Cunard’s New Ship, Queen Anne, Is Designed to Impress

Cunard’s fourth ship has a name — Queen Anne — as well as an initial interior design to share ahead of its May 3, 2024 launch. (Editor's Note: This story was originally posted on March 29, 2022. It was updated on March 14, 2024, to reflect the latest announcements from the line.)

As with many recent vessels in parent company Carnival Corporation’s fleet, acclaimed designer Adam D. Tihany has been overseeing the vessel’s development as creative director for the historic line.

“The principal concept was founded on heritage, craftsmanship, storytelling, style and innovation,” according to Cunard. “These five pillars ultimately became the design DNA for the ship, and accordingly, the engine of inspiration for the designers, working together in unison.”

Among the other designers working on Queen Anne are David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie, whose portfolios include luxury hotels, spas, restaurants, bars, high-end yachts and private grand residences. Their approach is to view Cunard — taking inspiration from the brand’s archives — in a refreshed, contemporary way, crafting an “enchanting bridge from Cunard's storied history to the future,” according to Tihany.

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“Just the way a world-renowned orchestra delivers a feeling, or takes you to a moment or an era, Queen Anne's aesthetic would do the same in harkening Cunard's gilded age, but through the bold, onward lens of modernity,” he said.

Anticipated color palettes will extend to bold, deep blues and accents of golden yellow, as well as rich red and amber tones. Elsewhere, brighter colors with more golden details will sparkle.

Onboard Accommodations

The design team first tackled the Cunard Queens Grand Suites — onboard private residences that will include a dedicated dining room, butler’s pantry, walk-in wardrobes, marble-finished bathrooms with sea views, a spacious bedroom and the ship’s largest balconies — described as “the epitome of luxury accommodation at sea.”

Down one amenity tier, Princess Grill Suites will showcase the likes of a dressing table and bar area with wall paneling reminiscent of the brand’s past liners.

Britannia balcony staterooms will be smaller but equally lovely, with sea-view sofa seating and bright bathrooms with glass-enclosed, walk-in showers.

Grand Lobby and Royal Court Theatre

The Grand Lobby will serve as a brilliant first impression of Queen Anne, providing a “transition from past to present.” A metal mural sculpture will change throughout the day, thanks to integrated lighting effects, while paying homage to Cunard’s art-deco heritage.

Meanwhile, the Royal Court Theatre will be an impressive double-decker, 825-velvet-seat venue taking cues from the world’s greatest sound halls.

Cunard is partnering up with acclaimed theater producer David Pugh to stage West End-level productions onboard. During Queen Anne’s maiden season, the new ship will showcase two shows, beginning with the multi-award-winning “Brief Encounter” love story. The second West End performance will be “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)” — which won the Olivier Award for best comedy. The show is considered a humorous retelling of Jane Austen’s titular love story told from the servants’ point of view, with karaoke. It will debut on the ship’s British Isles Festival Voyage on May 24 and continue on for the maiden season.

“I am delighted that Cunard’s new ship, Queen Anne, will play host to ‘Brief Encounter,’ which is one of my favorite West End productions that I have ever produced,” Pugh said. "It is an immense privilege to be involved with this project and I am so excited to bring the joy of live performance to the high seas. The second show is still in development, but I can guarantee it will be every bit as special as guests expect."

Cunard is equally excited about the venture.

“This hugely exciting collaboration is a real celebration for theater-lovers, and the stage is almost set for guests to enjoy some of the most remarkable live performances onboard our newest ship, Queen Anne,” added Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. "Whether it’s the bright lights of Broadway or the buzz of the West End, the incredible David Pugh, together with Emma Rice, will deliver the very best that theater has to offer.”

More new onboard entertainment will include the Bright Lights Society venue, inspired by the fact that a Cunard ocean liner was the first to use electric lighting, according to the line. Meanwhile, showcased artwork will encompass a total of 4,300 pieces from the likes of photographer Michael James O'Brien, Canadian artist Eric Louie, Brooklyn textile artist Shradha Kochhar and London-based artist Tommy Camerno.

Daytime Activities

A number of fun daytime activities are coming to Queen Anne, including the new craze of pickleball. In partnership with PickleballEngland, the ship will feature its very own court on the top deck. There will also be classic archery at a dedicated center, a collaboration with Archery GB to bring on Olympic coaches and athletes, plus other accredited instructors. In addition, the Sky Bar and Observation Deck will showcase a putting green, a driving range, quoits (a game that involves throwing rings to land on or near an upright peg) and shuffleboard.

“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,” McAlister said. "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.”

Restaurants

A staggering 15 restaurants will also be available onboard, including the line’s signature Britannia Restaurant and refreshed Golden Lion pub.

Queen Anne will also host four bonus dining venues: Aji Wa, Sir Samuel’s, Tramonto and Aranya. The latter will be an all-new specialty Indian restaurant developed by Surjan Singh, known in culinary circles as "Chef Jolly." Dinners will transport guests to the subcontinent on a multi-sensory tasting tour of the spice region.

