Cunard?s new Queen takes to the water

Yesterday, Fincantieri floated out the new Cunarder, ?Queen Victoria?, at its Venice-Marghera shipyard. Scheduled for delivery by the end of 2007, the 90,000 GT cruise ship

will be one of the largest Panamax (i.e. capable of passing through the Panama Canal) ships ever built. With 1,007 cabins ? including a high proportion of luxury suites and mini suites ? of which 864 with a sea view, and the majority with an external balcony, the ship is the natural evolution of the concept of the ocean liner following Cunard?s long-standing tradition.

The 295 metre long liner will have a passenger capacity of 2,000 and a crew of 900, is the second largest passenger ship ever to be built for this owner and will lead to a 40% increase in the passenger capacity of the high prestige Cunard fleet whose history dates back 167 years.