Not pretty?

[Mickb]

The extra decks over the bridge really make the New Statendam look like a block of flats. I believe the new Queen Anne has the same block of cabins. What a shame as I have always the though the other Queens looked ‘right’ - 

[PORT ROYAL]

It’s a pig……

[BklynBoy8]

Maybe they want it to grow on us. It actually almost looked like the NCL Epic a longtime ago with cabins over the the Bridge. I didn't care for that design.

 

It could be very nice inside and we don't know it.

 

 

[deck chair]

Hi!

 

No, she is not a beautiful ship.  I could live with that if the new ship has a proper promenade deck.   The mew ship will not so she is one I will not sail on.  

 

Deck Chair.

[TouchstoneFeste]

14 hours ago, Mickb said:

The extra decks over the bridge really make the New Statendam look like a block of flats. I believe the new Queen Anne has the same block of cabins. What a shame as I have always the though the other Queens looked ‘right’ - 

If  you squint, it sort of looks like a container ship.

[majortom10]

I bet there will be enough interest to sell the maiden voyage in 30 minutes and that is all the bean counters care about so it doesnt matter. When on the ship counts to me and how good it is I cannot see the outside of the ship when cruising.

[PORT ROYAL]

6 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

Maybe they want it to grow on us. It actually almost looked like the NCL Epic a longtime ago with cabins over the the Bridge. I didn't care for that design.

 

It could be very nice inside and we don't know it.

 

 

Passenger/space ratio

QM2 = 1:57 (approximately)

Carnival Valour = 1:37 (approximately) = A Fun Ship, with all that it brings 

Anne = 1:37 (approximately) = A [potential] Fun Ship, with all that it brings

 

 

 

[ExArkie]

Since my wife shares her name with the ship (not the "queen" part), we'll almost certainly do one trip on the Queen Anne. Also, it will indubitably not be the maiden voyage. Whether there is a second rather depends on that first experience, but I haven't seen anything yet that suggests there will be a second voyage for us.

 

My issues: the Promenade Passageway (most prominently, and for all the previously listed reasons) and, from the limited interior presentation shown so far, a design that (possibly?) abandons the traditional design and styling. A selling point of Cunard to me is the history of the line and the reflections of that history in the ships. I'd hate to see that diminished to a footnote on the new one.

[Guest SilverHengroen]

1 hour ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Passenger/space ratio

QM2 = 1:57 (approximately)

Carnival Valour = 1:37 (approximately) = A Fun Ship, with all that it brings 

Anne = 1:37 (approximately) = A [potential] Fun Ship, with all that it brings

I remain hopeful the >3,000 figure refers to the maximum passenger capacity, not the more usually quoted double occupancy capacity. I just don't think it would be mathematically possible to squeeze in an extra 400 passengers/ 200 rooms over the Koningsdam whilst also including more large suites to fit the usual 12.5% Grills compliment that the other Cunard ships have. She will only be 75 feet longer than the Koningsdam, so even if that extra length is given entirely to cabins across the 5 main accommodation decks, that's only 80 additional rooms. Again, this is before you have to merge several standard size rooms 2 for 1 to make up the usual number of Queens Grill suites, or 1.5 to 1 for Princess Grill. 

 

Koningsdam - 2,620 (DO) 3137 (Max)

Queen Elizabeth - 2092 (DO) 2547 (Max)

 

So if we assume a double occupancy capacity of around 2,700 that gives a ratio of 1:42. About the same as QE's 1:43. That makes a lot more sense to me. Cunard have been quite obsessive about the uniformity of the experience across their ships, and I don't see how they could maintain that with a far more densely populated Queen Anne. 

[Tonopah]

I know I’m in the minority, but I think she is beautiful and if I had the resources I’d love to be on her maiden voyage. Or the second…or the third… Someday.

[Victoria2]

24 minutes ago, Tonopah said:

I know I’m in the minority, but I think she is beautiful and if I had the resources I’d love to be on her maiden voyage. Or the second…or the third… Someday.

Good for you.

I can't see us decamping from QE or QV anytime soon but being a heretic who has no love of QM2, it might be a case of never say never, although her size puts us off rather than her profile.

[Victoria2]

3 hours ago, majortom10 said:

I bet there will be enough interest to sell the maiden voyage in 30 minutes and that is all the bean counters care about so it doesnt matter. When on the ship counts to me and how good it is I cannot see the outside of the ship when cruising.

