Editor's Note: This article reflects Luxury Travel Advisor's one-night, pre-inaugural stay aboard Queen Anne with other cruise media and travel industry executives. It's simply a first look at the ship, not a full review during a revenue cruise.
Boarding Cunard Line’s 2,996-passenger Queen Anne last week in Southampton, U.K., Luxury Travel Advisor couldn’t wait to see how the upscale line would meld its storied heritage with a bit more contemporary design—to both satisfy Cunard’s loyal past guests who seek a sense of grandeur at sea with more modern elements that can attract new-to-cruise and new-to-brand guests.
Grand Yet Fresh
First, let’s set the stage. It’s impossible to talk about the new Queen Anne without delving into Cunard’s 180 years of ocean travel heritage. Simply put, it’s a brand with deep roots in the development of global cruise travel. Founded by Samuel Cunard, Cunard Line operated its first transatlantic cruise in 1840. Famous guests in the early decades included authors Charles Dickens and Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain).
During the late 19th century’s mass immigration from Europe to North America, Cunard carried more than a million of the 2.5 million people headed for a new life across the sea. Most notably, in 1912, Cunard’s Carpathia rescued the 706 survivors of the Titanic from lifeboats in the North Atlantic. Throughout the mid-20th century in the Golden Age of Cruising, Cunard’s iconic liners including Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and others carried the rich and famous across the North Atlantic—everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Clark Gable and Frank Sinatra.
Today’s Cunard fleet consists of its flagship, the 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2, as well as the 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth, the 2,061-passenger Queen Victoria and, now, the new Queen Anne, now its largest ship in terms of guest capacity—accommodating just under 3,000 guests. All four ships were launched in the 21st century.
For the construction of Queen Anne, the line’s design team focused on five design pillars: heritage, craftsmanship, storytelling, style and innovation. After walking around the ship last week and staying aboard for one night, we felt that the vessel exudes historic touches of grandeur, elegance and style, while, at the same time, its interior design reflects a fresh look and feel.
Yes, some die-hard traditionalists who are past guests may desire a stronger lean to the traditional side, but from our perspective and that of travel industry executives we met aboard, Cunard has struck a “good balance” on Queen Anne. "Cunard loyalists will love this ship because it has everything we love about the other ships and more, with a more modern feel,” says Josh Tolkin, vice president of supplier relations, World Travel Holdings, parent company of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne.
Put another way, "Cunard has successfully honored its magnificent past while creating a luxurious and innovative new ship for the future,” Charles Sylvia, vice president, industry and trade relations, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), told us as we encountered him on board admiring the new ship's Grand Lobby.
Exuding touches of grandeur, this Grand Lobby sports a sweeping staircase, Art Deco-inspired marble floor and a lenticular mural that tells a story as guests pass by. It also has bold colors and modern cushioned furniture in the center of the floor area.
Other grand spaces onboard include the 835-seat Royal Court Theater as well as the elegant multi-level Britannia dining room. Overall, Theresa Scalzitti, chief operations officer, Cruise Planners, believes that Queen Anne's "public spaces nicely flow from one beautiful lounge to another" and that each has its "own unique personality and design features.”
Certainly popular during our brief stay aboard was the spacious Queens Room (see photo below) with a grand dance floor. It's the place for daytime dance classes, afternoon tea, gala evenings, aerial routines and live music.
Queen Anne’s guests are served by 1,058 staff and crew members. From the moment of boarding, guests will experience what Cunard terms "White Star Service." By way of background, in 1934, competitors Cunard Line and White Star Line (which had operated the ill-fated Titanic) merged. By the late 1940s, the line reverted to using only the Cunard name, but today that White Star Service continues.
Our take? The service and attentiveness of most crew members that we encountered including suite stewards, deck hands, officers and restaurant crew members were quite good. Bellhops in traditional red uniforms greet arriving guests, a nice throwback to the past. In addition, “the excitement and pride shown by staff and crew for their new ship was energizing,” says Scalzitti.
What’s New or Unique?
As for the new Queen Anne’s modern design touches, some are colorful, delicate and, at times, whimsical. For example, the fresh carpet design gives the ship a spectacular feel but in a modern way. We noticed this just about everywhere on the ship—from the elevator lobbies to the Queens Room and our balcony stateroom.
