Cunard Line Orders New Ship
Cunard fleet publicity image
Cunard Line Orders New Ship
By
Shawn J. Dake
Cunard Line announced that their fleet will be expanding with the addition of a fourth ship scheduled to join their existing fleet of three Queens in 2022. The news comes just five days after the company celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch of the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. The new cruise ship will be the 249th ship to fly the Cunard house flag since the company’s founding in 1839. At the time it enters service it will be Cunard’s first new ship in 12 years, since the launch of the current QUEEN ELIZABETH in 2010. At 113,000 gross tons the latest addition will be the second largest ship ever built for Cunard Line. The size of the Cunard fleet has varied greatly over the years but the arrival of this ship will mark the first time since 1998 that the line will have four ships in simultaneous service.
QUEEN ELIZABETH passes the QUEEN MARY at Long Beach, California on March 12, 2013. Photo by Shawn J. Dake.
Based on early renderings the ship appears to be a greatly expanded version of the smaller 90,901 gross ton QUEEN ELIZABETH. Stacked high on the forward structure, five decks tower above the ship’s bridge. While it remains uncertain what the double-occupancy capacity will be, the ability to carry 3,000 passengers is higher than that of the QUEEN ELIZABETH at double-occupancy by over 900 passengers and is greater than the double-occupancy capacity of the QUEEN MARY 2 as well. Bearing a family resemblance to the other three Queens, and the latest vessels of sister-company Holland America Line, the new ship will be built at one of the Fincantieri S.p.A. facilities in Italy, most likely at Monfalcone.
Builder’s plate of the QUEEN ELIZABETH. The new ship will also be constructed in Italy by Fincantieri. Photo by Shawn J. Dake.
“Cunard continues the legacy of our liners with the commissioning of a magnificent new ship. It’s an especially fitting time with the recent 50th Anniversary of the beloved QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 marking the occasion. We are proud to share Cunard’s enduring luxury liner experience with future generations to be enjoyed the world over,” said Josh Leibowitz, Chief Strategy Officer at Carnival Corporation and Senior Vice President, Cunard, North America.
“Sharing the iconic livery and red funnels, the new ship will accommodate up to 3,000 guests. Distinct Cunard signatures and brand new experiences will combine as part of this next generation of the Cunard fleet and we’re looking forward to sharing exciting details in the coming years.”
Addressing Cunard Line employees and the travel industry Mr. Leibowitz went on to add, “The new ship order is an ambitious statement of confidence of Cunard globally and it is a testament to the commitment our entire team and valued travel partners make every day to provide our guests with incredible vacation experiences, and we thank each of you for your significant contributions to making this vision a reality. Again congratulations to our entire team.”
Cunard Line publicity image for new ship
At the present time the new ship remains unnamed. Since before the launch of the original QUEEN MARY at Clydebank in 1934 it has been a bit of a cottage industry to speculate about the name of the newest Cunard liner or cruise ship. No doubt that will take place again as the anticipation builds over the next five years. What Queen will it be, or will it even be another Queen? Only time will tell but it will be fun to hear the guesses in the meantime.
Shawn Dake
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Basically another Koningsdam. Pity Cunard could not have gone for something more innovative (and better looking… that piled up forward superstructure!!! UGH)
This surely is a news grabber, at least for the cruise boards.
Be she a mere copy of the Pinnacle Class cruise ships, a larger QUEEN ELIZABETH in tonnage, a block of flats (one of least favorite comparisons), a floating condo or the ultimate “it doesn’t look like an ocean liner, which she is not, get over it – she will be built, and will delight many of the loyal Cunardophiles that are unabashedly loyal to the line, of which I am one.
I think 3,000 passengers, give or take a few, is outrageous, yet, I thought that when I sailed for the first time in CELEBRITY SOLSTICE, new ships are built to handle the number of passengers they sell passage to, and this new Cunarder will prove that point.
One needs to admire a ship during a sailing when 50, 60, 70, even 80 percent of the passengers repeaters on board. This ship, look at KONINGSDAM for particulars, and it should prove quite quickly that this ships design works, is adaptable.
I will also point out that although looking identical, nearly identical, QUEEN ELIZABETH and QUEEN VICTORIA are not so, and there is no reason to think that the new Cunard ship will be identical to the current Pinnacle Class ships.
An uglier version of the current Queen Elizabeth which, in itself, is not exactly elegant.
The extra decks above the bridge are reminiscent of the the hideous Norwegian America monsters.
With all the cruise ships and cruise lines operating now it is imperative for each company to offer something different. Cunard has always stood for tradition and style but they are now barely different from anyone else.
Another combined liner/cruise ship like QE2 or QM2 could offer some different occasional line voyages as well as cruises whilst giving a much smoother ride in poor conditions.
Mr Thompson, sadly Norwegian America ceased passenger ship operations several decades ago when they sold Sagafjord and Vistafjord to Cunard Line.
Does it have to be named for a Queen? Why not revert to the more traditional Cunard naming standard and name her Mauretania or Aquitania?
Mark Thompson – I think you are referring to Norwegian Cruise Line, formerly known as Norwegian Caribbean Line.
The once grand Norwegian America Line also known as Norwegian America Cruises ,lastly known as Cunard/NAC has sadly been out of business for many years.
However, to see new ships on the drawing boards and some due soon, check our Maritime Matters “Future Ships” and have some fun rating the looks of the new ones, some of them make me cringe at the thought of ever sailing them.
Yes, I meant Norwegian Caribbean but i’m sure everyone will be aware of the ugly top heavy blocks of
flats to which i refer.
As for other comments made, i would point out that i am a loyal Cunard customer having sailed 5 times with them on QE2, QM2 and QV. However, in recent years i have tended to go elsewhere.
With regard to a new name, I would agree that one of the traditional old names ending ‘ia’ would be good.
Looking at the render, that’s very ugly ship.
Having been privileged to work on Royal Viking Line vessels many, many years ago the QM2 (and possibly Elizabeth and Victoria) do hark back to some suggestion of elegance.
This is not a nice tangent for Cunard.
Cunard has had many differing ships in its fleet over many decades, some not so pretty, a certainly nothing to compare with the ships of today.
Not long ago gasps came after the SEA GODDESS
1 and !11. some dreaded COUNTESS AND PRINCESS, I was not happy with ADVENTURER and AMBASSADOR, cheap builds and it showed inside and out.
I am pleased that the RVL ships are still sailing, and I enjoyed my cruises with them.
She’s going to be one ugly Queen. Cunard branding will dictate that. Best guess is Anne. Dark horse is – ahem – Charlotte.
All owned by Carnival, so if one brand doesnt have a stellar year and they have a new ship on order they can transfer any ship within their many lines and have it fit in without it being a sore thumb. This ship does look like a Holland America ship, no doubt. The only ships that I find attractive is Viking Ocean. They have the best looking ships on the ocean to date.