Queen Anne

Queen Anne is a hallmark in the history of Cunard Cruise Line. It is only the fourth ship in the fleet, launching fourteen years after Queen Elizabeth. Yep, the previous ship sailed for the first time in 2010, and there was a huge gap until Anne was ready to be born and explore the Atlantic. 

During this time, Cunard laid low, observed, and waited. Like a patient predator, it watched what was making cruises more popular, which venues were a big success with the competition, and, of course, what guests wanted to see during their vacation. The end result was Queen Anne, a ship that still has that classic style Cunard is known for, but with some modern touches that are a first for the brand, making this ship the most unique in the entire fleet.

What we like about Queen Anne

Old meets new. That is basically the slogan for Queen Anne. How do you build a new cruise ship in the 2020s while pleasing your longtime customers and still adding a modern touch onboard? That was the difficult question Queen Anne had to answer, and it achieved its goal in a simple but effective way: it added… more. More what, you might ask? Well, this ship has more entertainment options, more dining venues, more activities, and more things to do than any other Cunard ship in history.

You can find a ton of “firsts” for Cunard Cruise Line with Queen Anne. Cunard was never very well known for its specialty dining, but Queen Anne introduces not one, but four exclusive dining venues: the Aji Wa Japanese dining venue, the Indian restaurant Aranya, the steakhouse Sir Samuel’s, and the Mediterranean Tramonto. This is great news, since options were always limited on Cunard, and now you can enjoy sushi, pasta, and all the delicious spicy dishes you want. These restaurants are good - not great or outstanding - but they give you a lot of new options and are reasonably priced, with meals ranging from $20 to $60, the steakhouse being the most expensive.

There’s also a new complimentary option that’s getting great reviews. The Wellness Café proves that Cunard was paying attention and decided to introduce its very own venue focused on healthy meals. You can stop by, pick from a variety of fresh ingredients, and enjoy as much healthy food as you like. The dishes taste great, and the presentation is above average, making this one of the best spots to eat onboard.

Entertainment also got an upgrade. Sure, Queen Anne still has the gala nights, daily afternoon tea and ballroom dancing the line is famous for, but it also introduces the brand-new Bright Lights Society. This lounge blends the idea of a bar with a production show. Some days, you might see dancers performing live, while other times there could be small-scale productions that are surprisingly fun to watch. These shows aren’t massive Broadway-style hits like those on mainstream cruise lines, but they’re still a welcome addition to a brand that was never particularly known for onboard entertainment. One of the best shows is called “Noir,” so be sure to book your spot early, as reservations are required.

So, what else is new on Queen Anne? Well, this ship has the biggest suites across the entire Cunard fleet, it features a beautiful retractable glass roof over the main pool, a Wellness Center offering yoga and pilates and even a small kids area called The Zone. Again, this isn’t a huge playground for children, but a nice distraction, since Cunard isn’t exactly aimed at the little ones. 

There’s also the Observation Deck, the closest thing the ship has to a small entertainment complex. It features a pickleball court, a putting green, and a golf net so you can practice your swings. You’ll also find a table tennis table and, nearby, one of the most unusual activities you’ll ever see on a cruise ship: archery classes. Yes, Queen Anne offers archery with a professional instructor, using real bows and arrows, and there might even be competitions between guests. Honestly, archery deserves a spot on the list of the craziest things we’ve seen at sea, right up there with Carnival’s roller coasters and Norwegian’s go-kart racing tracks.

What we don’t like about Queen Anne

Queen Anne has a lot going for it, but there are also some problems - some that might change over time, and others that will probably remain forever. 

The main issue is a private, exclusive area dedicated to suite guests right in the middle of the top deck. Staying in a suite? Lucky you, you can move around easily. Everyone else? Not so much. To get from one side of the top deck to the other, you have to go down the stairs, cut through the buffet, and then go back up again. That’s a major design flaw, and it’s hard to imagine how it made it past the testing phase. Why not make this area in a specific corner of the ship? To make things worse, the sunning and sports deck is on one side while the pool area is on the other, so unless you’re sticking to just one spot, you’ll probably be doing a lot of extra walking.

This ship also feels more crowded than any other Cunard vessel. You might think that’s simply because it’s the newest, so everyone is eager to try it out, but that’s not the whole story. The real issue is Queen Anne’s space ratio, which is the lowest in the fleet. While the ship is about 25% larger than the 2010 Queen Elizabeth, it has 44% more cabins, meaning a lot more people onboard. By comparison, Queen Mary 2 remains one of the most spacious ships in the fleet - a far cry from some of the busier areas on Queen Anne, especially the buffet.

Conclusion

Queen Anne has its hits and misses. It offers plenty to enjoy, with new entertainment options and dining venues that are a very welcome addition. Still, this is a ship aimed at guests seeking a romantic and elegant trip, but it often feels more crowded than it should, and that major design flaw remains a big question mark.