I chose this cruise for the ports and the large number of sea days. Cunard made it so easy to just relax and enjoy the trip. No long lines or waits. More than enough staff to care for all the passengers. If you booked your excursion with the ship you got priority on tenders. Very organized in getting people on and off the ship. Would I do it again? Yes, in a minute it was agreat cruise.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Easiest embarkation ever. Plane landed at 1014, met Cunard representative at baggage claim. Took luggage to bus and handed over to driver, 45 minute trip to port. On entering port, documents checked and was given a group number and seating location. Group, of about 25, was called to check in, documents checked and shipboard card made. Embarked ship and in cabin by 1227. Was very impressed to find bottle of Champaign in an ice bucket waiting for me (did not book with travel agent so it was from Cunard) Checked on main dinning room dinner location and went to lunch in Golden Lion Pub. Luggage was handled by Cunard from bus, arrived in cabin before 2pm return from lunch.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food in main dinning room was great, only had one dish (lunch) that I didn't like due to over cooking the fish. Good choice for each meal. Had lunch several times in the Golden Lion Pub, great Fish and Chips with really good English ales. The Cafe Carpathia served specialty coffees and pasteries that were fast and easy before early morning excursions. Did not eat any meals in the Lido buffet. Drank mainly wine at dinner and ale or beer with lunch so did not visit many of the bars. Afternoon tea was spectacular,
Savory finger sandwiches, sweet tarts, cakes, etc., and scones with clotted cream and jam, and of course the tea all served by white gloved waiters.
Cafe Carinthia
5 out of 5
Lovely place to enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by. Drinks in the evening were great too.
The Golden Lion
5 out of 5
Wait staff always very helpful. Food was great. Great choice of beers and ales. Most trivia games geared toward UK residents so I didn't play many.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Always seemed to schedule all the things I wanted to do at the same time or at 1215 which was lunch time (main dinning room lunch was 1200 to 130pm) Did not use the pools but always found lounge chairs available when on the Lido deck. Fitness classes too crowded for space always bumping into others so only went to 2. Spa was very nice if a little expensive. Great veiws from the spa lounge area. Really liked that the lectures and movies were rerun on TV the next day, that helped with scheduleing conflicts. Loved the library! Sea days checked out a book and sat on deck to read.
Pursers Office
4 out of 5
Always very helpful but there were times when more staff was needed. Only place on the ship where I waited 15 minutes in line.
Entertainment
None of the programs sounded that interesting. The 2 shows that I wanted to see, the Tahitian dancers (only one show, early seating dinner meant that no seats left by the time I got to theater) and Moari program was on the day of 10 hour excusion and was just too tired to attend.
Library
5 out of 5
Two story library at sea! Always found something to read and loved the daily puzzles.
Children's Programs
No children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room stewart Arthur was phenominal, without asking, always filled my ice bucket twice a day, replaced shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and bath gel as used, and kept the room spotless. Waiters in main dinning room were excellent. Wine steward in main dinning room very knowlegible and at a table for 10 kept straight everyones bottle of wine. All ship personnel smiled and greeted you when passing by and were willing to help with anything you needed.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Ship was always very clean. Common areas looked very well maintained, no wear and tear observed anywhere. I found the layout very easy to find my way around.
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
Very nice cabin with lots of storage space, under bed drawers especially nice. Might be a little tight for 2 but as a single more than enough room. Very clean on arrival and room stewart kept it that way despite my tendency to drop everything on the bed and chair when I came in.
Ship tip
This is not a party ship. And if you don't like dressing for dinner not your ship. Informal in the main dinning room requires men to wear a jacket, no shorts or blue jean allowed in public areas after 600pm. On formal nights if not dressed only allowed in Lido buffet and one bar on 9th deck. But if you want to enjoy the elegance of bygone days of the great liners this is the ship.
Snorkeling excursion. Lots of black fin sharks and rays. Lovely clear water. Papeete market very interesting. Port area in the middle of the city so not quite the tropical paridise I was expecting.
Excursion to Hole in the Rock and cruise of Bay of Island. Wind too strong to go through the Hole in the Rock but a great morning on the water. Loved the whole area.
We were assigned colors and numbers depending on what your arangements were. We met in the theater and my color was called at 0820, left the ship, claimed my luggage, went through customs, and was on the bus to the airport by 0845.
What a brill review. Very honest and accurate I would say having travelled twice on QE. commodoreW you’re right Cunard do keep it sophisticated and elegant but that’s not for everyone. I love it though. Fungooleyruley you won’t be disappointed with princess, but it certainly isn’t Cunard. We went with princess for the first time last year and have booked again this year. I’m pleased we booked club class mini-suite with exclusive dining area and expanded menu it made it feel a bit like the grills on Cunard.
Cunard are a cut above the rest. I’ve sailed on the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Victoria. Couldn’t fault either cruise. More expensive than some cruise lines but well worth the extra. Cunard keep cruising sophisticated and elegant.
Cunard really know how to do it all! Have been on their Queen Victoria which was our first experience and it made us feel a lot more positive about cruising. Doing a Princess cruise to Alaska next month and would be happy if they were even half as good as Cunard!
We boarded in Southampton and also left the ship in Sydney... Absolutely loved the ship and the cruise (undoubtably our best ever)... will certainly try to do it again, health and finances permitting... Ports of Call could hardly have been better selected..
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
