October 13, 2026 — Cunard, part of Carnival Corporation, has brought Queen Victoria back to Southampton for its fall and winter season, and has confirmed that chef Michel Roux’s Le Gavroche at Sea residencies will continue on Queen Anne in 2027 and 2028.
Queen Victoria back in Southampton
After its summer in the Mediterranean, Queen Victoria sailed a 16-night repositioning voyage from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Southampton, calling at Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Málaga, Lisbon and La Coruña. Before the season the ship also completed a 19-day dry dock in the Netherlands, which added The Pavillion Wellness Café and eight Britannia staterooms, upgraded the Cunard Grills suites, and refreshed the Grand Lobby and Queens Room.
| Period | Deployment from Southampton |
|---|---|
| Fall and winter 2026–27 | Round trips to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco |
| Early January 2027 (exact date not given) | 111-night world cruise to the Caribbean, North America, Hawaii, Australia, Asia and Africa |
| May to December 2027 | 3- to 16-night cruises to Europe, the Atlantic and North Africa |
In 2027, Queen Elizabeth takes over Cunard’s Mediterranean fly-cruise program. Separately, Carnival Corporation has said Queen Anne will leave Cunard and sail for P&O Cruises from 2029.
Le Gavroche at Sea extended
Michel Roux will host five more Le Gavroche at Sea voyages on Queen Anne between May 2027 and June 2028. Each evening, up to 50 guests can book a tasting menu in Sir Samuels inspired by Le Gavroche’s heritage and signature dishes. Roux will also give cooking demonstrations, talks and book signings, and all main dining rooms will serve a three-course gala menu on these sailings.
| Departure | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| May 2, 2027 | Norway |
| August 29, 2027 | Norwegian Fjords |
| September 5, 2027 | Norwegian Fjords |
| May 21, 2028 | Norway and Denmark |
| June 4, 2028 | Norwegian Fjords |
Fares and the date bookings open for these voyages are TBA.
What it means for airline travelers
- Queen Victoria is now based in Southampton for the winter. London Heathrow (LHR) is the main long-haul gateway and Southampton Airport (SOU) has regional flights; allow time for the road or rail transfer to the cruise terminal, and fly in at least a day early on transatlantic flights, especially if you are on standby.
- Mediterranean fly-cruises with Cunard move to Queen Elizabeth in 2027, so check which ship and which airport your 2027 Mediterranean booking uses.
- For the Le Gavroche sailings, fares, booking dates and embarkation ports are not yet published, so hold off on flights; no travel-industry or interline rates were mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: Queen Victoria Returns to Southampton for Winter Season
- Cruise Industry News: Le Gavroche at Sea Returning to Cunard’s Queen Anne in 2027–28
- Seatrade Cruise News: Cunard extends Le Gavroche at Sea with Michel Roux to 2028
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