Cunard Queen Anne First Look

Some individuals say don’t mess with basic fashion. But when there’s one factor that historic British cruise line Cunard does spectacularly effectively, its that it offers a basic ocean expertise. With the brand new 3,000-passenger Queen Anne, the venerable cruise line, with roots courting again to 1840, has achieved one thing else: reimagining basic for the long run. And the outcomes are attractive.

On board on a cloudy day in Southampton, United Kingdom, I joined different friends for a sneak peek of the brand new ship — Cunard’s first in 14 years — earlier than its maiden cruise on Could 3.

The early crowd oohed and ahhed new interpretations of basic areas such because the two-deck Britannia restaurant, now resplendent with lighted gold columns, and the Grand Foyer, now that includes a carpeted glass staircase and metallic sculpture that adjustments coloration. The decor is black and pink, reflecting Cunard’s funnel colours.

Individuals who don’t like change could discover tsk tsks. I discovered Queen Anne elegant, vibrant, and ethereal, deciphering ocean liner Artwork Deco decor in new methods. I say the wows are deserved.

Like its friends — the transatlantic-going Queen Mary 2 oceanliner, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth — the brand new Queen Anne nonetheless operates with an old school class system: your cabin standing determines the place you dine. (In the event you keep in a residence-like Grand Suite, for example, then you definitely dine like a queen with different royalty within the Queens Grill.)

Like different Cunard ships, Queen Anne hosts afternoon tea and themed balls. My guess is that some males will insist on sporting a jacket in any respect meals (you don’t need to) and a few girls will pack ballgowns to really feel like royalty on a line that has hosted royalty. (If that’s your line of thought, why not go all the way in which?)

Queen Anne is an open invitation to a cruising crowd who need extra — in meals, leisure, wellness, and locations to imbibe, amongst different points of interest — all offered on a silver platter and, in some circumstances, by white-gloved waiters.

Cunard has added new eating places — steakhouse, Japanese, Indian, and Mediterranean venues — and leisure with an intimate cabaret, the place exhibits mix tune, dance, appearing, comedy, and burlesque.

Additionally new are seats on plush velvet within the expansive Royal Theatre and actual West Finish drama — the inaugural present is the play “Temporary Encounter.”

There is not any scarcity of issues to do on board. Strive among the 50 rums on the rum bar. Be taught new abilities on the archery middle. The Golden Lion pub advantages from home windows and a brand new gastropub menu by famed British chef Michel Roux.

For artwork lovers, Cunard says the vessel has the “largest curated artwork assortment at sea” — 4,300 works by greater than 3,000 artists — that includes the work of each up-and-coming and established artists. The textile works particularly caught my eye.

Katie McAlister, Cunard’s president, advised friends gathered in The Pavilion, the ship’s jaw-dropping glass-topped all-weather pool space, that the designers had been going for “progressive modernity” with Queen Anne. (The design group was headed by Adam D. Tihany, who has additionally designed ships for ultra-luxury line Seabourn and Holland America Line, amongst others.)

In The Pavilion, with gorgeous blue and white checkerboard decor, points of interest — along with a roof that slides open in truthful climate — embody an LED display screen for leisure, an higher deck wellness studio beneath tented shades, and a wellness café, examples of a brand new, you bought it, wellness give attention to the ship. By no means thoughts the café is considerably cruelly close to the hamburger grill and gelateria. In order for you a smoked tofu bowl and kombucha, you may get it on Queen Anne.

You may also now e-book three-day spa packages created with Harper’s Bazaar, similar to a detox journey with a cyro-body detox and physique sculpting therapies, and give attention to clear residing habits.

Whereas touring the brand new interpretation of Queens Room ballroom, on this case, a rounded atrium area with trendy chandeliers changing dripping crystal, and an LED display screen to function backdrop for the themed balls, I finished to speak with Zoe Myers, the ship’s leisure assistant director.

She defined how the brand new ship will nonetheless have ballroom dancing to a Huge Band, a Cunard staple, however the ballroom may even be used for extra modern acts most nights after 8:30 p.m. How will the old-fan crowd react, I puzzled?

“We aren’t altering the basic ships, and those that need basic nonetheless have three ships to select from,” Myers mentioned. “With this ship, we need to open the viewers to individuals who could not have skilled Cunard earlier than. This isn’t only a fourth Queen. It’s totally different.”