At first, we thought, "Oh, we're overthinking it. What's the big deal about the carpet?" But then it continued to pop up in our thoughts as we toured the ship. Later, we asked one Signature travel agency executive about how well the line had combined grandeur with freshness, and he explained that he truly liked what Cunard had done in balancing tradition with modernity, and then he emphatically mentioned the "carpet design." We rest our case.
Queen Anne is also Cunard’s first ship with an updated livery. Brand markings are white on gray, rather than red on white as is the case on other Cunard ships; plus, there’s a more fierce lion in the crest area of the hull.
Sporting 4,000 pieces of art, Queen Anne also has the largest curated collection of artworks at sea; many of the art pieces are by up-and-coming painters, photographers and illustrators. Separately, we liked that Cunard nicely melded the artwork available for sale into the design of one corridor. It's done on other ships, but this truly seemed akin to an art walk. That said, we couldn't help chuckling as we spotted a painting of the Statue of Liberty sipping a cup of tea.
Even though this ship accommodates nearly 3,000 guests, we found zillions of comfortable nooks and crannies throughout the ship. The Carpathia Lounge, which crowns the Grand Lobby, is one such spot.
One new public space aboard Queen Anne is the Bright Lights Society, a dazzling new show bar on Deck 2. It sports dark royal blue décor and felt a bit regal in its look. Each night, guests can expect to see a cast of performers, presented by RWS Global, at this show bar.
So, how about a glass of bubbly or a crafted cocktail while watching the action? The dance floor awaits, too.
Also new? “They did a great job forging partnerships with strong brands,” Tolkin tells us, adding that "people raved about Michel Roux’s food at the Golden Lion Pub.” Chef Roux created new lunch and dinner menus at that pub.
Guests can now order both traditional pub fare plus new, inventive seasonal dishes. For example, options include Roux's Three-Cheese Toastie with Ogleshield, Gruyere and Mature Cheddar Cheese. Other options include the signature Golden Lion Burger, a vegetarian Golden Lion burger, a Cunard Gold Beer-Battered Sustainable Hake, a "Jolly Hog" Black Pudding and Apple Sausage, and more.
We walked through the pub early one afternoon and it was brimming with activity. Guests were enjoying a brew, chowing down on a tasty dish, and listening to rehearsals by several entertainers and the sound crew. As we observed in the past on Queen Mary 2, it's one of the top socializing spots on a Cunard ship.
In addition to a full range of designer boutiques, one unique new boutique spot is Deck 3’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Enhanced with audio and visual media, this small circular space displays artifacts and artistic treasures by luxury brands. Those include Garraud and Chanel; plus, the space incorporates elements from the Cunard archives.
The goal? It's to celebrate the style and, at times, the intrigue of traveling. We couldn't help noticing the large black lobster and bright red crab within the Lladro display case.
One traditional element on every Cunard ship is the Drawing Room. We ventured to this spot and found the usual range of good books and reference materials. But there's a different draw, too. Maritime buffs should definitely pop into this venue to see the new Queen Anne ship model displayed in a plexiglass case.
If guests are looking for superb views, two good options are to head to Deck 12’s Commodore Club, a Cunard signature bar with 270-degree ocean views, and Deck 14's Sky Bar and Observation Deck. High up on the ship, guests will also discover shuffleboard, a putting green and two other popular activity options cited by Tolkin—a pickleball court and an archery facility.
Pools, Pampering and Fitness
Pools? Queen Anne has several pool venues. We liked the two-deck, interior Pavilion Pool area. Its Magradome roof slides open and closed, which allows guests to use the pool come rain or shine, as well as during cold weather. Entertainment in this spot includes live and pre-recorded music performances.
For enjoying a dip with sea views, guests should venture to the aft exterior Panorama Pool Club. They can relax at the bar or on loungers as a DJ or live band entertains. Canopies nicely provide shade for those who don't want to spend too much time in the sun.
Tolkin feels that Cunard has stepped up its focus on wellness, with new programs designed by Harper’s Bazaar. For instance, new three-day packages within the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea proposition allow a choice of either a detoxing, energizing or relaxing approach. Packages include a curated selection of spa treatments, ELEMIS products and balanced dining options from the ship's Pavilion Wellness Cafe.
