Cruise Web

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Cruise Web

  • Already Booked?
  • My Favorites
  • 1.800.377.9383
  • Email Deals
  • Personal Quote

cunard cruise gym

  • Advanced Search

Featured Cruise Deals

  • Featured Cruise Deals

Deals by Destination

  • Deals by Destination

Deals by Cruise Line

  • Deals by Cruise Line

Deals by Departure Port

  • Deals by Departure Port

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

Family Cruise Deals

  • Family Cruise Deals

Popular Destinations

Australia/New Zealand

  • Canada / New England

Popular Int'l Departure Ports

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Barcelona, Spain

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Reykjavik, Iceland

Southampton, England

Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney, Australia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Venice, Italy

Popular U.S. Departure Ports

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Los Angeles, California

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

San Francisco, California

Seattle, Washington

Popular Lines

Popular Lines

Luxury Lines

Luxury Lines

River Lines

River Lines

All Lines

AmaWaterways

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Uniworld River Cruises

Viking Expeditions

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Land Vacations

Land Vacations

  • Cosmos Tours
  • Globus Journeys
  • Kensington Tours
  • Tauck Tours

All-Inclusive Resorts

Cruising 101

Cruising 101

  • Free Consultation

Why Cruise?

Shore Excursions

Cruising Tips

Future Cruise Credits

Photo Galleries

Specialty Cruises

Specialty Cruises

Group Cruises

Business / Incentive Cruises

Events & Meetings at Sea

Private Charters

Theme Cruises

  • River Cruises

Cruise Tours

Wedding Cruises

Hosted Cruises

Family Cruises

Senior Living at Sea

News Media

News & Media

Press & News

Testimonials

Social Media

Already Booked

Pre-registration

Passports / Visas

Travel Protection

Why Cruise Web

Why Cruise Web?

Our Approach

Low Price Guarantee

Gift Certificates

Need Help

Customer Service

Not sure where to start?

Talk to a travel consultant.

Free quotes. Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Cunard: FREE Upgrade plus up to $2,000 OBC*

Cunard: FREE Upgrade plus up to $2,000 OBC*

Cunard Sale: up to $600 Onboard Credit*

Cunard Sale: up to $600 Onboard Credit*

Cunard: up to $250 Onboard Credit for Military

Cunard: up to $250 Onboard Credit for Military

Cruise Web

Cunard Line Spa & Fitness

Hone your body on your sailing with a delightful spa treatment or by keeping fit and working up a sweat at one of Cunard Line’s fitness classes or in the gym.

Cunard spa & fitness Royal Spa

We Make Vacation Planning Easy

With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Find a cruise.

  • All Cruise Types
  • Popular Cruises
  • Luxury Cruises

Vacation Deals

Destinations & ports.

  • All Destinations

Cruise Lines

  • Popular Cruise Lines
  • Luxury Cruise Lines
  • River Cruise Lines
  • All Cruise Lines
  • All About Cruising
  • Already Booked

Social

Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

  • Monthly Newsletter
  • Cunard Line

Fitness Classes

By colingu , September 8, 2023 in Cunard Line

Recommended Posts

Cool Cruiser

On my upcomimg 44 night cruise, Cunard is offering unlimited fitness classes for US$99.  From everyone's experience what combination of classes does Cunard offer on both sea & port days?  What do individual classes cost?  Sounds like a good deal as on my last cruise, albeit on Celebrity, a single pilates class cost US$20+.  I hope to combine weekly or twice weekly pilates classes with the other cardio/calorie burning fitness classes, otherwise I may come off the 6 week cruise the size of a ship!   

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

5,000+ Club

Here is what was in our daily programme for two days in August.

I cannot emphasise too strongly that I know nothing about this from personal experience. 🙂 🙂

IMG_0620.thumb.jpeg.3a28e173503933556f0469e206e99748.jpeg

@exlondoner  I just had to read this thread when I saw you were the first to respond.  😂

On topic; the gym facilities are good. For those that are used to doing their own cardio and muscular exercises a short workout each morning, or alternated with swimming or deck walking should keep the pounds off, provided you only eat what you need, rather than what you see.

The gym facilities are free.

If classes are all you're used to, sorry can't help. We hear all that stuff going on in our local gym but just ignore it and get on with our work.

  • 3 months later...

maggielou362

On the topic of the gym, do you need to bring your own gym towel? I mean a smallish towel to wipe off the "glow" and wipe down equipment, not a swimming towel. Or perhaps Cunard provide swimming towels for this purpose?

Pushpit

Cunard supply towels and specialist wipes and sprays inside the gym, and asks that users wipe down equipment after use.

Thanks

Thank you, Pushpit, sounds very sensible.

Like

Another gym question, sorry to hijack the thread! Cunard’s website says the gym opens at 0800, but from previous trips I recall it being quite a bit earlier than that. Is this a recent change, or is it flexible? We are travelling on QM2 next week.

It's 06:00 to 20:00 hrs on QM2 on sea days. I've put 7 recent Daily Programmes for QM2 in my recent Crossing report, and the times are at the bottom of the last page.

Thanks so much, Pushpit. 

