Queen Elizabeth

Fantastic experience. Friendliest cruise ever!

It's been over a decade since I've sailed with Cunard, and I wondered if much had changed. I shouldn't have worried; the Cunard experience is just as wonderful as I remembered. Short summary: What I liked: The food, the service, the entertainment and the ship itself are excellent. Cunard represents great value for money. What I really liked: All the passengers were friendly, considerate and social. This was hands down the friendliest cruise I've ever been on. Was it because 99% of the passengers were from Australia? Who knows, but whatever it was it made for a very enjoyable cruise. What I didn't like: The breakfast mushrooms in the Lido Restaurant/room service are tasteless and rubbery. The crispy bacon is also subpar. But that's it! Those are the two things I didn't like. And they're subjective - you may love them. In-depth review: Embarkation and Disembarkation: Disembarkation via self-service (carry your own luggage) was a breeze. Embarkation was very professional. We arrived two hours before our assigned timeslot and had no issues joining the queue. Our room was ready when we boarded and spotlessly clean. Stateroom: We had a balcony cabin on deck 4 (starboard side) conveniently located near the Britannia Restaurant and the amenities surrounding the main lobby. Deck 4 balconies are larger than balconies on higher decks, so that was a bonus. The cabin was spacious, well maintained and we were very happy with it. The bed and bed sheets were very comfortable. Drinks and Internet Package: We purchased the 'Beer, Wine & Spirits' package and consider it value for money. We purchased this before the cruise and averaged (per-person per-day) 8-9 alcoholic drinks, 3 coffees, 2 hot chocolates or iced coffees, 1 specialty fruit juice or smoothie, 4 soft drinks, and a minimum of 2-3 large bottles of Harrogate water. We enjoyed the freedom to order as many drinks as we wanted without worrying about the final bill. This really added to the enjoyment of our holiday. I purchased the premium internet package and had no issues uploading videos and pictures to Facebook. Viewing TikTok and generally using the internet/phone apps as I would at home was no problem. Food: In a word, delicious! We dinned in the Britannia Restaurant (early sitting) and were impressed with the variety and quality of food. You can order as much as you want, so if you fancy multiple appetizers or mains, just ask. The portion sizes are perfect. All the passengers I spoke to were happy with the food. We had breakfast most days on our balcony and the room service experience was great. The food always arrived hot and on time. Occasionally we requested a desired item (that wasn't pre-printed on the menu), and it was provided where available. As mentioned, I didn't like the breakfast mushrooms or bacon but those two negatives didn't detract from the overall high quality of the food. The Lido Restaurant (the buffet) had a great range, and we enjoyed everything we tried - in particular the sushi and salads. It was also convenient for afternoon tea if we didn't wish to attend the Queens Room. Verandah Grill: We dined four times at the Verandah Grill. Three for dinner and once for lunch (The 'Lunch & Learn' experience). The food and service in the Verandah Grill is great. The 'Grand Platter Fruit de Mer for Two' is excellent and well worth the additional surcharge. Golden Lion Pub: We went there for lunch and recommend the fish and chips. It's a popular lunchtime spot. Service: Excellent! All the crew from housekeeping to waiters to entertainment and bar staff were friendly and professional. Every bar we went to, the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. We had no issues getting served or requesting cocktails not on the menus. The sommelier in the restaurant was prompt with our evening wine orders and always quick to offer a second glass. The officers were very friendly on this cruise. They and the captain were often seen wandering around the ship and I observed them stopping to chat with passengers on multiple occasions. Entertainment: We enjoyed all the entertainment we saw in the Royal Court Theatre and were impressed with the big production shows. The solo guest entertainers were excellent as were the dance teachers and general entertainment crew (trivia etc.). We also heard great reviews of the Watercolour Art class and the various guest speakers onboard. Gym and Wellness spa: The gym was fine, there was never a long wait for any equipment. We purchased a treatment and 7-day spa access pass which we enjoyed for the first four days but got bored and didn't use it after that. The view from the Wellness Spa room with the heated loungers is stunning (floor to ceiling glass). Pool: The Lido pool was my favourite as it's deeper and colder than the Pavillion Pool and the view of the ocean is spectacular. It was great going for a swim in the morning and afternoon. But that's my personal preference, some people preferred the sheltered lounges surrounding the Pavillion Pool. Maintenance: Apart from a few chairs in the Carinthia Lounge and some isolated leaks in the ceiling, nothing I saw was obviously worn or tired looking. The ship is going for a refit in a couple of weeks but they're on top of the maintenance and doing a good job. The leaks in the ceiling were fixed and all ships have maintenance issues that occur from time to time. Overall, this was a great cruise and we enjoyed it immensely.

Cunard means classy relaxation

If your cruise preference is copious entertainment for the kids, crowds with nowhere to hide, wild pool parties, loud music, rides and passengers yelling outside your room at 2am .......then Cunard is not your cruise line. HOWEVER, If you seek relaxation, quality, outstanding service and interesting destinations......take Cunard. Everything is designed for an uncrowded experience for discerning adults. Cunard's modern version of its 'White Star' Service seeks to take you back to the golden age of cruising. Staterooms from the Britannia level up are well equipped. We had two rooms for our party of three - a balcony room and and an oceanview, which actually offered more interior space and the window was generous in size. Ten days on this Alaska journey and, at no time did this fully-booked cruise seem crowded, except for prime time at the Lido buffet. Britannia Restaurant is excellent. The Golden Lion Pub caters well to nostalgic ex-patriots. The cost-optional Verandah Steakhouse is exceptional (worth the $$). Onboard entertainment and educational series are aimed at the more mature and those who wish to expand their knowledge.

Great ship and service.

After reading some of the negative comments, my husband and I were skeptical about booking this cruise. We have cruised mostly with Holand America and we are happy to report that this cruise exceeded our expectations. The decor is beautiful, and the staff and service were excellent. We ate most of our meals at the Britannia, and the food was delicious with many options to choose from. Tea Time is from 3 to 4 pm and it is served through out the ship, including the Queen's room. It was interesting meeting people from all over the world. There were couples of all ages and families with children. Our stateroom was comfortable, would have preferred a bigger shower, but it worked just fine. There were many activities to participate in, and the shows were entertaining. The transfers from the port to Sitka and Victoria were quick and on time. We liked that the casino is small, and no smoking is allowed. Embarkation and disembarkation were smooth. We definitely will cruise with Cunard again.

Aboard the Queen Elizabeth in Alaska

Thought I would write a brief review of our experience on the recent sailing aboard the Quenn Elizabeth (August 30 to September 9). We arrived a day early and stayed overnight at the Pan Pacific Hotel which I highly recommend. They arranged to move our luggage from our rom directly to the ship, a great convenience. The ship is absolutely beautiful. The public areas, in the art-deco design remind one of the golden age of ocean voyages it's almost like being in a Hercule Poirot movie. The ship is immaculately clean, the staff are friendly and very helpful. The food in the Brittania restaurant was mostly very good. The entertainment was of generally high quality and the opportunities for an active cruise were plentiful. The cabins (we had a balcony on deck 6) are smaller than most other cruise lines but imaginatively laid out to maximize storage. My major complaint was the size of the bathroom and the tiny tiny shower. I don't know how a large person could possibly use it. My only other complaint was the quality of the croissants. I happen to love croissants but these were like oblong hockey pucks. Cunard should send a spy to Celebrity and learn how a nice flaky, light, croissant is made. Overall, we had a wonderful time and I highly recommend the Quenn Elizabeth.