QUEEN VICTORIA’S QUEENS AND PRINCESS GRILLS
WILL CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF TRAVEL
A butler to unpack luggage, champagne served in Waterford glasses, fresh orchids and ersonalized stationery – these are among the hallmarks of the Cunard Grills. An exclusive world, the Cunard Grills represent the pinnacle of seagoing service, luxurious accommodation and comfort. Now, in the grand Cunard tradition, Queen Victoria is poised to put her own stamp on the Cunard Grills, affording travellers the opportunity to experience a golden age of travel in the same memorable way that royalty, heads of state and celebrities have done for generations.
When she enters service in December 2007, Queen Victoria will offer innovation in tandem with the traditions that make a Cunard vessel the world standard-bearer. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Queens Grill and Princess Grill – the pair of exclusive dining rooms and their corresponding Grill-category accommodation. Located on Deck 11, the Grills share the
concierge-staffed private Grills Lounge, as well as the exquisite Grills Courtyard for al fresco dining and afternoon tea, and exclusive Grills Upper Terrace (on Deck 12), where staff will provide towels, Evian spritzes, fresh fruit, sorbets and tea sandwiches to sun-seeking guests.
Among the Grills’ most distinguishing features is their more private location. Access is by private lift and the Grills themselves are enclosed by gently curving panoramic glass walls on the seaboard side and cantilevered above Deck 10 over the side of the ship.
Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says: “Onboard our newest ship, we are taking our historic Cunard Grills experience to the next level. The experience aboard
Queen Victoria will delight guests with its range of services and facilities”.
In the Queens Grill and Princess Grill, as on all Cunard ships, guests enjoy a graceful ambience and single-seating dining rivaling the finest restaurants in the world. Cunard has long been regarded as a culinary leader and nowhere is its supremacy more apparent than in the Grills.
On Queen Victoria, a combination of art deco and classic design distinguish the exclusive 132-seat Princess Grill and142-seat Queens Grill restaurants. During the day, the entire length of the dining rooms is illuminated with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. At night, the rooms take on a dramatic ethereal quality bathed with soft lighting from decorative glass up-lights creating a golden glow around the room. The finest Wedgwood bone china, Waterford crystal, sterling silverware and Fili d’Oro Italian premium linens complete the scene, creating an elegant atmosphere.
The Grills offer extensive menus dedicated to the day’s diverse specialties and much loved a la carte accents such as Lobster Thermidor, Dover sole, and Chateaubriand. In the Queens Grill, the menu functions merely as a guide because, in grand Cunard tradition, the staff takes pleasure in accommodating any request, on or off the menu, if available.
Grill guests who prefer to dine outside will be able to book a table on the Grills Courtyard, an intimate Tuscan-inspired space featuring seating for 40 on a first-come, first-served basis. The Courtyard will also offer pre- and post-dinner cocktails and afternoon tea. In addition, Grill guests will be able to arrange private cocktail parties and special occasion dinners for small
groups in the Courtyard.
In the Grills Lounge, guests will enjoy traditional afternoon tea, full bar service, pre- and post-dinner cocktails and drinks with after-dessert chocolates accompanied by live entertainment.
Nothing at sea compares to Queens Grill accommodation. The ultimate in luxury, these Q1 – Q7 stateroom suites aboard Queen Victoria feature butlers who have been trained to the exacting standards of the International Guild of Professional Butlers. These ever-efficient butlers stand ready to assist with unpacking and packing, uncork the requisite bottle of French Champagne on departure and serve en-suite canapés every evening, among other duties.
Beautifully decorated in light woods and neutral shades of beige accented by nautically-inspired artwork, the Queens Grill accommodation includes Grand and Master Suites, Penthouses and Queens Suites. They range in size from 508- to 2,121-square feet and each features a large dining table, sofa and an expansive teak balcony.
Princess Grill accommodation promises a wonderful experience. The P1 – P4 stateroom suites aboard Queen Victoria range in size from 335- to 513-square feet and feature spacious private balconies, beautifully decorated living areas, two beds that can covert to a Queen bed and a bath with shower.
Queens or Princess Grill accommodation provides a range of other privileges too, including single-seating dining; access to the private Grills concierge and priority embarkation and luggage delivery with separate Grill check-in, Fili d’Oro fine linens, duvet and pillow concierge, flat screen TVs, whirlpool bathtubs, daily abridged newspaper, shoe shine service, terry cloth bathroom and slippers, and selection of fine bath amenities.
The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will offer the very best of Cunard's heritage and traditions, along with all modern day luxuries including some exciting innovations. These will include the first private viewing boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre, the first Cunardia museum exhibit at sea, housing Cunard artifacts and memorabilia along with the first two-storey, library at sea featuring an elegant spiral staircase.
From outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at the sophistication that differentiates a Cunard liner. This will be most evident in the ship's adherence to liner traditions of the past, with elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale two or three decks in height featuring rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics and gleaming chandeliers. She will feature the first ever
theatre at sea with private boxes, Cunard musem and grand, colonial-style conservatory complete with a retractable glass roof.
As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history (she joins the world's grandest liner, Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous liner, QE2.
This is a Cunard cruise blog entry by Phil
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