richard_london

I am wondering why this change. Is it because Covid is declining? (The evidence would suggest otherwise). Is it because testing facilities are ramping down because there is less demand? Is it because (cost and potential inconvenience) pre-departure Covid testing was discouraging some passengers? I suspect the latter, if cruise companies need to fill ships then they will try and remove all barriers and get people to test themselves at home and rely on their honesty pre-boarding.

It's annoying because I had booked a pre-departure Covid test to get the certificate but there is an "admin fee" to cancel. Typical! The "fee" is less than the amount I would still have to pay out, and since I still have some NHS test kits I shall do one of those before leaving home and one before I get on the ship to be sure. I do hope people will be honest and to a test, but it does open the system to abuse. A dishonest person who tested positive but didn't want to forfeit their cruise could easily lie and just say they caught if from someone else on board.

Azamara have contracted V.Ships (https://vgrouplimited.com/our-brands/v-ships/) to manage their ships. V.Ships looked after the QE2 in Dubai once she was sold by Cunard and before Dubai converted her to a hotel. So they are a potential candidate. I don't know how integrated Seabourn's operations are, but I imagine sales, marketing and crewing for all CCLs brands are centralised so it would be difficult carve out part of that for the sale. It would make things simpler for the Saudis (if they buy the company) as they have no experience in this field.

And this is 2004 on the Queen Victoria in 2019. So this is a bit squarer and probably the smallest of the solo cabins but plenty big enough for one. I quess on the QE they aren't too dissimilar as they were all retrofitted.

Thanks for the great photos. They really are nice cabins on both decks. Looks like plenty of storage too.

Although it was before the pandemic, we ate in the Verandah at the end of April 2019 also on the QE. The service was very good and the food was excellent. The menu (if I recall corrrectly) was the same sample menu they have on the website (https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/activity-types/dining/the-verandah, click the dinner one). We had the beef sampler which was good, as I wasn't sure which to try but the staff were very knowlegable on the different types of steak (I think they showed us the different types on a tray/trolley). If I tried to get a similar experience on land (I live in London) it would be a lot more expensive.

Yes, on the QV and QE there is a passage way off from the casino area on 2 deck but you would never know as it is really quiet. Just nine cabins, but located there you are perfectly located for the theatre, casino, Queens Room etc. On the QM2 they are mid ships but slightly more on decks two and three. I count fifteen on the deck plans. The ones on 3 deck (like in the photos) are wider than they are deep, as they occupy the space of the former photo gallery (I believe it was that) on 3L Deck, if you recall the Art Gallery on the other side of the ship which is very long, the same sized space is shared four six cabins so quite generous. I've not tried one on 2 deck yet on the QM2, does anyone have any photos yet?

I was so surprised at the size when I sailed on the QM2, these are a couple of photos I took. They really are very nicely furnished and not at all undersized. I always go ashore or am around the ship so I don't miss a balcony.

I always found them to be cheaper, not by a huge amount but enough to warrant booking. The cabins on the current Queens are in a great location, on the same deck (or decks for the QM2) as the Britannia restuarant, so great to avoid travelling up/down stairs/lifts to get to the main public spaces. Plus tucked away where they were, they have always been quiet for me. Not on a thoroughfare with passengers coming and going, so no late night noise. The cabins on the QM2 are especially spacious for a solo cabin, and have lots of fans. They get booked pretty quickly when the new sailings are pubished so they are in demand. Also, for other solo travellers, it's nice to be in a little community together on the ship. So I am all for them.

Just had an email back from Guest Support at Cunard. "Queen Anne Does not have single cabins I'm afraid." When other lines are commiting to new builds with single cabins and retrofitting them, these does seem a strange and disappointing decision.

Yes, I saw them on the HAL ships so felt confident there would be more single cabins that on the current Queens. If there are zero that is very poor. I was looking at the Celebrity Apex and Beyond class and saw their solo cabins with balconies and they are very impressive. I have emailed Cunard to query this. If the answer is negative I think it is a poor decision.

I agree, very disappointing,

Just received an email, as I'm sure have many others about this: ...ahead of her scheduled return to sailing, Queen Victoria is currently located in Barbados. She will be staying in the Caribbean for longer than planned before her dry-dock and will now return to full service on 5 June 2022 with her existing itineraries from this date. As a result, we are sorry to advise that your voyage has been cancelled.