We had a great time and if the itinerary etc.
were right we would sail on QA again although overall it is our least favourite of the current Cunard ships.
We were in a P1 and the food in the Princess Grill was as good or better than we have had on any other cruise line including Silversea and Oceania.
Overall, though, we thought the buffet was well below par and on one occasion when there were many early tour departures, only one side was open for breakfast, causing queues at every station.
The cabin felt more spacious than the equivalents on QE and QV, largely because they have removed the semi-circular unit between the sleeping and sitting areas.
The bathroom was tiny but with more shelving than usual, and the shower was spacious and well equipped.
The Grills Terrace was larger and much better appointed than on the other ships which was a big plus for us, but the Grills Lounge was unappealing.
The sofas in the lift lobbies were a nice touch.
The decor generally was a modern take on art deco but a lot of the pictures, ornaments and wall coverings in the cabin and elsewhere were not to our taste, including a ghastly piece of pink ceramic “coral” against 1970s kitchen-style wallpaper.
It was secured to the shelf for safety in rough weather, presumably, so we couldn’t hide it away.
Nobody seemed to have a good word for the Queen’s Room which was gloomy and unimpressive, and too small for the cocktail parties, which were therefore held in the covered pool area, which was too hot and noisy (echoing) with the roof closed.
The theatre was inadequately raked except towards the back and although the shows of Pride and Prejudice and Brief Encounter were both excellent, we missed the more traditional musical productions.
Service generally was excellent but at times irritatingly slow, especially in the Grills Lounge, but we felt that this was probably due to staff cutbacks.
We noted that canapés were no longer served with pre-dinner drinks in the Grills Lounge, just crisps and nuts, which often we had to ask for.
So overall, we hope that in trying to modernise the Cunard fleet, Carnival won’t throw out the bay with the bath water.
