Queen Elizabeth, the newest ocean liner in the Cunard fleet, cruised into San Francisco Bay in the wee hours today. The visit is a first for San Francisco and the ship's only U.S. maiden call this year.
The ship
Queen Elizabeth is named for Her Majesty The Queen. The Queen personally christened the ship in Southampton, England amid great fanfare in October 2010.
Should you take a cruise, you’ll see hints of British royalty throughout the vessel. For starters, there’s a specially commissioned portrait of Her Majesty. It’s one of only two portraits not displayed in a royal palace, but on board a ship. There are also photos of the royal family on display together with various memorabilia.
Exquisite dining takes place nightly in the renowned Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants. Both are reserved for passengers traveling in the most exclusive suites. Other dining choices include The Veranda, an extra charge, alternative dining room based on the Veranda Grill on the original Queen Mary.
Queen Elizabeth is one of the few ships to still favor dressing to the nines. Themed balls are held in the Queens Room lounge on formal nights. Private boxes in the grand theater can be reserved for an evening performance featuring Champagne and snacks.
The ship is ranked among the top three best large resort ships in the highly regarded “2012 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships.” The honor is shared with fellow Cunard sister ships.
Sail away
Leaving San Francisco, Queen Elizabeth continues her World Cruise. Intriguing stops include Hawaii, American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, India, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Monaco and Portugal.
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