Queen Elizabeth Review

4.0 / 5.0
635 reviews

Worst Holiday Experience Ever

Review for Canary Islands Cruise on Queen Elizabeth
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Dunomhain
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
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Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
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Additional details

Sail Date: Nov 2016
Cabin: Balcony

We booked this holiday as first time cruisers thinking it would be a memorable and wonderful way to renew our wedding vows, see a few places and relax. Embarkation went smoothly. The room was like a small premier inn room but was clean and tidy and the balcony helped reduce the sense of being in a small space. Very quickly however it became clear we had booked into an overcrowded home for the elderly and that there was little in the way of personal space to be had anywhere on the boat unless you stayed in your stateroom. People would even come and sit at your table uninvited if there was a space. You had to quickly get used to being bumped into, walking everywhere slowly, queuing for dinner, cringing as people got into the spa pool without washing first, talking loudly in spaces designed for relaxation and personally, I felt overwhelmed with the lack of personal space and ended up feeling trapped. As a result, a lot of my time was spent in my stateroom.

Activities, shore excursions and entertainment were all focused on people of a certain age and consequently we were constantly bored, thank goodness for the gym and book shop. We ended up doing our own thing ashore as none of the excursions remotely appealed.

The stateroom was very hot and creaked, loudly and constantly at sea. I didn't sleep more than 2 hours a night for the first 9 days and was eventually given diazepam by the ships doctor.

Cabin Review

Balcony

Small premier inn type room with tiny shower room. Clean and tidy. Excellent housekeeping. Squeaked and rattled at sea so bad sleep was not possible in the main meaning time lost in port trying to sleep when the room was quiet.

Port Reviews

Madeira (Funchal)

Made our own way around, pretty enough island. Wouldn't return though.

Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)

Made our own way around. Most places were closed. Not especially nice place to visit but not a fan of the canaries at all. Wouldn't go back.

Tenerife

Took HOHO bus tour - worst ever. Town was closed. Will not go back to the Canaries.

Lisbon

Beautiful, interesting city - will return for a break. Loved it, especially the tour of the old part of the city.

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