We travelled on Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’ cruise ship with our 7-year-old Kidsetter on route from Fremantle to Melbourne.
After boarding the ship, locating our cabin, attending the safety induction, it was time to kick back and relax ! We have travelled on various cruise lines and QE was distinctively elegant in every way. As we were cruising with our Kidsetter’s grandparents as well it was a great option to embark on an inter-generational family experience together.
Our Kidsetter is always keen on investigating a new Kids Club. A great way to meet other Kidsetters and make friends to play with around the ship. We checked our Kidsetter into the Play Zone Kids Club each day which is for ages 2 – 7. The club offers arts and crafts, sporting activities, play areas and computer games. The youth staff organise events, activities and competitions along with excursions to the theatre or cinema on board.
We signed up to the very reasonably priced ‘Aqua Therapy Centre’. Beautiful facilities and very quiet. Felt like we had the place to ourselves. Well worth the investment !
We had booked to join a small group tour of the bridge. Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled last minute and our Kidsetter was terribly disappointed. Lucky for us, on the Gala evening the Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge invited all guests whom embarked in Fremantle to join her and her officers for cocktails. We had our photo taken with the Captain and I mentioned that the tour had been cancelled and how much our Kidsetter had been looking forward to it. She was most accommodating. Captain Inger advised her secretary on the spot to arrange a time for us to attend the Bridge the following day. Wow !
The next day our Kidsetter was beyond excited he was actually going to visit the Bridge ! A few other Kidsetters had also been invited which was terrific. The second in charge officer greeted us all and gave an educational and fascinating tour of the bridge. Afterwards our Kidsetter dreamt of becoming a captain of his own ship. Little does he realise….. he already is.
We are great fans of dancing and spent many a night in the Queen’s Room ballroom dancing. We met a very inspirational French 80-year-old named ‘Nelly’ whom never left the dance floor. A beautiful soul. The Queen’s Room was a great highlight for us.
The sea is notoriously rough in The Great Australian Bight and we were all feeling the impact. Our Kidsetter was keen on attending the Kids Club regardless. Unbeknownst to us, our Kidsetter started to feel the effect of the rough sea. The Kids Club staff were exceptionally quick to locate us and get a message to us immediately to collect him so he could be with us whilst feeling seasick. They have a fast and reliable system to get in contact with guardians. Very reassuring !
We have experienced many incredible dining experiences on board other cruise lines and we would have to say QE over promised and under delivered. Especially when it came to their fine dining restaurant called ‘The Verendah’. This was an additional cost and although the atmosphere was sublime, the food was disappointing.
QE’s live entertainment was hit and miss. Especially in their main theatre. We attended a stunning performance by award-winning Virtuoso Pianist Van-anh Nguyen. The concert included Chopin through to Adele with a classical twist. Very entertaining. However, on another evening we attempted to watch QE’s performers in their performance of ‘Hollywood Nights’ – discouraging.
The on-board professional photography was also not of a high standard. Normally the photographers are experts and the packages are reasonably priced on other cruise lines however not on the QE.
We enjoyed the elegance and peaceful atmosphere of Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’. We are pleased we have experienced her famous statue and overall had a lovely time.
