Cunard’s highly anticipated new ship, Queen Anne marked her North American debut on January 18, 2025, as she arrived in New York which was her first port of call after embarking on her 107-day world cruise that started in Southampton, England on January 9, 2025.
Queen Anne’s maiden world cruise will visit over 30 destinations in more than 20 countries. Queen Anne is Cunard’s first new ship in 14 years after entering service in May 2024. The ship spans 14 decks, features 15 dining venues and accommodates up to 3,000 guests.
Other Cunard ships in the fleet include Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.
For the first time in Cunard’s 185-year history, the line has two female leaders in command. Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, one of the few female captains in the maritime industry, is at the helm of Queen Anne, and Katie McAlister, Cunard’s president, is steering the company into an exciting era of luxury cruising.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, expressed her excitement about the ship’s North America debut, stating: “Queen Anne represents the pinnacle of innovation, design, and hospitality for Cunard, and her arrival in New York is an historic milestone for our company. As we celebrate nearly two centuries of maritime excellence, Queen Anne ushers Cunard into a new era of luxury cruising and continues delivering unforgettable experiences that connect people and cultures around the globe. We are proud to contribute to the record-high 1.5 million cruise passengers that travel to NYC bringing $500 million in local economic impact to New York.”
Asian debut
After New York, Queen Anne will sail around the Americas and South Pacific, followed by New Zealand and Australia before reaching her first destination in Asia which is Manila on the 67th day of the world cruise. From there on, she will sail to Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City before arriving in Singapore on March 24 where she will anchor overnight so that guests can enjoy the city till late.
On March 26, she will set sail to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, followed by Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Tenerife (Spain) before completing her journey back in Southampton on April 27, 2025.
Singapore and Hong Kong are the only destinations in Asia where the ship will stay overnight, which includes New York, San Francisco, Auckland (New Zealand), Cape Town (South Africa) and Sydney (Australia).
Key highlights onboard Queen Anne
The design of Queen Anne was led by creative director Adam Tihany, who orchestrated a team of world-class designers to imagine a ship that reflects Cunard’s rich art-deco heritage while embracing modern elegance.
A testament to this artistic vision is the ship’s exclusive collection of 4,300 pieces of art, commissioned from both emerging and established artists worldwide, each offering a unique interpretation of Cunard’s iconic legacy. The ship also elevates onboard entertainment to new heights with innovative venues and experiences including the “Bright Lights Society,” an intimate cabaret-style venue.
With the debut of Queen Anne, Cunard enhanced its wellness offerings for guests. The Pavilion Wellness Café is a new venue serving breakfast, lunch, and daytime dining, with a menu celebrating plant-based cuisine alongside sustainably sourced meat, fish, and dairy.
In addition, guests can enjoy the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea programme which offers three-day packages tailored to relaxation, energy restoration, or recovery, providing a rejuvenating journey at sea.
