We have been lucky enough to have cruised on both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria this month, and we can honestly say we have fallen in love again with Cunard.

Both ships offer a timeless and elegant environment with the perfect mix of tradition, heritage and modern amenities.  They can certainly be described as 5-star luxury with the standard of the facilities, amenities and dining but, for me, the real touch of luxury was the attentive staff and attention to detail that made us feel special.

Both ships have very similar facilities, menus and level of service, but each has its own characteristics that make them unique.

Queen Mary 2 was built to sail the open seas and is the world’s only true ocean liner. We had a bracing walk around the promenade deck with ample teak deck chairs to take in the views and took photos of the kennels and the British lamppost and American fire-hydrant - yes dogs are allowed on the transatlantic sailings.   We sampled a few of the 15 restaurants and bars with our favourite being the Golden Lion Pub with its dart board and quizzes (we nearly won on the quiz too)!  When the sun finally came out we relaxed on the comfortable sun beds by one of the five swimming pools and there was plenty of space, in fact there was plenty of space throughout the ship and did not need to queue for anything.  There is also a full-sized theatre in a Broadway style with benches, a Planetarium, and the largest ballroom dance floor at sea.

Queen Victoria, similar in size and layout to Queen Elizabeth, but with her own distinct personality and feel.  I loved the Winter Gardens lounge with its relaxed atmosphere and perfect sunspot, retail therapy in the Royal Arcade and the beautiful two-storey library with its cosy corners to settle down and escape with a book. The Theatre on Queen Victoria is in the style of London’s historic West End and even has private theatre boxes to hire.  We were celebrating a birthday so treated ourselves.  The evening began with a Champagne cocktail in a private lounge served with finger desserts, then we were greeted and taken to our private box which was already prepared with delicious chocolates and a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne, the cost was $60 so great value and a memory we will always treasure.  

Although not famed for having many Children onboard, the Kids clubs and facilities were lovely for children to escape their Parents/Grandparents and have some good old-fashioned fun.  Silent discos in the Ball Room are another new touch Cunard have introduced on the odd evening.

Cunard still offer a night-time turn down service, with chocolates and newsletters and the attentive staff really do set them apart from other companies.  

They still have black-tie gala dinners; we had a red and gold Theme on Queen Mary 2 and black and white theme on Queen Victoria, but gone are the days when you had to dress formally every evening.  

The casinos were a good size and in the centre of the ships, but unlike other cruise lines, this area is non-smoking.  

Overall, we loved our time away with Cunard and already looking forward to getting back onboard.