Relaxing on a Cruise Holiday

For many regular cruise passengers, onboardway to start the evening than with a glass of bubbly
entertainment is almost more important than the shoreserved in a Waterford crystal flute?
excursions. There are those who prefer somethingQueen Victoria's Royal Court theatre has the ultimate
quieter and may not want spectacular floor shows, butin theatre going for passengers occupying suite
they will still check out the talks, the demonstrationsaccommodation - private boxes on the upper level of
and the musical options available before booking cruisethe theatre. Audience capacity is less than on the
deals. Cunard has always had a reputation forQM2, so with this arrangement of seating everyone
securing top-flight entertainers, eminent speakers forhas an unobstructed view of the stage.
their lectures, and best selling writers and journalists forLike her sister ships, Queen Victoria has a health club
onboard talks.and spa with the latest beauty treatments available,
On the Queen Mary 2 opportunities for onboardand for anyone needing to burn off those extra
relaxation are endless. She was built for long seacalories there is a gym with the very latest in
voyages, so she is equipped with a wide range ofcardiovascular exercise machines.
entertainment to help while away the hours at sea.For something more sedentary, the library, a striking
QM2 has a two-tier theatre, the Royal Court, whichtwo-deck space, lined with mahogany panelling and
has seating for 1,100, and the productions compareequipped with comfy leather furnishings, has 6,000
favourably with the best West End shows.books to browse through, plus the services of full time
Passengers with a penchant for tripping the lightlibrarians.
fantastic should head for the Queen's Room. AtRetail therapy is always available on Cunard Cruises
134-feet wide, with one-ton chandeliers shimmeringand on Queen Victoria 4,000 square feet of deck
from the high ceilings the ballroom is the largest afloat,space has been allocated for shopping. The Royal
and with its glamour and size, could probably hostArcade, modelled on London's grand Regency
Strictly Come Dancing. When it's not acting as a dancearcades, is conveniently situated close to the Casino.
venue the room becomes the setting for the captain'sMore shopping opportunities are available in the
cocktail receptions, the ship's horse races (not realCunardia shop attached to the Cunard Museum,
horses... they are all cardboard cut-outs) and thewhere Cunard devotees can stock up on memorabilia.
popular trivia contests.The new addition to the fleet, Queen Elizabeth, will
As well as plenty of relaxing public lounges, forhave all the entertainment, exercise, retail, and
passengers who like a flutter there is the casino, andrelaxation opportunities of her sister ships, with one or
for those with champagne tastes there's the Veuvetwo unique innovations of her own, such as a bowling
Clicquot Champagne Bar. Strategically situatedgreen and a croquet lawn using artificial grass, thus
between the ballroom and the theatre, what betternegating the need for a lawnmower.