One must-do? Guests should definitely check out the spacious new Pavilion Wellness Studio on Deck 11. That's the hot spot for yoga, Pilates and other classes. And on Deck 1, they'll find Mareel Wellness and Beauty with a full-service spa, salon and myriad fitness spaces.
Our perspective is that Cunard's designers deserve kudos for not trying to cram all the fitness machines into one large room. We appreciate the fitness center's multiple spaces. In particular, we were impressed with the separate spinning classroom. It's also good for fitness-minded clients to know that they can request professional assistance (at an added charge) for such services as personal training, nutritional consultation, slow flow yoga and total tone Pilates.
In the Mareel spa area, guests will discover an impressive thermal suite. As for pampering treatments, we’d suggest these as good options, but guests have dozens from which to choose:
- Hot Mineral Body Boost, a 75-minute treatment
- Bamboo Massage, which can be booked for a 50-, 75- or 100-minute treatment
Facility-wise, the spa provides nine separate treatment rooms, as well as one wellness suite with two massage beds, a large relaxation bed as well as an infrared sauna (both with sea views), a steam room and a large shower.
The spa provides a full range of beauty, aesthetic rejuvenation, specialty treatments, sculpt/firm, massage/bodywork, body treatments and more. Guests can also opt for such alternative treatments as acupuncture, reflexology, compression recovery and assisted stretching.
Also on Deck 1, the spacious beauty salon has a calming look and feel. Guests will find everything from hair design options to nail treatments and barber services.
No. 8096, a Princess Suite
Luxury Travel Advisor stayed overnight in No. 8096, a Princess Suite (P2). This 302-square-foot suite offers access to the ship's exclusive Princess Grill for dining (see more about that below). Located mid-ship, it's convenient to the elevators.
Walking into this stateroom, we were greeted by a small box of chocolates and a bottle of sparkling wine on the living area's glass table. By the way, that table has an interestingly shaped lower structure—open on one side akin to a bird cage. Check out the slide show at the top of this story for a better look.
Space-wise, this balcony suite is larger than that we’ve experienced in many other balcony cabins on other ships. It felt very roomy in the living space. Guests can relax on a large upholstered couch with comfortable pillows or an upholstered side chair. That couch is not a pull-out bed, though. This suite sleeps only two people. In addition, a nearby upholstered desk chair (much nicer than most desk chairs we've encountered) can be pulled into the living area as another seat. The living area’s large wall-mounted TV has satellite reception for a wide range of movie and music channels.
Between the living area and bedroom on two opposite walls are two tall wall structures—we considered them “bookends” of sorts. They offer a bit of separation between the living and bedroom areas. One of those wall structures encompassed the desk area, with a large round window above. We liked the whimsical pops of color, an example of Cunard’s touches to create a fresh, contemporary feel.
Opposite the desk across the room was a tall entertainment bar structure. Here guests will find their coffee maker, mini-fridge, glassware, storage, shelving and a bar area. Complimentary spring water is replenished throughout the voyage.
Could be improved? We’d like to see Cunard easily add a privacy curtain that could be pulled between the living and bedroom spaces, and it could hook onto those wooden structures on either side. That way, if one spouse in the living room desires to read, work on their laptop or phone, or admire the exterior views, the other can still take a nap and block out light.
Our stateroom’s bedroom area was outfitted with a comfortable, king-sized Cunarder bed, convertible to two twins, with a soft duvet and high thread count sheets. We slept well. This bed’s pillows were huge and comfortable, for sure. But guests can also choose other types of pillows from Cunard's pillow concierge menu.
One nice perk? The bedroom area has its own separate, large, wall-mounted TV. Having two large TVs—one each in the living and bedroom areas—is somewhat unusual for this size balcony cabin (on any ship of any line). So, guests have easier viewing from both spots.
The infotainment system offers the usual mix of movies, TV shows, documentaries, the guest’s personal account tally, daily programming and so on. As for techie plugs in this suite, guests will find U.K., U.S. and European plugs and USB ports.
