New Cunard ship flagged for Australia

CUNARD is likely to deploy its newest ship in Australian waters soon after its launch in 2022 as the luxury line increases its presence in the Pacific.

At the World’s Leading Cruise Lines Next Wave Summit on the weekend, Cunard Vice President of UK Sales and International Development David Rousham said the 3,000-passenger vessel would be a landmark addition to the fleet, coming 12 years after the launch of the line’s last newcomer Queen Elizabeth.

Although plans have not yet been confirmed, Rousham said the fourth member of the fleet was likely to come to Australia as part of a roaming deployment, similar to the upcoming seasons being served by Queen Elizabeth.

“We are looking at the Pacific involving Australia heavily, Alaska heavily and a light touch of Japan,” Rousham said. “We feel that works well.” The 113,000 GRT ship ( pictured second from left) is being built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.

It will be smaller than the line’s current flagship Queen Mary 2, but will have capacity for about 300 more guests.

Queen Elizabeth will begin a roaming deployment in the Pacific in Feb when she spends two months in Australia before heading to Japan and Alaska.

The ship will then return at the end of the year for an even longer Australian season lasting almost three months.

Rousham declined to comment on potential names for the new ship, but said its branding would be revealed in Nov next year.

The new ship’s first cruises will go on sale in Mar 2020.