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Queen Anne: aboard the latest Cunard liners

Queen Anne: aboard the latest Cunard liners
Queen Anne: aboard the latest Cunard liners

Built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, near Venice, Italy, the Queen Anne, which was ordered in 2017, was delivered on April 19 and began its commercial cruises at the beginning of May. 249th ship of the British company, founded in 1840 and bought in 1998 by the American group Carnival, the Queen Anne allows Cunard, for the first time since 1998, to have a fleet of four ships (at the time the Queen Elizabeth 2, Caronia, Royal Viking Sun and Sea Goddess). It is in addition to the Queen Mary 2, a transatlantic liner of 345 meters, 148,000 tons and 1,310 cabins released at the end of 2003 from the Saint-Nazaire shipyards (see our article on the adventure of its construction), as well as the Queen Victoria (293 meters, 90,050 tons, 1037 cabins) and Queen Elizabeth (293 meters, 90,900 tons, 1043 cabins), liners delivered in 2007 and 2010 by Fincantieri.

Commanded by Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, originally from the Faroe Islands, the Queen Anne, during her first stopover in Cherbourg, perpetuated a historic link of more than 175 years between Cunard and the tip of the Cotentin, where the old transatlantic liners of the company passed regularly before leaving for the United States. Another historical reference, the name of the ship, named in homage to Anne (1665-1714), queen of England, Scotland and Ireland (1702-1707), who subsequently became, until her death, the first queen of Great Britain following the Acts of Union between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland (1707), while retaining the Irish crown.

The Queen Anne.

Evolution of the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, Cunard’s new flagship is more imposing than its predecessors, with a length of 322.5 meters by a width of 35.6 meters and a tonnage of 113,000 tons. Which makes it the second largest ship in the fleet after the Queen Mary 2 but the first in terms of capacity since it has 1,397 cabins and suites, or 87 more than the famous liner built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique . The Queen Anne can accommodate up to 2996 passengers, served by 1125 crew members.

The Queen Anne.

Like its predecessors, this liner is part of the tradition of great maritime voyages, with spaces with a design that is both traditional and modern, for a boat intended to be very comfortable and offering high-end service. No fewer than 4,300 works of art decorate the ship, whose interior spaces were designed by the French architectural firm of Sybille de Margerie, who worked alongside two London agencies: David Collins Studio Ltd and Richmond International. They worked in unison around five themes: heritage, craftsmanship, storytelling, style and innovation, explained Thomas Kohlmüller, the director of the Margerie studio in , present during the visit. Queen Anne in Cherbourg.

One of the Queen Anne’s lounges.

The glass dome above the indoor swimming pool, “The Pavilion”, was designed by Martin Francis, a renowned architect who participated in the construction of the Louvre pyramid.

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The Pavillon, with its swimming pool covered by a glass roof.

If Cunard’s latest addition takes over emblematic spaces found on board all of the company’s liners, such as restaurants and bars, it also benefits from new features, both in terms of catering and culture and entertainment. (with archery for example).

The central space of the ship, the Grand Lobby rises over three decks and marks the transition between the past and the present. There is a contemporary metal wall sculpture whose appearance changes throughout the day depending on the effects of light. , in an art deco spirit, paying homage to the golden age of cruises of yesteryear.

The Grand Lobby.

The Grand Lobby.

The surroundings of the Grand Lobby are occupied by lounges, bars and shops.

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Public spaces of Queen Anne.

On deck 3, a cabinet of curiosities includes several display cases displaying exceptional items from luxury brands. This gallery offers a 360° exhibition of collectibles. There are never-before-seen items from the company’s archives as well as reproductions of historical objects such as royal tiaras that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Kate Middleton, as well as a ring from Princess Diana.

Le Cabinet of curiosities.

Le Cabinet of curiosities.

As for gastronomy, the Queen Anne has 15 dining areas with a wide culinary variety inspired by different world cuisines with a menu designed by chef Michel Roux, two-starred in the Michelin Guide. Among the restaurants, As on all Cunard liners, the Britannia is the main dining room, located at the rear of the ship. It extends over two decks with a large staircase and its balcony, and allows dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Britannia Dining Room.

The Britannia Dining Room.

The Britannia Dining Room.

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Restaurants on board the Queen Anne.

The ship also has many public spaces, with a large theater for evening shows and daytime cinema screenings, a casino, a wellness center with a beauty salon and a gym. , a library, a wedding hall, as well as a wide choice of bars and lounges, including the unmissable Commodore Club. And of course another usual place at Cunard, the Queens Room, a ballroom which hosts different activities throughout the day: classical recitals, dance classes, afternoon tea ceremonies and gala evenings.

La Queens Room.

La Queens Room.

Le casino.

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The Queen Anne Casino.

The Commodore Club.

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The Commodore Club on the Queen Anne.

The Queen Anne Library.

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The library.

Wedding hall.

art gallery

The wellness center.

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The wellness center with its thermal baths and treatment rooms, the beauty salon and the fitness room.

The vast exterior decks allow you to enjoy the sea and when the sun is nice, with at the rear an open-air swimming pool with two whirlpools, numerous spaces to rest on a deckchair, bars and different games: pickleball, golf practice, basketball court, ping-pong tables, shuffleboard (shuffleboard) and therefore, as a novelty, archery in an obviously protected space.

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The outdoor swimming pool deck, at the rear of the Queen Anne.

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The outer decks of the Queen Anne.

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Games and sporting activities on the upper decks of the Queen Anne.

© An article from the editorial staff of Mer et Marine. Reproduction prohibited without consent of the author(s).

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