New Cunard cruise ship set to arrive in home port

Cunard's newest cruise ship is set to arrive at its home port of Southampton.

The 3,000-capacity luxury vessel is expected to dock at 20:00 BST after sailing from the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice.

It should be visible from Gosport and the north coast of the Isle of Wight earlier in the evening.

The company's first new cruise ship in 14 years, it is due to depart on its maiden voyage to Lisbon on Friday.

The 113,000-tonne Queen Anne joins Cunard's fleet of queens - Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Following a 14-day cruise to the Canary Islands, it is due to embark on a voyage around the British Isles with stops including Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, Belfast and Cobh.

The voyage also includes a naming ceremony at Cunard's "spiritual home" of Liverpool on 3 June.

Cunard took ownership of the ship during a traditional handover ceremony at the Italian shipyard in Venice on 19 April.

Speaking at the ceremony, Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: "Not only does she reflect the Cunard distinctive style on the outside, the inside perfectly echoes the brand heritage with reimagined, elegant spaces and designs."

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