Cunard Line Welcomes Queen Anne, First New Cruise Ship in 14 Years

Cunard Line has received its first new cruise ship in 14 years, the Queen Anne, from Fincantieri. This marks one of Carnival Corporation’s last pre-pandemic orders as the company plans for slower growth. Cunard, the oldest operating shipping company in the world, became a luxury brand under Carnival’s ownership in the late 1990s. The brand has added three ships between 2004 and 2010, maintaining its traditional trans-Atlantic crossings and expanding its cruise operations.

The Queen Anne, the third Cunard cruise ship built in Italy, is the second largest in the fleet at 1,508 feet in length. With a capacity for 2,996 passengers and 1,225 crew, the ship continues many Cunard traditions while offering a wide range of fitness, beauty, and spa facilities. The pandemic delayed the ship’s construction schedule, with assembly starting in September 2022 and float out in May 2023. The ship will depart Italy soon for Southampton, England, where the first revenue cruise will depart on May 3.

Carnival Corporation plans to add one to two new cruise ships a year across its brands, with one more ship scheduled for delivery in 2025 to Princess Cruises. The corporation recently ordered two new ships from Meyer Werft for its Carnival Cruise Line brand. The Queen Anne’s naming ceremony is set for June 3 in Liverpool, marking a milestone for Cunard Line with four ships in simultaneous service.

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