Cunard's Queen Elizabeth Cruise Review: A Solo Cruise in Japan

Queen Elizabeth has recently undergone refurbishment of the Signature Spaces on board with new furnishings, fixtures and fittings including the Queens Room where traditional white-gloved afternoon tea is served; the room is also used for Ballroom Dancing, 'chai-robics' classes, line dancing and piano recitals; the Commodore Club - one of my favourite bars at the front of the ship on Deck 10, where there was always a pianist or duo singing pre- and post-dinner; and The Garden Lounge on Deck 9 midship, where daily trivia, bingo sessions on sea days and a variety of musical entertainment in the afternoon and evening every day were held. All outdoor decks have also been revamped with additional sunshades, and the Pavilion Pool on Deck 9 has new poolside furniture, a stylish bar and a new Wellness Café for light healthy breakfast and lunch options; I enjoyed a delicious lunch here a couple of times.

All staterooms have had enhancements to the in-room entertainment, new USB ports, mattresses, soft furnishings, and balcony furniture, and in the Grills Suites, updated interiors and exteriors as well as new furnishings and designs. For guests staying in these suites, an exclusive three-course Gala Evening menu (on the Gala Nights) is crafted by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.

The Mareel Spa on deck 9 has a thermal suite with sauna, steam room, hot stone beds as well as a hairdressing salon and beauty area for nail treatments and private rooms for facials, massages, etc with Elemis products, and I treated myself to a pass (not included) to use these facilities throughout the voyage. I enjoyed a massage and foot reflexology, and a complimentary stretch class every other morning in the gym where there was ample space alongside cardio and weight machines. Private sessions can be booked with an instructor, although the stretch class was enough for me!

I found that the Solo Travellers meet-up in the Midship Bar on deck 3 by the Grand Lobby was a great way to meet people in the morning for coffee, and for pre-dinner drinks. For dining there is the choice of early and late sittings as well as open dining, and I ate in the Britannia Restaurant every evening, although there is the choice of casual dining at the Lido Restaurant (by the Lido pool) which had a different theme evening each night from Spanish and Indian to a traditional English carvery, or steak at The Verandah and Bamboo at the Lido, both of which are speciality restaurants for which there is a cover charge. The Golden Lion Pub on deck 2 serves traditional pub grub at no additional charge, where one lunchtime I enjoyed fish and chips, followed by fruit crumble and custard! Room service is also available 24 hours a day at no additional charge, but with a limited menu. I was lucky enough to have been offered a complimentary champagne breakfast one morning in my stateroom which was fantastic with so much choice.

Every evening after dinner I went to an entertainment venue - the shows put on by the Cunard singers and dancers were outstanding and included Be Our Guest, Hollywood Nights, Palladium Nights, and The Great British Songbook, as well as a Cirque du Soleil-style show, comedian, and various singers and bands including the house band who played jazz, traditional Irish music, 'the Beatles Experience' - who appeared twice they were so popular - and even a Silent Disco one night which was great fun! There were three gala nights during the voyage which were themed black tie, masquerade, and red and gold and it was lovely to have a chance to 'dress up' on these evenings, and also to see so many of the Japanese guests on board wearing their traditional outfits.

For days at sea (there were four in total) there were plenty of activities arranged, and I particularly enjoyed the talks given by Grant Harrold, a former Royal Butler right up to the death of the Queen in September 2022 who had plenty of fascinating insight into working for the Royal Family; the four talks by Danielle Barnett, a speaker with over 30 years in the entertainment industry; and a singer/songwriter who had worked with Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Whitney Houston - all fascinating speakers from the Cunard Insights programme.

I enjoyed shore excursions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both of which were very thought-provoking and moving, with visits to the memorials and peace parks, as well as the Shukkeien Gardens in Hiroshima, and a cable car ride to Mount Inasa in Nagasaki. In Busan, South Korea, I used the cruise line's courtesy shuttle bus to the city centre for a short wander around this bustling city before a day in Kyoto from the port of Osaka. We were docked overnight, so having seen Kyoto's treasures on day one (including the Jishoki Temple), I then went with another solo guest on the city's Metro to visit the Umeda Sky Building and the Osaka Aquarium which, when it opened, was the largest aquarium in the world.

The Sanjusangen-do temple home to 1,001 statues of the Buddhist deity and the Ginkakuji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion) and Gardens in Kyoto were beautiful and so tranquil. I found Japan to be the cleanest country I have ever visited, with no graffiti anywhere, respectful people - who, even if they did not understand English, were so willing to help - such interesting history, and a place I will return to for sure. A very different culture which I loved embracing - until next time, Sayonara!