by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:40 AM ET, Tue June 10, 2025
Cunard is partnering with Abbey Road Studios to add a new Listening Lounge experience to Queen Elizabeth.
The cruise line is creating a series of curated playlists featuring iconic recordings, each handpicked by the Abbey Road team. The 60-minute experience featuring Hi-Res / ANC Bowers & Wilkins headphones will debut in the Commodore Club on Queen Elizabeth this fall.
The playlists will include tunes from artists like Ed Sheeran, Fela Kuti, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Little Simz and The Beatles. They will also feature songs from some of the world's most famous film scores, like “Raiders of The Lost Ark,” “The Return of The Jedi,” “The Last Emperor,” “The Lord of The Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, “Harry Potter” and “Skyfall,” among others.
The Listening Lounges will be available on select sea days, starting during Queen Elizabeth's maiden Caribbean season from Miami in October. The experience will be paired with a curated menu of cocktails.
Cunard is also offering a special Abbey Road sailing on October 23 from Southampton to New York. The week-long transatlantic crossing will feature live performances, a photography exhibition and intimate Q&As with Abbey Road's recording and mastering engineers.
“We're always exploring new ways to make life on board even more special, and incredible voyages deserve incredible soundtracks,” says Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. “Abbey Road Studios is synonymous with iconic musical performances, and this partnership allows us to bring this heritage to sea."
"Whether guests are unwinding with a cocktail, watching the waves roll by, or just taking a moment for themselves, our exclusive Listening Lounge experience will set the mood beautifully," McAlister continued. "When it comes to luxury ocean travel, all you need is love—and the perfect playlist.”
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