Queen Elizabeth
The Art & Soul of a Cunard Liner
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Queen Elizabeth's Garden Lounge
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by Linda Coffman
Part Three
Relaxation & Recreation
Named after a room on the first Queen Elizabeth and inspired by the glass houses at Kew Gardens, the Garden Lounge is a palm and tropical flower filled conservatory with a vaulted glass ceiling that makes it a truly light, bright, and airy space to relax with tea by day and enjoy the occasional evening ‘Supper Clubs’ that feature musical entertainment and dancing. In just a few days onboard, it became my favorite spot for morning coffee.
Nearby, the Royal Spa & Fitness Center will set health enthusiasts' hearts aflutter. Facilities include the exclusive Royal Bath House with Thermal Suite and Hydrotherapy Pool (daily and multiple day passes are available for purchase) and a state-of-the-art gym. If you prefer a simple sauna, you'll find them in the men's and ladies' changing rooms at no charge. The exercise studio offers Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, Tour de Cycle, Aqua Tone, and induction classes for the Walkvest and Walking Poles to get your heart pumping. A full menu of spa treatments includes exotic-sounding rituals that incorporate oils, soothing music, room atomizers, and, of course, the art of massage in the nine treatment rooms and couples Harmony and Serenity treatment suites. The chakra rasul and herbal steam chambers are especially designed for couples to indulge in the ancient Eastern cleansing ritual. Men aren't overlooked when it comes to some pampering. While the ladies may swoon over beauty regimes that cover hair, nails, and skin, the guys can choose to be barbered, shaved, and revitalized with a massage or manly-man skin treatment.
The expansive Lido Pool area aft on Deck 9 offers Queen Elizabeth passengers plenty of sunning space and a new concept of entertainment with garden parties reminiscent of those held at British country houses, while the forward Games Deck, named after a similar deck on the original Queen Elizabeth, features a paddle tennis court and introduces croquet and bowls. Beneath a sun shading canopy, the bowls green is appropriate given that Queen Elizabeth’s home port of Southampton houses the oldest surviving bowls green in the world, first used in 1299. From the game's description, it might take Americans a while to catch on. Ee understand the balls are weighted oddly.
Kid Stuff
Even the smallest passengers aboard Queen Elizabeth have something to look forward to at sea. British nannies supervise the Play Zone Nursery & Children's Center where children age one through six have a full schedule of activities from story time to arts and crafts, games and movies. In The Zone, children from seven to sixteen can test their skills at video games, watch movies, and challenge one another to air hockey and foosball. A large outdoor deck area is reserved for family fun and parents may join their children for traditional Children's Tea.
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| Balcony Stateroom, Category A5 |
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| Master Suite Living Room |
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Your Home Away From Home
While aboard Queen Elizabeth for the naming ceremony I was comfortably ensconced in a Category A5 stateroom with a balcony on Deck 5. Soft ivory and gold decor accented with burgundy and a balcony deep enough to use without feeling cramped were quite appealing.
However, the one quirk about my new quarters that struck me as I unpacked was a scarcity of obvious drawer space. The desk/vanity contained a shallow drawer under the desktop and a deeper one below the television held a built-in hairdryer, leaving limited space for incidentals. Other than three smallish drawers in each nightstand, there are drawers beneath the bed, although I didn't discover them until I was ready to disembark. While there was plenty of hanging space in the closets, a single floor-to-ceiling bank of shelves housed the safe on one shelf and life vests on another, leaving only two shelves for folded clothing. A couple more shelves could have been added, but it seems that room was left at the bottom for hanging short garments or storing luggage and bulky items. It's a simple fix that would increase the convenient amount of storage—just add more shelves.
Other accommodations I viewed also made ample use of rich fabrics with assorted accent colors. If you decide to book a suite in either of the Grill classes, you won't have any problem with storage. The Queens Grill accommodations are particularly sumptuous. Former passengers of Princess Cruises will recognize Queen Elizabeth's Princess Suites as being very similar to Grand-class mini-suites. Everyone should sleep well on the super-comfy beds with ultra plush pillows.
As on all Cunard liners, where you dine is determined by the category of accommodations you occupy. All square footage figures include balconies.
Queens Grill
- Grand Suites: 1,375 to 1,493 square feet
- Master Suites: 1,100 square feet
- Penthouses: 551-615 square feet
- Queens Suites: 484-671 square feet
Princess Grill
- Princess Suites: 335-513 square feet
Britannia Club Restaurant
- Balcony: 242-472 square feet
- Oceanview: 180-201 square feet
- Inside: 152-243 square feet
Lasting Impressions
Queen Elizabeth is an intriguing ship; a blend of classic liner and (yes, I'll say it!) contemporary cruise ship. Stately and dignified, she incorporates places to relax and have fun that should satisfy an international mix of passengers as she roams the globe. While a decidedly British atmosphere prevails, there's a lot for everyone to love.
Over the years I've been fortunate to sail on over one hundred ships and I can honestly say that some of the finest meals I've enjoyed were served during my time aboard Queen Elizabeth, with a particularly memorable luncheon in the Verandah Restaurant topping the list. My brief preview left me yearning for a voyage on the newest royal in the Cunard fleet.
Back to...
Queen Elizabeth -> Part One
Queen Elizabeth -> Part Two
Photographs © Linda Coffman, CruiseDiva.com
From Cruise Diva's Blog Archive:
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Queen Elizabeth Naming: “Pomp & Circumstance Fit For A Queen”...
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Queen Elizabeth: The Royal Naming Ceremony
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Queen Elizabeth: Ready for Her Name
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On Board Queen Elizabeth: Art & Memorabilia
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Meeting A Queen
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Queen Elizabeth II Sits For An Official Portrait For Queen Elizabeth
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Retail Therapy: Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth
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Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth To Feature All-New Theatre Company
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Cunard Line Unveils Artwork With a Royal Connection for Queen Elizabeth
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