Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship makes Florida debut with Queen Elizabeth in the wings
MIAMI — The newest ship among luxury cruise line Cunard’s fleet made its first ever Florida visit this week when Queen Anne spent the day in port as part of a 108-day world cruise.
The ship that debuted in 2024 is the first newly built vessel for Cunard since 2010’s Queen Elizabeth.
The line, which was founded by Samuel Cunard in 1839 as a transatlantic mail service, also operates 2003’s Queen Mary 2, which performs its signature New York-to-Europe transatlantic runs, and 2007’s Queen Victoria. It has been owned by Carnival Corp. since 1998.
Queen Anne wasn’t staying long in Florida as it gathered up yet another plaque as it hits new ports during its debut year of service. Its next stop was Cartagena, Colombia and the Panama Canal.
Still, the line showed off its new ship to visiting media while in port, touting its modern look and feel compared to the other three ships in the fleet.
“Queen Anne is really a ship like no other, while she carries forward Cunard’s unbroken legacy of 185 years in operation,” cruise line President Katie McAlister said. “She is also different from all of the other 248 ‘Cunarders’ that precede her. This new queen is the result of years of design, vision, engineering, excellence and teamwork, a true collaboration of passion, precision and purpose.”
Built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Italy and similar to Pinnacle-class ships of sister cruise line Holland America, the 113,000-gross-ton vessel has a nearly 3,000-passenger capacity based on double occupancy, making it the second-largest vessel in the fleet behind the Queen Mary 2.
Its interiors are replete with beiges and blues for a contemporary feel.
“She’s a ship which combines timeless Cunard style with a wonderful modernity,” McAlister said. “She really sets a new standard in luxury, and she’s been designed with heritage, craftsmanship, style, storytelling and innovation at heart.”
The ship has the widest range of entertainment, dining and bars in the fleet, she said.
On top of complimentary dining at the Britannia Restaurant as well as reserved restaurants for two tiers of suite-level guests, the ship offers four specialty restaurants. They include Italian venue Tramonto, steakhouse Sir Samuel’s, Indian venue Aranya and the new Japanese restaurant Aji Wa — which means “harmony of flavors.”
Aji Wa has a sushi bar along with regular seating for a la carte items like bao buns, pan-fried gyozas and tempura, but also offers a set multi-course Omakase menu.
There’s also pub food free of charge in The Golden Lion from a menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
A new entertainment offering on board is a hosted theatrical bar experience called Bright Lights Society, which pays deference to Cunard’s historical feat of being the first ship to sail with electrical lights.
The cozy venue features characters interacting with the crowd performing shows like a cabaret whodunit that mixes music, humor and mystery. Offerings change often, though, while other entertainment options include West End-caliber productions in the Royal Court Theater and a variety of offerings including ballroom dancing in the Queens Room.
Those interested in hopping on the ship for now will need to catch it as it makes its way toward Australia, then Asia and back to Europe. It won’t be hitting Florida again until April 2026.
Instead, Cunard is bring Queen Elizabeth to the Sunshine State starting in October, a first time the ship will spend an entire winter season sailing from Miami.
Ahead of its North American arrival, the 2,000-passenger ship will be getting a makeover updating cabins and public spaces, and will spend a season in Alaska before making its way to Florida.
“When we home port Queen Elizabeth in Miami, we’re going to offer Caribbean cruises with a Cunard flair, longer voyages, more interesting ports of calls on less busy port days and lots of time to enjoy the ships,” McAlister said.
Its roundtrip Caribbean itineraries will range from nine to 28 nights visiting places like Montego Bay, Jamaica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St John’s, Antigua.
“At Cunard, we are really the experts in slow travel, inspired by our world famous transatlantic crossing,” McAlister said. “We bring luxury on a grand scale, and whilst we visit incredible destinations.”