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

  • Welcome to Cruise Critic
  • New Cruisers
  • Cruise Lines “A – O”
  • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
  • River Cruising
  • Cruise Critic News & Features
  • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
  • Special Interest Cruising
  • Cruise Discussion Topics
  • UK Cruising
  • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
  • Canadian Cruisers
  • North American Homeports
  • Ports of Call
  • Cruise Conversations

Announcements

  • New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

WAR_icy_SUPERstar777.jpg

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS

LauraS · Started Friday at 01:11 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 08:11 PM

LauraS · Started April 30

LauraS · Started April 26

20231111_153409 (1).jpg

  • Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
  • Find Your Roll Call
  • Meet & Mingle
  • Community Help Center
  • All Activity
  • Member Photo Albums
  • Meet & Mingle Photos
  • Favorite Cruise Memories
  • Cruise Food Photos
  • Cruise Ship Photos
  • Ports of Call Photos
  • Towel Animal Photos
  • Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
  • Write a Review
  • Live Cruise Reports
  • Member Cruise Reviews
  • Create New...

ship menu

Queen Victoria Fitness Center Pictures

  • Click here for ALL
  • Deluxe Interior
  • Princess Suite
  • Queens Suite
  • Master Suite
  • Grand Suite
  • Ship info and tracking
  • Cabin Check

ship icon

This page shows actual pictures for Queen Victoria Fitness Center. Most of our pictures are contributed by actual cruisers. You will find that all the Queen Victoria Fitness Center pictures on this page also posted directly onto our deck plans near the actual location the photo was taken. You can browse the pictures here or you can click on them as you are viewing the Queen Victoria deck plans. For deck plan viewing click on the ship button above or scroll down to view the pictures on this page.

Scroll down for pictures

Public area.

Fitness Center Stay trim in the fully equipped gymnasium at the luxurious Royal Spa. All fitness center facilities are complimentary. Choose from a range of activities from relaxing Yoga and Pilates sessions to the more energetic Aerobics or Spinning classes.

  • Number of pictures: 18

Fitness Center pictures

Queen Victoria Fitness Center picture

Fitness Center Location

Queen Victoria Fitness Center is located on Deck 9 (deck). We have provided the deck plan image for your reference.

  • Links to Public Areas on Queen Victoria
  • Click Here to go back to SHIP PICS page
  • Admirals Lounge  -Deck 10 (7 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Art Gallery  -Deck 3 (5 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Britannia Club  -Deck 2 (15 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Britannia Restaurant  -Deck 2 (18 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Britannia Restaurant  -Deck 3 (18 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Card Room  -Deck 3 (2 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Casino  -Deck 2 (8 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Chart Room  -Deck 2 (11 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Churchills Cigar Lounge  -Deck 10 (9 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Commodore Club  -Deck 10 (16 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Deck 10  -Deck 10 (6 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Exterior Promenade  -Deck 3 (15 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Fitness Center  -Deck 10 (18 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Fitness Center  -Deck 9 (18 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Golden Lion Pub  -Deck 2 (13 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Grand Lobby  -Deck 1 (32 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Grand Lobby  -Deck 2 (32 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Grand Lobby  -Deck 3 (32 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Library  -Deck 2 (25 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Library  -Deck 3 (25 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Lido Pool  -Deck 9 (28 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Lido Restaurant  -Deck 9 (26 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Midship Lounge  -Deck 3 (10 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Pavlion Pool  -Deck 9 (22 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Photo Gallery  -Deck 3 (8 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Princess Grill  -Deck 11 (2 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Queens Grill  -Deck 11 (3 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Queens Room  -Deck 2 (16 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Queens Room  -Deck 3 (16 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Arcade  -Deck 3 (34 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Court Theatre  -Deck 1 (28 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Court Theatre  -Deck 2 (28 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Court Theatre  -Deck 3 (28 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Spa  -Deck 10 (53 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Royal Spa  -Deck 9 (53 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Courtyard  -Deck 11 (9 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Grills Lounge  -Deck 11 (7 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Grills Upper Terrace  -Deck 12 (11 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Play Zone  -Deck 10 (11 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Terrace  -Deck 11 (11 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Verandah Restaurant  -Deck 2 (20 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • The Zone  -Deck 10 (6 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Winter Garden  -Deck 9 (13 pictures in photo gallery.)
  • Yacht Club  -Deck 10 (16 pictures in photo gallery.)

logo

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

  • Work & Careers
  • Life & Arts

A holiday from reality: Cunard’s Queen Anne sets sail

cunard cruise gym

  • A holiday from reality: Cunard’s Queen Anne sets sail on x (opens in a new window)
  • A holiday from reality: Cunard’s Queen Anne sets sail on facebook (opens in a new window)
  • A holiday from reality: Cunard’s Queen Anne sets sail on linkedin (opens in a new window)
  • A holiday from reality: Cunard’s Queen Anne sets sail on whatsapp (opens in a new window)

Henry Mance

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

I still get a jolt of excitement when I see electric cars. Last Wednesday at Southampton docks, when the sky was as grey as a tax return, my eyes settled on a few hundred Teslas, freshly imported. A Tesla sign announced proudly: “Our mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

But Elon was out of luck. We were not ready for the future just yet. Our minibus was not in Southampton to pick up a Model Y; we had to come to see the world’s newest cruise ship. Just a few metres from the Tesla forecourt, so near that you could probably have stretched a charging cable, sat Cunard’s 322-metre, $600mn pleasure palace, the Queen Anne.

