Queen Victoria in Rotterdam, the first port of call on
her Maiden Voyage. Click the pic to see the large
version.
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Queen Victoria vital statistics
Company: Cunard
Home Port: Southampton, England
Gross Tonnage: 90,000 tons
Cruising Speed: 18 knots
Passenger Capacity: 2,014
Passenger Decks: 12
Built: 2007
Voyages sailed on this ship: North Sea |
Queen Victoria - Cunard's newest queen. For the
first time in history, there are three 'Queens' sailing under
the Cunard flag. Unlike the previous Queens, however,
Queen Victoria is a cruise ship rather than an ocean liner.
Nonetheless she is absolutely opulent, as the photos below will
testify. We left Southampton on 11 December 2007 for a
10-day voyage around the Northern European Christmas markets.
Click on the thumbnails to open a larger picture in its
own window.
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We were allocated stateroom 1040 on
Deck 1. We decided against a stateroom with a
balcony this time as we didn't think we would be sitting
outside in the North Sea in December!
We had been listening to the shipping forecast on Radio
4 each day and were expecting gales, rain and high seas.
However, it was one of the calmest, smoothest voyages I
have ever experienced.
True to Cunard's exceptional quality, the stateroom was
spacious and comfortable and we were met with the usual
bottle of champagne on ice :-) |
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The Queen's Room ballroom. This
is a really elegant room, large and high-ceilinged with
a mezzanine floor. Each evening passengers
congregated here after dinner to dance to a live
orchestra. Themed evenings included a
black-and-white evening and a masquerade ball.
Click here to see us in our masks!
In addition, Cunard World Club members such as Trevor
and I gathered here for cocktails with the captain.
There were also classical piano recitals and it was so
pleasant and relaxing to sip on champagne and listen to
the lovely music. |
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The Queen Victoria at sea.
This photo was taken leaning right over the railing at
the stern (lucky we didn't fall in!) in order to capture
the name of the ship and her home port.
It was quite bracing in the December air to take a
stroll on deck but exhilarating at the same time.
The QV has a couple of outdoor swimming pools as well as
jacuzzis which maintained a temperature of 34°C,
but not many were brave enough to enter the water! |
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Whilst the QM2 remains the flagship
of Cunard White Star line, many people will say that the
Queen Victoria is, in many ways, more luxurious.
Certainly no expense seems to have been spared on her
decor and furnishings.
Here we see the double staircase in the Grand Lobby,
reminiscent of the Grand Staircase on board the
Titanic. I always felt like a film star
sweeping down the stairs in my ball gown on formal
nights! It was also a great setting for a
photograph. |
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Above: A stunning 3D portrayal of the QV at the top of one
of the staircases.
Below: The Queen Victoria is painted in the
traditional Cunard colours of black and white hull and red
funnel.
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