Tag Archives: Queen Mary 2

Queen Anne Departs on Maiden Voyage

Posted on by
Reply

Cunard’s latest new ship, the Queen Anne, embarked on its seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon amid a stunning fireworks display on Friday.

The 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, Queen Anne set sail just after 9 pm local time as thousands of spectators gathered on the shores of Southampton water. Guests onboard the 3,000-guest, 113,000-ton ship will enjoy several celebrations throughout the voyage, which includes a special Maiden Gala Evening and performances by tenor Russell Watson.

According to Katie McAlister, President of Cunard: “Queen Anne’s maiden voyage signals the dawning of a new era in luxury ocean travel, and her historic sail away from Southampton was a very special moment for everyone connected with Cunard.” Queen Anne will sail to Lisbon via La Coruna and then return to Southampton. From there, the ship will embark on a 14-night voyage to the Canary Islands.

Cunard’s latest addition to their fleet marks the completion of a perfect quartet, alongside the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria. As McAlister stated: “Here in the UK and across the globe, Cunard is famous for our beautiful iconic Queens. With Queen Anne joining our fleet, she marks not just a new icon but the completion of a perfect quartet.”

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Completes Two Decades at Sea

Posted on by
Reply

The Queen Mary 2 is completing its second decade at sea in 2024.

Having started sailing in early 2004, the 151,400-ton vessel was the result of the “Queen Mary Project.”

Announced by Cunard Line in 1998, the project called for the construction of the “the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner ever.”

After being built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the Queen Mary 2 was christened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in Southampton on Jan. 8, 2004.

A few days after the ceremony, which celebrated Cunard’s British heritage with performances of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Marines band, the ship set sail on its first voyage: a transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale.

Before starting its transatlantic service, the Queen Mary 2 offered a media preview cruise, in addition an 11-night cruise to the Caribbean.

As the world’s last ocean liner, the ship traditionally spends most of the year offering one-way Atlantic crossings that sail between New York City, and Southampton, in the United Kingdom. Guests can also embark or disembark on the German port of Hamburg on some of the sailings.

Most of the six- to eight-night voyages feature only sea days and sail at higher speeds when compared to regular cruising.

In 2024, after returning from its 108-night world tour, the vessel is set to offer two- to 13-night cruises to Western Europe, the Norwegian Fjords, the British Isles, Canada & New England, the Caribbean, and more.

Cunard’s website describes the Queen Mary 2 as its “legendary flagship,” a “true icon,” and a “astonishing liner.”

According to the company, the 2,620-guest vessel offers several unique features, including a vast library, an indulging spa, and more.

Cunard connects the entire fleet to shore power

Posted on by
Reply

Cunard’s new vessel Queen Anne will be able to connect to shore power (source: Cunard)

British cruise operator Cunard has taken a ‘significant step’ in reducing its emissions by providing the capability for its trio of current vessels and new vessel Queen Anne to connect to shore power when docking, where available


Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth now have shore power capabilities while Queen Anne, set to launch in May 2024, will have the technology already installed.

Cunard president Katie McAlister said, “By adopting shore power technology, we are taking a significant step in our ongoing commitment to reducing emissions, minimising our carbon footprint, and fostering healthier port environments. The introduction of shore power technology aligns seamlessly with Cunard’s corporate vision and values, and we are proud to be able to take such a positive step.”

MSC Virtuosa connected to shore power Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Shore power technology enables docked ships to connect directly to a specially fitted land-based source, allowing cruise ships to switch off their engines and operate on electricity sourced entirely from the local electrical grid, reducing emissions and noise while at port. The ability for the ships to plug into local grids already exists at many key ports, including Queen Mary 2’s homeport at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and Queen Anne’s homeport in Southampton, England.