2 Nights Hamburg to Southampton Cruise

Loved the Ship!

Maiden transatlantic crossing-relaxing, good food, lots of variety, great service in Britanica Club dining room, sometimes slow in other areas but always pleasant. Loved the observation deck and the commodore club. We particularly enjoyed Bright Lights in the evening and the folk duo. Speakers not so much! Could have used a naturalist and historian. Drinks are expensive, the salon was well managed, embarkation went smoothly and getting off in New York was super speedy. Hard to get a seat in the library, the game room was well stocked and provided a wonderful view of the sea. A winter trip in the North Atlantic was all that you might expect...at least a once in a lifetime voyage. The shower with door is a great improvement! Laundry facilities were crowded and insufficient for the number of passengers on the ship. It takes a day or so to get comfortable with the layout of the ship. I would go again!

Great Transatlantic crossing

Queen Anne’s first transatlantic from Hamburg Jan. 7. Rousing sendoff leaving Southampton Jan. 9, with dress military band on board and major fireworks show. Fun. The ship and whole experience were great, even though I have a soft spot for QM2 crossings. The ship design and layout were very well conceived: despite 2900 passengers it never felt crowded. Fast internet. More contemporary than her sisters, as intended QA has high quality finishings, fittings and furnishings—crisp and new and shouting “Cunard.” Our Princess Grill cabin was narrow, but super comfortable and functional. The Royal Court Theater is the best and most comfortable I’ve experienced on any Cunard ship. Loved Noel Coward’s play Brief Encounter. I thought the intimate Brite Lights cabaret (a great concept with huge potential) would be a little edgier. Our dining room team was all you’d hope for: attentive, professional, engaging. Menus included some relaxed and updated offerings, many vegetarian, as well as the Grills classics I love so much, like Châteaubriand , Dover sole, and duck à l’orange. Lots to like on the wine list, including plenty of English bubbly (Gusbourne is great) and even some Madeira, thank God. Just one lament about the substantially higher “drinks included” fares: Cunard should be less stingy with the wine choices. Included drinks are capped at $12, with no bottle options for groups, severely limiting possibilities. If you want anything besides entry level by the glass (you should because it’s a nice list) you have to foot the full additional bill. Really? But that’s just a detail, if important to me. Overall, Queen Anne deserves a big thumbs up.

Our New Favourite Ship

Just getting off QA after 4 nights and, despite many cruises under our belt, this has probably been the best one yet. Negatives were main dining room and Indian restaurant. Everything else was great! Food and staff in Sir Samuel’s (twice) was excellent. Golden Lion was great for lunch despite the orders being wrong every time! Bright Lights Society was so good we went twice. In fact is wasn’t only good it was probably the best show I have ever seen. Loved, loved, loved it! Our cabin steward was better than any butler, Commodore Club was perfect with great views to the front of the ship, something which newer ships only allow suite passengers to see. We were even invited to a party in the top suite on the ship last night and have come off the ship desperate for more. This ship may have had teething problems but she’s certainly our favourite!