We booked our latest Cunard Queen Anne transatlantic crossing on a whim. We had one other Cunard crossing booked in the other way later within the 12 months. The one-way LHR to JFK airfare was $1,000+. Some research confirmed me if we flew JFK to LHR in January and flew LHR to JFK later within the 12 months, the RT airfare was $407! We get pleasure from crusing with Cunard, so we booked the journey.
Right here is our journal, day-to-day:
Wednesday, January eighth: We fly JFK to LHR on a daytime 10:00 AM flight. We arrive at LHR at 10:00 PM. We keep at an airport resort.
Thursday, January ninth: We booked the Cunard airport to ship switch. We present up at Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals. A man with a Cunard Queen Anne signal is ready. (There was one other man with a Cunard Queen Victoria signal.) We wait about half-hour, are led to a bus and our baggage is loaded. In lower than two hours, we arrived in Southampton. There may be fanfare for the beginning of the world cruise. This features a army marching band within the Queens Room and fireworks on departure.
Excessive level: The airport to ship switch was glorious and boarding was the quickest ever.
Friday, January tenth: The seas have been tough. Our cabin is 4003, far ahead close to the bow. We attended a lecture highlighting jewellery by Theo Faberge, grandson of the well-known Karl Faberge. I go to the outlets and purchase a Barbour wax jacket. The worth is about 20% decrease than again house within the US. We attend afternoon tea within the Queens Room. I missed our first formal dinner as a result of I’m seasick.
Excessive level: That nice deal on a Barbour jacket!
Saturday, January eleventh: We nonetheless have tough seas. I go to the Purser’s workplace and get seasick tablets. They work! We go to the Pavillion pool space on Deck 9. It’s close to the Artesian Meals Corridor, the place now we have lunch. The pool space is roofed by a glass roof. Much less motion of the ship since we at the moment are within the midship part. We have now dinner within the Britannia eating room.
Excessive level: These seasickness tablets actually work. I’m feeling significantly better.
Sunday, January twelfth: I attend the interdenominational church service within the Royal Courtroom Theater at 10:00 AM. It attracts a crowd. The captain conducts the service. Plenty of singing. The world cruise program of actions contains an eight-session artistic writing class. It focuses on write your memoirs. At 4:45 I attend the afternoon trivia quiz within the Golden Lion Pub. At 5:15 we attend the senior officer reception held within the Pavillion pool space. This is a perfect occasion area. We have now dinner within the Britannia Eating Room.
Excessive factors: Each the interdenominational service and the senior officer reception.
Monday, January thirteenth: The seas haven’t improved, however these tablets work wonders. The captain has sailed Queen Anne in a southernly path to keep away from tough climate when doable. The surface temps are within the mid 0’s! In January! If solely it weren’t raining. We attend a lecture on the historical past of the Louis Vuitton vogue home. Within the afternoon we head to the Royal Courtroom Theater to see an improv group. They created a homicide thriller by asking the viewers to name out doable settings and the way the crime is likely to be dedicated. They create a play on the slot! We strive the Freedom Eating possibility. We present up at a distinct entrance to the Britannia Eating Room at a time of our selecting. We’re seated for dinner, continuing at our personal pace.
Excessive level: The improv group was fabulous!
Tuesday, January 14th: Sea nonetheless unsettled. The improv group holds a workshop within the Queens Room. I selected to take a seat and watch however later wished I had joined the gang of contributors. It was nice! Right now was the wine and meals pairing lunch. It takes place in Sir Samuel’s steakhouse and prices $80. I strive to do that each voyage. It’s a improbable meal over a few hours and a fantastic worth. We’re again to second seating for dinner within the Britannia Eating Room. We ask to be reassigned to a desk for 2. No drawback.
Excessive factors: The improv workshop and the wine and meals pairing lunch.
