My Cunard Queen Elizabeth Video Tour and Review

Come on my Cunard Queen Elizabeth Cruise Ship Tour and Review as I look at all the public areas, bars, restaurants, fitness, pools, entertainment and other facilities in this art-deco inspired ship.

Watch my video tour:

The youngest of Cunard’s three-ship fleet, Queen Elizabeth came into service in October 2010. One entering the ship you are struck by the extent that the decor is art-deco inspired – harking back to the glamourous days of ocean liner travel.

The ship has 12 passenger decks, 1,043 cabins and a guest capacity of 2,081 guests.

The Pursar’s desk is down on deck one of the Grand Lobby, as are the Tour and Future Voyage Sales offices and a central hub. The Britannia Restaurant is probably the most spectacular space on the ship. Spanning two decks, with a grand staircase and magnificent mural, it is where most guests are allocated to dine at two set times (6pm and 8.30pm). Down the corridor is the Britannia Club restaurant, providing open-seating dining for passengers in this class of cabin.

Other dining options include the added charge Verandah Restaurant, based on the ones on the original Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary liners. The expansive Lido up on Deck 9 is popular all hours of the day, offering pretty much 24-hour food service.

Passengers in the premium Queens and Princess Grill suites have their own exclusive lounge and restaurants high up on Deck 11. They can dine al fresco in The Courtyard on warm days, while there are also private sun decks on Deck 11 and 12.

The Pavillion Pool midships on deck 9 can be used by all ages, while the Lido Pool at the rear of the ship is for adults only.

The other grand room on Queen Elizabeth is the Queens Room on Deck 2. This is a magnificent ballroom which  hosts evening dancing to a live orchestra, lunchtime classical concerts and daytime dance and fencing classes. Close by is the dramatic Royal Arcade staircase, popular for posing on formal night photographs on. It is also where the Empire Casino and British-style Golden Lion pub are located. At the top of the staircase are the Royal Arcade Shops offering alcohol, clothing, watches, perfume, jewellery and Cunard branded merchandise. The Clarendon Fine Art Gallery leads from the shops back to the Grand Lobby.

The Royal Court Theatre hosts Cunard Insight Lectures during the day and guests artists or Cunard Royal Singers and Dancers production shows at night. Spread across three decks it also has theatre boxes for hire many nights serving champagne and finger desserts during the shows.

There us a wide range of bars and lounges across the ship. The Yacht Club turns into the adult-only disco at night while The Commodore Club that overlooks the bow is a popular daytime spot for relaxing and at night becomes a meeting spot for listening to the Cabaret Pianist. The Kew-Garden inspired Garden Lounge is another busy venue, especially on wet and windy days at sea. Back in the Grand Lobby is the Midships Bar, usually packed before the dining times in Britannia, and Cafe Carinthia, which serves premium coffees and snacks all day.

The facilities on baord include the well-stocked two-level Library full if fiction, non-fiction, reference books and port guides. There are a few internet terminals here although ConneXions a level below is full of Apple computer terminals, and also where iPad and other digital courses are run. The Card Room hosts well-attended Bridge Classes and games and the Photo Gallery has self-service terminals to review and order your images taken by the ship photographers.

Exercise can be done in the Fitness Centre in the Spa, with machines, free weights and classes including indoor cycling, pilates, stretch and yoga. Deck sports can be found on the Games Deck and include croquet, lawn bowls and short tennis.

Decorated on the exterior in trademark Cunard black and white with red and black funnel, inside it is a plush art deco world that makes you feel like you are stepping back to a more glamorous era.

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