First Timers on Cunard Queen Anne

Welcome to this edition's guest writers, Empty Nest Escapes, Debbie and Paul and their first experience of Cunard's Queen Anne, a ship that has drawn much attention in recent times! If you have a travel story, review of blog to share, please get in touch jamiewrobins@hotmail.co.uk.

On 6 October 2026, the announcement came that Cunard’s Queen Anne would be transferred to P&O Cruises in 2029. The news was particularly interesting for us, as we were booked to sail on Queen Anne just three days later! Having already sailed on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, we were really looking forward to trying Queen Anne and finding out for ourselves what she was really like.

First Impressions

Our first impressions upon boarding were very good. She is a beautiful ship, and it was immediately apparent that she had that unmistakable Cunard feel.

One thing we noticed quite early on was that the staff onboard seemed much more relaxed than we had experienced on Queen Mary 2. They were happy to interact with guests, have a laugh and share a bit of banter, which gave the ship a really friendly atmosphere.

The ship itself is stunning. She is very much a Cunard ship, with plenty of navy and gold detailing throughout. We found her very well laid out and easy to navigate, which isn’t always the case on larger ships.

We also liked that each bar had its own menu and offered different drinks. It gave each venue its own identity rather than making every bar feel the same.

Entertainment

The entertainment onboard was great, and we particularly liked the Bright Lights Society. We enjoyed the included show performed by the entertainment team there.

In the evening, there is also a paid-for show with limited numbers, which includes a glass of champagne. However, we didn’t feel the need to attend these as there was already so much included entertainment available.

The theatre shows were also very good. We had guest performers on three of our four nights, which we thought was very generous for such a short cruise.

There was always something happening onboard — quizzes, live music, a silent disco, musicians and various other activities — so there was never any shortage of things to do.

Bars & Pools

There are plenty of bars onboard, with the Sky Bar being our favourite.

One thing we particularly appreciated was the amount of space available. We never struggled to find a seat, wherever we wanted to be, which made a lovely change from some ships where finding somewhere to sit can become a bit of a battle.

The pool and hot tubs were also very nice. The indoor pool and hot tubs were particularly welcome on an October sailing from Southampton!

There were plenty of sunbeds and chairs around the pools and on the surrounding outdoor decks, so again, finding somewhere to sit was never an issue.

Food & Dining

The food overall was good, although we did have a few mixed experiences.

We particularly liked the included Pavilion Wellness Café, next to the Pavilion Pool. We enjoyed a relaxed breakfast there a couple of times. They also offer a lunch menu, although we didn’t get around to trying it. Debbie even got herself a job there one day!

The Pavilion Grill is also located here and serves burgers, which we enjoyed.

The Artisan Market — the buffet — was a good size for the ship and offered a great variety of food.

Unfortunately, we found the main dining room a little hit and miss. This seemed to be largely down to a lack of staff, which was a shame, as we felt the experience could have been much better with a little more attention.

Our favourite included venue, however, was the Golden Lion pub. It also serves dinner on some evenings and had a really lovely, laid-back atmosphere. There was often a quiz or live music taking place, making it somewhere we found ourselves returning to.

Afternoon Tea

The white-gloved afternoon tea was one area where we felt Queen Mary 2 offered a much better experience.

On Queen Anne, it felt very rushed, whereas on Queen Mary 2 it felt much more like a special event.

In fact, there was actually a queue of people waiting for a free table as guests finished their afternoon tea. We found this took away some of the special atmosphere and, unfortunately, we didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as we had on Queen Mary 2.

The Cunard Venue Confusion!

One thing that confused us was the mix-up of venues between the different Cunard ships.

For example, Sir Samuel’s on Queen Mary 2 is a coffee shop, whereas on Queen Anne it is a steakhouse.

We found this quite confusing! When you’ve sailed on other Cunard ships, you naturally assume that the venues with the same names will serve the same purpose.

Our Cabin

We stayed in an inside cabin, which we found to be a little dark. This was mainly due to the amount of navy blue used in the décor, particularly on the wall behind the bed.

The bathroom, however, was very nice. It had a good-sized shower — and, importantly, no clingy shower curtain!

Our Cabin Steward

Our cabin steward was one of the best we have experienced in our 35 cruises.

We mentioned in passing that we liked towel art, and he actually went onto YouTube to learn how to make different towel animals for us!

He was always happy, friendly and attentive, and nothing was ever too much trouble. He kept our cabin spotless and made us feel genuinely welcome throughout the cruise. His thoughtful service really added to our experience and was one of the highlights of our time onboard.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we really enjoyed our first cruise on Queen Anne. She is a beautiful ship with a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of space and a good range of entertainment and dining options.

There were a few areas that could have been better, particularly the main dining room and afternoon tea, but these issues did not spoil our overall experience.

We would definitely sail on Queen Anne again. It will be interesting to see what happens when she transfers to P&O Cruises in 2029, but for now, she feels like a very welcome addition to the Cunard fleet.

We also filmed four videos during this trip, which you can watch on our Empty Nest Escapes YouTube channel. Find us also on Facebook and Instagram @emptynestescapes.