Standing at the dock in Southampton, Cunard‘s newest ship in 14 years stood 14 decks and 236 feet tall as her first guests came aboard in a quintessentially English drizzle. The 3,000-passenger Queen Anne was ready for her debut, wowing a group of international travel advisors and media, including Recommend.
Design of Queen Anne‘s distinctive look began in 2018 in the British port town of Liverpool, home of the Cunard archives—the first Cunard ship launched a transatlantic sail there in 1840—blending distinct Cunard touches of art deco and maritime accents.
“We started by presenting a project that epitomized Cunard,” Creative Director Adam Tihany told an audience gathered in the Commodore Club, Cunard’s signature martini bar. “Heritage, style, story telling, craftsmanship and innovation were the pillars composing the DNA of the project.”
Other members of the design team, including David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie, brought their own perspectives to the table, contributing original looks that flowed from one room to another.
“Every space reflects Cunard’s style and has the feeling of Cunard,” Lee Powell, Cunard Brand VP told the group. “The designers worked collaboratively so all the rooms fit together seamlessly. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Relaxation by Design
When it comes to aesthetics, design may be everything, but everything isn’t design. From the captain down to dedicated stewards and the housekeeping teams, an expert staff delivered immediate service with maximum friendliness and fuss. Meanwhile, multiple decks of food and drink kept libations and nibbles going from morning to night, with specialties from the Mediterranean, India and Asia savored by the group, not to mention culinary highlights from Queen Anne‘s home country: plenty of beef dishes and afternoon tea.
The Pavilion Wellness Cafe was a popular spot for many throughout the day, with smoothies, mocktails, cold-press juices, sustainable fish and meat options and vegetarian/vegan choices among the menu items. Before or after a healthy repast, the Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa offers such rejuvenating treatments as cryo-body therapy and thermal pools.
As passengers buzzed about the ship, deciding what to do first became the challenge, with activities galore including deck games, pickleball and fitness classes as well as concerts, theater and film showings selected specifically for Queen Anne passengers by the British Film Institute.
But eventually all decks lead to The Pavilion, a two-story entertainment center offering both live and pre-recorded musical selections from across the globe, which can be enjoyed while lounging, snacking or swimming in the sparkling pool. A retractable glass-dome roof keeps the fun going in any weather.
Not that you’ll be using them very often, but spacious staterooms and suites offer every comfort, including plush bedding and textiles, classic wood furniture, private balconies, in-room coffee and U.S.-adapted outlets.
Queen Anne departed on her first voyage Friday, May 3, on a 7-night sailing to Lisbon via La Coruna and then the Portuguese city of Lisbon on May 7. She will then depart for a 14-night voyage to the Canary Islands.
For more information, visit cunard.com/en-us.
