The Ultimate Cunard Queen Anne Guide: Modern Innovation Meets Maritime Royalty

By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated:

14/07/26

Iconic Cunard Queen Anne funnel

The launch of Queen Anne marked a historic milestone for Cunard, introducing the first new ship to join the prestigious fleet in over a decade. Representing the pinnacle of modern luxury at sea, Queen Anne bridges the gap between Cunard’s legendary maritime heritage and 21st-century innovation. She perfectly captures that signature, sophisticated elegance while debuting a fresh, contemporary style that appeals to both traditional ocean liner fans and modern cruisers alike.

Spanning 322 meters in length with a gross tonnage of approximately 113,000 tons, Queen Anne commands a majestic presence on the ocean. She gracefully accommodates around 3,000 passengers, looked after by a dedicated crew of 1,225 who deliver the line's world-renowned, white-gloved White Star Service.

Whether you are planning your first voyage or you are a seasoned Cunarder curious about her layout, here is our definitive guide to everything onboard Queen Anne.

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We Board Cunard’s QUEEN ANNE! - Embarkation Day & First Impressions!

It’s boarding day for us as we step aboard Cunard’s brand-new Queen Anne! Join us as we take you through embarkation from Ocean Terminal in Southampton. We spend the afternoon exploring this stunning new ship, we visit the Mareel Spa, The Pavilion and The Sky Bar.

Food from the Wellness Cafe in the Pavilion on Cunard's Queen Anne

Culinary Excellence: Dining Onboard Queen Anne

Dining with Cunard is a world-class culinary journey, and Queen Anne shakes up the traditional formula by offering an extensive array of new alternative dining venues alongside the classic, class-based main dining rooms.

The Grills and Main Dining (Included)

Cunard’s traditional class-based dining structure remains the heart of the ship's culinary identity, where your stateroom tier determines your primary included restaurant:

Queens Grill: The absolute pinnacle of sophisticated fine dining at sea, exclusive to Queens Grill Suite guests. Enjoy an ever-changing, bespoke à la carte menu with tableside presentation.
Princess Grill: An elegant, intimate dining room reserved for Princess Grill Suite guests, offering an unforgettable menu crafted by top chefs.
Britannia Club: A private, club-style dining room for Britannia Club Balcony guests, offering the flexibility of single-seating dining at a permanently reserved table.
Britannia Restaurant: The breathtaking, double-height main dining room for all Britannia interior, Oceanview, and balcony guests. It serves classic and contemporary multi-course dishes in a grand, beautifully designed setting.

Casual and Alternative Eats (Included)

Artisans’ Foodhall: Replacing the traditional "Kings Court" buffet found on older ships, this is a beautifully reimagined food hall concept. It features vibrant, live-cooking action stations where chefs create fresh, international dishes, custom salads, and artisanal pizzas right in front of your eyes.
The Golden Lion Pub: A legendary Cunard fixture. This refined British pub serves a complimentary menu of elevated pub classics, including artisanal fish and chips, hearty pies, and ploughman's lunches.

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Tom and Dom Travel and Sisters on the Seas in Tramonto on Queen Anne

Premium Speciality Dining (Additional Charge)

For an extra supplement, Queen Anne debuts a spectacular lineup of brand-new, globally inspired speciality restaurants:

Aji Wa: A gorgeous, contemporary Japanese venue offering ultra-fresh sushi, fluffy gyozas, and an evening Omakase multi-course tasting menu.
Aranya: A richly themed restaurant celebrating the aromatic spices and traditional cooking techniques of India.
Tramonto: A sun-drenched, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant offering fresh, rustic pasta dishes and sharing plates with beautiful ocean views.
Sir Samuel’s: Cunard’s premier flagship steakhouse and grill, serving up premium cuts of aged beef, succulent seafood, and an extensive wine list.

Sophisticated Accommodations: Queens Grill to Britannia

Every stateroom and suite onboard Queen Anne has been reimagined by world-class interior designers to look like a luxury boutique hotel. The accommodations boast calming colour palettes, deep velvet finishes, and state-of-the-art amenities.

Queens Grill Suites: Massive, opulent suites featuring separate living areas, expansive private balconies, marble baths, and personal butler service to attend to your every whim.
Princess Grill Suites: Spacious, deeply comfortable junior suites with dedicated lounge spaces, premium bedding, and a host of exclusive perks.
Britannia Balcony & Staterooms: Cleverly designed layouts that maximize space and light, featuring plush mattresses, private walk-in showers, and elegant writing desks.

West End Glamour and Grand Ballrooms: Entertainment

Entertainment on Queen Anne perfectly balances high-energy contemporary spectacles with the timeless traditions of an ocean voyage.

