Last year, I spoke briefly about my trip to London (including my time at Fait Maison, champagne sipping at Harrods, and an evening at the theatre, watching The Devil Wears Prada). But that was only the first half of my trip. I am so excited to discuss the second half of my trip, which was my leisurely trip back to the States. Instead of flying from Heathrow to my hometown, I did my first transatlantic cruise. I selected Cunard Cruises for my trip, and I wasn’t disappointed!
I traveled with my good friend (the same one that was on my Scotland trip) and we had a great time. We took the South Western Railway train from London to Southampton. I mentioned previously how important it is to upgrade your trains when riding around in the UK. I didn’t see an option to upgrade when I reserved our tickets, but when I return, I will be sure to select the best seat available. We had difficulty finding enough space for our luggage, but we managed to find some space before we settled into our seats. The ride was comfortable, and took a little over one hour. When we got to Southampton, we got a cab and rode directly to the port, which is a short ride away from the train station.
We took the maiden transatlantic voyage on Cunard’s newest ship, MS Queen Anne. The ship had previously operated on a different cruise route, but in January 2025, Cunard began using the Queen Anne to cross the Atlantic. and we were part of that first transatlantic group. This is their second-largest ship, right after the RMS Queen Mary 2. This beautiful vessel is less than two years old, so everything is still very new and fresh-looking. The ship’s first stop was New York City (my departure point), then continued on to traverse the entire globe over a 4-month period.
Onboarding was simple and uneventful. The staff was polite, efficient, and very clear in their instructions. It took very little time to get checked in and settled into our room. There was a little confusion with my friend’s luggage (it was sent to the wrong room initially), but we sorted it out quickly and got all of our things.
I absolutely loved the cruise overall, but there were some less than ideal moments (more about that later). For starters, I loved my stateroom. The room attendant, Delight (yes, that was her name) was lovely and took great care of us. Turn-down service included chocolates every night. The space was perfect and comfortable. My room had a balcony, but since I cruised in January, I didn’t get to enjoy it fully. Winter on the North Atlantic is too brisk for me! That being said, I looked outside of the window several times and the water was stunning and majestic.
The internet service was excellent (seriously: the best internet connection I’ve ever had on the water) and worth the investment. Unlike some ships that have ceased offering room service with the cost of your room, there is a standard room service menu with excellent options, and these items are included at no additional cost. There is also a daily tea time (gotta love British cruise lines). I looked forward to tea every afternoon.
The food was well prepared and tasty. On a scale of 0 to 10, I’d rate the food a solid 7.5. I do prefer more ethnic recipes and intense flavors (this is why I tend to really enjoy Royal Caribbean’s menus) but I certainly ate well on Cunard and enjoyed most of the dishes I tried. The room service options that I ordered were delicious and well-prepared, so on those rare occasions when I didn’t prefer the dining room options, I would simply return to the room and order something I liked instead.
I didn’t get to attend any of the live shows: attendance required that you reserve tickets in advance, and I never got the hang of the reservation system. That being said, I was never bored: there was music and dancing every day, not to mention a host of additional activities, like art lectures and auctions, crafting classes, language lessons, and more. There was also a spa that I used a few times (for the reason I’ll mention momentarily) and lots of other great amenities, like a library, gym, several bars, a club, and all of the other standard facilities on a cruise ship. I did visit all of the bars, the club, and the library, but I have no idea where the gym was, nor what was in it. On my vacations, I do not want to see exercise equipment.
Since I’d been on land for a number of days, I had quite a few clothes to launder. Fortunately, the Queen Anne had more than one laundry facility on board, with washing powder provided. I was delighted that I was not forced to outsource my laundering to the staff (some cruise ships no longer have public laundry facilities). But yes, I used the laundry rooms and chatted with my fellow passengers as I waited for my items to finish drying.
Anyway, I mentioned that there were some less than ideal moments. The main problem with this cruise was a storm that tossed the ship for days. This, of course, was beyond anyone’s control, and the captain and crew did an excellent job steering us through that awful storm, but the wind and water were so strong that the boat rocked fiercely, and the noise of doors slamming and clothes hangers banging against the inside of the closet made it hard to sleep. But beyond that, I experienced my very first bout of seasickness. I have typically loved cruising, and I never experienced seasickness until this trip. I had a headache and nausea that were unceasing. This bout of seasickness gave me a new level of empathy for people that experience it whenever they are on water.
I mentioned the seasickness to a lady I met during dinner, who said she went to the spa and the acupuncturist “seeded” her ears, and that gave her relief. I was so ill that I was willing to try anything, so I booked an acupuncture appointment, and Dr. Jack, the ship’s holistic doctor and acupuncturist, used principles of acupressure to “seed” my ears, taping little seeds to my ear at specific points. I don’t know much about acupressure, but seeding worked. I felt so much better, and could finally enjoy the rest of the cruise. I got some subsequent acupuncture treatments, and I felt fantastic afterward.
Once my seasickness was resolved, I got down to exploring the ship more, and enjoying the remaining days of my travel. I attended a couple of art events, dressed up for Black & White night, and listened to music at the night club all the way until my final night on the ship. And then, on the morning that I disembarked, I had a delicious breakfast and took in the sight of New York City as I prepared to bid farewell to the Queen Anne and her incredible staff.
For those curious about the pricing, the costs averaged out to $108 per day, not including the cost of gratuities, my spa treatments and internet package (all of which are completely optional additions). I found the cruise to be a great balance of cost and value: I enjoyed an elegant, comfortable trip (aside from the stormy water) with well-prepared food, charming guests, excellent and attentive staff, beautiful views, and an assortment of entertainment for less than the cost of a 3 – or higher star hotel in most cities.
Overall, I had a wonderful time on the Queen Anne, and would highly recommend that anyone interested check out the ship, as well as the rest of Cunard’s ships and cruise routes. I will cruise with them again, and I will take my family when I do!
Bronze Butterfly 