Cunard’s Queen Anne to join P&O Cruises in 2029 as Arcadia leaves the fleet

Queen Anne is preparing for a new life with P&O Cruises, while Arcadia gets a special farewell before transferring to Holland America Line

There’s been a rather big shake-up announced across the P&O Cruises and Cunard fleets, with Queen Anne set to leave Cunard behind and join P&O Cruises in 2029.

But don’t worry if you’ve already got a Cunard cruise booked on Queen Anne, nothing is changing for currently published sailings. She will continue sailing for Cunard through her 2028/29 World cruise before beginning a new chapter with P&O Cruises.

And while Queen Anne is moving across, another much-loved ship will be heading in the opposite direction. P&O Cruises’ Arcadia will complete a special farewell season before transferring to Holland America Line.

So, yes, there’s a fair bit of musical chairs going on at sea!

Queen Anne’s Cunard farewell

Queen Anne will remain part of the Cunard fleet through her final World cruise in winter 2028/29.

Before that, she will play a starring role in Cunard’s Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028, making the occasion an especially important moment in her time with the cruise line.

Her final World cruise as a Cunard ship will take place in January 2029, after which she will undergo an extensive reimagining before joining P&O Cruises.

Cunard says further details about celebrations for her final season will be announced in due course, so there will be plenty of time to give Queen Anne a proper send-off.

From Cunard Queen to P&O Cruises

Queen Anne will be renamed before entering service with P&O Cruises in May 2029, introducing a new class of ship to the P&O Cruises fleet.

Exactly what she will look like after her transformation is still under wraps, with details of her new name, onboard experience and inaugural P&O Cruises programme to be revealed at a later date.

What we do know is that P&O Cruises sees Queen Anne as a natural fit for its modern holiday experience.

Since launching, Queen Anne has brought a contemporary take on the Cunard experience, combining the line’s traditional sense of occasion with modern design, a wide choice of dining and entertainment, and flexible public spaces.

After her reimagining, those features will help create something different for P&O Cruises guests, with the ship offering another scale and style of onboard experience alongside a new range of itineraries.

What does this mean for Cunard?

Once Queen Anne moves across to P&O Cruises, Cunard will have a three-ship fleet made up of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

Cunard says the decision will create a more closely unified fleet, with its three remaining Queens each continuing to reflect the heritage, style and sense of occasion associated with the brand.

And there’s investment on the horizon too.

Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 is due to receive a major upgrade next year. As the world’s only ocean liner providing regular transatlantic service, Cunard says the investment is designed to ensure she continues to delight guests for decades to come.

So while Queen Anne will be waving goodbye to Cunard, the line is clearly looking ahead to the future of its three remaining Queens.

P&O Arcadia is transferring to Holland American Line in 2029

Time to say goodbye to Arcadia

Queen Anne isn’t the only ship getting a new chapter.

Arcadia, which has been part of the P&O Cruises fleet for more than two decades, will complete a special farewell season before leaving the fleet on 21 August 2029.

She will then transfer to Holland America Line, remaining within the wider Carnival Corporation family.

P&O Cruises says Arcadia has created countless memories for its guests over the years and described her as a much-loved part of the fleet.

Details of her farewell season, including when it will go on sale, will be announced shortly.

What happens to existing bookings?

For anyone already looking at a Queen Anne or Arcadia cruise, there is some reassuring news.

All currently published cruises before the ships’ respective transfer dates will operate as planned.

So there’s no need to panic and start frantically checking your booking confirmation just yet!

Queen Anne will continue with her Cunard programme through her final World cruise, while Arcadia will complete her published P&O Cruises sailings before her departure from the fleet.

For now, we’ll have to wait for P&O Cruises to reveal exactly what Queen Anne will become, including her new name and what her reimagined onboard experience will look like.

One thing is certain: 2029 is shaping up to be a rather interesting year for these two much-loved ships.