That was our take when QV's stern got butchered, but, we got used to it. I still have a gulp when I see her and think, that's my ship! 🙂

[navybankerteacher]

Having seen pictures of the last reigning Stuart, I can’t help thinking that perhaps the ship designers had her in mind while designing her namesake —- generally overupholstered and a bit top-heavy.

[PORT ROYAL]

The Anne was designed and manufactured for the brigades of casual millennials et al.  It is this targeted market who have stated (in fact finding USA surveys) that the Cunard dress code, fixed dining etc acts as deterrent to booking.  
Therefore, the bean counters had a wonderful idea to create a inbred from HAL, Carnival, Princess and PO, this to satisfy the demands of the new demographic.  This is the future of cruising in the eyes of bean counters.

Great, as it keeps these brigades off the true Queens

A few Cunarders may ‘try’ Anne, but many will decline.   However, one has a thought, “Price Point”, because one can’t see the “casual demographic” repeatedly paying a premium for the Cunard casual experience, when there are a great variety of price points more suited to their pockets or style, albeit higher or lower.
Feel, after the initial excitement, Anne will struggle in the middle ground (doldrums), unable to go up to compete with Oceania and the like (fail), so they will go down the holiday camp cut price route.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

 

[Victoria2]

We won't sail QM2, others are reluctant to sail QE/QV. There has always been  a partisan element to Cunard ships.

if Cunard can tap into another market and keep the accountants happy, then there's more chance the three legacy ships can continue on  their merry way,.

Or am I being a bit naïve! 

[Windsurfboy]

Intinerary comes before ship. Next two cruises are QM2, because it goes where we want. But will miss QV/E grills sun decks

[gumshoe958]

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

We won't sail QM2, others are reluctant to sail QE/QV. There has always been  a partisan element to Cunard ships.

if Cunard can tap into another market and keep the accountants happy, then there's more chance the three legacy ships can continue on  their merry way,.

Or am I being a bit naïve! 

I’m confident QA will quickly prove to be the most popular - and profitable - ship in the fleet.

 

And that will encourage Cunard to make adjustments to what it offers on the others.

 

Why? Because the stark reality is that the traditionalists are - literally - a dying breed and Cunard, like all lines, has to evolve to meet the demands of the emerging market to survive.

 

Proper promenade decks, much loved by so many here, are indeed wonderful. But they don’t make any money.

[Tonopah]

13 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

Proper promenade decks, much loved by so many here, are indeed wonderful. But they don’t make any money.

Sadly, this is why dance floors are disappearing, as well. If people are dancing they are not drinking/eating/gambling. Tables could take up that space and generate income.

[Victoria2]

If the ships sail full [ish], I think there are enough of the 'traditionalists' to keep  the Cunard ethos going for a few years at the very least.

 

If not, Regent or a new Crystal will be our go to.

[Bell Boy]

And I'll be following you too.

[exlondoner]

13 hours ago, Tonopah said:

Sadly, this is why dance floors are disappearing, as well. If people are dancing they are not drinking/eating/gambling. Tables could take up that space and generate income.

 

Cunard seem to have accepted that their customers are not going to gamble much. They have replaced a lot of their casino space with cabins.

[Victoria2]

48 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

And I'll be following you too.

Judging by the take up of cabins, this year and seemingly next, too, we will be safe for a year or two at the very least. 🙂

[Victoria2]

27 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Judging by the take up of cabins, this year and seemingly next, too, we will be safe for a year or two at the very least. 🙂

and before anyone chimes in with 'ah the take up is fuelled because many passengers are using their FCCs. Agreed but cancellations were given the option of refunds [well we were, eight times now] and so if FCC are being utilised, that's loyalty to Cunard.

We have had eight cruises cancelled so far and should any more be cancelled, we will stick with FCCs and transfer yet again.

One day, we will sail. Hopefully! 🙂

[LadyL1]

We think the QA will be too large for us, and certainly not in a rush to book anything. As roundtrip Caribbean are not the the agenda without sailing in and out of NY, we have been looking at Seabourn and Viking for next winter. 
Pre pandemic, the QV cruises in November to the warmth over 22+ days suited us very well.

[Colin_Cameron]

17 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

We won't sail QM2, others are reluctant to sail QE/QV. There has always been  a partisan element to Cunard ships.

Yep. There were those who sailed on Queen Mary but would never think to sail on Queen Elizabeth (or vice versa). Some who sailed on Cunard Princess but wouldn't on Cunard Countess (or vice versa). Sagafjord passengers would have been unlikely to sail on Vistafjord ... etc., etc...