This Timeless Cruise Ship Offers Everything from Elegant Black-tie Events to Kayaking Adventures in the Fjords – Check Out Our Review

From the damp seat of my kayak, the tiny droplets cascading from the fjord's edge were nearly invisible. There goes one, then another, then another. Suddenly, parachutes unfurled. What I initially thought were leaves or perhaps stones dislodged by a hiker turned out to be wingsuit flyers hurtling down the rock face at nearly 100 miles per hour. As I paddled back to shore, more jumpers soared off the edge, gracefully gliding to a safe landing.

I arrived in one of Norway’s adventure capitals, expecting that a few hours of paddling through a fjord would be thrilling. Little did I know, the adrenaline could soar even higher.

Naturally, that's why visitors flock to Norway’s fjordlands in the summer — to bask in the sun and get their adrenaline pumping. I had just docked in Flåm aboard the Queen Anne, Cunard's latest cruise ship and a beloved choice among Dinogo readers.

Flåm is the kind of place where you might spot, as I did, a hitchhiker holding a sign that says “next town” or a couple of dozen customized #vanlife vehicles parked along the fjord's edge. It’s brimming with kayak rental shops and bike tour operators, serving as a hub for adventure. While you could embark on a road trip — the drive from Oslo takes about five hours — it’s certainly more comfortable and convenient to arrive by ship. Plus, if you come by ship, you’re guaranteed a hot shower, a delightful meal, and some evening entertainment after a long day of paddling.

The Queen Anne features 1,498 cabins that can host nearly 3,000 guests — larger than the types of ships I usually prefer, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ample space available during my week-long journey.

I boarded the ship in Southampton, England, and after a day navigating the North Sea, we arrived in Bergen for some sightseeing around Norway’s second-largest city. The excitement truly escalated as Captain David Hudson and their crew plotted a course through the fjords to Flåm. The breathtaking cliffs lining our path were unlike anything I had ever encountered — even more magnificent from the sundeck.

“Norway is an immensely popular cruise destination,” Captain Hudson remarked as we set sail. “However, cruising along a World Heritage fjord on a bright, clear evening close to the summer solstice is an experience few have the chance to enjoy.”

In these northernmost regions, the sun would shine for 18 to 19 hours each day. As the ship departed from Flåm, several dozen passengers and I savored the soft piano melodies in the Commodore Club, gazing at the rocky islets of the Sognefjord. By breakfast the next morning, we had arrived at the village of Olden, where e-biking, kayaking, and hiking were among the thrilling activities available.

Another planned stop in Haugesund was missed due to strong winds. Our clever crew adjusted our route into the Hardangerfjord, where we spent the day leisurely cruising past salmon farms, cascading waterfalls, and quaint villages that appeared to be charming bases for glacier hikes from the ship.

Meanwhile, back on board, my fellow travelers and I could rely on the extensive amenities that many cruise passengers anticipate. The pool deck, spa, fitness center, and Golden Lion pub buzzed with activity at all hours, and a series of variety shows (including a popular murder mystery titled Noir) attracted many attendees. The bars and lounges were often lively but not overcrowded, and a serene elegance seemed to envelop the ship, as one might expect from a line steeped in British tradition — with a significant number of U.K. guests aboard.

Like all Cunard vessels, Queen Anne upholds a maritime tradition featuring a class system. There are four primary tiers of travel, ranked by luxury: Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill, and Queens Grill. Each service class has its dedicated dining room, and the top two tiers offer exclusive lounges and outdoor terrace areas. While most ship areas are accessible to all passengers — including alternative restaurants, many of which incur an additional charge — guests in lower classes cannot access the premium amenities. This "ship within a ship" arrangement is somewhat akin to premium areas on other cruise lines, like MSC's Yacht Club or Norwegian's Haven, although Cunard's high-tier passengers enjoy fewer exclusive facilities than those on competing lines.

As a Britannia guest, I was at the entry-level, yet I still felt quite indulged on numerous occasions, especially at Sir Samuel’s, a steakhouse with an extra charge. However, there were times I felt somewhat like guest number 2,756, particularly when trying to catch someone’s attention for a cappuccino at the Carinthia Lounge or when the Wellness Café, known for its cold-pressed juices, had run out of several menu items.

Nonetheless, the excitement off the ship compensated for many of these minor oversights, some likely due to the Queen Anne being a relatively new vessel. After all, Cunard boasts a legacy of 180 years in maritime tradition, and its ships still host elegant black-tie gala nights twice a week. Serving on the newest ship in that esteemed line must be as daunting as, say, wingsuit flying.

Here’s an in-depth look at the amenities, dining options, staterooms, and services aboard the new Cunard cruise ship Queen Anne.

The Staterooms

Featuring 1,498 cabins, Queen Anne offers a diverse range of accommodations. The basic interior cabins, which lack windows, are designed for maximum efficiency and competitively priced. In contrast, the upscale Princess and Queens Grill suites provide butler service, private balconies, and numerous additional amenities. (Among these, several Queens Grill Grand and Master suites rank among the finest in Cunard's collection.)

About half of the cabins on board resembled mine, a Britannia Balcony room featuring a hint of art deco in its design. My favorite aspect of room 8156, aside from the balcony, was the bathroom, which boasted a generously sized shower stall and ample storage with good lighting. The remainder of the room, including hanging space and a small desk that also served as a compact minibar, was practical and tidy, though not particularly stunning in overall ambiance. One additional note: I found the onboard Wi-Fi to be quite fast and reliable, even out in the North Sea, although I did need to reload a sign-in page each morning.

