We wanted to see what this new ship was like. So on 23rd May we boarded her for a six-day min-cruise up and down the Channel.
First impressions were good. The Queen Elizabeth is still so new that the paintwork sparkles, the woodwork glows and the whole ambience is fresh and bright. The subdued Art deco style is restful and reassuring, evocative of the great days of ocean liners. Layout is thoughtfully planned, with spacious public areas and easy-to-follow routes around the ship.
The downside? Our A3 cabin was decidedly smaller than those we are used to in this category. Whilst it is neatly laid out and well appointed, we're not sure we would want to spend a longish time (eg for a world cruise) in so small a space. However, the beds were splendidly comfortable and a feather pillow was found for Caroline, so we slept well.
Cabin 7015 is pleasantly decorated, everything working well, bed very comfortable. Good balcony area with glass panels. But small compared to other ship's cabins in this category. Storage space just about adequate, including under-bed drawers. Small shower, not enough space to perch things - and we can't read the controls. TV provides good range of programmes, we watched a number of films.