Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, has departed Southampton on a 19-night voyage to the Mediterranean and Greek Islands, marking one of the longer itineraries on the ship’s autumn 2026 schedule. The cruise left the UK on September 20, 2026, calling at eight destinations across Spain, Italy and Greece before heading home.
A Deep Dive Into Southern Europe
Rather than a quick taster of the Mediterranean, this itinerary gives passengers nearly three weeks to explore some of the region’s most sought-after ports. Queen Anne is scheduled to call at Cadiz in Spain and Cagliari in Italy, alongside a string of Greek highlights including Santorini, Heraklion, Katakolon, Mykonos and Piraeus, the gateway to Athens. The ship is also due to stop in Gibraltar on its way back to Southampton, rounding out a route that mixes classic Iberian ports with some of the Aegean’s most photographed islands.
Because the cruise was offered for booking in segments, passengers who didn’t want the full 19 nights had the option to join or leave partway through, a flexibility that’s becoming increasingly common on longer Cunard voyages. It’s worth checking with Cunard or a travel agent whether similar segmented options will be available on future sailings of this itinerary.
What Comes Next for Queen Anne
Once back in Southampton, Queen Anne isn’t done for the year. The ship will keep sailing from its UK homeport through the remainder of 2026, with a range of shorter cruises, from four to 14 nights, heading to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Scandinavia. That gives travelers plenty of choice depending on how much time they have and which climate they prefer for their next getaway.
Looking further ahead, Queen Anne has an even bigger adventure planned for early 2027: an 82-night voyage circumnavigating South America. It’s set to be one of the longest cruises in Cunard’s 2027 lineup, departing roundtrip from Southampton and touching not only South America but also North America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic along the way.
Highlights of the 2027 South America Voyage
The extended itinerary includes overnight stays in several major South American cities, giving passengers more time ashore than a typical single-day port call allows. Ports of call are expected to include Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and San Antonio, along with stops in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Panama.
One notable addition is a call at Santos, which Cunard says represents the line’s return to the Brazilian port after roughly three decades away. From Santos, passengers will have the chance to visit São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, a rare opportunity for cruise travelers on a Cunard itinerary. The voyage will also include two calls in Florida, at Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, offering convenient points for guests who may wish to join or leave the cruise partway through its long run.
What It Means for Passengers
For cruisers weighing up their options, Queen Anne’s schedule shows the flexibility now built into Cunard’s newest ship, from shorter European getaways to marathon voyages spanning multiple continents. Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, Queen Anne entered service for Cunard in May 2024 and has quickly become a key part of the line’s rotation. Anyone considering the 2027 South America sailing should keep an eye on booking details, particularly around the segmented options that made the current Mediterranean cruise more accessible to a wider range of travelers.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: Cunard’s Queen Anne Sets Sail to the Greek Islands
- Greek City Times: Cunard’s Queen Anne Sets Sail for the Greek Islands on 19-Night Mediterranean Cruise