Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, made her highly anticipated maiden call in North America on Friday, January 17, 2025, when she arrived in New York from Southampton, England on her first stop of her 107-day World Voyage. In a historical first, Queen Anne has two female leaders. At the helm of the ship is Captain Inger Klein Thornauge and at the helm of the company is Cunard president Katie McAlister. Captain Tohrnauge is one of just a few female captains in the industry.
Cunard’s history with New York is long and legendary with several milestones. Cunard has sailed into New York longer than any other cruise line–since 1847. In 2015, to celebrate the bond between the city and the cruise line, the Empire State Building was lit red to honor Cunard’s 175th anniversary. Cunard ships carried one in five immigrants to America, giving them new lives in the United States.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, stated, “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.”
Creative Director Adam Tihany and a team of world-class creators visualized a ship that would reflect Cunard’s art-deco heritage with modern-day elegance. The vision has become a reality in the ship’s exclusive collection of 4,300 pieces of art that were commissioned from emerging and established world-artists. The ship also features an intimate cabaret-style venue at the “Bright Lights Society.”
Cunard enhanced its wellness offering for guests aboard Queen Anne in the Pavilion Wellness Café. The new venue offers breakfast, lunch and daytime dining. Its menu offers plant-based cuisine as well as sustainably sourced meat, fish and dairy. Guests can also take advantage of the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea program. The program is a three-day package that is “tailored to relaxation, energy restoration, or recovery, providing a rejuvenating journey at sea.”
Queen Anne is Cunard’s first new ship in 14 years spans 14 decks, accommodates 3,000 guests and features 15 dining venues.