The Luxury Cruise Review

Queen Elizabeth Bars & Nightlife

Editors rating:
4.0
/5.0
Very good

The Queen Elizabeth bars and nightlife have something for everyone, including the iconic Commodore Club and the West End-style Royal Court Theatre.

Review by

Published on

25 September 2020

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Queen Elizabeth Bars & Nightlife

Editors rating:
4.0
/5.0
Very good

Nightlife ratings

Live venuesRating
Bar(s)
(4.0)
Night club
(3.0)
Lounge(s)
(4.0)
Live shows
(4.5)
ElectronicRating
Movies
(4.0)
TV channels
(4.0)
Internet
(4.0)

The Commodore Club

The Commodore Club is a piano bar that serves signature Cunard cocktails. It also has great panoramic views across the front of the cruise ship, making it something of an observation lounge.

The Commodore Club on Queen Elizabeth.
The Commodore Club pays homage to the Cunard captains.

The cocktails in the Commodore Club are one-of-a-kind. In fact they aren’t available in any of the other Queen Elizabeth bars. I like the “Punch Romaine à la Carpathia”. It’s part dessert, part drink with Advocaat, Lemocello, Cream Sherry and Mallow. They say it was the last libation served on the Titanic.

The pianist adds to the ambiance and is happily take requests.

Hours: 10:00am – 1:00am.

Midships Bar

The Midships Bar is a popular pre-dinner meeting place on Queen Elizabeth. Indeed, as the name suggests it is located midship (on deck 3) and in the evening a string quartet set the mood. 

The Midships Bar on Queen Elizabeth.
The Midships bar has a classy ambience.

The bar has an old-world feel with lots of comfortable sofas and some quiet nooks for romantic rendezvous.

"A Hint of the Orient" gin cocktail on Queen Elizabeth.
“A Hint of the Orient” is a signature of the Midships Bar.

The Midships Bar has a great drinks menu. In fact it specialises in gin creations with 8 pages of gin-based inspiration. I sampled a delicious gin cocktail called “A Hint of the Orient” with notes of lotus root and star anise.

The Midships Bar is not to be missed.

Hours: 5:00pm – midnight.

 The Yacht Club

The disco on Queen Elizabeth is called the Yacht Club. It has a resident D.J. and a round dance floor, as well as plenty of seating and a bar. The Yacht Club is located near the Commodore Club and has views over the Pavilion Pool.

The Yacht Club on Queen Elizabeth.
The Yacht Club is the disco on Queen Elizabeth.

It’s not always busy, but on the nights when people do decide to come out it is one of the most lively Queen Elizabeth bars.

Hours: 9:30pm – late.

The Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is the place to go for spectacular shows and entertainment by guest artists. 

There are performances almost every night and the standard is generally very high, especially the cast shows.

The venue itself is like a West End theatre with stalls as well as a dress circle. There are even boxes for hire. Hiring a box is a real treat and includes champagne and chocolates. The cost is US$60 per box.

The Royal Court Theatre also has movie screenings at certain times. Check the Daily Programme newsletter for details.

Showtimes: 8:00pm and 10:00pm.

Ballroom dancing in the Queens Room

Dancing in the magnificent Queens Room is a very special experience, particularly on Gala nights. In fact the Queens Room is the biggest ballroom at sea, with a dramatic high ceiling, crystal chandeliers and a live orchestra that sets the scene. 

The spectacular Queens Room on Queen Elizabeth.
Enjoy ballroom dancing in the spectacular Queens Room on Queen Elizabeth.

You won’t be able to resist the urge to swing your way around the dance floor. But that said, the Queens Room seems to attract as many spectators as it does dancers!

The pub – a different Queen Elizabeth bar

The Golden Lion Pub showcases of the best of British pub-life. Each evening there is a live bands as well as coverage of major sporting events on big screens. In addition there are pub games and even karaoke. It’s all good fun and it does feel just like a London pub.

Hours: 10:00am – 1:00am.

The Garden Lounge

The Garden Lounge is a large, conservatory-style Queen Elizabeth bar. Indeed, it is inspired by the conservatories at Kew Gardens. There are oversized wicker armchairs and lots of pot plants which add to the decor. The Garden Lounge serves a light breakfast, delicious afternoon teas and refreshing cocktails.

The Grills Lounge

The Grills Lounge is reserved for guests staying in Princess and Queens Grill suites. It’s an exclusive venue, although the drinks they serve are similar to those in other Queen Elizabeth bars. Read more about the Grills Lounge here.

The author sailed as a guest of Cunard.

About the Author: Jason Kerr
Founder and Managing Editor of The Luxury Cruise Review. A passion for travel, a weakness for espresso coffee and a love of Greek cuisine.

3 Comments

  1. Paul Honeysett 19 Sep 2022 at 16:46 - Reply

    Thank you for the insight, my anticipation grows!

  2. Loretta McKeithan 18 Apr 2023 at 05:26 - Reply

    Already bookedLast check for my bucket list. Sailed The Queen Mary and The Queen Victoria. Going with family and friends who are all very excited about this trip. Thank you for all the good information.

  3. Patricia Green 28 Sep 2023 at 19:42 - Reply

    59 days and “We are Sailing”
    Always sailed on a party cruise or musical cruises but really looking forward to
    this cruise
    Pampering
    Massages
    Total relaxation
    On Deck scenic Vistas

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