Cunard’s unique bond with Liverpool has been renewed today, Monday the 3rd of June 2024, as its newest ship Queen Anne arrived in the luxury cruise line’s spiritual home.
Her arrival attracted large numbers of spectators to various vantage points along the banks of the River Mersey as the 249th ship to fly under the Cunard flag made her maiden call to Liverpool.
Liverpool was the birthplace of Cunard with its first transatlantic crossing departing 184 years ago in July 1840, and it was the company’s headquarters for 128 years. The love and affection the people of Liverpool still have for all things Cunard is clear - never more so than when a Cunard ship arrives on the Mersey.
This is highlighted by two of the largest crowds ever to gather for a maritime event - a million people for Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 and over a million for the Three Queens Salute in 2015. This was also the year when Cunard was awarded the honour of The Freedom of the City.
Later today, tens of thousands of people are expected to gather along the waterfront to witness the time-honoured naming ceremony, a tradition believed to bestow good fortune upon the new vessel.
The ceremony will officially introduce the most beautiful ship at sea to its spiritual home, continuing the seafaring tradition by smashing a bottle of champagne against Queen Anne.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said, “Queen Anne’s British Isles Festival Voyage is celebrating the very best of Great Britain and Ireland and we are delighted that our newest ship has now arrived in Liverpool. This wonderful city is the spiritual home of Cunard, and we share such an incredible bond, so what better place to officially name our new ship than somewhere that holds so many special memories? We are all so excited for the city to see Queen Anne up close during what promises to be a very special celebration.”
