At 7am on Monday, Cunard’s £470m cruise ship, Queen Anne, will arrive in the Mersey for a spectacular naming ceremony… click here for the full timetable. Tony McDonough reports
Preparations are well under way for the spectacular naming ceremony for Cunard’s newest cruise ship, Queen Anne, taking place in Liverpool on Monday, June 3.
At around 7am on Monday, the £470m vessel will arrive in the Mersey and later berth at Liverpool Cruise terminal. Cunard has now released a full timetable for the event which will conclude with fireworks as she sails away at around 10.15pm.
Top Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will join the “stellar” line-up for the event. He will be joined by some of Liverpool’s finest creative talent, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and performers from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
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It will be hosted by musician Matt Willis and his wife, TV presenter Emma Willis and is expected to draw a large crowd to the waterfront. The schedule is as follows:
6.30am
Queen Anne arrives at Liverpool Waterfront, escorted by fire tugs.
9am to 2.30pm:
Queen Anne is berthed alongside the Cruise Terminal. All guests (up to 3,000) on board will be able to leave the ship and explore the city.
4pm to 4.45pm:
At Liverpool waterside the official naming of Queen Anne will take place. The performers and celebrities will be joined on stage by guests from Cunard and the official Godparent in the lead up to the moment a bottle of champagne is smashed against the ship.
This event is free and open for all to come along and watch. There will be a small seating area reserved for invited VIPs, and a dedicated viewing area for guests on board Queen Anne.
6pm to 8.30pm:
At Liverpool waterside local performers will be keeping the waterfront crowds entertained on the ground.
8.30pm:
Queen Anne’s gangways will be closed at 8.30pm, with all guests required to re-join the ship before this time.
8.30pm 10.30pm:
Evening celebrations at Liverpool waterside Evening celebrations. At around 8.30pm there will be a further piece from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Liverpudlian TV personality and DJ, Craig Charles will join the orchestra on stage for a “unique collaboration”. Craig will keep the party going and everyone on their feet until the grand finale.
Queen Anne will set sail around 10.15pm. A fireworks finale is set to take place (weather permitting) for guests ashore and on board.