First, a confession. Our database files Queen Anne’s autumn under “Northern Europe / Baltic” because the ship starts its sailings in Southampton and Hamburg. None of the autumn itineraries I found actually call in the Baltic. There’s no Copenhagen, no Stockholm and no Tallinn. Between late October and Christmas, Queen Anne does Spain, the Atlantic islands, one properly dramatic run up the Norwegian coast, a few Low Countries and Hamburg hops, and the Canaries. Our records don’t hold port lists, so every port below comes from reseller listings. Please confirm them with Cunard before you hand over any money.
Queen Anne Autumn 2026: Quick Reference
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Ship | Queen Anne (Cunard), built 2024, 113,000 tons, 2,996 passengers, 1,225 crew, 13 decks |
| Season | Autumn: first departure 25 October 2026, with sailings running into January 2027 |
| Region | Northern Europe (North Sea, Norway, Low Countries), plus Iberia and the Atlantic islands. No Baltic calls found. |
| Typical lengths | 2 to 90 nights overall. The autumn core is 4, 5, 7, 12, 14 and 18 nights. |
| Home ports | Southampton and Hamburg this season. Fort Lauderdale and Rio de Janeiro appear later in the winter schedule. |
| CDC score | 95 out of 100 (inspected 5 April 2026) |
The Ship: Big, Polished and Unapologetically Cunard
Queen Anne carries 2,996 guests and 1,225 crew. That works out to roughly 2.4 guests per crew member, which helps explain the service reputation. It’s a 2024-built ship with a proper theatre, a pub (the Golden Lion), a steakhouse (Sir Samuel’s) and a food hall (Artisans’). Pre-launch coverage counted 15 dining venues. Some cost extra. One reviewer called the US$20 cover at Tramonto, the Mediterranean restaurant, money well spent.
Reviews are mixed on the main dining room. Britannia is gorgeous, with chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows, but one reviewer found the service rushed and the food uneven. Another raved about the Beef Wellington. The Princess and Queens Grill rooms get the glowing write-ups. One December 2024 Queens Grill guest grumbled that the supposedly exclusive bar and sun deck weren’t as exclusive as advertised.
Cunard also has a dress code. Gala evenings call for dark suits or tuxedos and long dresses, and other nights are “smart” with no tie needed. Skip the dressing up and you can reportedly still use the buffet, but you’ll be barred from lounges and theatre shows. Drama is the brand, darling.
This ship suits couples and solo travellers who like a bit of occasion. It also suits Brits who want to leave from Southampton without flying, and anyone who thinks a sea day deserves a good outfit. It’s a poor fit if your idea of a cruise is a waterpark and a pool deck in shorts all week.
On hygiene, the ship’s latest CDC Vessel Sanitation Program score is 95 out of 100. A ship needs 86 or better to pass, so that’s 9 points clear. You can read the full report in our CDC cruise ship inspection lookup, and the Queen Anne ship page has the specs.
The Itineraries and Which to Pick
Here’s a neat quirk: the autumn sailings chain together. Each one leaves the day the last one returns, so 25 October to 13 December is 49 straight nights if you’re feeling dangerous (7 + 12 + 12 + 4 + 14). The full list lives on our Queen Anne itineraries page. Here’s how I’d choose, with prices per person from reseller listings (double occupancy, taxes included, inside cabin unless stated):
- 25 October, 7 nights (from $1,079): Spain and France via the Bilbao area, Santander, Gijón and Cherbourg. This is the easy first Cunard trip.
- 1 November, 12 nights (from $1,659): Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Funchal, Lisbon and Vigo. Pick this one if you want to flee British drizzle.
- 13 November, 12 nights (from $1,489 to $1,739 depending on the listing): Ålesund, Tromsø, Narvik and Stavanger. This is the headline act.
- 25 November, 4 nights (from $819): Rotterdam. A taster for the nervous.
- 29 November, 14 nights (from $1,569): Lisbon, Madeira, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and La Palma. This is the best value, because the 20 December departure of the same route is listed from $3,199.
- 13 December, 7 nights (from $1,089): Zeebrugge (for Bruges), Rotterdam and Hamburg, timed for Christmas markets. Resellers also list a one-way 5-night version that ends in Hamburg on 18 December.
- 18 December, 18 nights from Hamburg (from $4,369): A Canary Islands route that runs over Christmas and New Year and back to Hamburg on 5 January.
My pick for most readers is Norway if you want atmosphere and the Canaries if you want sunshine. The short Rotterdam and Hamburg hops are best treated as sampler platters.
The Ports and What’s Genuinely Worth Doing
The Norway sailing has a lovely rhythm. Departure is 13 November, then two sea days, then a port almost every other day, with five sea days in total. Times below come from reseller listings.
- Ålesund (16 November, 8:00 to 18:00): Famous for Art Nouveau architecture. Climb the 418 steps from Byparken to the Aksla viewpoint. It’s free, takes roughly 10 to 20 minutes, and rewards you with islands and the Sunnmøre Alps.
- Tromsø (arrive 10:00 on 18 November, leave 2:30 on 19 November): About 16.5 hours in port. That’s the point: you get a whole evening under the auroral oval. Book an after-dark aurora outing and accept that cloud has a vote.
- Narvik (9:00 on 20 November to 6:00 on 21 November): A 21-hour stay. The War Museum covers the 1940 Battles of Narvik across three floors. The Narvikfjellet gondola gives fjord views. Guides suggest planning indoor stops from November.
- Stavanger (23 November, 9:00 to 17:00): A gentle farewell stop before the sail home.
