The QV that never was

The Queen Victoria that never was Hull 6078

The Queen Victoria that will be delivered in 2007, is not in fact the ship that was originally planned as Queen Victoria. Even more confusingly, the ship that was planned to be the Queen Victoria was not actually ordered as Queen Victoria Either !

Let me explain.....

Cunard is part of the Carnival Corporation, a massive group which also own a number of other  lines, Costa, Princess, Holland America and others. Holland America ordered a series of ships known collectively as the Vista Class. A clever, elegant panamax design which suited their needs superbly. The order for one of the ships which was scheduled for 2005  delivery was later transferred to Cunard and it was announced that she would named Queen Victoria.

Photo © Mark Powell

It was later announced that she would in fact not be Queen Victoria but would be delivered to sister company P&O Cruises as Arcadia ! Basically the ship was built more or less as planned with Holland America but the funnel design was  simply changed. It is believed that the ship now planned for Cunard as Queen Victoria will be a hybrid between Holland America's Vista class and sister company Carnival's Spirit class which was similar but differed in a number of ways.

Carnival Spirit

Overall the Queen Victoria will benefit not only from a long line  of Cunard experience but also design experience gained from sister companies. A truly hybrid design.

Christopher Brindle - February 2006