As to be expected the itinerary was changed due to the weather although we did make 3 ports as planned but Rotterdam instead of Amsterdam Zeebrugge on a different day and Cherbourg.

I had decided to go into a Q5 and there is no mistaking the cabin is a move up from the standard cabin. The fact the bathroom has his and her sinks a shower and a bath tells you all. 4189 is an aft corner balcony so in warmer climes you could fit 30 people on it if so inclined! You get a butler and complimentary drinks, but only for use within the cabin. Otherwise this is still a pay as you go ship.

The Queens Grill was a bit of a disappointment. The menu and choice is amazing but recent changes means it's not what is once was. The A La Carte menu has shrunk and the number of items that need to be ordered by lunchtime has grown. However my big gripe is how they operate the Grill. As in Britania you have an allocated table, it works for dinner but otherwise you end up, as in my case, as a one on a table for 9! Breakfast and lunch with no thought about maybe offering open sitting so not leaving solo guests, or indeed a couple stranded on a table. The other challenge is guests arriving as they wish. On more than one occasion the cast of Ben Hur poured in at 8pm the table ordered by 8.10 and food arrived 40 mins later. I raised it with the maitre d and he apologised and had my food expedited, which was nice but left the rest of the table waiting. The Grill is supposed to be the pinnicle of culinary experience at sea, it wasn't and for me there was a creeping in of this becoming a bit of a banquet experience. Read more