth of entertainment and covering shorter distances in one stretch.
Queen Anne was built in Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy. The Cunard cruises vessel celebrated its momentous keel laying in September 2022, its funnel lifting in April 2023 and on May 3, 2023, Queen Anne was floated out for the first time – an important milestone that sees the floating hotel touching the water for the very first time.
As with all cruise ships, Queen Anne offers accommodation that caters for an array of requirements and budgets.
Just like her sister ships, Queen Anne’s lowest category is Britannia, comprising Britannia Inside, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms.
These Britannia staterooms are designed with calming blue tones and warm wooden furnishings and come with Penhaligon’s toiletries; UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets; bathrobes and slippers; tea and coffee-making facilities; Complimentary room service menu; a dedicated steward and more.
The Queen Anne cabin category above that is Britannia Club which boasts Cunard staterooms with additional benefits and features such as access to the intimate Britannia Club restaurant, with a reserved table throughout your voyage, along with speciality teas and coffees and priority embarkation and disembarkation.
For even more luxury cruises on Cunard Queen Anne there are Princess Grill Suites which benefit from a prime, central location on board with sea views and are dressed in sumptuous red and gold tones.
On top of all the aforementioned staterooms perks, Grill Suite passengers enjoy a private balcony with seating; a spacious lounge area with seating; daily fresh fruit; exclusive access to the Grills Lounge and outside Grills Terrace as well as the option to dine in-suite from the exquisite Princess Grill menu; and concierge service for onboard reservations and shore experiences.
For the crème de la crème of Cunard Queen Anne cabins, book yourself one for the Queens Grill Suites.
In addition to the above, globetrotters staying in these rooms will get access to the exclusive Queens Grill restaurant, where you can dine anytime at your reserved table; fresh flowers; binoculars and a world atlas to track your travels; a complimentary mini-bar stocked with your choice of beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks; pre-dinner canapés; and a dedicated butler and steward, to name a few luxuries.
Known for its century-long tradition of celebrating deck games, the luxury cruise line has forged an exclusive partnership with PickleballENGLAND, the English governing body for one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK and North America.
Pickleball, a dynamic blend of tennis, badminton and table tennis, can be played individually or in pairs, indoors or outdoors. Queen Anne’s top deck will feature a state-of-the-art Pickleball court, offering guests a unique sporting experience.
Setting itself apart as the sole ship worldwide to offer archery with real bows and arrows, Queen Anne has partnered with Archery GB to enhance its deck game offerings and provide access to world-renowned athletes and Olympic coaches, with onboard instructors accredited by Archery GB.
What’s more, the 3,000-guest ship will serve as an official Archery GB activity centre, where guests can receive personalised coaching, engage in friendly competition, and acquaint themselves with the sport in a social setting.
The Sky Bar and Observation Deck, situated at the forward end of the ship on deck 14, will serve as a haven for deck game enthusiasts. Offering sweeping views and a versatile space, guests can enjoy a range of activities amidst stunning vistas.
Golf enthusiasts can practice their swings on the putting green and fully stocked driving range, surrounded by breathtaking sea views or panoramic port landscapes.
Meanwhile, the Observation Deck and Sky Bar will host the perennial favourites of deck quoits and shuffleboard, providing the perfect backdrop for friendly rivalry.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, commented: “Whether it’s pickleball, archery, or world-class shows and lectures, Cunard is committed to providing guests with a wealth of activities to choose from whatever mood or interest may take them. Our onboard entertainment has always been at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to Queen Anne continuing this trend in the future.”
Queen Anne has more than 60 unique ports included in her maiden season of Cunard cruises from Southampton.
Queen Anne offers Canary Islands voyages in November and December 2024 as well as sailing the Norwegian fjords in the second half of the year. Throughout 2024 she will cruise the Mediterranean, sailing to Italy, Spain, Portugal and Mallorca.
Cunard cruises from Southampton in 2024 will also traverse the British Isles, calling at Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, as well as Northern Europe. Highlights here include Hamburg, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Skagen.
In summary, Queen Anne destinations include:
There are three types of Cunard Fares: Early Saver Fares, Saver Fares and the Cunard Fare.
Early Saver Fares are designed for travellers who prefer to plan their Cunard cruises well in advance and generally offer the lowest prices available, making them attractive to budget-conscious cruisers.
However, Early Saver Fares come with some restrictions, such as charges for changes or cancellations, limited availability, no choice of individual stateroom, second priority for upgrades and no shuttle bus inclusions.
Similar to Early Saver Fares, Saver Fares tend to be priced competitively and may have specific restrictions and conditions that passengers need to be aware of. While they generally offer good value for money, passengers have less flexibility when it comes to modifying their bookings or may face charges for cancellations or changes. They also require full payment at the time of booking.
Cunard Fare is a more flexible fare option and typically offers a range of additional benefits compared to the Early Saver and Saver Fares. Advantages include such benefits as the ability to choose stateroom location and category, a shuttle bus, priority in selecting dining times and seating, and flexibility in changing or cancelling bookings with reduced fees or penalties.
The following is included:
Full board accommodation, all entertainment including shows, full use of the sports courts, swimming pools and fully equipped gyms, full access to the Children’s Clubs and flights and transfers when booked as a package with travel agent Iglu Cruise.
Full board includes the below food, although speciality restaurants will incur a cover charge:
By booking with Iglu Cruise, you can bag Queen Anne cruise deals, of which there are plenty in 2024 and beyond.
These offers come with such perks as free onboard spend (up to $2,400pp – £1,937) if you book a Cunard fare, reduced deposits plus other special deals.
Check out Iglu Cruise’s dedicated Cunard cruise deals page to find one that suits you!
Duration: 16 nights
Where: Southampton | Vigo | Barcelona | Rome (Civitavecchia) | Alghero, Sardinia | Palma de Mallorca | Malaga | La Coruña | Southampton
Ship: Queen Anne
Price: From £2,099 pp
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