The Queen Anne is shiningly, achingly new — we were here for a launch party. But in energy terms, it’s already a relic. If battery-powered Teslas are at the future of transport, the Queen Anne is the past. It is not powered by electricity or hydrogen or even (the still-bad-for-the-climate) liquified natural gas. It uses marine gas oil, refined from crude oil.

She will spend the next couple of decades chugging around Europe, polluting various picturesque port cities. Friends of the Earth estimate that a passenger in a standard cabin on a typical cruise ship is responsible for 300kg of carbon emissions per day, or around six times as much as an average land-based tourist. The difference narrows a little if you include flights, but many cruise-goers fly to their destination too. I looked back at the neatly parked Teslas, and felt forlorn.

The fuel is just part of a broader weirdness. Cruise ships represent a holiday unmoored not just from land, but from reality itself. Whether this is appealing depends, I suppose, on whether you like reality. Either way, and even if you’re familiar with cruise ships, you will surely still be caught off-guard by the oddness of the experience.

cunard cruise gym

In Southampton, we looked up at the Queen Anne’s sky-blocking vastness: 13 floors of floating luxury. We were shepherded towards the ship by dozens of Cunard employees — kindly women who looked like they’d come straight from a tallest sunflower contest in Somerset. We stepped aboard, and saw the staff switch abruptly from pure English to mostly Filipino.

The Queen Anne — or as the Pravda-esque Tannoy announcements insisted on calling her, “the beautiful Queen Anne” — had only emerged from a dockyard near Venice a few days earlier. We, a mix of journalists, travel agents and faded celebrities, were its first passengers before she began her maiden voyage to Lisbon.

These are boom times for the cruising industry. In Covid, cruise ships briefly became death traps for elderly holidaymakers. But memories are short. Cruise ships are now going viral in a different way: a recent story featured a Florida couple who have decided to live permanently on cruises, finding it cheaper than living on land (and with less driving than a motorhome). The world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, launched in January. Viking Holdings, a river cruise specialist which bans under-18s, last week floated successfully on the stock exchange.

For Cunard, a subsidiary of cruise giant Carnival, the launch of the Queen Anne means that it has four ships in operation for the first time since 1999. The Queen Anne is “a destination in itself,” one of the officers enthused to me. “It’s a floating hotel!” It’s also a floating shopping centre, leisure centre and perhaps retirement home.

With a gross tonnage of 113,000, the Queen Anne is larger than its siblings Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth (only trumped by Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2). There’s a grand piano in the reception area, a casino and a 835-seat theatre. The walls are lined with the largest curated art collection at sea, some 4,000 pieces, not all of them bad. Chef Michel Roux Jr., relocating a few elements of his Le Gavroche experience from Mayfair to the Queen Anne, reports that the galley had “every bit of kit . . . I’m just overwhelmed by the size of it.” The miracle is how this floats at all.

I tour the wellness centre, with its large sauna and offers of Botox injections. Ian McEwan wrote in his novel Saturday that, after our civilisation collapses, the old folk will crouch around peat fires and tell their disbelieving grandchildren of the luxury of hot showers in winter – “of thick white towels as big as togas, waiting on warming racks.” If I am ever one of these old folk, I will tell them instead of the Queen Anne’s Himalayan salt sauna, of its ice bath and Irish pub — all propelled thousands of miles across seas by large quantities of fossil fuel. Did we not realise the madness?

My room is one of the spacier cabins at the back of the vessel — with two large TVs, a bath and shower and a sofa. The large balcony looks over a ship unloading scrap metal, so I use my imagination. Without it, I might forget I’m at sea at all.

Outside, the Queen Anne is not quite ready for her close-up. Staff queue up for their uniforms. Full cardboard boxes pile up in corridors. Men hurry around, fixing lights and coffee machines. There is an air of gentle anarchy. 

Occasionally, I catch sight of one of the on-board celebrities such as royal commentator Jennie Bond, gardener Alan Titchmarsh, actor Celia Imrie, and cricket commentator Henry Blofeld. One other celebrity, who shall remain anonymous, told me he found the environment “prison-like”. But for a captive audience, and a paying client, he might be persuaded to step aboard and scintillate.

There is a genre of magazine-writing that is scathing of cruise holidays. A cynical, middle-aged writer goes on board and quickly despairs. Indeed, it’s easy to be rude about cruising. Cruises are nature holidays for people who can’t really like nature, foreign travel for people who don’t really want to leave home, the Mediterranean for people who don’t want to get their feet damp or sandy. David Foster Wallace, the US writer who wrote about a cruise in the Caribbean in 1996, reported hearing adult passengers ask whether snorkelling would involve getting wet “and what time the Midnight Buffet is”.

cunard cruise gym

But all this now rings hollow. First, in the battle between the snobs and the cruisers, the cruisers have won. It was Harper’s magazine that published Foster Wallace’s despairing piece. Its one-time stablemate, Harper’s Bazaar, is now the official partner of Queen Anne’s spa and wellness centre.

Second, humanity is no worse on cruise ships. There were no real-life passengers aboard the Queen Anne. But the workers I spoke to were unfailingly courteous. It was strange having people find my every need interesting: I suppose this is what it’s like being appointed CEO. At the Queens Grill, the top restaurant, they brought me excellent food and a 52-page wine menu. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was being the source of their nine-month separation from their families, but you get the gist.

