Cunard and Abbey Road Studios Collaboration
Image Credit: Cunard
Cunard and Abbey Road Studios Launch Immersive Listening Lounge at Sea
Cunard is striking a chord with music lovers by launching a brand-new partnership with the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Together, they are introducing an exclusive Listening Lounge experience aboard Queen Elizabeth, bringing world-class music to the high seas.
Launching this autumn, the Listening Lounge will offer a carefully curated 60-minute musical journey in the ship’s elegant Commodore Club. Guests can sit back with Hi-Res Active Noise Cancelling Bowers & Wilkins headphones and enjoy themed playlists handpicked by the Abbey Road team.
The playlists feature some of the biggest names in music history, reflecting the rich recording legacy of Abbey Road. Listeners can expect to hear tracks from artists such as Ed Sheeran, Fela Kuti, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, and of course, The Beatles. The Fab Four famously hail from Liverpool, Cunard’s spiritual home, and recorded many of their most iconic albums at Abbey Road.
Image Credit: Cunard
The connection between Cunard and The Beatles goes deeper still. The cover of the Abbey Road album, released in 1969, has been cleverly recreated by four Cunard bellhops, marking a memorable coincidence with the same year as the QE2’s maiden Transatlantic Crossing to New York.
Alongside the artist-focused playlists, the experience also showcases iconic film scores recorded in Abbey Road’s world-renowned Studio One. For over 45 years, the studio has been the home of cinematic music, and guests will be treated to stirring themes from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Skyfall, The Shape of Water, and Gravity. More recent additions include soundtracks from Black Panther, 1917, Tár, Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, and Wicked.
The Listening Lounge will be available on select sea days, beginning during Queen Elizabeth’s maiden Caribbean season from Miami in October. To heighten the sensory experience, Cunard is also offering a curated menu of music-inspired cocktails served alongside the playlist sessions.
Abbey Road at Sea: A Special Event Voyage
Image Credit: Cunard
For the ultimate celebration of music at sea, Cunard and Abbey Road are hosting a unique Event Voyage in 2026. Departing Southampton for New York on 23 October, this transatlantic crossing mirrors the journey taken by many musical legends over the decades.
The voyage will include live performances, a photography exhibition and exclusive Q&A sessions with award-winning engineers from Abbey Road Studios. Guests will hear behind-the-scenes stories about the studio’s legacy and how it continues to shape the future of music, film and games.
Cunard President Katie McAlister said, “We’re always exploring new ways to make life on board even more special, and incredible voyages deserve incredible soundtracks. 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. When it comes to luxury ocean travel, all you need is love and the perfect playlist.”
Image Credit: Cunard
Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager at Abbey Road Studios, added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Cunard for this special partnership, which will offer guests a unique way to experience music, wherever their journey takes them. Abbey Road has been the home of music making for over 90 years and has helped shape the landscape of popular music, film and games scores. We are excited to bring this incredible musical heritage to Queen Elizabeth this year.”
To find out more or to book a Cunard voyage, visit www.cunard.com.