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Saturday 4 March 2023

Cunard announces Queen Anne’s maiden visit to Australia as part of its 2024/25 Australia and New Zealand season

Embark on an extraordinary adventure next year thanks to luxury cruise line Cunard’s new 2024/25 programme featuring Queen Elizabeth’s highly anticipated Australia and New Zealand season and Alaska sailings, Queen Anne’s maiden world voyage and a South American adventure aboard Queen Victoria.

Queen Elizabeth – from Alaska to Australia

Departing from Vancouver on a series of voyages between May and September 2024, Queen Elizabeth invites guests to immerse themselves in a world of skyscraper-tall glaciers and mirror-like waters. Guests can discover the vibrant cultures and local traditions. A number of voyages visit the jewel in Alaska’s crown, the Glacier Bay National Park, and Hubbard Glacier, another stunning highlight.

Following her Alaska season, Queen Elizabeth will sail from San Francisco via Hawaii and Samoa to New Zealand and Australian shores (Q430), where she will spend a record 131 days. From early October 2024, she will embark on a series of extraordinary voyages from Sydney. Highlights include a 30-night Australian Circumnavigation (Q431B) calling into capital cities and hidden regional gems such as Broome whilst offering plenty of time to enjoy Cunard’s signature experiences on board. The sought-after Christmas and New Year’s voyage to New Zealand (Q501) is a journey of celebrations featuring a traditional Cunard Christmas and the opportunity for guests to be amongst the first in the world to welcome the new year during an overnight stay in Auckland. In addition to stunning Tasmania, Queensland and New Zealand itineraries, the 15-night South Pacific sailings (Q504) is a fantastic way to explore magnificent Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Queen Elizabeth will then head to Japan, where highlights include a nine-night Golden Week voyage and a 19-night Grand Voyage to Nagasaki, Yokohama – the gateway to neon-lit Tokyo, and Osaka.

Queen Anne’s maiden calls Down Under

Cunard’s latest programme will also include a number of firsts for its newest ship Queen Anne, including her maiden visit to Australia and New Zealand.

In January 2025, Queen Anne will embark on her first-ever World Voyage. Guests can experience the trip of a lifetime, spending 107 nights on board, visiting more than 30 ports in five continents (H504C). Nine overnight calls are also included, in ports such as San Francisco, Honolulu and Singapore, offering guests further opportunities to explore these destinations.

From Honolulu, Queen Anne will make her way to Auckland via Samoa and Tonga, before crossing to Sydney (H506C, Auckland to Sydney, five nights) and sailing along Australia’s magnificent east coast to Hong Kong with maiden calls in Brisbane, the Whitsunday Islands, Cairns and Darwin (H507, Sydney to Hong Kong, 19 nights).

All four Queens

Inspired by the ever popular three Queens phenomenon, Cunard now offers a trip of a lifetime across all four Queens. Guests can join an extraordinary 38-night adventure starting in the European summer with a voyage around the Mediterranean on board Queen Victoria (V414C), then embarking on Cunard’s new ship Queen Anne (H414B) for a voyage from Rome to Southampton before taking an iconic Transatlantic Crossing on Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 (M418). After sailing into New York as dawn breaks, guests will then fly to Vancouver to finish the final leg of the Four Queens Adventure by exploring glaciers, wildlife and the jaw dropping terrains of Alaska, with 10 nights on Queen Elizabeth (Q421).

Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria

Between January and May 2025, the fleet’s flagship Queen Mary 2 will combine her unique Transatlantic Crossings with visits to multiple sun-kissed destinations across Europe and the Americas, while Queen Victoria embarks on an incredible 78-night South American adventure from Southampton to the warm shores of Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador (V503B).

Sture Myrmell, President, Carnival UK, said: “We’re so excited to share our newest programme featuring some fantastic itineraries and – with over 130 to choose from – you’ll certainly be spoiled for choice. Whether you want to wander Europe’s historic streets, channel your adventurous side trying street food across Asia, explore the magic of Australia’s coastline or savour the sunsets in Hawaii, Cunard has a voyage for you.

“Better still, when you’re not off exploring a new destination, you can relax in luxury on board, enjoy fascinating Insight talks, innovative theatre and a variety of fine dining options. However you choose to spend your time, you can savour every destination both from aboard and spending time exploring ashore.”

The programme includes over 130 voyages to 159 destinations across Cunard’s four Queens, including 30 maiden calls for Queen Anne and five fleet maiden calls for Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth’s Australia voyages will be available to book from 9am AEDT on 15 March 2023 exclusively for Cunard World Club Members. General sale of Queen Elizabeth’s Australia residency begins at 9am AEDT on 16 March 2023. All other voyages will be available to book from 12am AEDT on 16 March exclusively for Cunard World Club Members. General sale begins at 12am AEDT on 17 March.

For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, visit www.cunard.com.

*Source: PEPR Agency, Philip Engelberts cunard@pepr.com.au