For Foster Wallace, the delusion of cruising was that you could truly be satiated. The ship infantilises you; it encourages you to demand more. However many restaurants are on offer — the Queen Anne has 14, including a steakhouse, a Japanese and an Indian, as well as a dozen bars — it will not be enough.

For me, the delusion is the façade of cleanliness. You have little sense of what you are churning into the air and seas. The images of polished cruise ships surrounded by glassy open water have long misled us. The Titanic burned more than 800 tonnes of coal a day. The Queen Elizabeth 2, which Cunard retired in 2008, once burned 433 tonnes of oil a day, equivalent to one and a half tonnes per passenger per transatlantic crossing. Cunard declined to say how much the Queen Anne will burn, but we can safely say that it will be a lot. Enough of flight-shame, how about float-shame?

Cruising is the most polluting way to travel, much worse than flying. The Queen Anne will visit Europe’s two most polluted ports, Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome), and six of the top ten, once you include Palma, Hamburg, Southampton and Funchal. Although the ship uses low-sulphur fuel, in 2022 Europe’s 218 cruise ships emitted much more sulphur than all of its nearly 300mn cars, according to the campaign group Transport and Environment. Venice has banned the ships from its historic centre; a few other cities are restless.

cunard cruise gym

One basic way that cruise ships can reduce their emissions is by hooking up to electricity when they are in port. The Queen Anne can do this, but many ships don’t bother, partly because buying electricity is more expensive than running their engines.

Friends of the Earth rates Cunard’s environmental performance ‘D minus’ (Carnival, Cunard’s Florida-based parent, only gets an F). Aboard the Queen Anne, an “Environment Notice” does tell passengers to put their rubbish in the bin.

Instead Cunard makes a play of its British heritage. The barely digestible guff on the Queens Grill’s dinner menu says that Cunard’s history “has rested on a royal backbone”. This sounds so uncomfortable that it nearly puts me off the miso asparagus.  

“In just 12 short years Queen Anne achieved a great deal, not least the unification of England and Scotland,” it continues. Historians also mention Anne’s role winning Britain the right to be sole supplier of slaves to Spain’s colonies of South America. But that’s enough history. We’re here to enjoy the replicas of Princess Diana’s engagement ring and Kate Middleton’s tiara, both on display in the boutiques.

In fairness, Cunard has not gone nuts on its history. Mostly the past is hinted at, through Art Deco décor. This is presumably in hope of attracting a younger clientele. A Californian travel agent told me that the likely market for the ship were people “from their late sixties to their eighties”. But someone else thought that people in their fifties could be tempted. Then again, the Queen Anne’s swimming pools are so small that you could jump in and miss — suggesting they are mostly for decoration, not actual exercise.

The Queen Anne has capacity for 2,996 passengers and 1,225 crew. That is below the Icon of the Seas’s 5,610 passengers, but bigger than the ultra-luxury ships, such as those operated by Silversea, which cater to fewer than 1,000. Presumably that creates community: whereas I bumped into Titchmarsh but wondered how often I would see him in the course of a week’s cruise.

cunard cruise gym

Then, after just a few hours on the boat, I started to wonder if the real problem was that the ship wasn’t big enough. I wanted the unpredictability of the real world. I also wanted air. Padding along the corridors, I felt a nascent desire to smash open a window — if only I could find one. Finally outside, I lingered by one of the huge lifeboats and read its unrealistic warning: “Read instruction manuals before using.”

If you like walking, or a world where not everyone is always in an unchanging hierarchy, a cruise ship is a constraining existence. After a single night, a fellow traveller had noticed the limitations of his stateroom. “I called my missus. I said, you and me, in this room, for seven days — we’re having an argument.” Another woman, arriving at breakfast in the restaurant she had dined the night before, sighed to her partner: “Are we at the same table? Let’s switch seats just to mix it up.”

I sat at my breakfast, flicking through a complimentary copy of World of Cruising magazine. I certainly felt well-served yet also sure that I couldn’t relax somewhere where the only vegetation is plastic trees. I checked out, meeting half a dozen more charming staff members on the way. I stepped back on land, and was both cheered and disappointed to see the Teslas still on the forecourt.

Henry Mance was a guest of Cunard ( cunard.com ). A six-night cruise from Southampton to Rome on the Queen Anne costs from £584 per person; a nine-night transatlantic crossing costs from £769

Find out about our latest stories first — follow FTWeekend on Instagram and X , and subscribe to our podcast Life and Art wherever you listen

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article.

  • UK holidays Add to myFT
  • Travel Add to myFT
  • Europe holidays Add to myFT
  • Henry Mance Add to myFT

International Edition

UK Edition Change

  • UK Politics
  • News Videos
  • Paris 2024 Olympics
  • Rugby Union
  • Sport Videos
  • John Rentoul
  • Mary Dejevsky
  • Andrew Grice
  • Sean O’Grady
  • Photography
  • Theatre & Dance
  • Culture Videos
  • Fitness & Wellbeing
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Families
  • Royal Family
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Car Insurance Deals
  • Lifestyle Videos
  • UK Hotel Reviews
  • News & Advice
  • Simon Calder
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • South America
  • C. America & Caribbean
  • Middle East
  • Politics Explained
  • News Analysis
  • Today’s Edition
  • Home & Garden
  • Broadband deals
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Travel & Outdoors
  • Sports & Fitness
  • Sustainable Living
  • Climate Videos
  • Solar Panels
  • Behind The Headlines
  • On The Ground
  • Decomplicated
  • You Ask The Questions
  • Binge Watch
  • Travel Smart
  • Watch on your TV
  • Crosswords & Puzzles
  • Most Commented
  • Newsletters
  • Ask Me Anything
  • Virtual Events
  • Betting Sites
  • Online Casinos
  • Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.