The Royal Court Theatre: A state-of-the-art, plush showroom presenting dazzling, West End-style musical productions, custom theatre pieces, and headline performances from world-class comedians and illusionists.
The Queens Room: The social heart of the ship. By day, it hosts Cunard's legendary White Star Afternoon Tea, where white-gloved waiters serve fresh scones, finger sandwiches, and fine teas. By night, it transforms into a grand ballroom with a live orchestra, perfect for Gala Evenings.
The Bright Lights Society: A brand-new, intimate, and highly immersive show bar exclusive to Queen Anne, offering secret cabaret performances, live jazz, and a Speakeasy vibe.
The Grand Lobby & Casino: Perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail with live piano music or testing your luck at the sleek onboard casino tables.

Queen Anne Britannia Balcony Cabin

A Sanctuary of Mind and Body: Wellness & Enrichment

For those looking to unplug, recharge, or expand their horizons, Queen Anne offers a stunning dedicated wellness and enrichment footprint.

Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa

The ship's signature spa is a true sanctuary of relaxation inspired by the sea. It features a stunning thermal suite complete with a central hydrotherapy pool, a Finnish sauna, a Himalayan salt sauna, a steam room, a cold room, and experience showers. Guests can book high-tech marine-based therapies, cryo-body treatments, and biotech facials.

The Pavilion and Wellness Café

The Pavilion features a massive swimming pool covered by an impressive, specially designed glass dome roof that retracts in warmer weather. Located within this space is The Pavilion Wellness Café, offering vibrant plant-based cuisine, organic breakfast bowls, and cold-pressed, immune-boosting juices. Directly above, The Pavilion Wellness Studio offers a glass-walled studio for sunrise yoga, meditation, and fitness classes against a dramatic ocean backdrop.

Intellectual Enrichment

True to Cunard tradition, the ship features the Cunard Insights program, hosting regular lectures, seminars, and Q&A sessions led by guest experts, historians, astronauts, and authors. Guests looking for a quiet retreat can get lost in the ship’s stunning, wood-paneled library or explore the curated art gallery showcasing contemporary masterpieces.

Memorable Voyages for All Generations

While Queen Anne is the epitome of adult luxury, she is beautifully equipped for multi-generational travel. Families traveling with children will find highly organized, supervised spaces safely separated from the adult lounges.

The Kids’ Zone: A colourful, interactive play area packed with games, crafts, and toys for younger children, fully supervised by youth staff.
The Teens’ Zone: A cool, relaxed hangout lounge for teenagers featuring gaming consoles, foosball tables, and organized group activities, allowing younger guests to make lifelong friends at sea.

Tom and Dom Travel onboard Cunard's Queen Anne enjoying sea views from the balcony

Final Verdict: Why Queen Anne Wins the Crown

Queen Anne represents the future of luxury ocean travel. She successfully honours the romantic, golden-era traditions that Cunard purists adore—like the formal dress codes, white-gloved service, and ballroom dancing—while effortlessly shedding any old-fashioned stuffiness. For cruisers seeking an elevated, intellectually enriching, and gastronomically brilliant holiday, Queen Anne is an absolute triumph on the waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Queen Anne and older Cunard ships?

Queen Anne features a much more contemporary, boutique-hotel aesthetic compared to the traditional art-deco styling of her sister ships. She also replaces the standard "Kings Court" buffet with the modern "Artisans’ Foodhall" and introduces four brand-new speciality restaurants (Aji Wa, Aranya, Tramonto, and Sir Samuel's).

Is the Artisans’ Foodhall included in the cruise fare?

Yes! The Artisans’ Foodhall is Queen Anne’s casual, complimentary buffet venue on Deck 9. It features live-cooking counters and a wide selection of international cuisines available throughout the day without any extra charge.

What is the dress code onboard Queen Anne?

During the day, the dress code is entirely casual and relaxed. In the evenings, the ship adopts a "Smart Elegant" dress code (trousers and a collared shirt for men; blouses, skirts, or dresses for women). On designated Gala Nights, guests are invited to dress in true black-tie attire (tuxedos or dark suits for men; evening gowns or cocktail dresses for women) to celebrate the glamour of ocean travel.

Is afternoon tea free on Queen Anne?

Yes! The famous Cunard White Star Afternoon Tea—featuring fresh scones with clotted cream, delicate finger sandwiches, and pastries served by white-gloved waiters—is served daily in the Queens Room and is completely included in your cruise fare.

Does Queen Anne still feel like a traditional Cunard ship?

Yes, but with a fresh twist. While she trades some of the dark wood and heavy Art Deco of her sisters for a brighter, more contemporary look, the core Cunard traditions remain. You will still find the iconic White Star service, formal Gala Nights, and traditional Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room. It feels less like a museum and more like a modern luxury boutique hotel that fiercely respects its royal maritime heritage.

About the Authors

We’re Tom and Dom, the creators behind Tom and Dom Travel. Through our ship reviews, cabin tours, port guides, and cruise tips, we share honest, experience-led advice from our travels around the world. Everything we publish is designed to help you cruise with confidence.

Thanks for reading, and happy cruising.