Ocean_Liner_Traveller

As to the name of this P&O dream-ship, I think for us older cruisers only one comes to mind: Canberra.

One Cunard ship performs every year a full world circumnavigation, while another goes a 'four continents' world cruise (Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa). So far the full circumnavigation has been done for many years by Queen Victoria, but next year this role goes to the brand new Queen Anne. Similarly, the 'four continents' cruise has been done by Queen Mary 2. However, there will be a 'reverse' in 2026. QM2 will tackle the full circumavigation - a historic point for her, as for the first time ever she will transit the Panama Canal. Anne will undertake the 'four continents' cruise - a first for her, too.

Dakar is also mentioned in Cunard's new released YouTube video about the aforementioned voyages, as one of the maiden calls.

I remember QM2's 2016 World Cruise included both Papeete and Moorea, too. There were some voices that, since Moorea is so close to Papeete (just one hour by ferry), it could have been dismissed in favour of Bora Bora. Speaking of this, Tahiti and Bora Bora are perhaps the two most famous French Polynesian paradises. We have had wonderful times in both of them. Great to see QM2 visiting again this fabulous region.

If Cunard didn't have a reputation of safety, this transit would seem rather risky. But I must say we have found this reputation repeatedly true and they seem to know what they are doing.

So, QM2's first full globe circumnavigation since 2016 and, more importantly, first ever Panama Canal transit, are finally confirmed. A great 'thank you' to Blumarble for revealing it first and enabling us the joy of anticipation. I wonder, what has really changed since Cunard asserted some years ago that QM2 was unable to pass under the Bridge of the Americas due to her height? Could it be works in the Canal,? Climate change (barely possible)?

Thank you for this. The possibilities of a QM2 2026 westward full circumnavigation are increasing. Exciting!

Incidentally, P&O Arcadia's altered itinerary is poorer than QM2's. Endless sea days (we absolutely love them, but not everyone does), no Walvis Bay or Lisbon and generally few ports of call from Singapore on (Penang, Langkawi, Phuket, or Colombo seemingly were not in the original itinerary, as were in QM2's). QM2's new itinerary seems comparatively well taken care of.

Would the space behind the funnel and in front of Boardwalk Cafe be large enough to accommodate them? (Incidentally, I think there are already gas machine installations near the funnel.) Just curious.

Just an observation: according to the timetables listed by the travel agent posted in the beginning of this thread, it should be Queen Anne at Haifa in 21 Jan 2026, not QM2. QM2 appears to be between New York and Willemstad, Curacao then. Is QM2's mention by the Haifa Port Authority an indication that the agents' timetables are not correct and QM2 is not going for a full world circumnavigation, but is only going to Australia via Suez? Forgive me if I'm missing something, I'm a bit confused.

As we were on board, I can confirm QM2 was at San Pedro in 2009.

The first time QM2 visited Hawaii was during her February/March 2006 'Royal Hawaian Liner' cruise RT Los Angeles. She also visited Hawaii in February 2007, during her Maiden World Cruise. Then her last call, as Bluemarlbe said, was in February 2009, during her World Cruise of that year.

If this info proves accurate, this will be QM2's first full circumnavigation of the globe since 2016, and her first ever through the Panama Canal of course. Quite exciting. It will sell in hours🙂.

Queen Anne does the usual itinerary of QM2, that of the 4 continents. Also, Cunard themselves have clearly stated in the past that QM2 cannot transit the new Panama Canal due to the height of the Bridge of the Americas. Perhaps there is a mistake and one ship's itinerary has been mistaken with the other's (?). In any case, all this is unexpected and exciting. QM2 continues World Cruises! Many thanks for that info.

Many thanks Roscoe for the beautiful, knowledgeable narrative and amazing photos! A joy to read.

Again, many thanks @bluemarble. I, too, can confirm that QV made only a cruise-by to St. Helena during her 2016 World Cruise, in April 27, as did of Ascension two days later. Incidentally, in this cruise she made her maiden call to St Vincent, Cape Verde (May 3), although she stayed there only for half a day. Nice itinerary, pity that she did not repeat it, as far as I know. On the other hand, QM2 made a full stop in St. Helena in March 30 2010, time appear to be 09:00 to 16:00, on her voyage from Cape Town to Rio. Incidentally, as many here certainly remember, her 2010 World Cruise was her first one not circumnavigating the globe and the penultimate one that called to Rio. We were lucky to visit RIo on her World Cruise the year before.

I have the impression Cunard has called at St. Helena in the past. QE2 perhaps? @bluemarble perhaps can enlighten us - if so, thanks in advance. Close -bys, wonderful as they are, do not match an actual landing, IMHO. And St. Helena, once there, has much to offer in matters of natural beauty and history. And oh, how wondeful would be to sail on FRANCE in 1969... A legend close to Cunard's.

Thank you very much for pointing this out. It was so nice to see my history again - and after a while my brand new booking in the upcoming voyages.

Thanks for the photo - seeing is believing. I guess Cunard did not have much favourable passenger feedback, so they did not repeat the visit there. Nevertheless, the island is of a certain historical significance and I would like to visit it, at least once. I still continue to believe that this and St. Helena, for example, would make nice and plausible supplements to the Soton - Cape Town itinerary.

As far as I know, there are only standard inside cabins on QM2 and these don't have a couch (unlike the deluxe insides on QV and QE). They just have a chair in the vanity, as well an armchair with a table - actually they are quite comfortable. Cabins on Deck 5, like 5073, are most likely to be like that. Moreover, there are some oceanview cabins on QM2 that don't have a couch (while all oceanviews on QV and QE, both obstructed and standard, do have one).

Interestingly the ports attributed to Anne in 2026 seem part of a regular QM2 World Cruise. Similarly, those attributed to QM2 seem part of a usual full world circumnavigation, continuing from Darwin to Hong Kong or Singapore. Like an unwilling (?) change/mistake has taken place. Yes, it remains to be seen if all this is real.

Trying to guess 2026 World Cruise itineraries becomes exiting! Thanks to all for that info. Queen Anne appears to 'half-circumnavigate' Australia. She 'enters' via Darwin and 'exits' via Fremantle. This perhaps implies that she is not doing a full world circumnavigation, but following QM2's precedent she sails from Southampton to Australia via Asia and returns via Cape Town. If she sailed to Australia from America, she would not normally call Darwin first. This scenario, although somewhat strange, is strengthened by the call at Funchal. Cruise ships usually don't call to Madeira/Canaries when they return via the Med. in their World Cruises. Iberian peninsula ports is the norm in that case. But then, it is challenging to guess QM2's itinerary in that case. Otherwise, Queen Anne could just do a full circumnavigation of Australia, Sydney to Sydney, like QM2 in 2012, and then continue her World Cruise itinerary, whatever it is. QM2 on a 2026 World Cruise is a very pleasant surprise, as many believed that she would be restricted only to Caribbean itineraries after Anne's introduction. Let's see if Cunard has another surprise in the making.

Actually, Queen Anne's cruise there in November next year comes with a great price. 🙂

Cruise lines taking security so seriously is one of the best aspects of a cruise holiday. I know about Ankara bombing, but did not know about Marrakech. Have cruise lines stopped calling in Morocco or Turkey? I hope not.

As much as I know, it seems to be... And it's very appealing.