Last month, Queen Anne became Cunard’s first-new vessel in 14 years following a handover ceremony with Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri

On Friday (3 May), the ship set off on its maiden sailing from its Southampton homeport following an overnight preview event on Wednesday (1 May) for guests, travel agents and the line’s partners.

Two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux hosted a Q&A in the Queens Room, where he announced he will be running two Le Gavroche at Sir Samuels residencies on board Queen Anne in August and September.

After, captain Inger Thorhauge, who will be at the helm of the vessel during its maiden season, and Cunard president Katie McAlister, welcomed guests with an evening drinks reception in The Pavilion.

Earlier this year, an incentive launched by Cunard centred around the new ship inspired hundreds of agents to make a staggering 5,626 bookings for the vessel.

Ahead of Queen Anne’s highly-anticipated debut season, we outline six things you need to know about the vessel to help maximise sales.

1. Deployment

The ship will sail on itineraries to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian Fjords throughout its maiden season, visiting more than 60 destinations in 16 countries.

2. Gastronomy

Cunard will bring back an exclusive series of Le Gavroche residencies at sea this year as two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux brings his London restaurant to guests on Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2.

The chef will also be creating an exclusive gala menu for Queen Anne’s Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants, as well as a new Golden Lion menu full of pub favourites for Cunard’s newest ship.

3. On board activities

Cunard has partnered with Pickleball England, the governing body of the new sport, which is a mixture of tennis, badminton and table tennis, to add a dedicated court on board Queen Anne.

The vessel will also be the only ship in the world where travellers can master their archery skills with a real bow and arrow. Furthermore, a driving range, deck quoits and shuffleboard courts will be available.

4. Shopping 

A collection of 115 household brands will have a presence on board, from watchmakers Bremont to the beauty division of French fashion house, Chanel.

Other outlets include Hugo Boss, Raishma, Chapel Down, Whittard, and 886 Royal Mint. Garrard, the first official crown jeweller in the UK, will also have its first boutique on board Queen Anne.

6. Wellness 

Cunard has teamed up with fashion and beauty magazine Harper’s Bazaar UK to create a holistic wellness programme featuring three spa packages, each comprising a three-day journey focused on either detoxing, energising, or relaxing.

The three-day programmes, each with an additional US$629 charge, will feature a selection of spa treatments, a range of ELEMIS products, and balanced dining options from Queen Anne’s The Pavilion Wellness Café.

6. Shore excursions

The luxury cruise line is offering 50 shore experiences across 60 ports, comprising more than 700 shore experiences for the 115 calls that Queen Anne will make in 2024.

These include an orchestral performance in a secret location in the heart of Barcelona, a behind-the-scenes tour of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City and the chance to savour local delicacies and wine in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Enchanted Forest of Madeira.