Welcome home, Bex. You recently spent 7 nights on an Alaskan cruise - how special that must have been! Could you tell us more about the itinerary?
We were very lucky to have visited Alaska and it all started by landing in Vancouver to join the ship. Stanley Park is a must-visit! We did a 10k walk around the Vancouver seafront which was just so pretty.
On the cruise, we visited Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan and we also sailed along the Tracy Arm Fjord. Each port was beautiful. I saw bears in Stika, went whale watching in Juneau and saw a lumberjack show in Ketchikan which is great for all ages. Each town is just so clean and well looked after and any locals we spoke to were all so proud of where they lived, and I could see why. I would go back to Alaska in a heartbeat.
You sailed aboard Queen Elizabeth, one of Cunard’s most iconic ships. What makes her so special?
The sheer elegance of a Cunard ship is what cements her place as a luxury cruise line. There was so much space onboard and while she was at full capacity, you would never have felt that way. Queen Elizabeth really does cater for everyone from the line dancing and aerobics classes in the Queens Room on Deck 2, to the sports games on the upper deck and the beautiful Mereel Spa. Queen Elizabeth offers multiple dining options and afternoon tea in the Queens Room - it’s a must-try! The staff onboard are just amazing, nothing was too much for them. They are so personable that they make you feel right at home.
You were lucky enough to stay in a Britannia Balcony cabin - what was that like?
I was very fortunate to have a Britannia Balcony cabin all to myself. The cabin was spacious with a large bed, a sofa plus an area that fast became my make-up table! I would recommend anyone travelling to Alaska to book a balcony, sailing past the mountains and stunning scenery is not to be missed and sitting out on the balcony feels like your own private viewing. Some of my favourite times were coming back to the cabin after an evening of eating and dancing to just sit outside with the Alaskan fresh air, it was so peaceful and quiet.
Queen Elizabeth has a fantastic array of dining choices. What was your most memorable meal?
Every restaurant we visited on the ship had such stunning food, but a standout for me was the speciality dining in Frontier which features exclusively on Alaskan voyages. Frontier celebrates the signature flavours of Alaska and it did not disappoint. We had an Alaskan seafood platter for the table and it was as tasty as it was visually stunning with Canadian lobster, Alaskan mussels, langoustines, king crab, scallop ceviche and spot prawns all served with a selection of sauces.
I am gluten intolerant and the staff always made sure I was catered to. Cunard clearly mark all of their food with dietary labels, so I never felt like I had to pester the staff to see what ingredients were in the food. I actually had the best gluten-free pizza I have ever had (and believe me, I have tried a few) at the buffet restaurant which was made fresh to order.
And lastly, what was the highlight of your trip?
Can I say everything!? Being up close to a glacier at the Tracy Arm Fjord was really spectacular, all the sites of Alaska are truly special. From the beautiful towns to the amazing wildlife (whales, bears, seals and bald eagles). Everything about this trip has made me want to sail to Alaska again with Cunard.
