Queen Anne sets sail for Southampton ahead of historic maiden voyage

April 29, 2024

This is the moment Cunard’s newest ship Queen Anne set sail for her homeport of Southampton after officially joining the luxury cruise line’s iconic fleet.

Cunard took ownership of their stunning 3,000-guest ship during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice.

Crowds joined together at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard to wave an emotional goodbye to Queen Anne after five years of skilled construction in Italy.

Queen Anne, the 249^th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, will now set sail for the south coast ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 May. She will arrive in her homeport on 30 April.

During the sail home, Captain Inger Thorhauge and her crew will be excitedly preparing for the ship’s very first guests to join the 113,000-ton Queen.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “We are immensely proud of Queen Anne. Not only does she reflect the Cunard distinctive style on the outside, the inside perfectly echoes the brand heritage with reimagined, elegant spaces and designs. We can’t wait to welcome guests on board for her maiden voyage on 3 May.”