The latest luxury cruise ship from the renowned Cunard company, one of the oldest in the world in this type of vessel, the Queen Anne, chose the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife as one of the destinations on its inaugural voyage. It displayed all its majesty yesterday – measuring 322 meters in length, with a draught of 8.5 meters and a gross tonnage of 114,188 – during a ten-hour stay at the Muelle de Ribera, showcasing the iconic black hull of the legendary British company.
A symbol of a rich past to be preserved while embracing the utmost modernity of cutting-edge technology. Across at the Southern Pier, the old mail boat La Palma seems to wink at the giant. Past and present with the sea always in the background.
Before passing the customary and strict security check to board, a morning encounter in the vicinity of the Cruise Terminal of the port with many passengers was surprising (2,400 of the 2,600 on board disembarked, something uncommon), among them, mostly elderly, several people with disabilities which turned out to be a premonition of discovering a cruise ship fully accessible.
Members of the crew (1,200) were also visible, where, as almost always, individuals from the same island nation and seafarers’ country, the Philippines, stood out.
The First Female Captain in 180 Years of History
[–>
Welcoming the local delegation, led by Pedro Suárez, president of the Provincial Port Authority, is the captain (the first in 180 years of Cunard’s history) of the ship. Inger Klein Thorhauge, after recounting part of the history of the company and its ships, as well as the relationship with Canarias, emphasizes that “it is very exciting for us to come to the islands now, where we are receiving a warm welcome, also in Tenerife, which once again shows me the connection we have.”
She amusingly acknowledges that she doesn’t know if there is any difference with the traditional male figure because “I have never been a man.” She has been steering ships to port for fourteen years. Starting from the bottom as a cadet, “and then I worked my way up.”
Born and raised in the Faroe Islands, she moved to Denmark in 1989. She emphasizes her concern that her passengers have the greenest possible journey with water-saving and recycling measures. She has traveled the world, but she seeks solace when not at sea in her home in Svendborg, where she enjoys the garden, playing the saxophone, going to concerts, and spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Inger referred to the “peculiar” weather from yesterday, overcast, humid, and drizzling, but from the local side, she was assured that it “will improve” in a relaxed atmosphere. Not devoid of ceremony, especially at the time of the traditional exchange of metopes. The one on the ship with a suggestive Latin motto: “Welcome to the world.” Then comes the time to explore the interior of this sea giant (five to six times larger in tonnage and dimensions than the Fred Olsen express boat passing by).
The Route
[–>
Throughout the tour, the lovely and professional Zoe – like her colleague Orsi with the distinctive White Start Line badge, a precursor of Cunard, exemplifying the excellent service provided – leads the group on an almost two-hour route where a circular walk covers a mile, equivalent to 1.6 kilometers.
During the tour, it becomes evident that there is everything here, and it is grand. An impressive theatre, a main dining room where the Britannia, the royal flagship and Cunard’s first ship, could fit, and vast areas for relaxation, entertainment, or leisure. Even a mirror that, depending on the perspective, offers different views.
Areas for having tea, of course, for music and dance – including an excellent performance by The Piano Man – another highlight that recalls the reality of electric power on ships, outdoor decks, shops, details of British culture, four themed restaurants – dinner at six –… A great city of the present and the future sailing on the sea.
Traditional exchange of metopes between the captain and the president of the Port Authority of the province, Pedro Suárez / Arturo Jiménez
But also reminiscent of the past because there are places that even smell of the old wood of those ships that sailed the oceans in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Everything is polished to the last detail, but with an old-fashioned taste like the classic spiral staircases, the glamour of the past}}
Fascinating Elevator Doors and Touchscreen Technology Aboard the Queen Anne
Imitation of hatchways or elevator doors decorated with a finish that makes one expect a Hollywood star from the 50s to appear at any moment, think Rita Haywoord or Yul Brynner. On the other side, the option to simply touch a screen and enter the room number to see all the photos taken of you during the trip.
A panel displays twelve excursions – Tenerife, along with Lanzarote, is the best-selling port in the Canaries – to explore the island in the short time the ship remains docked. To Puerto de la Cruz, Las Américas, to Las Teresitas, or, of course, to Teide. For passengers with a British stamp although there are people of all possible and imaginable nationalities.
The President of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Pedro Suárez values “the first stop of a newly launched ship, owned by the world’s largest cruise company, the historic Cunard, and, above all, the importance of it happening on its inaugural voyage.” This factor emphasizes, “focuses on and positions Tenerife”. He expresses about the ship that “I found it spectacular, a blend of the company’s tradition with very successful modernity. There were moments when even the scents reminded me of the old ships.”
Hamilton and Co., a historic consignor
[–>
Guillermo de Ponte represents the consignor, the also historic Hamilton and Co. He recalls that “Hamilton was founded in 1837 here, in Tenerife, and Cunard in 1839”. Since then, Hamilton has been the consignor of what is now Carnival, which encompasses Cunard, itself the heir of the White Star Line.
The arrival of the Queen Mary 2 was also handled by Hamilton and it was an event that is still remembered on the island. He agrees that “our purpose, like that of this ship, is to maintain tradition but infuse it with modernity to do a good job.”
He understands that “ships have to adapt to the times with a design that attracts a younger crowd and changes a bit of the style”. Maintaining “the classic, the identity, or the soul of the company, but giving it a touch that includes all technological improvements”. He delves into the idea of “also giving a twist in terms of colors and brightness, which I believe is the standout feature of this ship. Previously, dark tones predominated, not because they were sought, but because they were traditional.”
The Queen Anne, at the Tenerife Cruise Terminal / Arturo Jiménez
Insight into a Majestic Ship
[–>
The newly launched Queen Anne has a Bermuda flag and its home port is in the capital, Hamilton. It was launched on April 24 and features 17 decks, 15 restaurants, pools, a large theater with 835 seats, luxury boutiques, a casino, library, spa, and numerous leisure and entertainment areas. Its construction began in 2019 but was impacted by the Covid pandemic. With a very distinctive design, the hull was built at the Italian shipyards Fincantieri.
Among its most striking peculiarities is the iconic red funnel that characterizes the company’s fleet, which already has 180 years of history and navigation. Initially, there was speculation as to whether the ship’s name would continue the Cunard practice of naming them after queens or return to its 20th-century nomenclature of dedicating them to Roman provinces, like the former Aquitania or Mauretania. In the end, Queen Anne prevailed. As announced on the Cunard website, it will include the capital of Tenerife on four of its winter season voyages, starting in November. The challenge is to preserve all the grandeur of the old ships and add the burgeoning modernity with the sea always as the backdrop.
