My ship visit on Cunard’s Queen Victoria
Intro
Well, what can I say! If you like a welcoming atmosphere where nothing is too much trouble, you enjoy amazing food and luxurious cabins then Queen Victoria is defiantly the ship for you. On my ship visit we were offered a choice of tea, coffee and delicious smoothies along with a mouthwatering selection of pastries in the Grand Queens room. This room is a wonder with high ceilings and beautiful chandeliers. It hosts various activities for the guests to enjoy such as fencing, dancing classes and afternoon tea to name but a few.
The cabins
After our refreshments we were able to look around some of the cabins starting with a Q2 Queens Grill suite on deck 11. I knew this would be a very spacious suite and it did not disappoint. My first impression of this suite was just how light and airy it felt with large verandah doors and windows engulfing it. There was a lovely lounge followed by an open kitchen area for the Butler to prepare drinks and food if you wished to invite friends to dine with you at the large dining table. The verandah was the length of the suite enabling you to really enjoy your own private space relaxing outside. One of my favourite rooms was the wonderful marble bathroom with a separate shower and a huge bath. If you were staying in one of the Queens Grill suites, you were able to enjoy your own reserved table in the exclusive Queens Grill restaurant.
Next it was on to cabin 7087 which is a wheelchair accessible cabin. This cabin had a wider door so that it would be easy to navigate a wheelchair or scooter thru. Just before we arrived a hospital bed and equipment had been put in the cabin ready to be made up for the guests who had requested this after booking. The bathroom had a sliding door and a roll in shower. All these well thought out measures enabled an elderly person or someone with a medical condition to enjoy a comfortable cabin and indeed an enjoyable cruise as I also noticed a hoist at the pavilion pool during the tour to enable anyone with physical limitations to enjoy a dip or a swim to cool down.
The last cabin to visit was 7145 which was an inside cabin. This cabin was slightly smaller, but I was still very impressed with the same level of comfort and finishing touches given to this cabin. You still get your bathrobes and slippers and sumptuous beds. You could also put the tv on and set it to the bridge cam for extra light in the morning.
Facilities
During the tour I spotted the sign for the play zone. I was not expecting to see a kids club on the Queen Victoria, but it makes perfect sense as quite often three generations of families will holiday together and if the kids are happy then so are we. This ship really does cater for everyone.
Then it was off to the Mareel Wellness and Beauty Spa. We were lucky enough to sample a shoulder massage which I can only describe as pure heaven. The treatment room has huge windows, heated tiled massage/treatment beds. The contemplation room has a very relaxing feel for guests to just chill and unwind. There are also a hydro pool and a large gym with lots of running machines.
White star service
After the tour of the spa, we had the opportunity to experience the famous white star service whilst enjoying a three-course lunch. I chose the gravlax smoked salmon, followed by roast chicken and finally a lovely chocolate dessert all served with immaculate presentation. Everything was delicious.
Interesting facts
After lunch, guests had started to embark as Queen Victoria was due to depart that afternoon to Lisbon. The Bellhops were helping passengers into the lifts with their luggage in their iconic red and black uniforms. Time for a look at the Winter Gardens which is a Mediterranean inspired lounge, with music and drinks. The roof is glass and pulls right back to make it open air in the warmer climates. This room was modelled on Kew Gardens and has a lovely light feel about it. You can enjoy the lounge even if the weather is not at its best.
I found it so interesting learning about the plaques on the wall from every first visit Queen Victoria had to a new port, which is a long-standing maritime tradition called a plaque and key exchange.
We went on to the Grand Lobby and Royal Arcade with its sweeping staircase and large clock which was made by the same makers of Big Ben. This area was like the ships main hub and was very grand as the name suggests and very impressive.
I think one of the things that stood out for me on the Queen Victoria was the great mix of traditional and modern. There is a lot of history behind Cunard’s Queens, and I think its lovely and I felt very proud that they can keep some of these amazing traditions and history alive. However, it also has a modern vibe about it with its popular Golden Lion pub which was obviously a favourite amongst the embarking guests. As it was very busy, pizzas and burgers were ordered and there was Mr. Whippy ice-cream in the buffet.
There also was West End shows in the theatre and Mr. Brainwash and Banksy artwork in the gallery.
Conclusion
Well given the opportunity would I like to go on a cruise on Queen Victoria?
Yes, most definitly!
Please come into Miles Morgan Travel in Yeovil for a chat if you have any questions or are thinking about cruising on board this lovely ship or any of Cunard’s Queens.
