Cunard's Queen Victoria has departed Civitavecchia on a 16-night repositioning voyage to Southampton, opening a fall and winter program built around an 111-night world cruise — the longest itinerary Cunard will operate in the 2026-27 winter season.

The sailing calls at Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Málaga, Lisbon and La Coruña before the 2007-built vessel reaches its UK homeport. From Southampton, the ship will run roundtrip itineraries to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco through the fall and winter.

What does the world cruise cover?

The annual world cruise departs Southampton in early January. The 111-night routing visits the Caribbean, North America, Hawaii, Australia, Asia and Africa. For sellers of long-haul and segment inventory, the itinerary anchors Cunard's premium winter deployment out of the UK market.

Fleet assignment logic follows. With the Queen Elizabeth taking over Cunard's fly-cruise program in the Mediterranean next year, the Queen Victoria stays Southampton-based year-round. Between May and December, after the world cruise, it will operate three- to 16-night cruises across Europe, the Atlantic and North Africa.

What changes in the drydock?

Before the winter season starts, the ship enters a 19-day refit in a Netherlands drydock. The project adds The Pavillion Wellness Café and delivers enhancements to Cunard Grills suites, the line's top accommodation category.

Public spaces including the Grand Lobby and the Queens Room get revitalization. Eight additional Britannia staterooms will be added, modestly increasing sellable capacity on a ship that entered service in 2007.

What is happening to the wider Cunard fleet?

Carnival Corporation, Cunard's parent, will transfer the Queen Anne out of the Cunard fleet as part of a broader reorganization. The 2024-built ship moves to sister brand P&O Cruises starting in 2029 — a shift that will leave Cunard with three vessels and concentrate its newest tonnage at P&O.

For trade partners, the near-term picture is a Southampton-centric Queen Victoria product: a drydock refresh in the Netherlands this fall, an 111-night world cruise in January, and a European and Atlantic program running through December.