Big Changes Ahead: Queen Anne & Arcadia On The Move
There’s been a bit of a game of musical chairs at sea! Carnival Corporation has announced some major changes across Cunard, P&O Cruises and Holland America, with two much-loved ships set to change cruise lines in 2029.
The biggest surprise? Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, will leave the fleet and join sister brand P&O Cruises, replacing Arcadia who will join Holland America Line.
Confused? Don’t worry, we’ve got the lowdown.
Queen Anne is leaving Cunard… but not just yet!
If you’ve been thinking about experiencing Queen Anne, this might be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.
Launched in 2024, Queen Anne is Cunard’s newest ship and brings a more contemporary take to the line’s famous blend of elegance, service and traditional cruising. But in 2029, her time as a Cunard Queen will come to an end.
Following her 2028/29 World Voyage, Queen Anne will leave the Cunard fleet and undergo an extensive transformation before joining P&O Cruises in May 2029. She’ll also receive a new name and become a brand new class of ship within the P&O Cruises fleet.
This might sound like quite a long way off (and it is) but there’s a very good reason to get Queen Anne on your cruise radar now.
Experience Queen Anne whilst she’s still a Cunard Queen
Queen Anne has already established her own identity within the Cunard fleet, combining the line’s signature sense of occasion with modern design, flexible public spaces, a choice of dining, and plenty to discover onboard.
Want to know more about what makes Queen Anne special? Our Cruise Specialist Mary spent a week onboard last summer. Check out her blog to get the inside scoop on life onboard, from the food and entertainment to the little touches that make Queen Anne one to remember.
So, if Cunard has always been on your cruise wish list, now could be the time to experience Queen Anne as a Cunard Queen before she begins her next chapter. Think of it as getting onboard for the final chapter of a pretty short, but memorable, Cunard story.
Find Your Perfect Queen Anne Cruise
And what happens to Arcadia?
After almost 25 years with P&O Cruises Arcadia will leave the fleet in August 2029 and join Holland America Line, becoming the 12th ship in its fleet.
For Holland America, this is a particularly interesting addition. Arcadia is a Vista Class ship, the same class as Holland America’s Oosterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam, making her a natural fit for the fleet. The addition will increase Holland America’s capacity by more than 2,000 guests and give the line greater flexibility across its worldwide deployment.
But Arcadia isn’t simply joining a cruise line that’s standing still.
Holland America is getting an evolution of it’s own
Holland America is currently in the middle of Holland America Evolution, a huge multi-year programme designed to transform six of its Signature and Vista Class ships.
With an investment of more than $500 million, the programme will introduce refreshed public spaces, new dining and bar experiences, additional accommodation choices and some of the most popular features from Holland America’s newer Pinnacle Class ships.
The first ship to receive the full Evolution treatment will be Oosterdam in autumn 2027, followed by Zuiderdam in April 2028, with further ships including Nieuw Amsterdam, Westerdam and Noordam also set to be transformed.
And yes, Arcadia will be part of that story too.
Exactly what Holland America has planned for Arcadia is still to be revealed, with details of her future design, onboard features and deployment expected to be announced in the coming months.
That makes this an exciting time to discover Holland America, whether you’re looking at one of its existing ships or keeping an eye on what Arcadia’s new chapter will bring.
So, should you wait until 2029?
Not necessarily! Holland America already has a fantastic range of cruises sailing to destinations around the world, from Alaska and the Caribbean to Europe, Asia and beyond.
The Evolution programme simply adds another reason to keep the line on your radar. As more ships are refreshed and new experiences are introduced, Holland America is evolving its onboard offering while keeping the things its guests already love: smaller, perfectly sized ships, destination-rich itineraries and a more personal style of cruising.
And if you’ve been tempted by Holland America but haven’t tried it yet, you don’t have to wait for Arcadia to arrive.
Find Your Dream Holland America Cruise
The cruise shuffle is underway…
By 2029, the cruise landscape will look a little different.
Queen Anne will have swapped her Cunard Queen title for a new life with P&O Cruises, Arcadia will be sailing under the Holland America flag, and Cunard will be continuing as a three-ship fleet centred around Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.
But there’s no need to wait for the big switch.
Fancy experiencing Queen Anne as a Cunard Queen? Now’s the time to start looking. Or perhaps Holland America has caught your eye? Explore the latest sailings and discover the line before its next chapter begins.
After all, when ships change teams, you don’t want to be the one hearing about it after they’ve sailed away…
P.S. Early birds, this one’s for you! Cunard’s brand-new Winter 2028/29 sailings (including Queen Anne’s final Cunard voyages) are now open for pre-registration. Register your interest now by completing this form and be first in line when these exciting new itineraries launch.