Dining and Bars

Come hungry, because Queen Anne boasts an array of outstanding dining options and several excellent bars. Each travel class — Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill, and Queens Grill — features its own main dining room with a corresponding name, offering either set meal times or open seating based on guest preference. While the menus frequently change and, at the higher tiers, include lavish dishes like lobster thermidor, the overall cuisine leans towards continental with a strong British influence. During my journey, meals in the Britannia were multi-course experiences, served with an elegant touch by a skilled and friendly staff. An extensive buffet called Artisans’ Foodhall seemed to offer nearly anything you could desire at almost any hour.

Onboard, several specialty dining options are available for an additional fee. Standouts include Golden Lion, a classically styled pub serving lunch and pints, and Sir Samuel’s, an upscale steakhouse known for its remarkable raw-bar platters. Additional choices feature Aranya, an Indian eatery; Tramonto, offering a pan-Mediterranean menu; and Aji Wa, specializing in sushi and other Japanese dishes. While I appreciated the idea of the Wellness Café, which overlooks the pool and offers an extensive menu of pressed juices, smoothies, and bowls, I found the quality of the dishes somewhat underwhelming during multiple visits.

The cocktail bars and lounges consistently impressed, each boasting unique themes, whether it was the classic Chart Room with its Champagne and martinis, the casino bar specializing in Negronis, or Cabana, a rum bar with an extensive selection but limited hours that left me wanting more. Throughout the ship, non-alcoholic options were also abundant, with NA cocktails featured on many menus.

Queen Anne's Itinerary

Currently, Southampton, England serves as the home port for the Queen Anne. It offers weeklong voyages to destinations such as Norway, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Canary Islands. Notable itineraries for 2025 include a two-week journey from Southampton around the British Isles and a 12-day exploration of the fjords of Norway, which closely resembles the route I experienced.

In January 2025, the ship is set to embark on a 111-day world cruise, departing from Hamburg, Germany. This journey will span the Atlantic Ocean, navigate the Panama Canal, traverse the Pacific, and include stops in Asia and the Middle East before making its way back through the Suez Canal to Hamburg.

Shore Excursions

Despite all the onboard amenities, the Queen Anne offers an exciting opportunity to discover fascinating destinations. During my Norwegian voyage, Cunard arranged a variety of activities at each port, from leisurely city walks to full-day adventures, including extravagant excursions like a helicopter ride over a glacier. Although these shore excursions come at an additional cost, I found it easy to select and book them online; Cunard excelled in detailing the tours, their activity levels, and the overall value of each experience.

One of the highlights of my trip was the e-biking adventure in Olden with a local guide who took our group of 12 to his family’s lakeside farm, where we enjoyed wild strawberries and listened to tales of rural life. Additionally, a fantastic morning of kayaking with several paddling guides led us to a secluded beach, where we later encountered wingsuit flyers. While premium experiences, like flying over the Briksdal Glacier, are predictably pricey, most of my excursions were competitively priced against third-party offerings.

Amenities and Entertainment

Cunard truly shines when it comes to entertaining its guests. There’s always a plethora of activities available, from card games and trivia contests to archery lessons (yes, really), dancing, live music, shopping, high tea, lectures, fitness classes, pickleball, and minigolf. One daily itinerary from my trip showcased no fewer than 69 different activities during a sea day without a port stop. I particularly enjoyed the spirited trivia contests at the Golden Lion and the enchanting live piano music that echoed through the ship's various bars and lounges each evening. Naturally, being a Cunard ship, the Queens Room featured big band music, especially on the two black-tie Gala Nights of our week-long journey. The Royal Court Theater hosted live performances that included several musical reviews and stage shows, all with the brief runtimes typical of cruise entertainment.

The ship’s spa and fitness facilities were a hit during my voyage, with most passengers expressing their satisfaction with the treatments and amenities offered. While the wellness areas, primarily located on a lower deck towards the front, lacked expansive views, their popularity remained unaffected. However, a notable exception is the Wellness Studio, situated under a pergola by the pool, where yoga and other movement classes were held in refreshing open-air settings. Quite delightful!

Queen Anne boasts a spectacular main pool deck known as the Pavilion, featuring plenty of loungers, a delightful selection of food and beverages, and a glass roof for enjoyment in any weather. The outdoor Panorama Pool Club serves as an alternative swimming area with stunning views from the ship's stern. (Guests in the Princess and Queens Grill categories enjoy a private terrace equipped with twin whirlpools, which I unfortunately missed.) True to modern cruise design, there’s also a pickleball court, along with classic sun-deck sports like minigolf, shuffleboard, and table tennis.

Family-friendly Offerings

While Cunard is known for its sophisticated, black-tie ambiance, my voyage was filled with families and groups enjoying their time together. This makes perfect sense, as the ship provides an abundance of options for everyone to tailor their experience. (Even though some evening dining and entertainment spots call for formal attire, numerous areas onboard maintain a casual vibe around the clock.)

The ship features several kid-friendly areas tailored to different age groups: the Play Zone is designed for ages 2 to 7, the Kids’ Zone caters to tweens, and the Teen Zone is for older kids. Staffed for several hours each day, these zones offer a variety of activities and games. Additionally, Cunard provides a Night Nursery service for infants aged 6 months to 2 years, allowing parents a chance for an evening out. The main pool is also open to guests of all ages. Families will find plenty of space in the suites, and there are 100 connecting staterooms available on board.

Accessibility

Cunard is accommodating for guests with limited mobility, and I observed many travelers on my trip utilizing mobility aids. The line maintains a comprehensive guide to its various accessibility policies and procedures online. On Queen Anne, there are 33 cabins and suites specifically designed to be accessible.

During my trip, numerous announcements were made through the public address system, but it wasn’t clear what alternative arrangements might have been offered.