Cunard has announced a partnership with Abbey Road Studios to bring an exclusive Listening Lounge experience aboard Queen Elizabeth.
The 60-minute Listening Lounge experience, which debuts during Queen Elizabeth’s maiden season, will be held in the Commodore Club. Guests will travel on a themed journey via Hi-Res/ANC Bowers & Wilkins headphones. The playlists, which will be chosen by the Abbey Road team, will feature some of the world’s most celebrated artists from the music studio’s recording heritage. Ed Sheeran, Fela Kuti, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, and, of course, the Beatles, are just some of the featured artists.
The Beatles connection to Cunard and Abbey Road is two-fold. The Fab Four’s iconic Abbey Road album was released in 1969, the same year Queen Elizabeth 2 embarked on her maiden transatlantic voyage to the United States.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said, “We’re always exploring new ways to make life on board even more special, and incredible voyages deserve incredible soundtracks. Abbey Road Studios is synonymous with iconic musical performances, and this partnership allows us to bring this heritage to sea.”
The curated playlists will also showcase some famous film scores in recognition of Abbey Road’s Studio One, the home of film music for more than 45 years. Guests will enjoy music from Raiders of The Lost Ark, The Return of The Jedi, The Last Emperor, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and Harry Potter. More recent blockbuster recordings include the Black Panther films, Tár, 1917, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Wonka, Barbie, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II and Wicked.
The Listening Lounge experience will be offered on select sea days during Queen Elizabeth’s maiden season from PortMiami throughout the Caribbean in October 2025. The cruise line will also offer a curated menu of Cunard cocktails complimenting the music and the view.
McAlister continued, “ Whether guests are unwinding with a cocktail, watching the waves roll by, or just taking a moment for themselves, our exclusive Listening Lounge experience will set the mood beautifully. When it comes to luxury ocean travel, all you need is love – and the perfect playlist.”
Additionally, Cunard is offering a special Event Voyage in partnership with Abbey Road. Departing Southampton for New York on October 23, 2026, the week-long transatlantic voyage will feature live music, a photography exhibition, and meetups with Abbey Road’s award-winning recording and mastering engineers.