We have just returned from the Maiden Voyage of the Queen Elizabeth, a cruise we booked over 18 months ago. My husband and I are seasoned cruisers and the QE maiden completed our hat-trick of maiden voyages, as we also participated in history in the making on the Queen Victoria and the Queen Mary 2.

We boarded at Southampton (I do wish Cruise Critic would not class Southampton as 'London' as it is nowhere near London!) from the new Ocean Terminal and the embarkation process was extremely efficient; we were on the vessel within an hour after enjoying a pre-cruise drink or two! :-)

Our stateroom was on Deck 6, number 6179 starboard aft and we had a balcony. As the ship is brand new, as soon as we boarded we could smell new carpets and leather and everything was gleaming. We were met with the usual complimentary bottle of bubbly on ice which we took out to the balcony to enjoy, whilst watching all the frenetic pre-voyage activity on the shoreside below. Our cabin was immaculate and had a lovely big bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, pillowcases and a big, soft quilt. Read more