Near the entry to the suite, the compact bathroom offers a singular sink, toilet and large walk-in shower. Guests enjoy Penhaligon toiletries, plus luxurious bathrobes and slippers are hanging in a nearby closet. Made for snuggling, these robes are truly fluffy and soft. Many robes we find on other ships are terrycloth or another fabric that’s stiffer.
This Princess Suite offers storage in three closets across from the bathroom at the suite’s entry. One closet has drawers and a personal safe, while a second, fairly narrow closet offers hanging space at differing levels for shorter items (such as shirts or jackets) and a third closet has full-length hanging space to accommodate trousers/slacks, dresses and evening gowns.
Outside on their private balcony, Princess Suite guests can enjoy al fresco private dining or just “soak in” the views. This balcony is furnished with two chairs and a table.
Beyond sterling service by a dedicated suite steward (ours introduced herself right away as we reached our suite), this Princess Suite offers many other perks. These include: daily fresh fruit; a complimentary room service menu; “en suite” dining with ordering from the Princess Grill menu; exclusive access to the Grills Lounge and outside Grills Terrace with infinity hot tubs; concierge service for onboard reservations and shore experiences; priority embarkation and debarkation and more.
Scalzitti was staying in No. 11060, a balcony suite several decks higher, and she told us that “the cabin was well appointed with plenty of storage space.”
The Grills and Other Dining Choices
Guests staying in higher-level suites can head for the Queens Grill, an exclusive, elegant with impeccable service. Of course, they can dine elsewhere at the ship as well, but the Queens Grill experience is a big plus. Similarly, our Princess Suite category included exclusive access to the Princess Grill.
Dining at the Princess Grill, we felt that the cuisine was both creative and tasty. One nice touch was the tableside cheese service at the end of the meal. During our brief stay aboard (pre-inaugural), this restaurant did have a few service timing issues—but the restaurant server nicely kept us apprised when the kitchen was running a bit behind. That's not unexpected in any ship's “shakedown” period, so we expect tweaks have already been made.
In addition to the exclusive Queens Grill and Princess Grill for guests in those levels of accommodations, there is an exclusive Britannia Club for guests in that level of accommodation. Of course, the elegant, multi-level Britannia main dining room is open to all guests. Scalzitti tells us that “the food served onboard during dinner in the Britannia restaurant was excellent.”
Specialty dining restaurants include the new Aji Wa, which is new to the Cunard fleet on Queen Anne. That’s a contemporary take on Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner. Guests can either sit at traditional tables in the main Aji Wa restaurant or opt for the sushi/sake bar, which offers views of the sushi preparation. Also new on Queen Anne is the Pavilion Wellness Café. If guests are seeking nutritious, healthy cuisine, this is the spot. Options include smoothies, mocktails, cold-pressed juices and uplifting shots. Food ranges from sustainable meat and fish to vegetarian and vegan selections.
Other specialty dining venues include Tramonto with specialties of Sicily, Sardinia, Sorrento and other sunny Italian regions, and Aranya, an Indian specialty eatery. Bringing the traditional element of Cunard back into the picture is Sir Samuel’s Steakhouse & Grill, which pays homage to Samuel Cunard, the line’s founder, and serves up prime cuts of meat, as well as fish and seafood.
Finally, for dining at breakfast, lunch and dinner, we liked the relaxed Artisans Foodhall. It's a casual, buffet-style eatery, with drink orders taken at the table. It had a good choice of soups, salads, breads, main courses, vegetables, fresh fruit and carving stations or station preparation of certain foods.
Parting Thoughts on Queen Anne
Bottom line? From our brief time aboard, we believe travelers who enjoy delving into history, want to sail the ocean in style and comfort, but also, most importantly, want to feel a part of something special at sea will likely love Queen Anne.
Two decades ago, we sailed on Queen Mary 2 (the first of three different cruises on the Cunard flagship) and, in our story, we explained that we felt akin to grand travelers—not simply cruise guests. We'd have to say that we felt much the same on the new Queen Anne, yet in a bit more modern, refreshed way.
Be sure to check out the photologue slide show at the top of this story for more visuals of the new Queen Anne
Certainly, traditions from Cunard's storied history linger, and in a good way. But at the same time, the new ship’s design brings a fresh, contemporary feel, which should help Cunard draw younger, new-to-brand and new-to-cruise luxury hotel travelers eager for an upscale vacation at sea.
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