Dishes already previewed onboard Queen Victoria include everything from smoked pork belly with buttered pao (a type of roll) and pickled red cabbage to slow-roasted beef short rib with caramelized red onion-cashew nut yogurt gravy.

"Cunard is renowned for high-quality dining options, and we’re delighted to be introducing more venues that reflect the vibrancy and varied cultural tastes of our guests,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. "Queen Anne will offer more choices of entertainment, dining and bars than ever before, and we’re so excited to be working with chefs at the very top of their game, such as Surjan Singh, to ensure that our new Queen surprises and delights guests not just in her maiden season, but for many years to come.”

Wellness and Beauty Concept

In early October 2023, the brand revealed more of what guests can expect onboard in terms of wellness and fitness.

“Queen Anne will boast the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship,” according to the line. The Mareel Wellness & Beauty complex will even delight solo travelers with a pampering, embarkation-night meet-and-greet. Meanwhile, facilities will range from cryotherapy treatments to a Himalayan salt sauna and cold room.

High on deck will be The Pavilion, a glasshouse-style, poolside retreat designed by David Collins Studio. A retractable dome will enclose a Wellness Studio, as well as a Wellness Cafe, featuring nutritious daytime fare such as plant-based food and sustainably sourced meats, fish and dairy items.

In fact, architect Martin Francis, known for his engineering work on the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, led the glass dome design, which features an "arched steel frame to maximize height and light in the space as it stretches up and aft to create the new Wellness Studio,” according to Cunard.

Downstairs, meanwhile, will be the bulk of the spa facilities, extending to a beauty salon, a fitness center, treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, changing rooms and a central thermal suite. In the spa, offerings will include a trio of multi-day packages curated by Harper’s Bazaar UK. The three-day programs will focus on detoxing, energizing or relaxing clients. Each program will cost $629 and will include treatments, Elemis products and nutritious dining at the aforementioned Pavilion Wellness Cafe.

“As the world’s longest-established fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar has been synonymous with luxury for over 150 years,” said Sharon Ridgeway-Davies, luxury portfolio director, Hearst UK. "We are proud to be partnering with Cunard to bring guests a carefully curated Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea proposition aboard Queen Anne. Each elevated wellness program has been curated to boost their skin, body and mind, all adding up to the ultimate wellbeing escape.”

Retail Onboard Queen Anne

The retail experience on Queen Anne at the Grand Lobby Boutiques will include items from 115 brands, including luxury watchmaker Bremont, Chanel, Hugo Boss, Raishma, Chapel Down, Whittard and 886 Royal Mint. Garrard, known as the first official crown jeweler in the United Kingdom, will also have a boutique onboard.

Along with the shops, Queen Anne will be home to the unique Cabinet of Curiosities and Experience Lounge, where 38 cases of treasures from several luxury brands will be on display, celebrating “the style and intrigue of travel,” according to the line. Elevated food and drinks will also be offered in the lounge, and a "shopping host," or retail concierge, will be present to help guests with purchases. A personalization desk will offer engraving and embossing services.

“Luxury ocean travel is all about escapism and being immersed in a world full of unique and enriching experiences,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. "It’s a philosophy we are passionate about bringing to life with our new ship Queen Anne, which is why we are all so excited about her elevated retail offering. Nowhere else will travelers be able to find such a beautifully curated collection of luxury brands at sea or learn about heritage brands in such an engaging way as with Queen Anne’s Cabinet of Curiosities.”

Initial Itineraries and Shore Excursions

In 2024 alone, Queen Anne will offer 50 signature shore excursions in 60 ports, totaling over 700 land experiences across its 115 calls next year. During the ship’s maiden season, it will depart from Southampton, England, to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands and the Norwegian Fjords.

Special tours are set to include an exclusive orchestral concert at a secret locale in Barcelona, Spain, and a behind-the-scenes look at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Clients can also visit the Enchanted Forest of Madeira (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), take a fjord safari to a Norwegian goat cheese farm and more.

Perks for Travel Advisors

For travel agents looking forward to the line’s fourth queen, there will be the opportunity for up to 500 advisors to come onboard during multiple events, including two overnight experiences from Southampton, during its first month of operation.

“For more than 180 years, Cunard has constantly refined the definitive experience of luxury ocean travel, and I am incredibly excited that we are now just six months away from beginning the next chapter of our remarkable story,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, in a press release announcing the news. “It is both incredible and inspiring to see the progress that has been made by the craftsman, engineers and workforce here at Fincantieri shipyard, and as we start to see Queen Anne’s interiors take shape, we can all see what a truly magnificent queen she will become. I know that guests around the world are looking forward to sailing with our new queen, and we are counting down the days until we can welcome them onboard.”