Cunard Line reveals dining and design details for new ship Queen Anne
Following the announcement of the name for Cunard Line’s new ship Queen Anne, the cruise line has now revealed details of her design.
Queen Anne will feature a new spa concept for the first time on any Cunard ship, as well as an updated livery and ‘re-imagined’ popular public spaces, such as the Grand Lobby, Golden Lion and Royal Court Theatre.
Cunard Line says designers David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie, working with the Creative Director Adam D. Tihany, have collaborated to create an extraordinary and thoughtful, modern approach to the venues, suites, and décor.
“We’ve worked with world leading interior designers and fresh creative talent; we’ve discussed and tested our ideas with guests from around the world; and we’ve delved deep into the Cunard Archives to make sure we can truly celebrate what makes Cunard so unique,” said Lee Powell, Cunard Brand Vice President.
The design teams tapped into the Cunard Archives, held at the University of Liverpool, to find inspiration from historical documents and details on layout, materials, fabrics, patterns, and textures.
They utilised poster advertisements, brochure covers and plans of the grand spaces of Cunard’s early deco inspired ships, to create the concepts for Queen Anne’s staterooms and public spaces.
“We wanted to create something nostalgic yet contemporary, relaxed yet glamorous, new and exciting – all within the constraints of a ship,” said Simon Rawlings, Creative Director at David Collins Studio.
“We worked very closely with the Cunard ship building team during the design process to gather as much knowledge as possible and also referred back to our extensive hospitality experience,” explains Lewis Taylor, Design Director at David Collins Studio.
“We have added layers of architectural details and design codes that refer back to Cunard’s history and that add a touch of whimsy and British eccentricity to the experiences,” Taylor added. “These architectural design elements along with the exquisite level of service on board, will make the new vessel truly unique.”
Queen Anne Staterooms
The Cunard Queens Grill Grand Suites were the first to be designed. These private residences deliver a new level of exclusivity, with each finish carefully curated in every room.
Designed by David Collins Studio, they offer a dedicated dining room and adjacent butler’s pantry, walk-in wardrobes, marble finished bathrooms with views out to sea, a spacious bedroom and the largest balconies onboard.
The Princess Grill Suites, designed by Sybille de Margerie, feature a bespoke dressing table and bar area with pattern wall panel inspired by the flowing lines of Cunard’s past liners, sculpted ceiling panels and grand saloon carpets by textile designer, Corinne Hughes.
The Britannia balcony staterooms provide cozy sofa seating areas looking out to sea, and light, bright bathrooms with glass walk-in showers for a more relaxed experience.
Bold new colors elevate the signature spaces and the Queens Grill Suites. Deep blues with flashes of golden yellow in the Britannia Staterooms have been chosen to reflect the sea and shimmer of sunlight and deep rich tones of red, amber and gold heighten the luxurious lounge feel of the Princess Grill Suites.
Other Public Spaces
The Grand Lobby, the social heart of the ship, features a contemporary metal mural sculpture that changes throughout the day by the lighting effect integrated within it, with an art deco design inspired by the ‘Golden Age’ of travel.
The Royal Court Theatre forward of the lobby features a design inspired by the great sound halls of the world. The two-deck 825 seat space was designed by Richmond International, with all seats covered in rich velvet and offering uninterrupted views of the stage.
The ship’s 15 dinging venues are all intended to evoke a unique design, from the grand Britannia Restaurant to the refined Golden Lion pub.
For the Princess and Queens Grill restaurants, bright colours were chosen with elements of gold, to reinforce the luxurious but refined overall design aesthetic on board.
“Anything tricky can date, anything too predictable can be tiresome and replicated, so keeping things fresh, unique and bold ensures the designs are timeless, and meet or exceed guest expectations,” explains Simon Rawlings.
In a first for Cunard, Queen Anne will feature a new wellness and beauty concept featuring a wide selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa suite facilities with a contemporary, open and airy aesthetic.
Cunard Line is also introducing an updated exterior for Queen Anne. The famous red funnel will return, but the ship will feature an updated livery, with a finessed design of the iconic crest and the introduction of a new font inspired by the grand ocean liners of the past.
Queen Anne will set sail in early 2024, with her maiden season programme available to book from May, 2022.