Will Queen Anne usher in a new golden age of cruising? A first look as Cunard crowns its new £500m monarch

Ahead of her maiden voyage, benjamin parker spends a night aboard queen anne – finding the iconic british cruise line’s long-established grandeur has been given a jolt of contemporary panache, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

The red and black funnel has long been a fixture of Cunard ships

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

A crisp spring wind whipped over the River Test, skimming the water that flowed on its path to the Solent. From my open-air viewpoint metres above water, the sunless sky is punctured by one thing only: the hulking red and black funnel that has crowned Cunard ships for almost two centuries.

On Tuesday evening, Southampton welcomed Queen Anne , the latest monarch to join Cunard’s fleet. There was much fanfare in the south-coast city , with crowds watching her sail in through the arcs of a water salute, Cunard’s first female captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge, at the helm. The following day, I was among the first to step onto her decks as she docked at her home port, where the line’s vessels have been based since 1919. In a swell of container ships and the concrete jungle of the port, Queen Anne beamed as a diamond in the rough.

Even the most reluctant of cruisers should appreciate Cunard Line; it’s a brand that transcends the industry and peppers history books. Since its first transatlantic crossing in 1840, its ships have been considered the height of luxury at sea – its designs drawing comparisons to The Ritz hotel at the end of the 19th century. Names, from Charles Dickens and Mark Twain to Judy Garland and David Bowie, have sailed under those famed funnels. Cunard’s Carpathia steamed to the stricken Titanic to rescue survivors in 1912.

Jumping forward to October 2019, I was at the Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia, southern Italy , to watch the steel-cutting ceremony – the cruise equivalent of a ground-breaking celebration – for an unnamed ship that would become Queen Anne . Built at a reported cost of £500m, it’s the company’s first new vessel in 14 years (sailing two years later than planned).

Read more on Europe travel :

  • Best hotels in Europe: Where to stay for a city, beach or retreat break
  • Where to visit in Cyprus for an incredible holiday
  • How to spend a day in Copenhagen’s Carlsberg City District

And while the 3,000-capacity Queen Anne (plus space for 1,200 crew members) is the 249th ship to sail under Cunard’s flag, what makes this such a milestone is her joining the coveted ranks of Cunard’s ‘queens’, which themselves hold a special place in cruise culture, as well as British consciousness.

She expands the current trio – Queen Mary 2 , Queen Elizabeth , Queen Victoria – into a quartet, and is an echo of its regal predecessors. Two are now decommissioned and sit as floating hotels ( Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai , Queen Mary in California ); the original Queen Elizabeth retired to Florida before sailing to Hong Kong , a blaze destroying it in the harbour in 1972.

The challenge for Cunard with Queen Anne has been to successfully juggle that heritage with modernity – something that has been done with aplomb across the 13 decks. While the exterior does little to push boundaries, inside is a sensitive homage to the traditions given contemporary zeal. The concept began in the line’s archives at the University of Liverpool , rooting this new addition firmly in the past. Old brochures, fabrics and posters gave inspiration but designers – including London’s David Collins Studio – were determined not to end up with a pastiche.

Art Deco nods are found across public spaces, such as the curvaceous central ballroom, and the sheen of metals is paired with a palette of more muted – and more modern – colours. Gaudy carpet patterns, always a concern on cruise ships, cannot be found; my favourite were the blue designs that seem influenced by the water surrounding the hull or the air that would have blown the sails of bygone ships. While anti-cruise snobbery often sees noses turned up at ship accommodation, aboard Queen Anne , the calming tones sit against wooden furnishing and the Art Deco style seeps in; if this was on land it would be a hotel at the higher end of the scale.

Some of the best touches are clear attempts to bring the ship into the 21st century. Take the gallery, where work by Banksy was revealed on Wednesday – yours for a cool £125,000 – to sit alongside pieces from Thierry Guetta, better known as the LA -based Mr Brainwash. There’s simply no room for mass-produced dross in the “reimagined, elegant spaces”, as Cunard president Katie McAlister puts it. While elements such as the white-glove afternoon tea service remain, they’re bolstered by a Himalayan sea salt sauna or DJ booth around the pool.

Even the most reluctant of cruisers should appreciate Cunard Line; it’s a brand that transcends the industry and peppers history books

A huge coup is the work from chef Michel Roux Jr, who ran the two Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London before it closed in January. He has revamped the offering inside this Golden Lion, Cunard’s pub-at-sea concept that can be found on all the ‘queens’, adding what he called “little details that make a huge difference”. He labelled the haddock scotch eggs (I think best served with a pint of Cunard Gold lager) as “bang on”. Rubbed his belly talking about getting the fish and chips just right.

