ROL Cruise team member Roxy was recently fortunate enough to cruise Alaska aboard Cunard’s iconic Queen, Queen Elizabeth. Here, she shares details on the truly once-in-a-lifetime experience:
Day 1 - Vancouver, Canada
We arrived in Vancouver at lunchtime. We checked into the hotel, dumped our bags and headed off in an Uber to Stanley Park. Driving through Vancouver, I was struck by how modern it was with a traditional twist, as well as how many trees there were lining the streets. Skyscrapers adorned the street on one side while on the other, there were New England-style houses.
Upon arrival at Stanley Park, we decided to walk around after seeing the incredible Totem Poles, a must-see for anyone visiting. We then continued on a 10k walk around the sea wall and passed people sunbathing on the beaches, a lot of cyclists and people on roller skates.
Top tip: If you do this walk, take water and wear comfortable shoes, there’s nowhere to stop along the sea wall.
The views from the park were breathtaking and it has definitely made me want to visit Vancouver for an extended period of time. We could see mountains with houses dotted around and more giant trees.
The air in Vancouver was so fresh and clean and the beaches immaculate. We decided to award ourselves after the walk with a cocktail and a burger in a beach bar, it seemed as though the whole of Vancouver was out on the beach enjoying the sunshine.
After dinner, we returned to the hotel and fell asleep almost instantly.
Day 2 - Embarkation Day
We woke up quite early and decided to head to the outlet shopping centre just a 10-minute walk from the hotel. After a Starbucks and some window shopping, we headed back to the hotel to wait for our transfer to the port.
Upon arrival at the port, check-in was very simple and quick. I was very nervous giving the Canadian Border Control my fingerprint as I have never had them taken before, but no alarms went off so we continued to the gangway!
Upon embarking the ship, we were greeted by two bellhops in the traditional red uniform that I have come to associate with Cunard. It was such a lovely welcome and that, combined with the startling beauty of Queen Elizabeth, made me quite awestruck.
Queen Elizabeth is a magnificent ship and aptly described as luxurious. Every detail is so well thought out, with a traditional country club ambience combined with beautiful staircases and art. She was captivating and so well looked after with gleaming floors, fresh flowers and Art Deco design. I was utterly impressed.
After checking out our cabin, a Britannia Balcony on Deck 7 which was larger than I expected and very comfortable and luxurious, we found a complimentary bottle of Prosecco awaiting our arrival. A lovely surprise!
We headed straight to Deck 9 for a cocktail and to enjoy the sail away party. There was a great atmosphere as we sailed away from Vancouver - helped by the diverse age range and sense of community. This was the beginning of our Alaskan adventure.
We met the rest of the group in the Golden Lion Pub, a traditional-style pub on Deck 2. Dark woods and green leather made this venue very comfortable and elegant. As we all sat together and enjoyed a cocktail, we realised we were all on the same wavelength and couldn’t wait to see everything the ship, and Alaska, had to offer.
For dinner, we headed to the Britannia Restaurant on Deck 3. I was struck again by the sheer elegance and sense of occasion in the grand dining room. The menu was incredible and I soon realised that some people were having a starter, main and dessert. Here, it’s not frowned upon to order two dinners and still have everything else on the menu.
After dinner, we waddled down to the Queens Room on Deck 2 to watch the elegant, and very energetic, dancers glide around the dance floor. It was obvious that these were seasoned cruisers who regularly take ballroom classes. I didn’t want to show them up so I stayed on the sidelines and tapped my foot along with all the other non-dancers. The band was excellent and encouraged all to dance, I was relieved that I was too full to embarrass myself.
Afterwards, we headed to the Yacht Club on Deck 10. Here, it was acceptable for the robot to come out in full swing.
Day 3 - Scenic cruising
Today, we opened our curtains to the most incredible views I’ve ever seen; mountains and small islands covered in trees passed by while we were cruising out of Vancouver and on our way to Tracy Arm Inlet.
Top tip: Book a balcony cabin so you don’t miss out on the stunning views.
After a delicious buffet breakfast in the Lido Restaurant on Deck 9, where the choices range from a full English breakfast to cereal, pastries, fruit and more, we decided what better way to witness the stunning scenery and be on the lookout for wildlife than to sit with a cocktail in the hot tub at the stern of the ship. There was another pool at the bow, but we had panoramic views from the stern.
This evening, we got ready for the Ice White Ball, a very glamorous event where you can choose to dress up in your finery; blue, white, silver and green dresses and ball gowns.
After dinner in the Britannia Restaurant, we headed to the Queens Room again to see the dancing and the glamorous men and women walking around in their attire. Not everyone was dressed up which surprised me as I expected Cunard to be quite formal and stuffy, but the opposite is true. The ship was so relaxed and the overall attitude of everyone onboard was to enjoy themselves and have fun. Tonight, was the night I decided to showcase my dance moves, surrounded by semi-professional dancers the robot came out and I proved once again that I have had no formal dance training.
We then headed to Yacht Club for a spot of karaoke. The diverse crowd of all ages was the most energetic and gracious I have ever seen, everyone clapped and cheered in earnest and I was made to feel like Whitney Houston. After the singing had ended, the DJ came on and it became a nightclub until the early hours of the morning.
Day 4 - Scenic cruising
Today, we headed to the Tracy Arm Inlet to sail through the fjord. The original itinerary contained a visit to Glacier Bay but the weather was not permitting.
After breakfast in the Lido Restaurant, our group set out to explore the ship. We found ourselves in the Garden Lounge on Deck 9, another venue where they serve drinks. The whole place feels like an indoor garden and is very relaxed and decadent, there is also another pool right next to it.
We also had lunch in the Lido Restaurant, where they make made-to-order pizzas. It was here I had the best gluten-free pizza of my life. After lining our stomachs, we went to Commodore Club on Deck 10 for a cocktail-making class. Our host showed us how to make the ship’s signature cocktails, all designed specifically with Alaska in mind.
The cocktails didn’t have mixers, so it was easy to get carried away and I was rather unsteady on my feet after. It was a very impressive display and the barman was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Our group headed out and told me to meet them on deck. As I was on Deck 10, I went straight out the exit door to be confronted by icebergs covered in seals which distracted me from finding the group. As we sailed through the fjords, the icebergs gave way to waterfalls and then we reached the end of the fjord, it was the furthest Queen Elizabeth has been down the Tracy Arm Fjord and it was worth it. Before our eyes was the most incredible sparkling white-blue glacier, it was truly captivating. I made friends with a lovely couple who took a picture of me and the glacier and then I bumped into my karaoke-loving friend I had met the day before.
Top tip: Wear warm clothing as the air is very cold down the fjord and you will be wishing you had a hat.
It was an hour later that I eventually found my group. They were not shocked that I had been completely lost or that I had made new friends.
We headed back to the cabin to get dressed for dinner. We decided to try the Golden Lion Pub as we had been told the food they served was exceptional. After dinner, we decided to attend the Royal Court for a comedy show. The Royal Court on Decks 1, 2 and 3 is worth attending just for the sheer size and glamour of it. Set over three decks, it is a beautifully designed Art Deco-style theatre. Scott Williams was The Doctor and his funny mix of videos, memes and insightful humour had us laughing and frowning at the same time.
Read the second part of Roxy’s incredible journey here.
