Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth joined its sister ships Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in September 2010. Delivered by Fincantieri, the ship is the second largest Cunard ship ever built and operates from Southampton, UK.
The ship was ordered in October 2007 and its keel was laid in June 2009 at Marghera Shipyard in Italy.
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It was launched in January 2010. The sea trials were conducted in August and September 2010.
The vessel was named by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony held in October 2010. On its maiden voyage, the ship cruised from Southampton on a 13-night Atlantic Isles trip.
In January 2011, the three sister ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth met and sailed out of the New York Harbour.
Technical details
The vessel has a 90,900 gross tonnage. The overall length is 294m and the beam is 32.3m. Beam at bridge wings is 36.8m and draught is 8m. The keel to funnel height is 64.6m and the height above waterline is 56.6m.
State rooms
The ship can accommodate 2,092 passengers and has 1,046 staterooms, 71% of which have balconies. The Britannia Staterooms, available between 180ft² and 201ft², feature complementary room service and satellite TV.
There are 127 Grills Suites, ranging in size from 508ft² to 1,493ft. Each Grill Suite features a marble bathroom, a private veranda and in-suite dining.
The Princess Grill suites, spread over an area of 335ft² to 513ft², feature complementary 24-hour room service and a concierge service as well as a marble bathroom. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a bottle of wine and fresh strawberries. If passengers wish to invite friends for pre-dinner drinks, champagne and canapés can be arranged by the concierge.
The Queen Grill Suites represent the ship’s most luxurious accommodation, which, in addition to the standard amenities, offer a butler as well as priority embarkation and disembarkation. There is also a pillow concierge to help travellers choose their preference of pillows and duvets. Passengers also have access to the Queens Lounge and private deck area.
Public rooms
The ship’s public spaces include the Queens Room, which houses a 1,000ft² ballroom, and the Garden Lounge, which contains an arched glass ceiling inspired by the glass houses at Kew Gardens. The Games Deck offers paddle tennis, croquet and conventional British bowls on a lawn under a canopy roof.
The Queen Elizabeth offers five restaurants, depending on the accommodation: the Queens Grill, Princess Grill, the Courtyard, the Britannia Club and Britannia Restaurant. Guests can also enjoy alternative dining options such as the Lido Restaurants, the Golden Lion and Queens Room, which serves afternoon tea.
Facilities
The Royal Court Theatre, with tiered seating for 832 guests, offers a variety of shows and presentations. The 1,300ft² Royal Spa and Fitness Centre offers beauty treatments along with state-of-the art fitness equipment. The Pavilion Pool is an outdoor swimming pool that has two whirlpools. A newly created Royal Bath House offers a complete spa experience.
The ship has a library containing over 6,000 books, while the Royal Arcade offers famous brand names in 4000ft² of shops.
The Internet Centre will enable passengers to stay in touch during their voyage as well as surf the web. The ship also offers Wi-Fi and GSM. The Play Zone on the Deck 10 features the latest equipment for children of all ages.
Ship propulsion
The power for the propulsion and the ship’s systems is provided by six Mak M43C diesel engines. The Queen Elizabeth is propelled by two ABB pods and has three Fincantieri Riva Trigoso Thrusters. The vessel is also equipped with a pair of Fincantieri Riva Trigoso Stabilisers. The normal cruising speed of the ship is 23.7kt.
