Carnival Shifts Queen Anne to P&O, Arcadia to Holland America

Carnival UK has announced that Queen Anne, Cunard's flagship vessel that launched in May 2024, will transition to sister line, P&O Cruises, following the final segment of the ship's 2028/29 World Voyage.

This will coincide with P&O Cruises' Arcadia, which has been with the line since debuting in 2005, exiting the fleet in August 2029 to join fellow Carnival brand, Holland America.

In a statement, Carnival UK has said that Queen Anne will be 'reimagined' before joining the P&O Cruises fleet. Until then, the ship will continue sailing for Cunard, before undergoing an extensive refurbishment and being renamed, before setting sail for P&O Cruises in May 2029.

Once reimagined, Queen Anne, which was named in Liverpool in June 2024, will add a brand-new class of ship to P&O Cruises' fleet.

Carnival UK, P&O Cruises and Cunard president Paul Ludlow said: "These decisions reflect a careful, long-term view of our portfolio and where the individual strengths of each ship can best support guest demand and the future direction of our two cruise lines.

"Queen Anne was created as a bold and contemporary expression of Cunard, combining the brand's hallmark service and sense of occasion with modern design, an extensive choice of dining and entertainment, and highly flexible public spaces.

"Those qualities give her a natural affinity with the modern P&O Cruises holiday experience. Following her reimagining, she will introduce a new class of ship to the P&O Cruises fleet and broaden the choice available to guests through a different scale, style of onboard experience and range of itineraries. This choice will complement the existing fleet and make her a defining addition to the next chapter of P&O Cruises.

"Queen Anne has established a special place within the Cunard fleet and she has an exciting programme ahead, including a central role in the Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028 and her final World Voyage as a Cunard ship in January '29. We will ensure that the seasons ahead are a fitting celebration of her time as a Cunard Queen."

With Queen Victoria scheduled for a dry-dock refurb imminently and Queen Mary 2 heading for a shipyard makeover in 2027, Cunard is set to focus on its original fleet of three from 2029.

Ludlow continued: "At the same time, the change will give Cunard a more closely unified fleet centred on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Each has a deeply established identity and embodies the timeless style, heritage and sense of occasion that guests around the world most closely associate with Cunard.

"This decision does not change our commitment to Cunard or its future. We will continue to invest in the ships, service, itineraries and guest experiences that make Cunard unique, while building on the strong following enjoyed by each of its three Queens.

"Next year we will also complete a major upgrade of Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2. As the world's only ocean liner providing regular transatlantic service, it's a one-of-a-kind asset, and our investment is designed to ensure it continues to delight guests for decades to come.

"Arcadia has been a much-loved part of P&O Cruises for more than two decades and has created countless special memories for our guests. We are immensely proud of her place in the line's history and pleased that, following a celebratory farewell season, she will continue her career within the Carnival Corporation family."

Details of Arcadia's farewell season are set to be announced soon.