We sailed for 9 nights on the primary leg of Queen Victoria’s world cruise comprising 98 nights in whole. With a capability of about 2,000 passengers 1,200 are booked for the complete 98 nights. Wow! We paid for our cabin and airfare to London. Cunard upgraded us from Britannia class to Princess Grill lodging. They offered free web, a dinner within the specialty restaurant and spa passes. How did they rating?
Overall Score: 95/100
Although we had been upgraded to Princess Grill, which has its personal devoted eating room and entry to advantages just like the Grills Lounge, we steadily dined within the Britannia Restaurant, the Lido buffet restaurant and visited the bars and lounges frequented by nearly all of the ship’s passengers. Our analysis is of all the ship expertise.
Evaluating the Cruise
Scoring is completed throughout ten classes with a most of ten factors per class. Simple sufficient.
- Boarding and disembarking. Boarding took about an hour. Boarding concerned standing on 4 traces: Covid documentation, registration, safety and boarding the ship. The ticket we printed off earlier than arrival was stamped, stickered and checked at the least a dozen occasions. Immigration upon coming into NYC took time, as a result of everybody should depart the ship earlier than anybody is allowed again onboard. When we disembarked, claiming baggage and going by Customs took mere minutes. 8/10.
- Health. This was carried out nicely. Every passenger wanted to indicate proof of vaccination plus boosters together with proof of a adverse Covid check earlier than boarding. Once onboard, life returned to pre pandemic conduct as a lot as attainable, however passengers appeared accountable and cautious. 10/10.
- Ship design. It’s straightforward to say “It’s not the Queen Mary 2” There is just one Once the ocean will get tough, you do really feel it. The captain did an excellent job steering in the direction of smoother waters. There is a few vibration on the rear of the ship. The ship didn’t really feel crowded at any time, even with 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew. 9/10.
- Stateroom. We had a Princess Grill class stateroom, which is about 50% bigger than a Brittania class cabin. The further house is within the size, which means a bigger lavatory, walk-in closet and an extended couch. The Britannia class staterooms are nicely designed. We have sailed about 17 occasions beforehand. All these cruises have been in Britannia staterooms. 10/10.
- Shopping. I’ve but to expertise spectacular purchasing onboard a cruise ship. To their credit score, Cunard showcases iconic British manufacturers like Barbour, Floris and Mulberry. They have moderately priced articles within the retailers. Some of the responsibility free liquor is a spectacular purchase. 8/10.
- Food. We have discovered the meals persistently good through the years. You can count on the showstopper dishes like Beef Wellington, lobster and souffles no matter your eating room. For premium eating, the Verandah restaurant does an excellent job, with a $45 per individual complement at dinner. 10/10.
- Drink. I’m impressed by the wine checklist. A variety of thought has gone into it. You can discover loads of bottles of wine under $50 and even under $40. Cocktails are moderately priced. They have drinks packages and wine bottle assortments that make sense. 10/10.
- Entertainment. The Insights lectures are one in all Cunard’s crown jewels. They had wonderful audio system. There are plentiful actions the place you’ll be able to meet and socialize with fellow passengers. They had a superb singer who carried out Edith Piaf songs. The army band sending us off and the fireworks leaving the harbor had been spectacular. 10/10.
- Ports. The sole ports on our voyage had been Southampton (departure) and New York City (arrival). We docked in midtown Manhattan, which is a good benefit since you are inside strolling distance of all of the motion in New York. Thinking forward to different ports on the world cruise, they’ve many good ones on the itinerary. 10/10.
- Staff perspective. I wish to say our cabin steward might have been extra attentive. He did the job, however there wasn’t as a lot interplay as I might count on as a part of the Princess Grill expertise. Everyone else was nice. The assistant supervisor within the Princess Grill eating room was very attentive. The Grills concierge received every thing carried out that I requested. The workers on the Purser’s Office handled each passenger with respect. People smiled. Service was immediate. Considering the large image, I give it the highest rating. 10/10.
High Points:
- The wine themed occasions. As a wine fan, I recognize the wine and meals pairing lunch. I requested about it and signed up the day we boarded! The scotch tasting was wonderful.
- The Insights lectures. We had a former British diplomat who served in Moscow lecturing on the KGB. We had a well-known authoress and BBC Radio 4 presenter speaking about her ebook and telling humorous tales. There are all the time at the least one or two nice audio system.
- The social actions. There was a Masons assembly and a Rotary Club assembly. There was a Women’s Institute and Christian Fellowship assembly. There was a solo vacationers gathering twice a day. There are many alternatives to make mates.
- The trivia periods. This is an enormous deal in England. The Golden Lion Pub has 4 trivia periods each day! It is troublesome to discover a seat, despite the fact that the room may be very giant. These are extremely popular. It’s straightforward to make mates as a result of everybody is aware of one thing and nobody is aware of every thing.
- The Queen Victoria choir. I’m amazed about 60 folks might board a ship as strangers and 7 days later be performing spectacularly as a gaggle, singing collectively. It may be very shifting.
- Afternoon tea within the Queens Room. This is so elegant. It all the time attracts a crowd. You meet new folks since you are sometimes seated with or close to one other couple. They serve scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Areas for Improvement:
- The boarding course of. A considerable amount of the registration course of is now carried out from your property. You enter your bank card particulars. You add images on your shipboard keycards. It ought to actually not take an hour. The ticket we printed at residence that was stamped “OK to board” and stickered was checked a few dozen occasions earlier than we boarded.
- Internet entry. Yes, there aren’t any cell towers in the course of the ocean. Internet entry isn’t good. I have no idea if there’s a resolution for this downside. If you’re paying for web entry, you count on connectivity.
- Vibration. The stern of the ship has a vibration downside. The propeller was changed in drydock a few weeks earlier, however the issue has not gone away. It may be very noticeable in the back of the Britannia eating room.
- Bring again the pre formal evening events. Yes, it’s logical Covid protocols discourage bringing giant teams of individuals collectively. Most Cunard voyages would function a Captain’s Welcome Cocktail occasion, open to everybody. On one other night there could be the World Club occasion, for individuals who have sailed a number of occasions. There was additionally the Senior Officer’s Party for greater tier World Club members. At these occasions you discovered in regards to the newest Cunard information, who the highest sailors had been and the numerous nationalities represented among the many passengers.
- Bring again the third formal evening. Transatlantic crossings sometimes featured three formal nights. These had been usually aligned to the cocktail events and the gala night themes just like the Ascot Ball and the Venetian Masked Ball. These signify a number of the magic of Cunard.
As you’ll be able to inform, we had an general wonderful expertise and are wanting ahead to our subsequent voyage.
Many due to Cunard Line and due to the All Things Cruise workforce as nicely. Photos credit score Bryce Sanders
See voyages
Cunard Line
Queen Anne
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Mary 2
Queen Victoria
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See Bryce’s earlier posts:
9 Great Days Crossing the Atlantic on Cunard’s Queen Victoria
Restaurant Review – Britannia Dining Room on the Cunard Queens
Cover photograph: Queen Victoria Royal Court Theatre