Cunard has confirmed the first event voyage on Queen Anne will be a British Isles Festival sailing following its launch next May.

The vessel will depart Southampton on 24 May 2024 for its maiden sailing around Great Britain and Ireland on a 14-night roundtrip voyage, calling in destinations such as Liverpool, Belfast and the Scottish Highlands.

Cunard president Katie McAlister said: “Christmas has come early for travellers looking to celebrate the arrival of Queen Anne as we announce her British Isles Festival voyage, which will be a real celebration of our newest ship and showcase the very best of Great Britain and Ireland.

“Queen Anne’s maiden voyage around these shores will be a truly historic sailing and I know many of our loyal Cunarders will be eagerly awaiting what will be an iconic journey.”

New Cunard itinerary comes following ‘record-breaking’ Black Friday

Throughout its maiden season, Queen Anne will sail from Southampton on itineraries to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian Fjords, visiting over 60 destinations in 16 countries.

It comes after the line reported its highest ever number of guest bookings over the Black Friday period, with strong momentum across 2024 and 2025 sailings. Queen Anne’s European itineraries proved to be particularly popular with guests.

Earlier this year, Cunard visited more than 200 travel agents across 100 store, in a “far-reaching” sales blitz. A 15-strong team hit the streets and delivered in-person news on the launch of the cruise line’s 2025 programme, which went on sale on 4 October exclusively to Cunard World Club members and on general sale on 5 October.

Cunard director of UK sales Tom Mahoney said: “Our valued travel agent partners are imperative to our success and we are looking forward to catching up with many friendly faces, as well as strengthening relationships with newer partners, over the coming weeks.”