Sailing on Cunard's Queen Victoria
Beccy Miller
Our Shell and Nicola recently sailed on Queen Victoria. Here's what Nicola thought...
Sailing on Queen Victoria
The Cunard experience was thoroughly enjoyable, including afternoon tea, spa treatments, delicious food, and very comfortable staterooms. There was no crowding at any point during the entire trip, from check-in at Southampton to disembarking for excursions and city shuttle buses. People flowed smoothly and there were no queues at all.
This was a short break cruise, so the average age and mix were perhaps a touch different to a longer sailing, mostly couples or friends maybe aged 40+. Customers at Cunard seemed to like back-to-back cruises, as many stayed on afterwards for the Mediterranean sailing. In keeping with what I would expect on a cruise, the staff on board were amazing, every point of contact I had, they were full of smiles and couldn't do enough for you. Sipping the complimentary prosecco (which each stateroom receives) on our balcony as we sailed away from Rotterdam was an excellent experience.
Bruges offered a wonderful excursion. I have been before, but never with a tour guide, and gained so much more from this. The guide was lovely, and we made the most of our free time by buying some treats and a Belgian waffle. We used the shuttle buses in Rotterdam to enter the town centre and explore the Market Hall. The trip back to the ship was very well organised, even if you decided to go to the city on your own.
Food
The food, one of the best aspects of cruising for me, did not disappoint. Cunard's evening meals were plentiful, hot, and provided at least two or three choices every night from the menu that I was pleased with. All the meals were very tasty, especially the beef Wellington, steaks, and salmon. We took advantage of complimentary room service (some cruise lines charge for it) to have breakfast in our stateroom a couple of times - a well-deserved treat after our early morning gym session.
Afternoon Tea was a lovely experience and it was gorgeous. There were lots of choices, and the waiting staff kept topping you up and making sure you were well-fed. There were at least six different types of sandwiches, a large variety of cute cakes and the most delicious fruit cake. Finally, plain or fruit scones with jam and cream. It was a wonderful experience and all were included in the cruise fare. The crew were friendly, always ready for photos in their white-gloved attire and had a great sense of humour.
There are two speciality restaurants, a Pan-Asian (my favourite!) and a steakhouse. The service in the Steakhouse was a tad slower than I would have liked, however, the food was amazing, and the cover charge is slightly less if you pre-book before you got onboard. For those who did not want to splash out on board, the main dining room was more than adequate - however, both dining venues were smaller if you wanted a more private experience.
Entertainment
The ship had lots of space and areas to enjoy the sights or to get entertained - I loved the bars with live music where you could sit and have a cocktail as you sailed away. The theatre show was amazing - it was like our local Theatre Royal - there was lots of space and you weren't crowded. Some guests had paid a small fee for a private box, which was lovely and included treats and snacks.
A very emotional service was held on Remembrance day in the theatre by the captain and speakers who had been in the forces before joining Cunard. The afternoon we spent at the spa was a really relaxing experience. We paid for a 2-hour slot, and were able to enjoy a hydro pool, sauna, steam room and hotbeds.
Myths about Cunard's dress code and formality were dispelled and I have begun to pass this information on to customers. The formal nights really worry some customers, but there was a range of attire and if you'd rather not partake, the other dining venues are available. All in all, sailing with Cunard was a fantastic experience and I can't wait to travel with them again.
Want to discover Queen Victoria for yourself? Find out more about the ship here and a list of all Cunard sailings here