Wednesday, January fifteenth: Smoother seas finally! We had lunch in Sir Samuel’s Steakhouse. It was a three-course meal and extra meals than we anticipated. My steak was glorious. Sir Samuels has a supplemental cost and requires reservations. In our case, lunch is a perk for Diamond World Membership members. The improv group has one other present within the theater. As a result of it was standing room just for their first present, we head over thirty minutes early to get good seats. Loads of different folks had the identical thought. At 4:45 I attended the afternoon quiz. This time I joined a workforce of two sisters and their husbands who have been crusing all over the world. In the course of the quiz, the captain makes a ship large announcement. These tough seas included ten-meter swells. (I believe that could be a Drive 9 or Drive 10 on the 12 level Beaufort scale. We might be arriving in New York on Saturday, not Friday. (The itinerary included an in a single day in NY, so Queen Anne continues to be on schedule.) This was our second formal evening, the Roaring 20s gala.
Excessive factors: Lunch in Sir Samuels and the improv group.
Thursday, January sixteenth: We have now breakfast on the Artesian Meals Corridor on deck 9. I selected avocado toast, which was glorious. The improv group has one other workshop within the Queens Room. The workout routines are revolutionary and enjoyable. I found the Carpathia Café on Deck 3. They’ve fabulous open-faced sandwiches, out there at no further cost. They’re additionally a wine bar, and the choice of wines supplied is spectacular. I introduced a glass and two sandwiches as a shock for Jane. We missed the 1:00 PM Cunard Choir efficiency. On each voyage, passengers who sing in a choir again house are invited to type a bunch, observe and carry out collectively. Many British folks do that at house. I’ve all the time discovered it spectacular. The Pavillion pool space additionally serves as a “drive in theater.” It’s performed in silent cinema format with headphones. We attended a Queens Room lecture about controversies within the artwork world. I additionally managed to overlook James Bond Trivia within the Golden Lion Pub. So many selections!
Excessive factors: The Carpathia Café and the artwork lecture.
Friday, January seventeenth: The ocean was calm. We had a calming day sitting on a settee and cozy chairs alongside a window within the Pavillion pool space. This may occasionally have been the day we attended Noir, the present introduced within the Brilliant Lights Society. It is a nightclub venue. The leisure is great. It’s the closest I can get to the “nightclub really feel” you see in “Cabaret” or “Victor Victoria.” We get our packing performed and set our baggage outdoors the cabin door earlier than handing over.
Excessive factors: The “Noir” present carried out within the Brilliant Lights Society.
Saturday, January 18th: We booked the ship to JFK airport switch. We had our final breakfast within the Britannia Eating Room, headed to the Royal Courtroom Theater and promptly disembarked at 7:40 AM. Our baggage was simple to seek out. Porters have been out there. We cleared US immigration and boarded the bus to JFK. Departure was delayed, however the journey to the airport was fast. We picked up our automobile and drove the 70 miles again house, stopping at a grocery store alongside the best way. We had 90 minutes to ourselves earlier than we headed out to select up our weekend houseguests on the prepare station!
Excessive factors: Porters within the baggage corridor, the ship to airport switch out there.
The climate performed an element; nonetheless, every day had many optimistic, memorable moments.
Ed. Notes:
For extra details about Cunard Line and Cunard ships Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne, click on right here https://www.cruisecompete.com/traces/cunard_cruises.html
CruiseCompete journey advisors can help with offers, particulars and sailings.
CruiseCompete additionally gives shore excursions and cruisetours!
All Issues Cruise, the last word supply for cruise lovers
Additionally see Total Assessment: Cunard Queen Anne Naming Ceremony Voyage ~So very a lot to love! – All Issues Cruise
Cowl photograph: Queen Anne, credit score Cunard
Queen Anne turns into the 14th ship in Cunard’s illustrious historical past to undertake a full world voyage. Notably, Queen Anne will even be the biggest Cunarder to realize a full circumnavigation of the globe.
Over 107 nights, Queen Anne will name at 30 totally different ports throughout 18 international locations. Highlights of the voyage embody iconic calls to Miami, San Francisco, the Panama Canal, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong and extra. Company will even cross the Worldwide Date Line on 12 February, experiencing the uncommon phenomenon of ‘leaping by means of time’.
The total world voyage additionally contains in a single day stops in New York, Honolulu, Sydney, and Singapore, with Queen Anne returning to the south coast on 27 April.
