Ship’s Tour of Cunard's Queen Elizabeth

 “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

 

Exploring Queen Elizabeth

 

During our first afternoon on board, we wandered the ship slowly, not so much searching for particular destinations as simply learning about the vessel.   We walked through Queen Elizabeth deck by deck – through lounges, up sweeping staircases, and across wide decks open to the wind. 

More than once, we found ourselves standing at the railings watching the waves, binoculars already in hand to check the waters and skies for signs of life.  With that said, Queen Elizabeth is both a beautiful and amazing vessel. 

 

Classic Journey and Modern Cruising

 

There are ships that draw your attention inward, asking you to admire their interiors as destinations in themselves, and others that encourage you to keep looking beyond the rail.

Queen Elizabeth belongs firmly in the latter category. While her design carries Cunard’s familiar sense of elegance and order, the ship never insists on itself. Instead, it acts as an elegant framework - guiding passengers between cozy interior spaces, and open decks which offer constant visual contact with the surrounding seascape and passing landscapes.

 

One of the things we quickly came to appreciate about Queen Elizabeth is how clearly she reflects Cunard’s attempt to bring the traditions of classic ocean liner travel into the modern world of cruising. The ship carries the elegance and traditions that define the line - gala evenings, high tea, polished wood interiors - yet this is a vessel designed for scenic voyages and nature expeditions rather than transatlantic crossings.

 

This became increasingly clear as we moved through the ship during our second day on board.  As we wandered, rather than trying to catalogue every lounge or venue, we found ourselves paying attention to how the ship’s style, and how she was meant to be lived in - how passengers flowed through its spaces, and how easily the design encouraged people to relax and drift back outside.

 

Classic Style, Modern Feel

 

MS Queen Elizabeth entered service in 2010 and was christened by the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II herself, carrying forward the legacy of her famous predecessors - the original Queen Elizabeth and the legendary QE2. Unlike Queen Mary 2, which was purpose-built as an ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth belongs to Cunard’s Vista Class of ships, a design originally developed for modern cruise itineraries.  Yet, at 90,000 tons and carrying just over 2,000 passengers, QE remains comfortably smaller than many modern cruise ships, a scale that contributes to her relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

 

Yet despite the ship’s lineage, the ship unmistakably carries Cunard’s identity. Her interiors echo the traditions of the line: deep carpets, quiet lounges, Art Deco touches and spaces designed for conversation and elegance rather than drama.  At the same time, she does not attempt to rival the scale of Queen Mary 2. Instead, she feels slightly more intimate and welcoming - a ship that arrived just before the era of floating mega-resorts, long queues and endless crowds.

 

That difference shapes the experience on board. Life on Queen Elizabeth is engaging and refined, but rarely over-programmed. There are lectures, musical performances, dance classes, and enrichment talks throughout the day, yet the schedule never feels overwhelming. Instead, the ship leaves space for the quieter pleasures Cunard has long encouraged: reading in a comfortable chair, walking the promenade deck, or simply standing at the rail watching the sea pass by.

In many ways, the ship feels perfectly suited to scenic cruising and nature expeditions.  As such, while Queen Elizabeth provides enjoyable entertainment and fascinating enrichment talks, she also allows something more valuable - time to remain present in the journey itself.

 

The Heart of the Ship

 

The natural starting point for exploring the vessel is the Grand Lobby, where Queen Elizabeth’s design style reveals itself most clearly.

 

Here, polished surfaces, warm tones, and decorative flourishes combine to create a space that feels both elegant and welcoming. The central staircase rises gracefully through the decks beneath high ceilings, framed by chandeliers and classic decorative details. Reception, the tour office, and the future voyage desk all sit nearby, making this area the administrative heart of the ship. Yet it is also a place where passengers linger, sitting in deep, comfortable chairs surrounded by fresh flowers while quietly watching the movement of life on board.

 

Just beyond the lobby sits one of the ship’s most beloved spaces - the two-level Library. With dark wood bookshelves, a stained-glass ceiling, and roughly six thousand volumes, the room feels like a sanctuary amid the activity of the ship. It is the sort of place where one might easily lose an afternoon, reading while the ocean passes unseen beyond the walls.

 

Nearby, the Royal Court Theatre stretches across three decks. Private boxes flank the upper levels, and the theatre hosts everything from musical performances and lectures to full stage productions throughout the voyage.

 

Moving farther along the deck, the atmosphere shifts from grandeur to something more relaxed. Across from the Empire Casino - where guests gather around a number of slot machines and card tables under the watchful eye of attentive bartenders – sits a second grand staircase and the Golden Lion Pub.

 

Within, low ceilings, dark wood panelling, leather bench seating, and large windows give the pub the unmistakable feeling of a traditional British local. Here, passengers gather for fish and chips, hearty pies, and Cunard’s own specialty draft ales. Live music often fills the room in the evenings, creating one of the ship’s most hospitable spaces.

 

Another amazing space sitting at the centre of the ship is the Midships Bar, known as Gin & Fizz.  Positioned at the crossroads of several of the ship’s busiest corridors, it serves as a natural gathering place throughout the day. The bar overlooks the surrounding public spaces and sits conveniently, giving access to the theatre, the Britannia Restaurant, and the promenade decks, making it an easy place to pause while moving between activities.

 

The Queen’s Room

 

If the Grand Lobby forms the ship’s centre, the Queen’s Room represents the spiritual heart of Cunard tradition.  This vast ballroom sits at the core of the vessel, lined on one side by massive windows and elegant curtains and on the other by an elegant upper balcony. Throughout the day, the room transforms repeatedly. Morning fitness classes give way to dance lessons and afternoon gatherings before the space is reset for one of Cunard’s most cherished rituals: High Tea.

