Meeting Queen Victoria…

As a little girl growing up in Guernsey, I used to watch the Cunard Queens anchor off the island and my grandfather would delight in telling me stories of the grand gala parties that took place on board, with the guests all dressed up in their finest to dance in the elaborate ballroom, the champagne free-flowing and the most wonderful delicate sandwiches and intricate cakes served at afternoon tea… thirty years on, I was able to experience this for myself and loved every minute!

I took the coach down from Lancaster to the port of Southampton and my heart soared with my first glimpse of Queen Victoria…

I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to experience the ship for a 7-night sailing and am not ashamed to say that I skipped with delight from the check-in desk to the gangway of the ship, with a smile reminiscent of the Cheshire cat.

Once on board the excitement level rose a few notches more, as I took in the beauty of the Grand Lobby in all its splendour and sat a while to enjoy the music being played to welcome all guests on board: I had to pinch myself to be certain I wasn’t daydreaming.

I took some time to explore the ship a little before heading up on deck, where I was absolutely overjoyed to see Queen Mary 2 docked nearby… this was certainly an unexpected treat and I found it to be quite an emotional experience, as we sailed by on our way out of port and were able to exchange farewell waves with the passengers aboard Queen Mary 2.

Sail away with me aboard Queen Victoria…

We were allocated a beautiful balcony stateroom on the starboard side of the ship and I particularly enjoyed sitting out in the morning on sea days, enjoying the sun on my face and breathing in the sea air, whilst taking in the magnificent views across the water.

Our stateroom had all of the amenities we needed to ensure a comfortable voyage; including a perfectly chilled bottle of champagne, which we enjoyed whilst getting ready for our first evening out.

On our first night aboard, we were treated to a speciality dining experience at the Verandah, which was sublime. The menu specialises in French-inspired cuisine, with a focus on prime cuts and seafood creations in a delightful setting. Highlights for me were the opportunity to select my preferred steak knife from a selection brought over by the waiter, watching said-knife glide through my steak like it were butter, and the unveiling of a cheese trolley that could rival a genuine French fromagerie. Those who know me well will understand my delight at the sight of such a grand selection of cheese!

On Monday morning I awoke with the excitement of a child on Christmas day, we had docked just off the island of Guernsey and this was my opportunity to actually tender from the ship to the island, just as I had witnessed so many visitors do in my childhood days, when watching the grand ships and small tender vessels with my grandfather.

As I looked across the water to Guernsey, I felt an immediate pang of nostalgia for my island-home and regret that this would be a tender my late-grandfather would sadly not be watching cross over to the island. Nevertheless, I was full of joy as I stepped aboard the first tender boat, as this day was to be all about seeing my beautiful Nan and spending the day making memories by her side… we had both been looking forward to our little reunion and made the most of our day together.

Of course, there are many interesting and beautiful sights for visitors to enjoy on the island of Guernsey, however for me, no sight could be more beautiful than my Nan’s smile as I rushed over to cuddle her.

As we sailed away, I raised a glass to my grandparents and to family, counting my blessings for such a wonderful opportunity to spend such a special day with my Nan.

In the evening, we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Britannia Restaurant; the main dining room on board, followed by after dinner drinks al fresco, and a little late night dancing at the Yacht Club… the perfect end to a wonderful day.

Tuesday was my very first experience of a full sea day… I must admit, I had reservations as to whether I would feel frustrated at being confined to a ship for such a long period of time, yet I found the experience to be extremely relaxing and there was plenty to keep us entertained.

We began our day with a Cunard agent training session and scavenger-hunt style quiz, which gave us an opportunity to explore the ship and discover some interesting facts as we visited the exclusive Britannia Club Restaurant, the Library, the Cigar Lounge, Winter Garden and Commodore Club, among other places. This quiz was made extra special by the fact that our little team of three were awarded the prize for the most correct answers… and a celebratory drink of course.

Later that afternoon was another dream come true for me as we enjoyed Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room; cucumber sandwiches, delicate brioche with creative fillings and  exquisite cakes, all set to the backdrop of a fairytale ballroom, complete with waiters in white gloves pouring the most delicious tea – I felt I was truly in a wonderland.

As time-for-tea drew to a close, I ventured out on deck and sat for a few moments watching the wake of the ship, enjoying the sunshine and reflecting upon my adventures thus far…

Tuesday evening heralded the first gala evening of the voyage, the Cunard Black and White Ball and an opportunity to enjoy the timeless elegance of such a tradition…

The evening began with a wonderful cocktail party in the Queens Room, where we were introduced to the team of First Officers and were privileged to have some time as a group with the Captain.

I spent much of my time in the ballroom watching in awe as couples circled the dance floor with such grace and flair…

…and even tried my hand at a few basic steps assisted by the patience and real-time tuition of some of the wonderful dance hosts on board.

Whilst still an absolute novice, I am eternally grateful to the hosts who took the time to dance with me; I thoroughly enjoyed learning a few steps and am keen now to take some ballroom dance lessons to ensure that I am better prepared for such occasions in the future.

As the clock stroke twelve, I reflected on a thoroughly enjoyable day and a truly wonderful evening; and whilst it may have been past midnight, the magic continued into the early hours with us all showcasing a few more dance moves up in the Yacht Club.

As Wednesday dawned, ‘it could be Rotterdam…’ and in fact it was!

