Tag Archives: cunard

Cunard Pushes Back Introduction of New Queen Anne

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Cunard Line has announced a delay to the introduction of its newest cruise ship, Queen Anne.

Originally set to enter service in early 2024, the 3,000-guest ship will now debut in early May, with the Carnival Corporation-owned brand citing numerous challenges in shipbuilding, including the supply chain and energy shortages.

The ship is under construction for the iconic brand at Fincantieri.

“As a result, our new ship Queen Anne will be arriving slightly later than expected,” the company said in a statement.

“We have automatically transferred guests booked or waitlisted on the maiden voyage to the new seven-night maiden voyage, which will depart from Southampton on May 3 2024, visit La Coruna on 5 May 2024, Lisbon on May 7, 2024, and then return to Southampton on May 10 2024.”

Queen Anne’s new maiden season voyages will include sailings from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian Fjords. Voyages go on sale this December.

Joining Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Anne makes it four ships for Cunard Line in 2024.

Carnival Corporation cruise brands Cunard and P&O Cruises have paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth II named Cunard ship QE2 in 1967 (Credit: Cunard)

Carnival Corporation cruise brands Cunard and P&O Cruises have paid tribute to Her Majesty QueenElizabeth II, who became a key figure in the history of both lines during her 70-year reign.

The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday (8 September) aged 96; she became the UK’s longest-serving monarch in 2015. The tributes were led by Cunard, the line’s association with The Queen dating to 1938 when she accompanied her mother to the launch of Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen subsequently launched Caronia in 1947 and QE2 in 1967. She also named Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010 and attended a number of events over the years onboard Cunard ships – including the line’s 150th-anniversary celebrations in 1990.

“For all of this and much more, Cunard will be forever grateful to The Queen,” said the line. “Cunard, on behalf of its employees worldwide, is deeply saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

“Cunard joins the UK and nations around the world in expressing our deep sympathy at the death of Her Majesty, and we extend sincere condolences to The Royal Family.”

Paul Ludlow, president of Cunard’s Carnival Corporation sister brand P&O Cruises, echoed its stablemate’s warm reflection on the monarch, The Queen having named two P&O ships.

“P&O Cruises and its staff both ashore and at sea express deep sadness at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen,” said Ludlow. “Her Majesty will forever be remembered at P&O Cruises not least for the fact that she named two of the company’s ships, Oriana and Britannia.”

Statement from Spacejunkie2 owner of this Blog.

I am 56 years old and all I have ever known is the Queen a hardworking, friendly, Mother of the United Kingdom and her Common Wealth whose name in shipping creates a luxury with the Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2, and pride with the Royal Navy Aircraft carrier, It is a sad time to say goodbye to a constant of my life but also welcomes a new era with my first ever King Charles the 3rd, God bless Queen Elizabeth and Hail the New King. 

Former Cunard and MSC Ship to be Scrapped in Turkey

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The former Golden Iris became the most recent cruise ship to arrive at the Turkish ship breakers. Last operated by Mano Cruises, the veteran vessel was in layup since 2018.

After being renamed Gold Club in 2021, the classic ship arrived at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard earlier this month. 

Wrapping up a five-decade career, the vessel will now be being dismantled, with its building materials, fixtures, systems and engines set to be repurposed or sold off.

Built in Denmark, the ship had an unusual run, being originally ordered for Overseas National Airways and designed in association with Hugh Hefner as a “floating Playboy resort.”

While still under construction, however, the 959-guest vessel was sold to Cunard Line along with a sister ship – who would later become the Cunard Countess.

Unlike the remainder of the British operator fleet, both ships had an informal concept, which was kept when they were fitted out at another shipyard in Italy.

After being christened in New York City by the Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, it entered service for Cunard in 1977 as the Cunard Princess.

In another unusual move, the vessel was chartered to the United States Armed Forces in 1990.

During the Gulf War, the Cunard Princess was used as a recreational facility for troops while stationed in Bahrain.

After nearly 20 years of sailing for Cunard, the ship was finally sold to StarLauro Cruises in 1995.

The Italian company – who would later become MSC Cruises – named the ship Rhapsody for a series of cruises in the Mediterranean.

Kept in the fleet after the rebrand, the vessel sailed for MSC until 2009. In February of that year, it was sold to Mano Cruises.

Aiming at the local public, the Israel-based cruise line used the veteran ship in cruises departing from Haifa and Ashdod until 2018 – when it was replaced by the larger and more modern Crown Iris.