Queen Victoria Review

Perfect Weather for the Baltic

Review for the Baltic Sea Cruise on Queen Victoria
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kaimedia
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Sep 2009

On August 1, 2009 we flew from Philadelphia to Heathrow where a car met us for the two hour ride to Southampton. We stayed overnight at the Southampton Hilton and transferred to the Queen Victoria terminal. We waited about an hour until our group was called then swiftly boarded the ship.

As we were sitting in the terminal checking out the other passengers, it appeared a very homogeneous group. About 99% middle age whites - we later found out the average age of a Cunard passenger was 78. But this cruise was younger since it was August and the Baltic itinerary is port rich. Previous cruises to Alaska and the Greek islands were much more diverse. By nationality there were 1100 Brits, 400 Americans and about 300 Germans. Most of the Brits could drive to the embarkation port which also meant they had unlimited luggage. That came in handy because the Queen Victoria is a very formal ship. There are four formal nights - tuxedo for men and floor length gowns for women. Semi formal meant jacket and tie for men and cocktail dress or floor length gown for women. And "elegant casual" - jacket and no tie for men, and cocktail attire for women. Our cabin was larger than the same class on Celebrity's Infinity (Alaska 2008) and smaller than Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas (Venice and the Greek Islands 2007). The public rooms are decorated in a low key British club theme. Very tasteful and very unlike the glitz on some ships. It felt more ship-like and less Las Vegas hotel.

Although we have only done three cruises at approximately the same price level, Cunard is justifiably proud of its image which is unlike anything else we have encountered on a ship. The ambiance is extremely formal which is amplified by the British accents everywhere. There is ballroom dancing to a full orchestra just about every night in the ballroom! There is a full theatre with boxes that seats 800. And the lounge above the bridge (of which there is something similar on every ship) has 180 degree views of the sea. But unlike most ships which might devote this to disco dancing, it is purely after dinner drinks and a pianist playing Cole Porter - although he did not know "Miss Otis Regrets".

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Cabin A-1
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