Crystal chandeliers, gilded cornices and white-gloved waiters serving delectable scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserves — afternoon tea in the Queens Room is a daily ritual on all Cunard Line vessels, whether the ship is at shore or at sea. The British tradition of afternoon tea dates to about 1840 (the same year Cunard was founded). One of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting grew hungry during the long break between lunch and dinner and requested a midday snack of tea, bread and cake. Her idea took off, and afternoon tea has since become a beloved ritual in England.
When you sail with Cunard, you can feel more than 180 years of tradition on every ship. As my husband and I boarded the Queen Elizabeth in Vancouver for a five-night cruise to Los Angeles, we were welcomed by staff dressed in red-and-gold uniforms and wearing white gloves. The greeting created a sense of arrival that made us feel as if we had stepped back in time to the golden era of cruising.
Launched in 2010, Queen Elizabeth is the youngest ship in the Cunard fleet, and it has the most varied routing. The ship travels around the world with many interesting itineraries, including shorter voyages like the one we experienced sailing along the Pacific Coast between Canada and the U.S.
While onboard, my husband and I enjoyed afternoon tea multiple times; visited the English pub twice for fish and chips with mushy peas; dined at several elegant specialty restaurants; enjoyed nightly entertainment; waltzed to the music of a live orchestra on the dance floor in the Queens Room; and had a Thai poultice massage at the Mareel Wellness and Beauty Spa. Along the way, we experienced the elegance and the “White Star Service” that Cunard is famous for — white gloves and all.
The Golden Lion will have a classic English pub ambiance.
Credit: 2022 Cunard LineQueen Anne, Coming in 2024
Cunard is now accepting reservations for its newest ship, Queen Anne, which is scheduled for its inaugural voyage on Jan. 4, 2024. The ship is inspired by Cunard’s long history, but it is built for the future.
“The Queen Anne is the next evolution of a Cunard ship,” said Matthew Gleaves, vice president commercial for North America and Australasia at Cunard. “We have recruited high-end designers from across the world to take the style forward. They have spent hours exploring pictures and documents in the archive at the University of Liverpool, looking at the 182-year history of Cunard and working out how to make those designs modern.”
Gleaves explained that the Queen Anne will have all the aspects that Cunard is known for, such as a magnificent library, upscale dining and White Star Service with white gloves.
A Britannia Balcony Cabin on Queen Anne
Credit: 2022 Cunard Line“It’s about making the ship relevant for the long term,” Gleaves said. “Queen Anne will retain the elegance that people expect, but it will be more streamlined and contemporary.”
The new ship will increase the number of cabins in the Cunard fleet by 40%, and Cunard plans to work with travel advisors and use this growth opportunity to increase its presence in the North American market.
“It’s a massive and exciting challenge, and we’re looking forward to it,” Gleaves said. “Queen Anne is the future of Cunard, and we’ll be working hard to achieve the goal of giving more North Americans fantastic holidays onboard Cunard vessels.”
