Welcome back, cruisers! If you’re just joining me, I’m currently sailing on a nine-day voyage aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. The ship is operating on a slightly modified itinerary thanks to Hurricane Melissa, which forced a few changes. Instead of calling on Amber Cove, Montego Bay, Belize, and Cozumel, our updated route now takes us to Costa Maya on Friday, followed by Roatán, Belize, and then Cozumel.
Since leaving PortMiami on Tuesday, we’ve been making our way south through very calm seas and lukewarm weather (by Florida standards) – low 80s, light breeze, plenty of sunshine. Basically, it’s been (pardon the pun) the perfect day.
Speaking of “Perfect Day,” there’s a little twist with our first stop, Costa Maya. The port was recently purchased by Royal Caribbean, and they’re transforming it into Perfect Day Mexico, an exclusive resort-style destination scheduled to open in 2027. Think lazy rivers, water slides, pools, and all the bells and whistles Royal loves to brag about. Once it opens, it’ll be available only to Royal Caribbean guests – but since the pier itself will still serve other cruise lines, the rest of us will be able to dock there, stare at it, and then go find something else to do.
Some cruise lines have already started adjusting their schedules, either reducing or eliminating stops at Costa Maya entirely once Perfect Day Mexico gets closer to opening. And honestly, I don’t blame them. Nobody wants to explain to guests why the other ship next door is having a ton of fun while all you’re doing is shopping for a sombrero souvenir.
Anyway, back to life onboard Queen Elizabeth. Before finding a quiet spot to get some work done this morning, I stopped by the Lido to grab breakfast – or at least that was the plan. The breakfast buffet here isn’t exactly something to write home about. Eggs, bacon, sausage, cold cuts, pastries, and fruits. That’s it. The setup has no clear start or end to the line, and people just jump in wherever they feel like it. I grabbed a small plate of breakfast meats, which were… fine.
At this point, I’ve realized the buffet on this ship is purely functional. It simply exists so you don’t starve. Every time I’ve walked through – breakfast, lunch, or dinner – it’s the same story: nothing has any “wow” factor. And why do they serve hot dogs at dinner time? Is this a British thing? I can’t explain it.
Most of the passengers seem to have figured this out, too. The buffet crowd is pretty thin, while the main dining room stays busy serving up full English breakfasts to the early risers. Others head to the Golden Lion Pub around lunchtime for fish and chips, which feels a bit more fitting on a British ship anyway.
There’s also the Pavilion Grill near the lido pool, which offers made-to-order breakfast and lunch items.
Once I ate my share of bacon, I found a quiet corner to do a bit of work while I noticed that you do not have to choose between Coke or Pepsi, they have BOTH!
Having only around 2,000 passengers onboard really makes a difference. There are plenty of loungers open by the pool, no wars for seats, and the whole mood is “go slow.” It’s the kind of day at sea that reminds you why smaller ships can be such a breath of fresh air compared to the 6,000-passenger floating theme parks.
The crowd onboard is definitely older – nobody’s rushing anywhere, except maybe to be first in line for dinner at 5:30 and first in bed by 9. But honestly, it’s kind of nice. You can stretch out, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the band playing poolside without being blasted by a DJ trying to start a belly flop contest.
Cunard doesn’t have a “Cruise Director” in the typical sense. Instead, they have an Entertainment Director, and ours is Sally Sagoe – who has, without exaggeration, the most soothing voice. Every announcement sounds like it’s being delivered by Mary Poppins reading an audiobook. She pops on the PA a few times a day – morning updates, the captain’s noon announcement, and a quick wrap-up later on.
And speaking of the noon announcement – this is a bit of classic cruise nostalgia that Cunard still does. At exactly 12:00, the ship’s whistles blast (loud enough to make you spill your drink if you’re on deck) followed by the captain giving his navigational update. He’ll share how far we’ve traveled, how much farther to Costa Maya, and the weather – all in Celsius, naturally, leaving us Americans doing quick math in our heads. It’s a small thing, but I love it. Most lines have ditched this formality, but here, it still feels like part of the experience.
Cunard’s Cruise Classic: Tea Time
Later in the afternoon, one of Cunard’s most iconic traditions took place – Afternoon Tea in the Queen’s Room. This ballroom is stunning: polished wood, sparkling chandeliers, a live band for dancing, and while white-gloved servers pouring tea and serving scones. It’s all complimentary, though you can upgrade with a glass of bubbly if you’re feeling fancy.
Cunard takes its tea time seriously – and they should. The tradition dates back to the 1840s and Cunard has kept that tradition alive and it’s one of those small touches that remind you this isn’t your average cruise.