For me, the most exciting thing is that the chef has brought with him a slightly tweaked version of the laden, three-cheese stovetop toasties from The Wigmore (another pub setup, at the bottom of The Langham hotel in central London , that Michel was tasked with elevating from the ordinary). The other girls in the fleet need not be jealous; Michel’s approach is being rolled out across the fleet. If you want a sublime dining experience on the water, there are two Le Gavroche at Sea residencies (with Michel on board and behind the pass) on Queen Anne this year, plus two more on Queen Mary 2 .

As for today, the debutant is getting ready to leave Southampton this evening, sailing to La Coruna in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal (with days at sea bookending each port) before returning home to England . Then it’s off to the Canary Islands before the 14-night British islands itinerary – including a stop for a naming ceremony in Liverpool, the spiritual home of Cunard. From then, the Med and the fjords beckon; however, cruise fans tell me they’ve got their eyes set on Queen Anne ’s maiden world voyage in 2025, stretching over 111 days.

Waking up yesterday after a night moored in Southampton, I stepped out onto the balcony to more of the same rain. What warmed me – even more than the previous long night of champagne and martinis – was the thought of voyages yet to come.

I’m too young to know the ‘golden age’ of cruising, but Cunard has taken a step forward into its renaissance. Long live Queen Anne – and happy holidays at sea for all who sail on her.

Read more: The best Caribbean cruises for a holiday on the water in 2024/2025

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

  • My Independent Premium
  • Account details
  • Help centre

This storied cruise brand just unveiled its first new ship in 14 years

Gene Sloan

It's a big, big day for Cunard , the storied cruise brand that once operated such legendary ocean liners as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2.

The 184-year-old shipping company is finally beginning sailings with Queen Anne , its first new ship in 14 years.

Under development since 2017 and delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the much-awaited 3,000-passenger vessel will depart late Friday from Southampton, England, on a seven-night voyage to La Coruna, Spain, and Lisbon.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

The ship will then return to Southampton May 10 for a months-long series of sailings out of the port to such destinations as the Canary Islands, Scotland and Norway.

Queen Anne's arrival marks a major expansion for Cunard. Long a three-ship line, the brand will now have four ships for the first time in years. It's an expansion that will bring a 42% increase in cabin capacity and allow for a greater mix of itineraries.

It also signals an evolution of the brand, which has long traded on its history and nostalgia for the Golden Age of ocean liners.

cunard cruise gym

Built to an all-new design, Queen Anne embraces the latest trends of travel and cruising in a way that Cunard ships haven't done before; it's including a new focus on choice in dining and entertainment, wellness and onboard celebrations.

Related: A sneak peek inside Queen Anne under construction

"With Queen Anne, what we sought to do is to preserve that quintessential Cunard essence but also to introduce an innovative modernity, which we believe truly heralds a new era in luxury travel," Katie McAlister, Cunard president, said Wednesday during a preview event for the ship in Southampton.

Queen Anne offers an impressive 15 places to grab a bite — more than double the number of dining options on the line's other ships. The venues include Aji Wa, a new restaurant concept for Cunard that serves Japanese cuisine influenced by the seasons of the year. Also new is Aranya, an Indian eatery; Sir Samuel's, a high-end steakhouse; and Tramonto, which serves Mediterranean dishes.

Wellness-focused areas include a new-for-the-line, glass-enclosed Wellness Studio at the top of the ship that offers yoga, Pilates, Zumba and line dancing during the day as well as ballroom dancing classes at sunset.

cunard cruise gym

A new juice bar and a cafe near the main pool serve healthy dishes, and the ship's spa was built as a temple to wellness.

The spa offers a sprawling thermal pool complex that features eight heated loungers, four experiential showers, a reflexology footpath with textured stones flowing with hot water, a cold room (a first for Cunard), a large steam room, a Himalayan salt sauna and a traditional sauna. A relaxation room and a wellness suite will round out the offerings.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Cunard ship

On the celebrations front, Queen Anne has a lounge specifically designed for weddings that spills into an indoor reception room. Just beyond the reception room is a new-for-the-line private rooftop terrace space for wedding and vow renewal receptions.

Other notable features of the ship include an expanded Commodore Club observation lounge. The main pool area of the ship, called The Pavilion, is topped with a retractable glass roof designed to be as much a showpiece as a functional structure.

Not everything about Queen Anne is different from previous Cunard ships. As is always the case for Cunard vessels, Queen Anne has a soaring Grand Lobby with a cascading staircase where you can take selfies in your formal night splendor.

You'll also find the Queens Room, a ballroom that is a staple of Cunard ships.

cunard cruise gym

Queen Anne is the 249th ship to sail for Cunard since the line was incorporated in 1840. Cunard famously began as a transatlantic steamship company carrying mail and travelers between Liverpool, England, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston. It was originally called the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company.

Based in the U.K., the brand is now owned by Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line , Holland America , Seabourn and several other brands.

Queen Anne will initially sail in Europe before departing on an around-the-world cruise in January 2025. Fares start at $201 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a quick two-night cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany. Seven-night European sailings start at $618 per person, not including taxes and fees.

