Cunard Reroutes Queen Anne Past Chesil Beach
Cunard's Queen Anne skipped its Cherbourg port call amid planned protests and industrial action in the French port.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Cruises
Cunard's newest ship, Queen Anne, cancelled its scheduled stop at Cherbourg and was photographed passing offshore of Chesil Beach on Saturday, October 31. The company cited the wellbeing and safety of passengers for the change to its seven-night round trip from Southampton.
Why it matters
The reroute shows how planned protests and industrial action at a port of call can force cruise lines to change itineraries mid-voyage. Passengers on the Bilbao, Santander and Gijón route are affected by the change to their planned schedule.
Queen Anne measures 322 metres and can carry more than 3,000 passengers on its seven-night round trip from Southampton. The Cherbourg call was cancelled, and the source does not say whether other French ports on the route are affected.
The players
Cunard
Cunard is a British cruise line, one of the oldest ocean liner companies, and the operator of Queen Anne.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne is Cunard's newest ship, entering service in 2024 and measuring 322 metres in length.
The details
Queen Anne, which entered service in 2024, was on a seven-night round trip from Southampton that included stops at Bilbao, Santander and Gijón in northern Spain. The ship was photographed passing offshore of Chesil Beach in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast before returning to Southampton on Sunday, November 1.
Timeline
Saturday, October 31, 2026: Queen Anne's Cherbourg call was cancelled and the ship was photographed off Chesil Beach.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Queen Anne returned to Southampton.
Travel Outlook
Queen Anne, Cunard's newest liner in service since 2024, has now been forced to alter a route in its first operational period. The rerouting highlights how port-level labour disputes can ripple through the itineraries of large ocean liners across Europe.
Travellers booked on Cunard itineraries that include Cherbourg should check for itinerary changes before departure. Port cancellations can alter shore excursions and onboard schedules, so confirming details with the cruise line is advisable.
The takeaway
Cruise itineraries can change quickly when port conditions shift, so passengers should keep a flexible plan and watch for official notices from their cruise line before and during a voyage.
Further reading
For more on itinerary planning and port changes, explore Cruises coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dorset Echo.