On the Low Countries sailings, Hamburg’s Rathausmarkt Christmas market runs 23 November to 23 December 2026, open 11:00 to 21:00 daily. The 13 December departure falls inside that window. The January Hamburg sailings do not. From Zeebrugge, a commercial shuttle listing describes about 20 minutes to Bruges, with departures roughly every 30 minutes. Cruise forums also mention a train via Blankenberge. Timetables vary, so check before you rely on them.
Conditions and Packing
Norway in mid-November is not postcard summer. Tromsø hovers around freezing, roughly -2°C to 3°C according to travel weather sites. Visit Tromsø puts the official polar night at about 27 November to 15 January, so your 18 November visit lands just before it. Expect short, twilight-ish days. One source notes November often lacks reliable snow for dog sledding and snowmobiling. The aurora, meanwhile, loves long dark nights.
Pack thermal base layers, a warm waterproof shell, a hat and gloves, and shoes with real grip. Add your gala wardrobe and something for the theatre. Bring motion-sickness remedies, because the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay have reputations. For the Canaries and the Azores, pack lighter layers, but don’t skip a jacket for deck evenings.
Money and Where the Value Is
Every price here is per person, based on two sharing, from reseller listings that change constantly. Treat them as signposts, not quotes.
- Long beats short per night. The 29 November 14-nighter at $1,569 works out to about $112 a night. The 4-night Rotterdam hop at $819 is roughly $205 a night.
- Christmas costs double. The 20 December departure of the same Canary route is $3,199 against $1,569 for 29 November. That’s $1,630 more per person for roughly the same ports.
- Norway balcony. Balconies came in at $2,259 on both listings that broke them out. That’s $520 to $770 more than the inside fares quoted. Club Balcony was $3,669, Princess Suites $5,709 and Queens Suites $8,709.
- Gratuities. Most sources say $17 per person per night in a standard stateroom and $19 in Grill suites, though one lists $16 and $18, and another $18 and $19. On 12 nights, that’s about $204 per person ($408 for two) or $228 in a Grill suite. A balcony pair on Norway at $2,259 each, plus gratuities, is $4,518 + $408 = $4,926 before flights, drinks and excursions. Our tipping guide covers the extras.
- Onboard credit isn’t a discount. One reseller bundled $100 per couple for inside or oceanview, $250 for balcony and $350 for Grill suites. It’s spending money, not a price cut.
- Bring wine, within limits. Reports say one 750 ml bottle per adult is allowed, with corkage of $20 to $25 in public venues. No spirits or beer. Check the current policy.
Timing: When to Book and What Sells Out
Today is 14 October. The 25 October sailing is 11 days out, and the Norway departure is 30 days out. That’s tight for flights and a pre-cruise hotel night, so sort those first. One reseller already showed inside and oceanview cabins sold out on the 25 October sailing. Another showed oceanview gone on the Norway cruise. Availability moves daily, so check live.
Expect Christmas and New Year sailings to disappear first, and to cost the most. Grill suites and balconies on Norway are the next to go. If you’re flexible, the 29 November Canaries sailing is the best value in the autumn lineup. Book the cabin you actually want rather than waiting for a late deal that may never arrive.
FAQ: Queen Anne Autumn 2026
Does Queen Anne go to the Baltic in autumn 2026?
Not on any itinerary I found. The autumn sailings from Southampton and Hamburg head to Spain, the Atlantic islands, Norway, the Canaries and the Low Countries. Hamburg is a turnaround and call port, but it isn’t in the Baltic. Baltic cruising is mostly a summer affair, so confirm any specific sailing with Cunard before you book.
Can you see the Northern Lights on a Queen Anne Norway cruise?
Possibly, but never guaranteed. The 13 November 2026 sailing reaches Tromsø at 10:00 on 18 November and stays until 2:30 the next morning. That gives you a full evening under the auroral oval. There’s also a long Narvik stay from 9:00 on 20 November to 6:00 on 21 November. Cloud decides everything, so treat any sighting as a bonus.
How much does a Queen Anne Norway cruise cost in November 2026?
On reseller listings for the 13 November 12-night sailing, inside cabins ran from $1,489 to $1,739 per person depending on the site. Balconies were $2,259, Princess Suites $5,709 and Queens Suites $8,709, all double occupancy with taxes included. Gratuities add about $204 per person for 12 nights at $17 a night.
What is the dress code on Cunard’s Queen Anne?
Cunard runs formal gala evenings and “smart” attire on other nights. Gala nights call for dark suits or tuxedos and long dresses. Otherwise a tie isn’t required. Guests who skip the dress-up can reportedly still eat at the buffet but may not enter lounges or theatre shows. Check the daily programme for your gala dates.
Is Queen Anne clean? What is its CDC score?
Queen Anne’s latest CDC Vessel Sanitation Program score in our database is 95 out of 100, from an inspection on 5 April 2026. A ship needs 86 or higher to pass, so it sits 9 points above the line. Scores are a snapshot of one inspection, not a guarantee of any single voyage.
Can I bring my own wine onto a Cunard cruise?
Most sources agree on one bottle of wine or Champagne per adult, no larger than 750 ml. Spirits and beer aren’t allowed. Corkage in restaurants and bars is reported at $20 to $25 a bottle, and drinking it in your cabin is generally free. Cunard can hold alcohol at the gangway, so check the current policy before packing.
The Bottom Line
If you want one reason to sail Queen Anne this autumn, make it the 13 November Norway run. You get a polished ship, an evening under the aurora’s favourite sky, and a 21-hour stay in Narvik. The 29 November Canaries sailing is the sensible budget pick, and the 13 December Hamburg trip is the festive one. Pay attention to the calendar, because the same route costs about double at Christmas. Don’t book it for the Baltic, because it isn’t going there. Verify ports and prices with Cunard, then pack your warmest coat and your best frock.
Ships in This Story
- Queen Anne Cunard · Latest CDC score 95
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