Queen Elizabeth, the third vessel in the Cunard fleet, was launched in 2010. The ship is similar in many ways to sister ship Queen Victoria, with a cruise ship hull design rather than the ocean liner design of Queen Mary 2, the Cunard flagship. A major difference is found in the décor, with Queen Elizabeth presented in lighter tones and geometric interiors. Old-world opulence is not forgotten however, and at every turn you will discover attractive artworks, shining marble and beautifully crafted woodwork.
Queen Elizabeth creates a stately ambiance by introducing soft and unobtrusive light cast from chandeliers, accompanied by the relaxing sounds of strings and piano drifting around the many public areas. In typical Cunard style, Queen Elizabeth forgoes glitzy gimmicks, tacky colours and enormous Disney-like attractions in favour of voyaging traditions including ballroom-dancing, bowls on the green and afternoon tea in the lounge. Although Queen Elizabeth is family-friendly, it’s obviously designed to attract mature adults rather than energetic youngsters.
With a passenger capacity of a little over 2,100 and almost 1,000 crew, Queen Elizabeth provides a wide variety of services and plenty of open spaces. At times you will feel as if the ship was designed just for you and your loved ones. The British style class system remains somewhat in favour on Queen Elizabeth, with some dining options only available to passengers in the more expensive suites. However, more than 80 percent of passengers are in Britannia-grade cabins, and plenty of great options are provided for everyone.
Although only a few years old, Queen Elizabeth underwent a refurbishment and mechanical upgrade in 2014. New carpets in all public spaces and passenger cabins, plus new flat-screen TVs and mattresses enhance passenger satisfaction, while the latest Azimuth thruster propulsion system provides a more energy efficient ride with lower exhaust emissions.
Queen Elizabeth Cabins and Suites
Every cabin/suite onboard Queen Elizabeth has a king bed that can be converted into twin beds. Other features in every room include a flat-screen TV, phone, fridge, safe, 24-hour room service, daily newspaper delivery and power sockets in both 220V and 110V.
Suite extras: exclusive venues including sun deck and terrace areas, special concierge service, 24-hour butler service, priority at check-in and debarkation, shoe-shine, en-suite dining, welcome gifts including flowers and champagne, PC gaming console, complimentary mini-bar and more.
Suite Accommodations: large bedroom, floor to ceiling sliding doors, bathroom with whirlpool bathtub, living area with sofa, table and chairs. Grand Suites have separate dining rooms or dining areas plus a dressing room with walk-in closet.
Britannia Balcony rooms: Balcony with deck furniture, sitting area with a sofa and table, and bathroom with shower. Less expensive Balcony categories have obstructed views due to lifeboats.
Britannia Oceanview rooms: Similar to above although no balcony. These rooms have a picture window for viewing the outside world. Some Oceanview rooms include an additional bunk bed for a 3rd person.
Dining on Queen Elizabeth
There are ample dining spaces on Queen Elizabeth, with four major dining rooms plus The Verandah restaurant, and the Lido buffet.
Britannia Restaurant: A huge two-tiered establishment ornamented by Art Deco works and a classic sweeping staircase. Breakfast and lunch have open seating, while dinner seating is allocated. The huge and varied range of starters, salads, mains and several vegetarian options are sure to satisfy just about every taste.
Britannia Club: An exclusive establishment for passengers from top-grade cabins. The menu and service are the shipboard equivalent of high-end dining. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Princess Grill: Dine indoor or on the terrace overlooking the pool. A cocktail lounge is part of this modern establishment adorned with backlit glass panels. The Princess Grill has even more menu options than the Britannia Restaurant, including an extensive a la carte menu.
Queens Grill: Located next to Princess Grill, with similar features and an even bigger a la carte menu. Table-side cooking is a feature at Queens Grill.
The Verandah: This is a favourite dining venue with many Queen Elizabeth passengers. It’s not a free option, but the dishes designed by Cunard’s executive chef, Jean-Marie Zimmerman are highly regarded. From the five-course tasting menu to the attentive and helpful waitstaff, the Verandah excels.
Lido: The casual dining option offering a wide variety of treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here you will enjoy a large pastry selection, coffee and juice, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads and an evening cuisine that changes every couple of days.
Cafe Carinthia: pastries, quiches, salads and coffee.
Golden Lion Pub: The British pub food favourite.
Room service: Always at the ready for a snack-attack, with options that include pasta, burgers and sandwiches.
Entertainment on Queen Elizabeth
Live music is found everywhere on Queen Elizabeth, and while much of it is for ambiance rather than entertainment, there are still venues where you can dance the night away. Piano sounds are a feature, whether you are enjoying a pre-dinner drink in the Grand Lobby, enjoying good times in the Golden Lion pub, or relaxing to mellow sounds at the Commodore Club.
Dance is a favourite activity on Queen Elizabeth, with much of it taking place in the Queens Room, inspired by the grand ballrooms of yesteryear. The ballroom is purpose-built for dance, with ornate chandeliers, a wooden dance floor, and large stage. Formal balls also take place at the Queens Room, as do piano recitals and jazz concerts.
The theatre is another opulent venue for appreciating the finer things in life. Song and dance shows entertain, interspersed by comedians and soloists. Patrons can even book a special box for that royal variety theatre experience.
The Empire Casino is a hive of activity every evening. First-timers learn the games alongside experienced high-rollers. You will find roulette, blackjack, poker and slot machines aplenty, all in a non-smoking environment. Other venues include:
- Midships Bar: Plenty of comfortable seating, interesting nautical memorabilia, and a diverse drinks range.
- Garden Lounge: Inspired by Kew Gardens, including a huge glass dome for a grand effect.
- Yaught Club: Late night dancing with live music or a DJ.
Daytime activities include paddle tennis, chess, gatherings for solo passengers, quoits and more. Enrichment programs are always popular on Cunard, including computer and Photoshop seminars, guest lectures, the free galley visit and even a crown-making workshop. Shopping is a pastime that appeals to many Queen Elizabeth passengers, with several high-end boutiques catering to their needs. Nearby, you can find the bookshop and a range of galleries featuring posters, prints and artworks.
Health and wellbeing treatments are extensive on Queen Elizabeth. Therapy pools, treatment rooms, a beauty salon and a wellness centre ensure that your cruise is about pampering as well as adventure. For those on a fitness regime, the gym includes workout classes in a dedicated studio area, are the more active can try the jogging track or even take fencing lessons. The Queen Elizabeth ensures everyone onboard will have plenty of diversions and active entertainments.
Queen Elizabeth is an ocean-going cruise ship with a free spirit. Voyages include visits to the Baltic Sea, British Isles, extensive visits all around Europe, Australia, Asia and around the world. Cunard is the cruise line of choice for people who want to experience the best of old-world cruising in a modern, luxurious setting.
Queen Elizabeth Stats
| Capacity | 2,547 passengers |
| Decks | 16 total, 12 accessible to passengers |
| Completed | 2010 |
| Max Speed | 23.7 knots |
| Gross Tonnage | 90,901 GT |
| Length | 965 ft / 294 m |
| Beam | 106 ft / 32.3 m |
| Height | 185 ft / 56.6 m |
| Draught | 26 ft / 8 m |
| Installed power | Two ABB pods and three Fincantieri Riva Trigoso Thrusters |
Queen Elizabeth Deck Plans
Download the Queen Elizabeth deck plans from here or click on the image below. For photos and the latest Queen Elizabeth cruises, visit the official website.
