If you’re considering an inside cabin on Queen Anne, this review shares what it was really like staying in one, from the layout and storage to who I think it’s best suited to.
Ever since Cunard announced their newest ship, Queen Anne, I’ve wanted to try her. So when I spotted a short cruise to Rotterdam at a bargain price, I didn’t have to think too long.
The only other Cunard ship I’ve sailed on is Queen Mary 2, so I was really interested to see how Queen Anne compared, especially as she’s positioned as a more modern take on Cunard cruising.
In this review, I’m sharing my experience of staying in an inside cabin on Queen Anne to help you decide whether this cabin type and layout might be right for you.
At a glance
In a hurry? Here’s the quick rundown on what it’s really like staying in an inside cabin on Queen Anne.
- Cabin type: Standard inside cabin
- Deck: 9 (forward, under the bridge)
- Best for: Solo travellers or short cruises
- Pros: Modern design, very quiet location, excellent shower
- Cons: Slightly cramped, limited wardrobe layout, creaky at night
- Would I book it again? Yes, for a short cruise
Choosing an inside cabin on Queen Anne
Usually, choosing an inside cabin is fairly straightforward for me. Inside cabins are often much of a muchness, so location is really the main thing I worry about.
After spending three noisy nights under the Queen’s Room on Queen Mary 2, I’ve very much learned my lesson when it comes to being underneath public venues.
Queen Anne made things a little trickier, though. There are three different inside cabin layouts and, frustratingly, it isn’t always clear which one you’re booking.
I ended up spending quite a bit of time trawling the internet and YouTube trying to find photos or videos that might help. In the end, I went with one of the few cabins still available that wasn’t under a public area — cabin 9.009, right at the front of the ship on deck 9, underneath the bridge.
Location
One of the big plus points of this cabin was its location. Being right at the end of the corridor meant very little foot traffic, and being under the bridge meant no noise at all from above.
That said, being right at the front of the ship, there was a bit of movement, particularly on the first night. I didn’t think it was too bad, but if you’re prone to seasickness or sensitive to movement, I’d probably avoid forward cabins.
Being on deck 9, it was just a short walk to the Pavilion and the Artisan Food Hall, which was very handy, especially if, like me, you enjoy a late-night snack or taking a cuppa back to your cabin.
The amenities on the lower decks were a bit more of a trek, but I always think that’s no bad thing as it helps work off some of the food and drink consumed on a cruise!
First impressions
I boarded at around 1:30pm and my cabin was already ready, so after checking in at my muster station I headed straight there.
Walking in, I was immediately struck by how modern and fresh the cabin felt. I’d watched plenty of YouTube cabin tours beforehand and had wondered whether the darker colour palette might make it feel a bit drab or even claustrophobic, but it really didn’t. If anything, I quite liked it. It felt elegant without being stuffy. Still very Cunard, but definitely more modern.
The cabin was absolutely spotless, from the bathroom to the soft furnishings, and everything felt fresh and well looked after.
There was also a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine waiting on the dressing table. I know that divides opinion among Cunard regulars, but I thought it was a nice touch and very much in keeping with the Cunard experience.
Cabin layout and space
Entering the cabin, there’s a wardrobe directly on the right and the bathroom door on the left, creating a short corridor into the main part of the room.
As you’d expect, the bed takes up most of the space, with two narrow bedside cabinets on either side. On top sit retro-style lamps with built-in reading lights, and there are plug sockets and USB ports tucked behind them, which is handy if you like to keep your phone close while it’s charging.
On the wall opposite the bed (the bathroom wall) is the dressing table. There’s a large mirror surrounded by stylish wallpaper, which I really liked, along with a small drawer housing the hairdryer. I only used it once, but it was reasonably powerful and didn’t take too long to dry my hair.
Underneath the desk is a small fridge, and built into the unit above is a shelving area where the tea and coffee station lives. This includes a kettle, two mugs, two water glasses, UHT milk sachets, biscuits, and tea and coffee sachets.
Tip: I usually bring a small container with me and grab fresh milk from the buffet to keep in the fridge. It makes a much nicer morning cuppa.
You’ll also find more plug sockets here, including UK and European sockets, plus USB ports, even USB-C, which was a nice surprise as I don’t think I’ve had that on a ship before and really shows how new the ship is.
While this cabin was a little smaller than most other standard inside cabins I’ve stayed in, it didn’t feel quite as cramped as I’d expected. There was just about enough floor space at the end of the bed for me to fully open my suitcase while packing and unpacking.