Earlier this year, Queen Anne was named one of the nine best new cruise ships of 2024 by TPG's cruise team.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

  • The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
  • The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
  • A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
  • 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
  • Top ways cruisers waste money
  • The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

cunard cruise gym

Queens of the high seas: Cunard's latest £500m liner Queen Anne arrives in Southampton ahead of first cruise - and she will be helmed by legendary firm's first female captain

  • The 14-deck, 113,000-tonne vessel is the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag 
  • She was greeted by a water salute having arrived in England from the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice
  • Queen Anne completes a Cunard quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria 
  • READ MORE:  Which? reveals the best and worst UK holiday cottage firms for 2024 

Cunard's brand-new ship, Queen Anne, has entered UK waters for the first time, making a grand entrance into her home port of Southampton.

The 14-deck, 113,000-tonne vessel - the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag - was greeted by a water salute on Tuesday night, having made her way to England's south coast from the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy .

She took five years to build and completes a quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria – not since 1999 has Cunard had four ships in simultaneous service.

Her maiden passenger voyage begins tomorrow (Friday), when she departs for Lisbon, Portugal, with Cunard's first female captain at the helm - Inger Klein Thorhauge.

Queen Anne, which has a maximum speed of 40.7kph (25mph), can carry 3,000 passengers and boasts 'several breathtaking experiences, and more choices of entertainment, dining, and bars than ever before', Cunard said.

And she features the largest curated collection of art at sea, with 4,000 pieces of art by painters, photographers and illustrators adorning her decks.

On board the £500million ship are 15 eateries, 'from laid-back light bites and indulgent treats, to the ultimate in fine dining'.

Michel Roux, who owned the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche in London, has developed an exclusive gala menu for the Queens Grill restaurant and a new menu for Queen Anne's pub, the Golden Lion.

Queen Anne also has four new-concept dining experiences – Aji Wa for Japanese cuisine, India-inspired Aranya, steakhouse Sir Samuel's, and Tramonto, which features Mediterranean food.

Guests will also have exclusive use of dining 'appropriate to their stateroom type', from the 'grand, two-tiered' Britannia restaurant to the 'opulent settings' of Princess Grill and Queens Grill dining.

Those staying in a Princess Grill Suite are invited to dine at the Princess Grill restaurant, and those staying in Queens Grill Suites are welcomed at the Queens Grill restaurant, Cunard explained.

Guests can also enjoy 'impressive sea views' from the Panorama Pool Club – which features a central pool and whirlpools - and play paddle tennis and practice their putting at the Sky Bar and Observation Deck.

The venue line-up is further bolstered by The Pavilion – 'a clever space' featuring a swimming pool as well as a central stage and large LED screen for open-air theatre 

Cabana, meanwhile, is 'a laid-back leisure bar featuring a selection of vibrant, rum-based cocktails'.

Other venues include the Commodore Club – a signature martini bar – Room 1840, a casino venue where guests can enjoy 'Monte Carlo glamour', and the Royal Court Theatre – a 'daily destination for Cunard's headline entertainment'.

The 'jewel in Cunard's suite of public venues', though, is the Queens Room, the 'flagship multipurpose event and lounge space, hosting everything from large group daytime activities to spectacular gala evening celebrations'.

Extra doses of rest and relaxation are distributed in a brand-new top-deck wellness studio.

Cunard added: 'Queen Anne will boast an elevated focus on health and wellbeing, with the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship.'

Cunard president Katie McAlister said: 'We are immensely proud of Queen Anne.

'Not only does she reflect the Cunard distinctive style on the outside, the inside perfectly echoes the brand heritage with reimagined, elegant spaces and designs.

'We can't wait to welcome guests on board for her maiden voyage.'

MailOnline logo

IMAGES

  1. Fitness Center on Cunard Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

    cunard cruise gym

  2. Fitness Center on Cunard Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

    cunard cruise gym

  3. Fitness on board

    cunard cruise gym

  4. Queen Elizabeth from Cunard Line

    cunard cruise gym

  5. Fitness Center on Cunard Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

    cunard cruise gym

  6. Fitness Center on Cunard Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

    cunard cruise gym

COMMENTS

  1. Fitness on board

    Fitness. Included. Wellness and beauty. With a fully equipped gym on board each of our ships, and exercise classes guided by expert instructors, you don't have to abandon your fitness regime when you holiday with us. Whether you like to ease into your morning with an early gym session or round off the day at a yoga class, the fitness ...

  2. my.cunard.com

    Whether you want to stay fit, relax, or pamper yourself, you can find the perfect fitness program for your cruise on my.cunard.com. Explore our range of classes, from yoga and Pilates to spinning and boot camp, or enjoy our state-of-the-art gym and spa facilities. Book your fitness program today and get ready to feel radiant on board.

  3. An oasis of calm

    An oasis of calm. A soothing massage that melts away stress. An hour or so spent pushing yourself at the gym. Healthy food that nourishes mind, body, and soul. Whatever 'wellness' means to you, find a chance to invest in it whenever you like, on your Queen Anne holiday. Queen Anne truly brings wellness to the fore, making it easy to take ...

  4. Cunard Line Spa & Fitness

    The renowned Canyon Ranch runs the spa on the Queen Mary 2 where you can get a variety of services from a Rasul Ceremony to an Ayurvedic experience. Each of Cunard's ocean liners has at least two pools and a variety of whirlpools. Workout on your own at the ship's gym. The facility has up-to-date machines and equipment for a full workout.

  5. THE 25 BEST Cunard Fitness Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic

    Cunard Cruises offers multiple fitness cruises to choose from. Check dates, prices and cruise ships to plan the perfect Cunard Fitness Cruise for you.

