By now, amongst the cruising enthusiasts, maritime historians, and the like, I imagine it is common knowledge that Carnival is doing a kind of cabinet reshuffle with a couple of its portfolio of passenger ships. Cunard’s Queen Anne is due to transfer to P&O following her 2029 World Voyage while P&O’s Arcadia will transfer to where it was originally destined for, HOLLAND AMERICA, again after her 2029 World Voyage.

I don’t like to brag, but in August, I returned from my 57th Cunard voyage. Actually, I do like to brag!  I have slept on Cunard ships in excess of 900 nights.  I’m not sure it’s an achievement that I’m proud of, but circumnavigating the globe without flying, and not on a round-the-world cruise is an achievement I regard as  certainly worthwhile.  What this does signify perhaps is that for almost four decades, I’ve had this thing about ocean liners, in particular, the Cunard Line.  My father had sailed across the English Channel on the Aquitania and Berengaria when holydaying in France as boy with his wealthy aunts.

Fast forward to 2026.  My cruising days are past their peak as energy and finance ever so slowly evaporates, But my interest doesn’t.   Former colleague and friend Carl Evans left a message on my phone announcing that already, the days of Cunard’s Queen Anne are numbered.  I was on its maiden voyage just two and a bit years ago.  I loved it!  It was refreshingly modern but still retaining that Cunard sense of occasion.  That doesn’t mean to say that I enjoy the other three Cunard ships any less than before, and I will always regard Queen Mary 2 as a kind of second home, although I sail on her increasingly less these days – only three voyages this year(!), but none until 2028.

Ye gods! I shall be 80 in 2029!

Assuming all this comes to pass, I feel that the future of Cunard may be less assured as its remaining fleet becomes be older and thus  increasingly costly to maintain.  And, what a waste if all the furnishings and modern technology on Queen Anne is discarded prematurely. 

I was on Queen Anne for its first five weeks. Maybe I’ll be on for its last 35 nights.  I didn’t see that coming, you couldn’t make it up!

Many thanks for reading,

David, at home 19.40 hrs 10/10/26.