As for many of us it was our first visit to the city, we decided to stay within Rotterdam, however venturing into Amsterdam would certainly have been easy as the train station is located just a few feet from the cruise shuttle bus stops.

We chose to spend our time browsing the famous and colourful Markthal, visiting the cube houses and sampling local beer at the waterside. It was a lovely relaxing day ashore, enjoyed by all.

Back on board in the afternoon, I decided to make use of my spa day pass and enjoyed unwinding a little more in the Thermal Suite at the Spa; the steam rooms and Hydro Pool were particularly enjoyable and I must admit, I found myself drifting gently off to sleep on the hot stone beds…

That evening we dined at the Britannia Restaurant once again, and tended to spend our nights enjoying shows at the Royal Court Theatre, testing our knowledge with quizzes in The Golden Lion, alongside Karaoke, dancing and trying our luck at the on board Casino.

Thursday, we headed to Bruges, where we enjoyed a walking tour of the town followed by a wonderful canal boat ride, which took us under low bridges and through the most beautiful waterways; a definite recommendation from me, as I found Bruges to be even more beautiful from the water.

Of course we shopped for local chocolate souvenirs and enjoyed the local beer ‘Brugse Zot’, known as ‘Bruges Fool’, reflecting the nickname of the people of Bruges.

Back on board, I decided to treat myself to a Cunard Cooler; a delicious raspberry-Vodka-based cocktail, which I sipped in the sunshine up on the Lido deck whilst listening to the Queen Victoria resident band.

On Thursday evening, we chose to sample the Lido buffet restaurant, which offers a wide range of high quality dishes in a much more informal setting, with stunning sea views; or in our case, beautiful views of Zebrugge, as we dined as we were leaving the port.

Throughout the week, we sampled a variety of eateries on board, from speciality dining at the Verandah and Coriander, to the main dining room; Britannia Restaurant, the more informal; Lido buffet and traditional pub fayre at The Golden Lion…

For lunch on board, I highly recommend the Atlantic Cod & Chips and the Ploughman’s from The Golden Lion pub lunch menu, as well as the cheeseburgers from the Lido terrace cafe; a definite favourite for a bite to eat poolside.

In terms of evening dining, I was thoroughly impressed with both the speciality restaurants and the main dining room, and enjoyed the informal dining at the Lido buffet; especially the range of mini-desserts!

On Friday morning, we were able to venture behind the scenes to view the food preparation areas on a Galley tour…

It was interesting to learn about the logistics involved in creating over 90,000 meals per fourteen night voyage and the various systems in place; from the washing stations to cope with cleaning over 1 million pieces of crockery and glassware each voyage, to the tasting stations for ensuring the quality of each and every dish on the menu.

Having learned that over 800 scones are served daily at afternoon tea, we made our way to the Verandah where this time we indulged in a very special Champagne Afternoon Tea; a selection of intricate savoury treats and delicate desserts, all accompanied by a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne.

Following afternoon tea, I had the added luxury of heading to the Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa, where I enjoyed a 50 minute Mareel Body Massage followed by a 30 minute Scalp and Foot Massage… all at a nicely discounted rate; check your daily programme for special offers on spa treatments for significant savings on board, and on sea days enjoy stunning views across the waves as you relax in the thermal suite.

Friday evening marked the second gala evening of the voyage and the Cunard Royal Ascot Gala Ball… as such, we donned our evening dresses and fascinators to join the festivities, and I even took to the dance floor once again, with the expert guidance of the on board hosts.

On Saturday morning, we awoke in Cherbourg, our final port of call, where I was able to practise my French whilst exploring the port and town. We pooled our resources to buy thank you gifts for the Cunard hosts that had made our agent voyage so informative and enjoyable, as well as buying final souvenirs to take home for family and friends.

Interestingly there is a dedicated maritime museum adjacent to the main cruise terminal; Cité de la Mer. Built in 1933, this museum houses an aquarium, submarine and interactive Titanic exhibition and is well worth a visit whilst in Cherbourg.

Back on board, we were extremely privileged to be treated to an exclusive tour of the Bridge, where we were able to speak with the Captain and Officers, learning interesting facts about the ship and the various instruments and charts that are used throughout the voyage.

Unfortunately we were forbidden from taking photographs on the Bridge, save for the pictures taken by the on board photographer; however I can assure you that the panoramic windows of the Bridge, undoubtedly offer the most spectacular views from the ship!

After the Bridge tour, we headed along the promenade all the way to the aft of the ship, to make the most of the late afternoon sunshine, before getting ready for dinner.

As the ship slowly made its way back toward the port of Southampton, we enjoyed farewell drinks prior to dinner and our final evening meal in the Britannia Restaurant.

So as I wave a fond farewell to Queen Victoria, I feel extremely blessed to have had the chance to sample first-hand the delights of cruising with Cunard. I have certainly made the most of the opportunity, ensuring I experienced a wide range of dining options, relaxation & activities on board, and creating memories which shall last a lifetime.

I would like to thank Cunard from the bottom of my heart for such a wonderful experience and for the outstanding hospitality and service provided throughout our voyage.

I now feel much better placed to discuss with customers the many benefits of travelling with Cunard, as well as now being able to share some insider tips to make your cruise holiday even more enjoyable.

…so as always, if you are interested in experiencing your own voyage (especially with Cunard), please make me your first port of call.

Katrina And The Waves ?