The arrival of Cunard’s 249th ship, Queen Anne, marks a very special time and we’re excited to continue celebrating each and every step of her creation, the next of which is known as the Keel Laying.
This significant moment in Queen Anne’s history took place on 8 September 2022, at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.
The ceremony was attended by the Fincantieri shipyard team and Carnival leadership team, as well as selected journalists and special guest of honour, Inger Thorhauge, Captain of Queen Anne.
Steeped in tradition, the Keel Laying ceremony is designed to bring luck to a ship during its construction, and to her Captain and crew while she is in service.
The laying of the keel is in essence the formal recognition of the start of construction, and the ceremony heralds the completion of the intensive design and development stage.
To mark the occasion and acknowledge the significance of old and new, a unique Queen Anne coin has been commissioned that will sit alongside an original coin from her namesake’s reign. Together, these were embedded into the ship by Captain Inger Thorhauge.
A ship inspired by Cunard’s past and built for their future, Queen Anne represents a sense of excitement for what lies ahead. If you’d like to discover more of Cunard’s newest Queen on the lead up to her 2024 launch, visit Cunard.com.
You can also stay up to date by visiting the Queen Anne Hub.