The much anticipated arrival of Cunard’s Queen Victoria is finally here. And Cunard fans couldn’t be happier. The hype and excitement over this new ship has been discussed for months now on almost every cruise media available .The christening of this ship took place yesterday by the Duchess of Cornwall and she’ll set sail on her maiden voyage on today.
So why all the hoopla over the Victoria? In the days of mega ships and every amenity imaginable available, it may seem somewhat surprising that cruisers are so excited by a ship that is relatively small in comparison. Weighing in at 90,000 tons, the Victoria is much smaller than the adored Queen Mary 2. And this is a key selling point for the many Cunard fans. One of the main criticisms of the Queen Mary is that the ship is too large and impersonal. This new, smaller vessel is said to focus on elegance and superior service that is reminiscent of the classic cruise liners of the past. And sneak peeks of the ship lead me to believe the designers may be right on target.
One of the grand features on the Victoria is the ballroom. Called the Queen’s Room, it boasts gold-leafed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and even hand-crafted inlaid wood floors. The ship also has the first at sea two story library complete with a spiraling staircase, a two floor shopping area and an authentic British Pub.
If elegance is the name of the game, then the Queen Victoria seems to be right on track. But will she live up to all the hype? I am certainly ready to hear what the inaugural passengers have to say. As always, we’ll keep you posted!
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