Onboard Cunard's Queen Victoria

Clare from our Ipswich branch enjoyed a 4 night mini-cruise to Amsterdam onboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria. This iconic brand is top of mind for timeless cruising elegance for many people, but with that comes a few misconceptions as to their modernity and average passenger demographic. Clare was very pleasantly surprised….

“With Cunard I expected luxury with upper class guests and exceptional service but feared that it may feel a little stuffy – I was so wrong! Guests wear exactly what they want to, with no pressure to dress up each night. Some dressed in formal attire every evening, despite the main dining room smart-casual dress code, but others are more casually dressed - it didn’t seem to matter, and The Lido Restaurant buffet is always casual attire. The ship certainly has the wow factor, the décor is impressive and classic - Cunard is renowned for its timeless style and elegance and this is brought to life throughout with displays of artifacts and artwork showcasing the cruise line’s history and the golden age of cruising.

Surprisingly, Cunard appeals to most people, not just the older age groups that I had thought. There is a children’s club and playroom so its suitable for families, and it would also suit solo travellers as there are solos meet ups throughout the cruise. I saw quite a few groups of ladies and mixed parties who had booked the cruise for a special occasion, alongside the many couples travelling.

I had feared there may be potentially old-fashioned entertainment, but this also far exceeded my expectations. For the size of ship, there were so many varied options, especially in the evening when you can choose from the main show; musicians in the pub; piano melodies and panoramic views in the Commodore Club; a band in the Queen’s Room, as well as a late-night disco in the Yacht Club. The comedian was hilarious, and the entire lounge was in stitches. The Beatles Tribute was excellent, and I managed to catch both of their two shows in different venues during the cruise. The show lounge onboard is very grand, and you can also watch from one of the royal boxes. I went along to enjoy the karaoke in The Golden Lion pub, which was great fun! There was such a good atmosphere, and they also had a live Irish duo one night.

There is a fabulous spa where you can book and pay for a two-hour slot to enjoy three different steam rooms, heated ceramic beds, private pool and sunbeds, I indulged in this, and it was divine. There is a free sauna to enjoy, and I was amazed by the variety of treatments available - they even offer cosmetic procedures and reflexology.

For some down time, the well-stocked library and card room were ideal for relaxing, and the library offers gorgeous sea views. You can savour some unique Cunard gin cocktails in the Commodore Club, with gentle piano melodies whilst enjoying the panoramic views, and there are plenty of small areas out on deck with chairs and tables to enjoy some peace whilst admiring the views and taking in the sea. I joined in the table tennis tournament - there are two tables undercover next to the spa and there are two pools and four jacuzzis, which is just right for the size of ship.

There is plenty of space throughout the ship and on deck. It rarely seemed crowded except for lunchtimes in the Golden Lion Pub on sea days. I’d recommend arriving just before it opens for lunch to ensure a table. Queen’s Grill, Princess Grill and Brittania Club guests have their own dining rooms and lounges which helps with the flow of guests.

I enjoyed the main dining at 8pm in the Britannia Restaurant.  I felt there was a good choice each night and there were a few unusual options which I enjoyed sampling. The room itself was beautifully decorated and is a two-tiered restaurant.  I visited the Golden Lion pub which has traditional British food, and I had to try the Cunard taster palette. My favourite, however, was the Verandah Steakhouse restaurant. This is a specialty dining and the cost for dinner is approximately US$58.50 if booked pre-cruise, or US$65 if booked onboard, and for lunch, US$31.50 or US$35, respectively. The setting and service plus the menu options and quality as out of this world. We had starters plus filet steak accompanied by the seafood platter with lobster to share - I tried an oyster for the first time - never again, but that’s just me!  Many of the dishes are cooked in front of you so makes for a more unique experience.

The complimentary room service was exceptional, in fact the best I’ve experienced at sea.  You can order 24 hours a day from the generous menu - I really enjoyed the quesadillas and huevos rancheros.

Afternoon Tea on Queen Victoria is a very grand affair. Don’t miss the start as waiters in white gloves parade before serving the tea. There is a selection of savories and cakes plus freshly baked scones which were amazing. Surprisingly, this is included in the price of your cruise. You can also enjoy a more laid-back afternoon tea each day in the Lido restaurant. There’s also cocktail making where you can take a masterclass with the onboard mixologists for a supplementary charge.

I had a Britannia Balcony on deck 4 aft (4147). It is the size of cabin I’d expect for the grade and the cabin was well equipped with hairdryer, mini bar, dressing table, sofa, lots of hanging space and drawers. The bathroom had a shower with shampoo, shower gel and body lotion provided. The shower was perfect, however it is attached to the wall meaning the shower head can’t be removed, therefore a shower cap may be handy for some guests. There were UK and European sockets, which is very useful, a table and footstools and a balcony with two chairs, which was larger than I had thought it would be. A nice surprise was the bathrobe, slippers and half bottle of sparkling wine in the room on arrival, which is standard for all cabin categories. I enjoyed a swim in the one of the main pools followed by the jacuzzi and the bathrobes were invaluable when exiting the jacuzzi into cold temperatures!

We had one port of call on this mini cruise at Amsterdam - I didn’t spend much time ashore as I had been to Amsterdam a few times in the past - I enjoyed experiencing the ship’s activities and facilities instead. Cunard offered trips to Anne Frank’s house, river cruises by day or night and the Van Gogh Museum. A couple of ladies I chatted to really enjoyed their canal tour which was organised through the ship. A coach was able to take them directly from the ship rather than them walking in the rain.

I enjoyed chatting to fellow guests, many of whom hadn’t travelled with Cunard before and said that they are now hooked. There were also well seasoned Cunarders and I enjoyed hearing everyone’s thoughts and experiences. I wish I’d packed a bottle of wine as the cruise line allows you to take one onboard to enjoy in your cabin - all the seasoned Cunarders were aware of this and were able to enjoy their favourite wine without it being confiscated!

The atmosphere was far more relaxed than I had thought it would be, and guests have the choice whether to dress up or more casually. I saw some beautifully dressed people who had really made an effort, about 80% of the guests dressed up for the gala night. Cunard is a classy, yet relaxed cruise line, with dining venues in abundance, and for the size of the ship there is so much choice of evening entertainment. It was luxury as expected, yet also relaxed and suitable for all ages and tastes. Cruising with Cunard is an unforgettable experience to be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime.”

If you would like to find out more about Cunard please contact your local shop.

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