Later in the afternoon, I decided it was time to earn at least one of the cocktails I’d been enjoying by getting some steps in. So, I headed down to Deck 3 – Queen Elizabeth’s beautiful wraparound promenade deck – and started walking. Fifteen laps later, I’d logged enough steps and took in some some seriously good sea views. Each lap comes out to about 0.9 miles, so it doesn’t take long to get those numbers up if you’re trying to close your rings or at least justify dessert later.
Walking on the promenade deck is one of those classic cruise experiences that never gets old. You’ve got the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and the occasional reminder that you’re on a ship built for elegance, not speed. It’s about a thousand times better than staring at the treadmill in the gym. Plus, on a sea day – when you’re not exactly racking up may steps walking between the buffet and the bar – it’s a great way to keep from feeling like a total sloth.
Wi-Fi Packages on Queen Elizabeth
Yesterday I mentioned I’d be diving into the ship’s internet situation today – because let’s be honest, “unplugging” sounds nice in theory until you realize you need to check your email, post a photo, or Google whether the buffet really does have hot dogs at dinner time.
Like most cruise ships, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth gets its internet from Starlink, and while that sounds promising, keep your expectations realistic. Internet at sea has definitely improved in recent years, but it’s still not going to rival your home Wi-Fi – and it’s definitely not cheap.
Cunard offers two different plans: Essential and Premium.
The Essential plan covers basic browsing – think checking emails, reading the news, and scrolling Facebook. It’s enough to stay connected without streaming your favorite shows or jumping on video calls. For those who do need to Zoom, FaceTime, or stream Netflix from their balcony, the Premium plan is your friend.
Here’s the damage if you buy for the entire voyage:
- Essential (1 device): $22 per day
- Premium (1 device): $30 per day
- Essential (4 devices): $44 per day
- Premium (4 devices): $60 per day
If you only need it for a day, you can grab a 24-hour pass – $24 for Essential or $44 for Premium.
Now, about that “1 device” bit – it means exactly that. You can only have one device connected at a time. If you want to switch from your phone to your laptop, you’ll need to log out on one before you can log in on the other. It’s a little annoying, but at least it’s flexible. Compare that to MSC, where internet is tied to your device, so if you want to be connected on both your phone and laptop, congratulations – you’re buying two packages.
If you’re not planning to post, stream, or work from the ship, you don’t need to buy anything. Cunard doesn’t have a dedicated app,but their My Voyage website – myvoyage.cunard.com – works perfectly fine without an internet plan. You can access dining reservations, menus, the daily schedule, and your onboard account balance all for free.
Tomorrow, I’ll get into something far more important than Wi-Fi: drink packages – and yes, I’ll finally unpack what went wrong with mine. (If you haven’t read my Day 1 report yet, now’s your chance to catch up.)
Smoking On Queen Elizabeth
Time to talk about an important – smoking.
Unlike most cruise lines that have slowly turned their ships into no-smoking zones with one sad corner where everyone crams into and sucks down Winstons all day long, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth actually embraces the idea that some guests still enjoy a puff or two. There are a lot (I mean a lot) of designated smoking areas onboard, which honestly surprised me.
Nearly the entire starboard side of the Promenade Deck (Deck 3) is smoking-friendly. It’s also one of the most peaceful spots on the ship, lined with classic wooden steamer chairs for watching the ocean roll by. Even if you’re not lighting up, it’s a great place to relax with a drink and a view, though you might catch the occasional whiff of smoke drifting by.
If you prefer a higher vantage point, there are multiple smoking areas up on Deck 10, also on the starboard side. These spots tend to be a little breezier making them a favorite for my afternoon cigar and a cold beer.
Now, for my fellow cigar lovers – Queen Elizabeth actually has a dedicated cigar lounge called Churchill’s. You can bring your own cigars or purchase one from their selection onboard – no Cubans however. And unlike on MSC, where their so-called “cigar lounges” usually double as general smoking rooms filled with cigarette and vape clouds, Churchill’s is strictly cigar only. No cigarettes, no vaping, no exceptions – which makes for a much more enjoyable experience.
It’s one of those spaces that really reminds you you’re on a Cunard ship – refined, traditional, and totally old-school.
Where is Everyone???
Before dinner, I decided to stretch my legs and take another lap around the ship around 7 p.m. – that awkward in-between hour when half the passengers are usually at dinner and the other half are getting ready for it. But on Queen Elizabeth, it was something else entirely. It felt like I was walking through a ghost ship.
I’m not exaggerating when I say there was nobody around. Lounges were empty, shops were empty, and even the casino – which, by the way, is tiny and non-smoking – was empty. Dealers were standing at their tables waiting for someone, anyone, to wander in, and maybe three lonely souls were tapping away at the slot machines. It was eerie. The kind of eerie where you half expect to see a tumbleweed roll across the carpet.
