Cunard is honoring its long history with plans to name its newest ship Queen Anne in its spiritual home, Liverpool. The gala event will take place on the world-famous Mersey waterfront on June 3 during a celebratory lap of honor voyage around the British Isles.
Cunard’s first new cruise ship in 14 years, was delivered in April by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri preparing for her first voyage, an exclusive 14-night cruise in May efoe he naming.
Plans are being made for her arrival to include a special salute to the city where Cunard’s pioneering Transatlantic service – and passenger shipping itself – was launched in 1840, and where the iconic Cunard Building forms the centerpiece of the Three Graces.
The British Isles Festival Voyage will depart Southampton on May 24 with maiden calls to Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Invergordon, Greenock, Belfast, and Liverpool where guests sailing on the voyage will have an exclusive opportunity to join the Naming celebrations before a spectacular, late evening departure bound for Cobh followed by her return to Southampton.
The event in Liverpool is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators to vantage points alongside the river at Pier Head, between New Brighton and Seacombe on Wirral, and on beaches at Formby and Crosby in Sefton. A live global broadcast will ensure the eyes of the world once again fall on a Cunard event in Liverpool.
Cunard ships have previously attracted more than a million spectators to the banks of the Mersey, first for the maiden call of the renowned QE2 in July 1990, and 2015 for the Three Queens royal rendezvous in front of the Cunard Building to celebrate Cunard’s 175th anniversary.
“Cunard has an incredible bond with the city of Liverpool,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. “It is where our founder Sir Samuel Cunard began his transatlantic line in 1840, so what better place to officially name our new ship than somewhere that holds so many special memories? “
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