Walking in My Shoes

I fell in love with Queen Victoria, and it was love at first sight.

As a natural storyteller, I wanted to share not only my experience as a guest on this beautiful ship but also some interesting facts.

Queen Victoria was christened by Her Majesty The Queen, Camilla (then HRH Duchess of Cornwall), on 10 December 2007 in Southampton. The Duchess pressed a button to release a magnum of Veuve Clicquot (my favorite champagne 😊), which hit the target but remained intact. As this happens often, someone was standing by with a reserve bottle that was quickly thrust down the bow deck with the desired effect, to the cheering of the official party. The ceremony included the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Katherine Jenkins.

Everything about the design is so very classy and stylish. The Queens Room became an institution aboard. It serves many purposes—from piano concerts at lunchtime and an iconic afternoon tea ceremony to first-class evening entertainment. The “Black and White” ball is just amazing, with gentlemen in tuxedos and ladies in formal evening gowns dancing the night away. It is a delight to observe, and you can easily imagine yourself in a classic Hollywood movie.

The two-tier library with its spiral staircase, mahogany floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and stunning sea view was a daily joy to my soul. That is where I spent most afternoons reading or simply watching the sea.

The ports we visited were Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Bruges. Unfortunately, we had to miss Amsterdam due to high winds, so we had an extra night in Rotterdam instead. A word of warning if you do this type of cruise in January—the sea was rough, and on many days, sick bags were put out 😊. I loved it, especially at night.

There are many bars onboard, but my favorite was the Gin Bar. I had never tried so many different types of gin before. The people working at the bar were extremely friendly and so knowledgeable. Every drink was a work of art, always served with interesting facts and a smile.

On a practical note, if you choose to travel with Cunard, you should allow extra budget for things like service charges, which are 15% for any drink you order. Tips are not included like on P&O cruises; they are added automatically to your account but are not mandatory. You have to go to reception to request their removal, which many people do.

I also enjoyed the spa area, which featured four different types of sauna/steam rooms, a hydro pool, and heated marble beds—once again, all with stunning sea views. A daily pass costs $49 USD, while a weekly pass is $149 USD.

So, to finalize, would I choose Cunard and Queen Victoria as my next cruising choice?

Very highly likely—but I shall also check out other options 😊.

Watch this space!

With love, as always,
Yana De Lilac