Reviewed by: Richard Boyce

Cruise Line: Cunard Line

Itinerary: Sydney to Melbourne

Size of ship and passenger capacity: 90,949 GRT. Carries 2,014 passengers

Year Built: 2007

Where the ship cruises: World Cruises, Europe

Currency onboard: USD

  

Embarkation/Disembarkation: Embarkation was reasonably quick and efficient. Despite boarding at a peak time, it wasn’t long before we were in the terminal queuing for a check-in desk and then through security and onto the ship.

Main features: Despite being based on a hull design like many ships these days, Queen Victoria was custom built for Cunard Line. The ship has two outdoor pools, one aft and one midship, with an adjacent ‘wintergarden’. This indoor/outdoor space has a retractable roof allowing a lanai type experience, with a bar and comfortable seating amongst greenery. Another standout feature is the two-storey Queens Room. This large space is used for many things including ballroom dancing and high tea. An  unusual and interesting feature is the ‘Cunardia’ walk which showcases items and photographs over Cunard’s history.

Most suited to: 45+ singles and couples looking for a large scale luxury experience with the refinements they would expect of one of the world’s oldest passenger shipping companies. Entertainment and atmosphere are deliberately old world, so people looking for the latest and flashiest will not find it here. On world cruises, the ship has gentleman hosts onboard for single female passengers to dance with should they wish, and there are also regular solo traveller get-togethers.

  

Atmosphere: More old world hotel than a modern cruise ship, the ship makes an effort to be luxurious and traditional without being too stuffy. You will find a vast array of public spaces with comfortable furnishings, original artworks, glass and marble. In the evenings, even on a casual night, people do make an effort to dress nicely with most gentlemen wearing a jacket and tie. On formal evenings, the dress code is FORMAL. If you see someone wearing diamonds they are probably real. Everyone joins in on the fun of the occasion and the hum of happy people and music from various lounges floats around the ship. During the day, casual is the rule and we saw many people in smart but comfortable day wear – think tailored shorts and a crisp polo shirt.

Encounters with Service Staff: The staff were friendly and polite without being gushy. My cabin steward appeared very soon after I arrived to welcome me, show me around, point out my life jacket and remind me of the safety drill. Later that afternoon I was greeted by name, which I thought was impressive.

Staterooms: My cabin was large and well laid out. The bed was especially comfortable and there was a two-seater lounge, coffee table, writing desk/vanity and a decent sized bathroom. Those who don’t like shower curtains will be disappointed here, but on the upside, for many, it is better than stepping over and into a bath/shower. The balcony was easily large enough to accommodate two reclining chairs and a small table.

Solo travellers: should note that this ship is fitted with a larger than average number of dedicated single cabins.

  

Dining options: There is a main two storey dining room aft – the Britannia – which seats most passengers in two traditional dinner sittings. Those booked in Princess or Queens Grill have their own separate dining rooms on decks higher in the ship.

Other dining areas include:
The Verandah – Based on the concept of an extra tariff restaurant from the original Queen Mary, this intimate space serves a 7-8 course degustation dinner. You simply choose an entree and a main course, then sit back as a parade of incredible courses are served in fresh and interesting ways. It is fabulous, challenging and lots of fun.
Golden Lion Pub – A typical English style pub serving counter lunches such as pies and chips.
Lido Restaurant – More than just a buffet, this space is simply enormous, taking up nearly half of Deck 9! It was never crowded and during the day provided the usual buffet choices. I noted that the toasting machine actually toasted bread, which was a nice change. In the evening a section of the buffet was set up as a small Asian restaurant (extra tariff), though I didn’t experience it myself.

Entertainment: Cunard still has the traditional large-scale shows, but are moving towards slightly different types of entertainment such as acapella groups and a jazz band. With multiple venues, there is always something of interest on around the ship.

 

Activities: Everything from quizzes, dance lessons, art auctions and lectures. Of note here, Cunard makes a point of having interesting lecturers onboard, often noted politicians, writers, artists or specialists in a certain area.

Family Facilities: YES! Cunard does take children and has excellent children’s’ facilities located on Promenade Deck Aft. While there are no dedicated outdoor areas for kids, they do have access to one of the two pools. On a world cruise there were very few children onboard. However, this changes when the ship is based in Europe. The kids rooms are spacious and filled with games and gadgets. My tip is to be prepared – the kids probably won’t want to leave!

Self Service Laundry: A self-service laundry with washers, dryers and ironing facilities is located on most accommodation decks and all facilities, including washing powder, are provided free of charge.

Insider Tips: Don’t forget a hat. While there is plenty of outdoor space, not all of it is covered or has shade! The dress code at night can put a lot of people off but it needn’t. Gone are the days when you would never dare be seen in the same outfit twice. Pack items that can be mixed and matched, and don’t pack too much!