Cunard has officially taken delivery of its first new ship in 14 years during a handover ceremony in Italy on Friday (19 April)

The line took ownership of the 3,000-guest Queen Anne at an event at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, where the vessel has been under construction.

The ceremony was attended by Italian minister of enterprises Adolfo Urso and Italian minister for relations with parliament Luca Ciriani.

Katie McAlister, president of Cunard; Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK; and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri were also present.

Queen Anne, the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag – and the third built by Fincantieri – will now set sail for Southampton ahead of its seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 May.

On Thursday (18 April), Cunard cancelled a “test” sailing for travel agents due to take place on 29 April following a “careful review” ahead of its May debut.

Cunard to have four ships in simultaneous service

As the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne will feature Le Gavroche at Sea residencies hosted by two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux, wellness packages curated by Harper’s Bazaar UK’s beauty experts and British Film Institute screenings in The Pavilion.

It will also boast the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship, with a reimagined Mareel Wellness & Beauty proposition.

McAlister said: “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.

“We are now fully focused on readying her to welcome guests for her maiden voyage on 3 May before she embarks on an historic British Isles Festival Voyage, including a momentous naming ceremony in Cunard’s spiritual home of Liverpool on 3 June.”