What is the line? Cunard
Name of ship? Queen Anne
Passenger occupancy? 2,996 passengers
Itinerary? Roundtrip from Southampton to Norway fjords (with stops in Haugesund, Nordfjordeid, Geiranger, Bergen)
Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?
Cunard is best known for its elegant transatlantic crossings that once transported movie stars and fashionable travelers aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 throughout the 1980s. Today, the line’s fleet of four cruise ships continues to embody the sophistication of this bygone era, with afternoon tea, ballroom dancing, and formal gala evenings.
Tell us about the ship in general.
Queen Anne is the first new Cunard cruise ship since 2010, representing the line’s ambitions to attract the next generation of passengers. As a result, the ship’s design leans more modern than its beloved predecessors *Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria,* and Queen Elizabeth. As a first-time cruiser several decades younger than the average passenger, I thought many of the spaces were beautifully done; however, some Cunard loyalists prefer the traditional feel of the classic ocean liner. Time will tell if that preference remains.
Who is onboard?
Most passengers are British or American, with a few Aussies on board. It appeared the majority of people on my sailing were in the 60+ age range, however Queen Anne definitely skews younger than Cunard’s other ships—there were a fair number of younger couples in their thirties and forties. This was a popular sailing for multi-generational groups of grandparents, parents, and grandchildren.
Describe the cabins.
My cabin was in the Princess Grill Suite category. With a king-size bed and a separate seating area with a loveseat, desk, and TV, it was larger than many luxury hotel rooms. The bathroom and closet space was spacious for a ship. My room was located in the middle of the ship on deck nine and I barely felt the rough water during the overnight North Sea crossing.
The main reason to splurge on a Princess Grill Suite is to access the Grill restaurant, lounge, and deck (with private hot tubs). The zone was never overly crowded and felt like its own ship-within-a-ship with more personalized service. The Queens Grill, a category above, offers even more space and a more exclusive dining experience.
The Britannia staterooms are the ship’s smallest cabins, but they are still well-configured and nicely designed. Book a balcony or oceanview room if you want a lounge area with seating. If you stay in this suite category, you will eat most of your meals at the Britannia restaurant—which is larger and hosts many more passengers than the Grills—but in my opinion, it's one of the prettiest dining rooms on the ship.
Regardless of which suite category you stay in, Cunard’s mattresses and bedding are exceptionally comfortable.
Tell us about the crew.
The dining staff in the Princess Grill was top-tier, but at restaurants and bars elsewhere on the ship, the service varied from place to place and occasionally felt understaffed. As it is a brand-new ship, I imagine this will improve with time.
My cabin steward was lovely, making the bed and tidying up the room twice a day, including folding any loose clothing. I had an incredible masseuse who tackled deep knots and tense muscles with ease. Working on a cruise ship is a tough job. I spoke with crew members who were on the ship working 9-month contracts away from their spouses and children, sending their paychecks back home for a better life. If possible, please tip them generously.
What food and drink options are available on board?
As previously mentioned, the main dining rooms are organized by your cabin category. I dined in the Princess Grill most nights and the rotating menu of creative steak, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes offered a nice variety of options throughout the week. Treat yourself with one of their yummy desserts, like the flaming cherries jubilee, prepared table front. The Princess Grill room service menu is surprisingly delightful; the green curry dish was so good I had it three times. The colorful exotic fruit bowl (listed in the desert section) was my go-to snack.
For breakfast and light bites, I enjoyed my morning cappuccino at the peaceful Carinthia Lounge and nibbled on the poached egg and salmon toast as well as various pastries (pro tip: try the banana bread). In the afternoon, I’d return here for a small trout sandwich and an artisan charcuterie board. Another solid option for lunch is the Wellness Café, located above the panorama pool. The menu includes healthy bowls, chia cups, fresh juices, and more. If you’re still hungry, the buffet-style Artisan Food Hall serving pizza, pasta, salads, and the like is open most hours of the day.
The specialty restaurants (read: not included in your fare and require advance reservations for an extra fee) varied in quality and service. I very much enjoyed the sushi and Japanese restaurant Aji Wa. The Italian restaurant Tramonto was nothing worth writing home about.
