Carnival shakeup as two of its biggest cruise ships are transferred

Cunard’s newest cruise ship Queen Anne is set to be transferred to sister brand P&O Cruises as part of a fleet overhaul by parent company Carnival.

One of P&O Cruises’ oldest cruise ships, Arcadia, is also transferring to Carnival-owned brand Holland America Line as part of the changes.

A surprise statement from Carnival said the 3,000-capacity Queen Anne cruise ship, which launched in May 2024, will transfer from Cunard to join the P&O Cruises fleet in 2029 following the completion of her 2028/29 World Voyage.

She will undergo an extensive refit and be renamed before entering service for P&O Cruises in May 2029.

Queen Anne, which has a more modern look than her sister ships in the fleet, will still play an important role in Cunard’s Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028 before completing her final World Voyage for the cruise line in winter 2028/29.

Asked if the move was a reflection of guest feedback, a Carnival spokesperson told The Independent: “Guest expectations keep changing, and we change with them. Sometimes that means moving ships to other cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation family where each one can shine brightest.”

Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK, P&O Cruises and Cunard, 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.”

Mr Ludlow said the renamed Queen Anne vessel will introduce a new class of ship to the P&O Cruises fleet and broaden the choice available to guests.

He added: “This choice will complement the existing fleet and make her a defining addition to the next chapter of P&O Cruises.

“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.”

In a related move, Arcadia, launched by P&O Cruises in April 2005, will complete a special farewell season, ending on 21 August 2029 before transferring to Holland America Line.

Mr Ludlow said: “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.”

The 2,000-capacity Arcadia cruise ship will transfer to Holland America Line in late 2029, taking the fleet size to 12. After a period in drydock for renovations and a rebrand, she will join the cruise line’s other Vista-Class ships, including Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam and Noordam.

Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, said: ”Holland America Line continues to see strong demand from guests seeking immersive travel experiences, genuine hospitality, and perfectly sized ships.

”Adding Arcadia allows us to welcome more guests while building on everything they already love about our brand. As a Vista class ship, she is a natural fit and an exciting extension of Holland America Evolution, the largest guest experience transformation in our 153-year history."

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