At last the most anticipated ship of the year was launched in October and named by Her Majesty the Queen. On an unseasonably warm and sunny day in October we were gathered with a host of dignitaries and celebrities from the Prince's Trust to see the pomp and ceremony of the naming of the 3rd Cunard ship to have the name: Queen Elizabeth.
At the unique & ample Ocean sail Terminal in Southampton we were treated to champagne, canapés and tea while being entertained by a 30's style jazz band attractive in tails and spats. A taste of things to reach on board! This was certainly an occasion to remember - after all not every ship is launched by the Queen! We were supplied with an order of Ceremony and separate guest list in glossy keepsake brochures.
During the proceedings we spotted Alan Titchmarsh, Judith Chalmers, Simon Weston, Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth), Alan Wicker and Jimmy Saville among others. We were entertained by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the outside seating status and the delights of Lesley Garrett.
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| Jimmy Saville |
The chilly Stream Guards marched on to the stage and were achieve through their paces together with the fanfare of Trumpeters of the Irish Guards.
After the Queen had inspected the ship she arrived in her Rolls Royce to name the ship and press the button to release the champagne bottle and "Yes" it did crash - always a suitable stamp. Incidentally the Queen is the only person alive who has been explain at all 3 Queen Elizabeth ship naming ceremonies: when she was 12 years feeble in 1938 for the new Queen Elizabeth and in 1967 for the QE2.
As with all Cunard flee ships they chop a very imposing presence in any port of call. This together with the established Cunard name and sailing on a Queen seems to attract attention away from all other ships in any particular port. The Queen Elizabeth is a home away from home for Queen Victoria fans and also Queen Mary 2 patrons. The decor on board is lighter, unusual and 30's style in inequity to the heavier & darker Victorian theme of the Queen Victoria.
The aft pool deck has been extended further support for worthy more sunbathing area and you can no longer overlook the suite balconies below from the stern of the ship. Gone are the pastel tones and light wood shades that can be found in the Lido buffet restaurant of the Queen Victoria to be replaced with a great more sophisticated and sumptuous decor. The forward top deck games space has been upgraded to a covered bowls / croquet lawn club and looks handsome complete with Astroturf.
On decks 2 and 3 further enhancements have been made. The staircase in the gigantic Lobby bears a wooden fresco of the unusual Queen Elizabeth and the portrait of her Majesty the Queen is not to be missed. The Chart Room Bar (found on Queen Victoria & QM2 ) has been replaced by an extended dining room set of the Britannia restaurant which accommodates the single seating Britannia Club dining for high grade balcony stateroom passengers. Also the Cafe Carinthia and the Veuve Cliquot champagne bar have been merged to beget one larger bar state.
At last on board there is a unique alternative dining restaurant which replaces the Todd English restaurant found on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. This one is French and called the Verandah; it is has a fine 20's style decor and looks very enticing indeed. They have also enhanced the shops on board with a Fortnum & Masons plus changed the art auction prove room to an art gallery with reasonable prices. Unlike the art found at auctions on board other ships - the pictures and paintings for sale in the showroom on board the Queen Elizabeth are items that you would actually want to hang on your wall and indicate off!
As with all Cunard wing ships you will peaceful gain the signature touches that obtain these cruises simply unbeatable. The FREE guest launderettes on each deck, the Commodore Club and the Golden Lion pub serving FREE Fish & chips at lunchtime. Of course the Queens Ball room particularly sets Cunard ships apart from others. This is a titanic band formal entertainment venue and the setting for daily afternoon tea with white china and white gloved waiters serving scones and clotted cream.
Don't forget the FREE alternative dining evenings in a fragment of the Lido restaurant - dine by reservation with Waiter service and menus. They alternate the themes of worn English Carvery, Indian, Oriental, French and Italian throughout the hover.
The Royal Spa is well worth the extra charge payable for the hydro therapy pool and the thermal relaxation lounge. The fitness centre is free and the segregated changing rooms each have a FREE Swedish sauna that are very approved.
All in all - a gorgeous sophisticated ship and not objective a cloned production line job!