Now, onto the bars. With some of the best views on the ship, The Commodore Club turns into one big party during sailaways—arrive early to grab a seat by the windows. With a grand piano at the center and a drink menu specializing in martinis, it has a jazzy, sophisticated vibe. The Chart Room was another personal favorite; the creative cocktail menu organized by zodiac sign was a cute conversation starter and quite tasty. People also enjoyed the negroni bar at the casino. If you’re looking for more casual drinks (no dress-code required), the Golden Lion pub has a fun ambience and solid beer menu to accompany nightly live music, karaoke, and trivia.
Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?
The spa was a highlight of my voyage. The vast space has two saunas (Himalayan salt and Finnish), a steam room, cold room, and more “immersive shower” options than I ever knew existed. At the center, an aqua therapy pool allows you to gently sway in small waves. When I went on the first sea day, I basically had the whole place to myself. On the last sea day when I returned for a massage, word had spread and it was busier. In order to use all the spa’s facilities, you need to purchase a day pass or an unlimited pass for use during the whole voyage. If you book a treatment, you’re only able to access a relaxation lounge and one communal steam room.
What about activities and entertainment?
You won’t find water parks or roller coasters on this ship. Instead, expect a daily itinerary filled with educational and sports programming. On the upper decks, there is a pickleball court, archery lessons, and of course, shuffleboard. Passengers spoke highly of the guest lecturers, who spoke on topics ranging from Norwegian geography and history to the comedic differences between American and British humor.
I took a few fitness classes at The Wellness Pavilion, a large, bright space overlooking the pool that hosts beginner mat pilates, stretching, and slow-flow yoga classes. I wish the space was better utilized when classes were not available; the gym staff kindly agreed to lend me a mat to bring up if I wanted to work out here on my own.
Come night time, the real entertainment highlight is the Queen’s Room dance floor. With the formal attire and feel-good cover bands, every night feels like a wedding bash (and on one night, it actually was—two former crew members were married onboard and had their first dance here in front of guests). Reserve a seat at The Bright Lights society for interactive theatrical performances Noir and Fizz, or walk into the auditorium for one of the plays. If you’re feeling lucky, there’s a small casino too.
When in need of peace and quiet, the library was one of my favorite nooks on the ship, offering some of the best window views of the sea without the noise or crowds. Funnily enough, the pickle ball court is located directly on top of the library, a design-flaw that means readers may be subjected to loud thumping above their heads during matches.
My sailing began and ended with a black and white and masquerade gala night. I was excited to see passengers take the dress code very seriously—bow ties, white gloves, and all. Nowadays, truly dressing to the occasion is rare.
How was the experience for families?
This ship is perfect for multi-generational trips that older relatives will appreciate while still offering a selection of nightlife activities and entertainment for grandkids and adult children. Surprisingly, I spotted a few infants on board too. Children 8 to 12 can sign up for supervised activities in The Kids Zone (included in the fare), but there are no theme-park-esque activities onboard this sailing.
Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?
The “Hiking Westeras” excursion in Geiranger was my favorite excursion of the trip, with knowledgeable guides and incredible views of the fjord. The lighthouse walk in Haugesund was a close second.
In Nordfjordeid, I went kayaking from the local beach and explored the small town right off the gangway. Most people will check out the Viking museum here, but walk a few blocks further for delicious cinnamon rolls from local bakery Minibakeriet and treasures from the nearby antique and vintage shops.
In Bergen, I opted for independent exploration. It’s a great little city (Norway’s second-largest after Oslo) and is easily walkable and navigable on your own. If you choose to book a shore excursion, fellow passengers highly recommended the local farm visit here as well.
When visiting the smaller villages in the Norwegian fjords, hiking is never a bad idea (though the weather won’t always cooperate, pack a rain jacket). I recommend speaking with the shore excursions desk on board to get a better idea of what each excursion entails, as the online descriptions can be vague.
Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?
Like most newer ships, Queen Anne is equipped with shore power capability. This allows the ship to plug into the local grid where facilities are available, and switch off the engines, reducing air emissions and noise in ports. Onboard, food waste biodigesters and an advanced wastewater treatment system (AWWTS) help reduce waste, with Queen Anne producing the majority of water that will be used on board. Energy efficiency technologies including Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems with the latest energy-savings features and
LED lighting systems will help the ship be more than 20 percent more efficient per guest, from a greenhouse gas emissions perspective.
Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.
The Queen Anne is a beautiful new ship combining modern luxury with the traditional elegance Cunard is best known for.