That said, it was a bit of a squeeze down either side of the bed. Next time, I think I’d ask for the beds to be split and pushed against the walls, with the bedside cabinets in the middle. I’ve seen that setup in other Queen Anne cabins and it looks much more practical and would probably make the cabin feel more spacious.
The TV placement
I’d read a lot about the TV placement before sailing, and I can now see why it’s been a bit controversial. In this cabin, it’s mounted on a side wall and doesn’t angle out, which makes the viewing angle… not great.
I don’t tend to watch much TV in my cabin, usually just the bridge cam or the radio, but if you like watching films in bed, this might be a bit annoying.
If you can put up with the viewing angle, there’s plenty available, including live TV, on-demand films, guest talks, port information, dining details, and the ability to check your onboard account.
Storage
At first glance, the wardrobe storage looks fairly generous, but it’s a little deceptive once you start using it.
There are two very narrow hanging spaces, one full length and one split with two rails, along with a column of narrow shelves. There’s also a wider shelving section with the life jackets on the top shelf, a safe in the middle, and some additional hanging space lower down for shorter items like t-shirts or shorts. There is also one larger hanging compartment with space at the bottom for shoes.
Overall, I found the wardrobe layout slightly odd. The narrow sections aren’t particularly practical, and you can’t fit very much in them, especially if you’re travelling in winter like I was and have bulkier clothes than you would on a summer cruise.
The two bedside cabinets each had a shelf and two drawers, and I found these really handy for things I wanted to keep close by. Suitcases also fit under the bed without any problem.
For a short cruise, storage was absolutely fine. On a longer sailing, I think it would be more of a challenge, mainly because of the layout rather than the overall amount of storage.
Read more: Not sure what to pack? I’ve shared everything you need to know about the Cunard dress code, including what to wear onboard Queen Anne and her sister ships.
Bathroom
The bathroom was a decent size and felt bright, clean, and airy. There wasn’t much floor space, but it was well designed. It’s not the biggest bathroom I’ve had on a ship, but it’s by no means the smallest either.
The shower alone almost made up for the lack of floor space. It was huge by cruise ship standards and had excellent water pressure.
There were two shelves in the shower, one with the Penhaligon’s body wash and shampoo and another with space for your own toiletries.
Above the sink was a large mirror with lighting all the way round, which made it easy for doing makeup. There were also three small shelves by the sink holding the Penhaligon’s hand wash, two glasses, and a container of cotton wool, with a shaver point underneath.
Towels were stored on rails above the toilet, and there were two hooks on the back of the door for robes or towels.
The only real downside was a persistent unpleasant smell in the bathroom. We reported it, and Cunard sent a plumber and later had the grouting cleaned. While this helped, it didn’t fully resolve the issue. Because it was only a short cruise, we could live with it, but on a longer sailing it would have been much harder to tolerate.
That said, Cunard handled it well, were apologetic, and provided onboard credit to make up for the inconvenience. Since returning home, I’ve seen similar reports in Cunard Facebook groups, so it doesn’t appear to be a one-off issue.
Thoughts after four nights onboard
Overall, I found the cabin modern and comfortable, but it did feel a little cramped at times. I think it’s probably better suited to solo travellers than couples or friends, although I wouldn’t completely rule out sharing again.
Storage was fine for a few days onboard, but I think it would be more challenging on a longer cruise, mainly because of the wardrobe layout, especially when travelling in winter.
The biggest surprise was how creaky the cabin was. Even though the seas were fairly calm, it was probably the creakiest cabin I’ve stayed in. I’d definitely pack earplugs next time.
The last word
Overall, I did like this cabin. It’s modern, comfortable, and very Cunard in feel, even if it is on the smaller side. The bathroom smell was obviously a downside, but it’s just one of those things.
I would still recommend this style of inside cabin, as long as you go in knowing what to expect in terms of space and layout. If you’re happy with a compact cabin and are mainly using it as a base rather than somewhere to spend lots of time, it does the job well.
I’d happily book an inside cabin on Queen Anne again. Next time, though, I’d be keen to try one of the alternative layouts, particularly the landscape-style cabins where you open the door straight into the bed area. It would be interesting to see how much difference the layout makes to how the space feels.
I feel another cruise booking coming on one day…!
Have you cruised in an inside cabin on Queen Anne? I’d love to hear what you thought.