  6. Queen Anne wellness and beauty

    Wellness and beauty on Queen Anne. On Queen Anne, Mareel Wellness & Beauty is at once a tranquil sanctuary and a place in which to feel radiant and renewed. Feel tension dissipate in the spa, be spoiled with a new look at the salon, or push yourself to the limit at the state-of-the-art fitness centre. Enjoy long, luxurious hours of restorative ...

  7. Looking for things to do on Cunard Queen Elizabeth? See what cruise

    Spa & Fitness. The Mareel Wellness & Beauty center (run by Canyon Ranch) is located on Deck 9 and houses a hair salon, treatment rooms, a fitness center and a thermal suite.

  8. Cunard Reveals Wellness Offering Onboard Queen Anne

    As Cunard nears the six-month countdown to the launch of its new ship, it has offered an exclusive preview of Queen Anne's wellness offering. The 3,000-guest ship is currently under construction at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, and the line recently invited a group of travel advisor partners for a behind-the-scenes tour.

  9. Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Activities

    Fitness and Gym on Cunard Queen Mary 2 The ship's Fitness Centre (Deck 7) contains all of the equipment you would expect in a modern gym, including exercise mats and balance balls.

  10. Fitness Classes

    London, UK. #1. Posted September 8, 2023. On my upcomimg 44 night cruise, Cunard is offering unlimited fitness classes for US$99. From everyone's experience what combination of classes does Cunard offer on both sea & port days?

  11. Best Cruises for Fitness

    Best for Gym-Haters: Royal Caribbean. With so many adrenaline-pumping and pseudo-athletic activities on Royal Caribbean's innovative Quantum-class ships, you can easily get a workout without ...

  12. Queen Victoria Fitness Center Pictures

    Queen Victoria Fitness Center is located on Deck 9 (deck). We have provided the deck plan image for your reference. Admirals Lounge -Deck 10 (7 pictures in photo gallery.) Art Gallery -Deck 3 (5 pictures in photo gallery.) Britannia Club -Deck 2 (15 pictures in photo gallery.) Britannia Restaurant -Deck 2 (18 pictures in photo gallery.)

  13. Fitness qm2

    Fitness qm2 - Cunard check-in and Login

  14. The 11 Things I Learned On A Transatlantic Cunard Cruise

    10. Exercise. The QM2 has an enormous workout facility with fitness classes and spin bicycles. The best exercise is the outdoor, open, large teak deck. Three laps around equal just over a mile. On ...

  15. What time do Cunard gyms open?

    I wear gym clothes to and from the gym and change & shower in my room. I'm up at ~6:30 (whatever the time is when the gym opens) and back to my room within about an hour. If one uses the gym later in the day the gym can be reached via stateroom corridors and the "A" lifts, minimizing one's need to pass through sanctified public spaces.

  16. Queen Anne sails on her maiden voyage

    Our newest ship in 14 years, Queen Anne has set sail from Southampton with a send-off of spectacular fireworks. The incredible departure sets the scene for what promises to be a memorable maiden voyage, with guests on board taking their moment in history. 2 min 03 May 2024. Cunard.

  17. Queen Anne Luxury Cruise Ship

    Queen Anne Luxury Cruise Ship - Holidays with Cunard. Queen Anne. Guests2,996. Crew1,225. Length1,058ft. Queen Anne's breathtaking interiors take inspiration from our past to define a striking new design direction for our future. Come on board to discover a ship that is modern, yet timeless. A ship that offers both exciting, novel experiences ...

  18. Cunard's New Cruise Ship: Photos of Queen Anne

    Cunard's Queen Anne arrived to Southampton - its homeport - on April 30, 2024. The 249th Cunard ship carries 3,000 passengers and will be sailing from Southampton on a variety of cruises ...

  19. A holiday from reality: Cunard's Queen Anne sets sail

    The Queen Elizabeth 2, which Cunard retired in 2008, once burned 433 tonnes of oil a day, equivalent to one and a half tonnes per passenger per transatlantic crossing. Cunard declined to say how ...

  20. Cunard's Queen Anne cruise ship: A first look inside the luxury liner

    And while the 3,000-capacity Queen Anne (plus space for 1,200 crew members) is the 249th ship to sail under Cunard's flag, what makes this such a milestone is her joining the coveted ranks of ...

  21. This storied cruise brand just unveiled its first new ship in 14 years

    It's a big, big day for Cunard, the storied cruise brand that once operated such legendary ocean liners as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2. The 184-year-old shipping company is finally beginning sailings with Queen Anne, its first new ship in 14 years. Under development since 2017 and delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ...

  22. Queen Anne: Take a look at Cunard's new cruise ship

    Travis Kelce showed up at the 2024 Kentucky Derby in a sleek white suit. The 11 Smells That Squirrels and Chipmunks Hate. Former NBA Player Darius Morris Dead at 33. I Lost 50lbs With 3 Lifestyle ...

  23. 6 Top Transatlantic Cruises for 2024

    Luxury cruise line Cunard is known for its elegant design, lush amenities and upscale feel, and the Queen Mary 2 is one of the line's most luxurious ships. Highlights on this exclusive vessel ...

  24. Queens of the high seas: Cunard's latest £500m liner Queen Anne ...

    The 14-deck vessel - the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag - was greeted by a water salute, having made her way to England's south coast from the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.