Queen Anne Makes Maiden Call at Santander With 3,350 Passengers
Arriving from Bilbao, Queen Anne remained at Almirante Pier until 6 p.m. before sailing to Gijon; Santander Cruise Deluxe presented Captain Inger Thorhauge with a commemorative plaque.
Cunard’s Queen Anne made its maiden call at Santander, Spain, on October 28, 2026, bringing 3,350 passengers and 1,200 crew to the Maritime Station on Almirante Pier. Most passengers were from the UK.
Santander entered the visit with cruise traffic substantially ahead of last year: the port handled 32 calls through September, compared with 19 during the same period in 2025. Passenger traffic reached 45,699, a 73% year-on-year increase, raising expectations of a record cruise season.
Queen Anne arrived from Bilbao and remained alongside until 6 p.m., giving passengers time to explore Santander and destinations elsewhere in Cantabria before the ship continued to Gijon. The Maritime Station sits beside the city centre, near Centro Botín, shops and restaurants, allowing visitors to reach central Santander on foot.
Representatives of Santander Cruise Deluxe welcomed Captain Inger Thorhauge with a commemorative plaque. They also presented books about Santander and Cantabria for the ship’s library.
The initiative brings together the Port Authority of Santander, the Government of Cantabria and Santander City Council. Its partners aim to develop Santander’s position as a premium cruise destination on Spain’s northern coast and to spread tourism across more of the year.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition is scheduled to make the port’s next cruise call on November 6. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis is due on December 11, the final cruise visit currently scheduled for 2026.
See current Queen Anne fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
