On Friday, October 11, Cunard Line celebrated the beginning of construction on its 249th ship with an official steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia Shipyard, Italy.
The first piece of steel cut is to be used as a sculpture displayed on the newbuild for passengers to enjoy and marks a landmark moment in Cunard's 179-year history. The yet-unnamed liner will be the second largest to fly the line's flag and is expected to reimagine the luxury cruise experience through an array of unique onboard amenities.
The steel cutting marks the start of the building process for Cunard's new cruise liner, which is set to join the fleet in 2022. Fincantieri will construct the first section of the newbuild. The shipbuilding group previously delivered Queen Victoria in 2007 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
With construction underway, Creative Director and the world-famous designer Adam D. Tihany work alongside Fincantieri to deliver a brand new standard of Cunard luxury. The design team also includes Simon Rawlings (David Collins Studio), Terry McGillicuddy (Richmond International) and Sybille de Margerie (Sybille de Margerie Paris).