VALENCIA, Calif., Sept 27, 2022 - Cunard recently celebrated the keel laying of its newest ship, Queen Anne, with a traditional, iconic ceremony on September 8, 2022. This ceremony marked the formal start of her construction at the historic Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.
The ceremony was attended by the Cunard and Carnival UK leadership team, along with representatives of Fincantieri and their Marghera Shipyard, and the guest of honor Captain of Queen Anne, Inger Thorhauge.
Steeped in tradition, the ceremony marks the official start of a ship’s life, as the keel is laid for a new vessel. The laying of the keel is the formal recognition of the start of construction, and the ceremony heralds the completion of the intensive design and development stage.
To mark the occasion – and acknowledge Cunard’s seafaring heritage and the significance of this exciting new vessel – a Queen Anne coin has been commissioned. This unique coin was embedded into the ship’s keel by Captain Inger Thorhauge, alongside an original coin from the ship’s namesake’s reign.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate this exciting construction milestone for Queen Anne,” said Matt Gleaves, vice president, Commercial for Cunard in North America and Australasia. “Over the last three years, world-leading designers have worked with master ship builders at Fincantieri to design a ship that showcases our position as a world-famous luxury brand across all continents. Queen Anne will be enjoyed for many generations to come, and we look forward to welcoming her to our fleet.”
As Queen Anne takes shape, Cunard celebrates its own journey thus far of over 180 historic years. A ship inspired by the cruise line’s past and built for its future, Queen Anne represents a sense of excitement for what lies ahead for this iconic brand.
Queen Anne will enter service in 2024 and will make up a remarkable quartet alongside flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth.