Boarding the ship felt ceremonial. I was greeted by the iconic bellboys, kitted out in their traditional tailored red jackets plus a nod to Australia with their custom red RM Williams boots and black Akubra. Entering into the Grand Lobby, well was grand! Laden with marble and intricate timber detailing, it was a beautiful welcome. Smiles from the crew were wide and there was a pride and contentment with which they wore their uniform.
My cabin was a (forward) Britannia Balcony room, furnished with an (incredibly comfortable) king bed, separate sofa, desk and a generous wardrobe. Extra storage could be found under the bed too for voyages of longer duration. The cabin was also fitted out with tea and coffee making facilities, including a kettle, with supplies topped up daily and complimentary. A chilled bottle of sparkling and two flutes greeted me, which was a lovely surprise. The bathroom was cosy but well-appointed with thoughtful toiletries.
The main dining room for guests in Britannia staterooms is the Britannia Restaurant, offering breakfast through dinner, à la carte. On our first evening, we dined here. The space is finished in rich wood grain and textured fabrics. The menu offers a wide range of daily specials - entrees, mains and dessert - plus some always-available items. The menu has been adapted for the Australian market, offering local favourites such as lamb and an extensive wine list of household names from near and far.
Cunard ships have fewer set specialty restaurants, for their size comparatively. This is in part due to their differentiated dining - with Britannia staterooms dining in the Britannia Restaurant and Britannia Club guests in the similarly styled, yet more intimate Britannia Club. Princess Suite guests have the Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suites, the Queens Grill. It is more than worthwhile looking out for the Lido Alternative Dining options. A section of the Lido Restaurant is carved out and reserved for specialty themed restaurants on rotation every 3 or so days - offering Indian (Coriander), Italian (La Piazza), pan-Asian (Bamboo) and South American inspired BBQ cuisine (Asado). Dress code still requires a jacket for men, making it more formal than the Lido Buffet it’s housed within. We had a 4 course feast at Coriander - dishes were beautifully presented and flavoursome.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion or wish to up the ante on gala nights, Steakhouse at The Verandah is a very chic option. As the names suggests, steak dominates the menu, accompanied by fresh seafood options and impressive sides. Be prepared to choose your own knife and peruse the cuts of meat before ordering. Staff are well-versed in the best way to cook each cut, so heed their advice. If possible, save room for dessert!
If you’re looking for a quiet spot to read a book, the Garden Lounge offers a relaxed and airy setting. For something a little more Parisian chic, Cafe Corinthia offers a selection of barista made coffees, specialty teas and luxe wingbacks to sink into.
Throughout the day the activity schedule is full - from darts competitions to dance classes, pub trivia to presentations from a wide variety of guest speakers, there’ll be something of interest for everyone. The table tennis, giant chess and croquet offer more lively options, or the serene spa for something more zen. I chose a specialty treatment from my daily cruise planner and had a hand and foot pampering, which was a great experience. The salon had a steady stream of guests getting ready for the gala evening, fixing headpieces and styling up-dos. The shopping onboard is very boutique - with some iconic made in London offerings, a good range of cosmetics and a selection of designer goods.
Evening activities are also plentiful. The dress code is definitely noticeably chicer at night. A collar and sleeves a minimum for men, for regular evenings, with individual venues requiring dressier options to dine in. On gala evenings, a jacket is a must for men if you’re wanting to be out and about, but you’ll likely want to doll up more as there are some incredible outfits on parade! Once you’re dressed to the nines, head to The Royal Court Theatre for an evening show. A couple of guest performers were collected in Adelaide - a crooner and a strings duo - providing some variety to the evening lineup. Both were very entertaining. On our final evening, the troupe performed Top Hat a tap-dancing musical, roused a standing ovation from the audience who were thoroughly entertained. Live music such as piantists, jazz bands, harpists and more are regularly playing in the Queens Room and dancing is often unavoidable!
As for bars - there are multiple options depending on your vibe. Midship you’ll find the Gin & Fizz bar with over 40 gins on tasting, the Yacht Club for a late night dance, the Commodore Club with its passionate mixologists of course the Golden Lion Pub, the Lido Pool Bar, amongst others - you won’t go thirsty.
Overall the experience on board was exceptional. The service was a highlight of the cruise - the staff were attentive and thoughtful and full of personality but far from pushy. A huge credit to Cunard. I would recommend the Queen Elizabeth to anyone looking for a cruise with full and varied enrichment program onboard, those that love a sense of occasion and even family groups seeking a quieter getaway, with children well catered to with the various kids clubs.