Curious, I stopped by a bar, sat down, and asked the bartender, “What’s going on? Did I miss the memo about an evacuation drill?” He laughed and said, “Everyone eats dinner early here.” And he wasn’t kidding. You could’ve tossed a few bowling balls down the hallway and not hit a single person.
So naturally, I had to see for myself. I wandered over to the Britannia Dining Room – and sure enough, it was packed. Every table full, a line of people waiting to get in. Mystery solved. Apparently, on Queen Elizabeth, dinner at 5:30 isn’t “early seating” – it’s prime time.
With that confirmed, I made my way up to one of my favorite spots onboard – the Commodore Club on Deck 10. Perched high above the bow, it offers sweeping ocean views and an atmosphere that perfectly captures Cunard’s refined vibe. Think rich woods, plush chairs, soft lighting, and a pianist playing something classy enough to make you order a martini instead of a beer. The drink menu is impressive, and the bartenders actually know how to make a proper cocktail.
Dinner at La Piazza on Queen Elizabeth
Let’s talk dinner – and thankfully, we’re finally moving into the “making things right after a rough start” part of the cruise.
On Queen Elizabeth, you’ve got three main dining options to choose from: the Lido Buffet, the Britannia Dining Room, and the Steakhouse at The Verandah. The steakhouse falls into the specialty category, carrying a $65 cover charge – one of the most expensive steakhouses at sea.
In addition to those, Cunard mixes things up with a series of pop-up specialty dining experiences held throughout each voyage. These take over a section of the Lido Restaurant and are offered two to three times per cruise. Each has its own theme and cover charge, and all are reservation-only. The lineup includes La Piazza (Italian), Karibe (Caribbean) – a new concept introduced for Queen Elizabeth’s Caribbean season – and Bamboo (Asian).
Tonight’s pop-up was La Piazza, so I made myself an 8 p.m. reservation. After enjoying a few cocktails in the Commodore Club, I made my way down one deck to the Lido where I checked in and was taken to a table by a window.
Dinner starts off with some focacci bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. The menu is small but has the classics, and the $35 cover charge includes one starter, one main, and a dessert trio. Since I’m a Gold-level loyalty member, I got 10% off – hey, I’ll take it!
I started off with the Antipasti Board, a nicely presented assortment of cured meats, cheeses, olives, fried calamari, and marinated mushrooms.
For my main course, I went classic with Chicken Parmesan a thin, lightly breaded, perfectly crispy chicken breast paired with spaghetti in a tomato sauce that was rich and slightly sweet. The chicken was hot, moist, and flavorful, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. It was honestly made up for a less than stellar meal in the Britannia last night.
Dessert came in the form of a Trio of Desserts, featuring a small selection of Italian sweets that tied everything together perfectly. Like the rest of the meal, the portions weren’t huge, but the presentation and flavors made up for it.
Service was great tonight. My server was friendly, attentive without hovering, and had great timing on each course. My wine glass was never empty (always a plus), and at the end of the meal, I was presented with a small surprise – since I booked this on either the first or second day of the cruise, the experience included a complimentary bottle of house wine of my choice (red, white, or rosé) to take back to my stateroom.
Overall, the dinner was really enjoyable, though I’m still undecided if it was worth the $35 cover. For the quality and service, it’s hard to complain – but I did leave just a little hungry. I could have definitely gone for more of the pasta, as the sauce was… THAT GOOD.
Before I left, my server asked if I’d booked the other pop-ups – particularly Bamboo – and when I told him yes, he said, “That one’s my favorite. You’re going to love it.”
So, stay tuned. La Piazza was good, so now I’ve got high hopes for Bamboo!
Evening Entertainment
After dinner, I decided to skip the evening show in the Royal Court Theatre. The headliner for the night was Christine Allady, who’s billed as a Grammy-nominated, multi-award-winning leading lady from London’s West End. Her performance was described as a mix of Broadway and opera classics, sprinkled with stories from her career.
Instead, I headed back up to my new favorite haunt, the Commodore Club, for a few end-of-the-night cocktails. The atmosphere there at night is exactly what you want on a ship like this – dim lighting, soft chatter, and a pianist playing and singing. Her voice had this smooth, haunting quality that reminded me of Karen Carpenter.
Around 11:30 p.m., I called it a night and made my way back to my stateroom. Like clockwork, the room had been turned down (yes, they still do noghtly turndown service here), lights dimmed, curtains drawn, and the next day’s schedule neatly placed on the bed, with a square of chocolate. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a line that prides itself on tradition and polish.
Tomorrow is another sea day, so more time to relax, explore, and hopefully avoid any new surprises. Thanks for following along – we’ll see what Day 3 brings aboard Queen Elizabeth.
Daily Schedule
