So, having previously sailed on short breaks, this was my first longer Cunard voyage. Not only that, my 12 nights were on the first segment of the 2016 World Cruise. The differences are clear to be scene! Firstly, the evening entertainment in the Royal Court Theatre featured different acts over the twelve nights, not limited to the Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers. We enjoyed Izabella Zebrowska violin virtuoso), Roy Walker (Comedian), Troubadour (four part male harmony group), Philip Hitchcock (illusionist), Julian Lloyd Webber with his wife Jiaxin and a fantastic young pianist Yuanfan Yang, Joe West (singer, dancer and plays various instruments), and Jenny Williams (versatile opera and pop singer).

Cunard Insight lectures were excellent and informative as always and featured forensic science, Bill Miller “Mr. Ocean Liner, Military Intelligence, Oceanography and Julian Lloyd Webber. It was disappointing on some days there were no Insight Lectures and films were cancelled due to rehearsals for the new show ‘One Way Or Another’. Perhaps some thought about rehearsal times could have gone in to this?

All three Queens were departing Southampton commencing their World Voyages, enabling us to enjoy the sounds of the Queens Whistle exchanges, and the sights of spectacular fireworks from a barge as each ship passed by. On Queen Victoria we were entertained to a ceremonial marching display by the Band of the Royal Engineers. Read more