 

Tea on Cunard is not simply a snack between meals. It is an institution and a celebrated tradition. Fresh scones arrive with jam and clotted cream, accompanied by an impressive range of Twinings teas, all served to the sound of live classical music or a string trio. The ritual is so generous that we often found attending tea meant skipping lunch - or occasionally even dinner.  Yet it is certainly a must on board.

By evening, the room changes once again, becoming the setting for formal galas and big band performances. Watching couples glide across the polished floor beneath the chandeliers remains one of the defining experiences of any Cunard voyage.

 

Encircling the Queen’s Room above are the shops of the Queen’s Arcade, where luxury brands, elegant clothing, and Cunard’s own boutique overlook the ballroom below.

 

Dining and Social Spaces

 

Not far from the ballroom sits Café Carinthia, a comfortable café serving wines, coffees, and small treats throughout the day. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it an excellent place for quiet conversation or simple people-watching as passengers wander through the nearby corridors.

 

Similarly, there is Verandah, the on-board steakhouse that comes at an extra cost.  Here, the food and surroundings are stunning, and the service is terrific.

 

The ship’s main dining venue, however, is the Britannia Restaurant. Britannia, which is perhaps one of the most striking Art Deco interiors on board.  Spanning two floors and defined by a stunning staircase and grand artistic setting.  Britannia is a dining room filled with polished wood, elegant lighting, and large windows that offer expansive views of the sea. The atmosphere feels reminiscent of a scene from a classic Hollywood film - a setting designed for leisurely meals and long conversations.  The menu changes regularly throughout the voyage.

 

Nearby sits Britannia Club, a slightly smaller and more intimate dining room reserved for guests in Britannia Club accommodations, offering a similar style of service with a more private atmosphere.

 

Elsewhere along the corridors, the Clarendon Art Gallery presents rotating exhibitions of paintings and sculptures, many available for purchase at prices that range from eye-watering to astonishing.

 

The Promenade Deck

 

For us, however, the most important space on Queen Elizabeth was not a lounge or restaurant at all.  It was the Promenade Deck.

 

Running around the entire ship, the wide teak walkway offers uninterrupted views of the sea. Lined, in stretches, with classic Cunard steamer chairs - complete with thick blue cushions and headrests, the promenade allows passengers to walk, sit, and watch the world pass by.

 

Walking the promenade is itself one of Cunard’s oldest traditions. Distances are marked along the deck, recalling the era when passengers on great ocean liners measured their daily exercise in circuits of the ship while crossing the Atlantic.  For those of us accustomed to long days on trails, the promenade quickly became one of our favourite places on board.

 

Pools, the Garden Lounge, and Open Decks

 

Higher decks introduce a different approach to life at sea. The Garden Lounge, with its glass-roofed solarium and comfortable seating, offers a bright space to relax while remaining connected to the landscape outside. Nearby sits the central Pavilion Pool and the wellness areas of the ship.

 

Perhaps nowhere on Queen Elizabeth is the outward-facing design more apparent than around the Lido Deck. These open spaces consistently draw attention away from the ship itself and toward seascapes and the horizon.

 

On this same deck is the Lido Restaurant, which provides casual buffet dining throughout the day, along with themed restaurants in the evenings - Bamboo for Asian cuisine, Coriander for Indian flavours, and La Piazza for Italian dishes.

 

At the Bow

 

High at the front of the ship sits one of Queen Elizabeth’s most beautiful spaces: the Commodore Club.

 

With sweeping windows that stretch across the bow, the lounge offers uninterrupted views of the ocean ahead. Soft seating, attentive staff, and live piano music create an atmosphere that feels both refined and welcoming. It quickly became one of our favourite places to spend an evening drinking while watching the fading light over the sea.

 

Nearby lounges include the Churchill Cigar Lounge and the Yacht Club, which serves as a quiet sitting area during the day before transforming into a dance club at night.

 

Above these spaces, the Games Deck offers croquet, tennis, and lawn bowling - quintessentially British pastimes played high above the sea.

 

A Ship Designed for the Journey

 

Amid it all, throughout the ship, live music fills the lounges and public spaces from morning until late evening.  String quartets perform during afternoon tea. Guitarists and pianists play in lounges. Duos and small ensembles appear throughout the day, while the orchestra accompanies the evening dances in the Queen’s Room.  And at night, a DJ hosts dance parties in the Yacht Club overlooking the main pool area.  The effect is almost like a floating music festival - a constant soundtrack accompanying life on board.

 

In the end, what we appreciated most about Queen Elizabeth was how naturally the ship allowed life to flow between its interior spaces and the world beyond the railings. Many modern cruise ships attempt to distract passengers from the sea with endless attractions and spectacles. Queen Elizabeth takes a quieter approach. Her interiors are elegant and engaging, yet they never compete with the landscapes beyond the ship. Instead, they frame them. The lounges, promenades, and open decks all seem designed to guide your attention outward, reminding you that the true destination of the voyage is not the ship itself, but the ocean and coasts through which it travels.

 

In this manner, Queen Elizabeth is a graceful vantage point from which to watch the world pass by - an approach that felt perfectly suited to the waters of the Inside Passage and the northern journey to Alaska that lay ahead.

 

See you on board!

 

Nautical Term of the Day — By and Large - A sailing ship that handled well both by the wind (close-hauled) and large (with the wind aft) was admired for its versatility. Today the phrase simply means “on the whole” or “generally speaking.”