Interviews On board with Cunard News and events

Strangers to shipmates: Friends found at sea enjoy five consecutive Queen Anne voyages

Two friends who first met on a Cunard world cruise have completed an incredible five consecutive voyages on the luxury cruise line’s newest ship Queen Anne.

5 min 30 Aug 2024

Cunard

Author

Terry Bell, a former auctioneer from Tasmania, and Phillip Millinger, a retired marketeer from Runcorn, have spent 58 days on board the 3,000-guest ship since her maiden voyage on 3 May.

The travel companions disembarked Queen Anne in Southampton on Sunday (30 June) after the trip of a lifetime and the pair now have plans to sail aboard the 113,000-ton vessel’s maiden world voyage in January – a 107-night adventure calling at more than 30 ports across five continents.

In total, their time at sea included Queen Anne’s maiden voyage, a seven-night sailing to Lisbon via La Coruna; a two-week sailing around the Canary Islands; the 14-night British Isles Festival Voyage – a celebratory lap of honour around the British Isles; a 16-night Western Mediterranean sailing; before a final seven-night roundtrip voyage to the Norwegian Fjords.

Phil (left) and Terry enjoyed 58 straight days on board Queen Anne

“We have had quite an incredible time on Queen Anne,” said Terry, a Diamond Cunard World Club member, meaning he has completed at least 15 voyages or spent more than 150 nights on board.

“It was always our intention to spend eight weeks sailing around Europe on board Queen Anne and the experience really has blown our minds. I think my favourite destination has been the Fjords, the scenery has just been something else."

“But everything on board has run very smoothly; the social side of things has been superb and we have made lots of friends. That’s what a Cunard cruise is all about.”

Phillip, who has enjoyed 26 voyages with Cunard over the years – including the iconic QE2 – explained that Queen Anne is a welcome evolution of luxury ocean travel, with many modern propositions.

He said: “Queen Anne is a brand new ship and I like that Cunard have developed their approach to certain venues and experiences. Everything feels really modern and fresh, which has been brilliant."

“The atmosphere on board has been very friendly and casual, the bars are full and far less formal than people expect a Cunard ship to be. There are plenty of opportunities to dress up, but there are noticeably more younger people on board and the crew have looked after us fantastically well. The service has been impeccable."

“The food has also been spectacular and for me the highlight was a beautiful piece of steak in Sir Samuels. We’ve also really enjoyed the entertainment offering and aside from the West End-style productions, we had a great time watching the ‘Let’s Dance’ show."

“Not to mention some of the star names we’ve been treated to as well. Russell Watson was great on the maiden voyage and we also liked listening to Frank Bruno and Celia Imrie on the British Isles Festival Voyage.”

Terry and Phillip added that their favourite spots for a drink were the charming Chart Room or expansive Commodore Club, whilst they enjoyed the occasional pub lunch in the Golden Lion.

Their highlights also included daily indulgences of the “very special” Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room – a truly unique Cunard experience. But their all-time favourite venue was The Pavilion, an idyllic top deck oasis featuring a specially designed glass dome roof that retracts in warmer climes.

“We were really impressed by the elevated wellness elements on Queen Anne,” said Phillip.

“The spa is fantastic – very modern and very clean and it’s a great place to meet new people and unwind in style."

“Terry and I first met as solo travellers so we know how important it is for those interactions to flourish. This was our seventh trip together after first meeting on Queen Mary 2’s world voyage in January 2019."

“Since then, we’ve really hit it off and I’d say the key to a long-term travelling companion is that we share the same sense of humour and have lots of similar interests.”

Asked about any top tips they’d share with first-time cruisers, Terry said: “Don’t bring too many clothes! Cunard is evolving with the times, so whilst it’s nice to pack a dinner jacket, you don’t need one every night.”

The friends will reunite in January for Queen Anne’s maiden world voyage in January 2025.

For adventure seekers looking to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime experience, prices currently start from £19,999 per person based on two sharing a Britannia Balcony stateroom. Full details can be found, here.

Queen-to-Queen voyages

But if you need extra doses of Cunard magic, the luxury cruise line has several Queen-to-Queen itineraries available across 2025 and 2026, where travellers join separate voyages on different Queens over the duration of a single holiday.

For example, enjoy a 42-night escape, sailing on three Cunard Queens, with an overnight hotel stay in New York or Miami. Your adventure begins in Seattle, where you’ll embark Queen Elizabeth for a 21-night voyage that transits the Panama Canal via a call in Los Angeles – the perfect opportunity to stroll the city’s legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After a connecting flight to New York from Miami, you’ll join Queen Mary 2 for an iconic Transatlantic Crossing to Southampton. Relax into the gentle rhythm of sea days, with so much to discover on board. Arriving in Southampton, you’ll transfer to Queen Victoria for the final leg of your journey; a 13-night voyage of the Atlantic Islands and Azores that includes an overnight in Funchal, Madeira. Immerse yourself in gothic-style churches in Ponta Delgada and Porto’s decoratively tiled buildings, before returning to Southampton, where your three Queens voyage reaches its grand conclusion.