CUNARD Line has officially welcomed its new ship Queen Anne with a ceremony at Fincantieri shipyard.
The Italian shipbuilding company delivered Queen Anne to Cunard at its Marghera shipyard late last week, in an event attended by a range of dignitaries.
Present at the event was Cunard President Katie McAlister; Fincantieri Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero; Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division General Manager Luigi Matarazzo, and Italian Minister of Enterprises & Made in Italy Adolfo Urso.
Queen Anne will now set sail for Southampton, where she will arrive on 27 April, ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on 03 May.
“We are so excited to welcome Queen Anne to our fleet as she completes a remarkable quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria, marking the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service,” McAlister said.
“We are now fully focused on readying her to welcome guests for her maiden voyage on 03 May before she embarks on an historic British Isles Festival Voyage, including a momentous Naming Ceremony in Cunard’s spiritual home of Liverpool on 03 June.”
Folgiero said Queen Anne testifies the long-standing partnership between Fincantieri and Cunard, underscoring their shared commitment to excellence and tradition in the maritime industry.
“Queen Anne, as Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, the other two ships we built for Cunard, proudly bear Fincantieri’s signature, embodying our enduring expertise, reliability, and craftsmanship in shipbuilding.
“Constructing a liner for such a distinguished shipowner not only reconnects us to our origins but propels us towards the future with a determination to blend tradition and innovation.”
