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MS Queen Anne

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Queen Anne at Liverpool, 3 June 2024
History
NameQueen Anne
NamesakeAnne, Queen of Great Britain
Owner Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator Cunard Line
Port of registry2024 onwards: Hamilton,  Bermuda
Ordered2017
BuilderFincantieri Marghera Shipyard, Italy
CostUS$600 million (approx.)[1]
Yard number6274[2]
Laid down5 October 2022
Launched24 April 2023
Completed3 May 2023
Maiden voyage3 May 2024
In service3 May 2024
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typePinnacle series 4[2] cruise ship
Tonnage113,000 GT
Length322.51 m (1,058 ft 1 in)[2]
Beam35.60 m (116 ft 10 in)[2]
Installed power4 × Caterpillar-MaK 12V43C, each 16,896 hp (12,599 kW)[3]
Propulsion2 × ABB Azipods[3]
Capacity3,000 maximum passengers[2]

MS Queen Anne (QA) is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship operated by Cunard Line, named after Anne, of the Kingdom of Great Britain, who reigned from 1707–1714. She is currently the second largest ship in Cunard's fleet, after RMS Queen Mary 2. She sailed from her homeport of Southampton on 3 May 2024 for her maiden voyage, calling at A Coruña and Lisbon. She can carry up to 2,996 passengers.

History

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In 2017 Cunard announced the order of the fourth ship in their current fleet[4][5] and the 249th ship in its history.[6] It was initially announced that the new vessel would be based on the MS Koningsdam, Holland America Line's Pinnacle-class ship.[7] With a gross tonnage of 113,000, the ship would carry up to 3,000 passengers.[8] The delivery was originally planned for 2022,[4] but later the maiden voyage was postponed to January 2024.[9] Later, this was pushed back again, to May 2024.[9]

In June 2019 Cunard announced the design team for the public spaces.[10] Steel cutting began at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on 11 October 2019.[11][12] The forward stub was transferred to Marghera in August 2022 for completion. On 3 May 2023 the structurally complete ship was floated out of the construction dry dock for the first time.[13]

Media agencies initially speculated whether the ship's name would continue with Cunard's practice of naming them after queens[14] or return to its long-standing convention of giving their vessels names ending in -'ia' like past Cunard ships RMS Aquitania, RMS Berengaria, RMS Caronia and RMS Mauretania.[15] In February 2022, Cunard announced that the ship would be named Queen Anne.[16] Maritime historians Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross[17] were engaged to work with Cunard to name the ship's six grand suites, so named after famous Cunard waterways including: River Mersey, River Clyde, Hudson River, The Solent, Boston Harbor and Halifax Harbour.[18]

The ship's maiden voyage, a 7-night-voyage to Lisbon, began on 3 May 2024 in Southampton.[19][20][21] The ship's maiden insights presenters, who hosted presentations as part of the ship's Insights Programme were Yeoman Warder Peter McGowran, Sports Broadcaster Claire Balding and Maritime Historian Chris Frame.[22]

On 3 June 2024 at Liverpool, Queen Anne was christened by Ngunan Adamu, Natalie Haywood, Jayne Casey, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Melanie C. The city of Liverpool was also announced to be the godmother of the ship.[23] Cunard broke with their usual traditions by not selecting an individual to name the ship, and in keeping the godparent a secret until the day of the ceremony.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "AMEM Communication: Cruise Ships on Order 2016-2027" (PDF). AMEM Library. Austrian Marine Equipment Manufacturers. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Auf Werften bestellte Kreuzfahrtschiffe 2019 (Shipyard ordered cruise ships 2019)". Kreuzfahrthafen Warnemünde. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b "First section of Cunard's newest ship, Queen Anne, floated by Fincantieri". CruiseMapper.com. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Fincantieri to Build a Next-Generation Ship for Cunard" (PDF). Fincantieri. 25 September 2017.
  5. ^ Carnival Corporation to Build New Cruise Ship for Iconic Cunard Brand
  6. ^ "Carnival Corporation Intends to Build a New Cruise Ship For Cunard". CruiseBe.com. 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  7. ^ Young, Susan J. (20 November 2017). "What's Next for Cunard's New Ship, Fleet Renovation". TravelAgentCentral. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  8. ^ Machan, Teresa (27 September 2017). "Cunard to launch the biggest cruise ship in its history". UK Telegraph. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Cunard Pushes Back Introduction of New Queen Anne". Cruise Industry News. 9 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-01-02.
  10. ^ "Cunard announces design team for new ship". 11 June 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Count down to New Cunard Ship Begins as First Steel is Cut" (PDF) (Press release). London/Trieste: Cunard/Fincantieri. October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  12. ^ Steel Cut for New Cunard Line Ship
  13. ^ "One year to go". Cunard. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  14. ^ "Breaking News: Cunard Add Fourth Ship To Fleet On 50th Anniversary Of QE2". 25 September 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Cruise Industry: Cunard face dilemma in choosing name for fourth ship". 26 September 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  16. ^ Romanenko, Maria (8 February 2022). "Cunard Announces New Cruise Ship Queen Anne". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Suite Naming, Queen Anne". 30 Jul 2024. Retrieved 30 Jul 2024.
  18. ^ "Queen Anne History: Chris Frame's Cunard Page". 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  19. ^ Davey, Matt (3 May 2024). "Queen Anne leaves for maiden voyage with Southampton fireworks display". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Queen Anne Departs on Maiden Voyage". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  21. ^ "Queen Anne Departs for Historic Maiden Voyage". 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  22. ^ Frame, Chris (17 June 2024). "Queen Anne's First Insights Speakers". Chris Frame Official. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  23. ^ Cunard Line [@cunardline] (3 June 2024). "Today, we officially named our newest ship, and we are thrilled to announce the City of Liverpool as Godparent of Queen Anne in recognition of the long-lasting bond with our spiritual home" – via Instagram.
  24. ^ Frame, Chris (17 June 2024). "Queen Anne Naming Ceremony: Cunard break with tradition!". Chris Frame Official. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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