Docked at the Port of Southampton’s Mayflower Cruise Terminal, festivities included a series of expert panels, with key partners and collaborators across dining, design, and wellness revealing how they brought Queen Anne’s headline concepts to life.
Captain Inger Thorhauge, who will be at the helm as Queen Anne sets sail for Lisbon on Friday, and Cunard President Katie McAlister, officially welcomed guests with an evening drinks reception in The Pavilion. McAlister said, ‘It was a privilege to showcase so many exciting and elevated new concepts to our VIP guests. Queen Anne boasts the widest selection of dining venues, bar, entertainment, and wellness so far seen on a Cunard ship and we are all so proud of the experience and incredible service that our guests will enjoy on board.’
McAlister also cut the ribbon that officially opened the ship’s boutique stores, including the Cabinet of Curiosities.
Food and beverage
Two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux hosted an intimate Q&A in the Queens Room. Roux has created an exclusive gala menu for Queen Anne's Queens Grill restaurant and a new menu for Queen Anne's pub, the Golden Lion. He also announced that he will be hosting two Le Gavroche at Sir Samuels residencies on board Queen Anne in August and September.
Design
Guests also had a chance to ‘meet the designers’ behind Queen Anne with creative leads from world-famous design studios including Lewis Taylor of David Collins Studio, Sybille de Margerie of the Sybille de Margerie interior design agency, Fiona Thompson from Richmond International and Melita Skamnaki of Double Decker.
Wellness
Elsewhere, Harper’s Bazaar’s UK beauty director Katy Young led an enrichment focused Q&A that introduced Queen Anne’s Wellness at Sea proposition – a collection of three luxurious spa packages designed to revive, restore, and rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.
Entertainment
Music and singing could be heard throughout the vessel, courtesy of the ‘Made in Britain with the Queen Anne Musicians’ as they performed a Beatles medley and songs by Queen, Adele, Robbie Williams and Lulu to name a few.
A preview of a Noël Coward's love story ‘Brief Encounter’ from esteemed Broadway and West End producer David Pugh and critically acclaimed director Emma Rice will take place this evening.
The four Olivier Award winning leading men of the original West End cast of ‘The Drifters Girl’ will also bring an evening of soul later today.
KingCrowney, a music producer and trumpeter who has worked closely with MOBO and Brit award winning band Rudimental, is also set to perform tonight.
Inaugural voyage
The ship’s maiden voyage kicks off on May 3. It will then operate itineraries to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian Fjords throughout its maiden season, calling at over 60 unique destinations in 16 countries.
