The Queen Anne, first commissioned in 2017 with construction pushed back by the pandemic, was delivered to Cunard Line by Fincantieri on Friday.
Following a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, the 3,000-guest ship is now headed to Southampton, England, from where it will sail a seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3.
The ship is the first new vessel for Cunard in 14 years, following the Queen Elizabeth's debut in 2010. When the ship begins sailing, it will mark the first time since 1999 that Cunard has had four ships in service.
The Queen Anne's design blends modern trends in cruising with the line's storied history of ocean faring. The ship's interiors will allow more light, and there will be more outdoor spaces and more restaurants. The Commodore's Club will be the largest in the fleet.
The ship's naming ceremony will take place in Liverpool on June 3.