We were not happy with this cruise. We have cruised dozens of times, but this was the first and last on Cunard. They cater to a group of loyal Cunard passengers, and do nothing for anyone else.
The pro's: The cabin was nice. For the most part, the entertainment was very good. The embarkation was excellent. We received excellent service from our cabin steward and the Britannia Restaurant staff.
The con's: Ship is very dull looking inside. Food left a lot to be desired, low quality. There was a very limited menu in the dining room and in the buffet. The dress codes weren't being followed, and no one did anything about it. Many of the passengers were very pushy. Lecturers were boring, with uninteresting subjects. Port lecturer gave inaccurate information. Shops on board were limited and were overpriced. No real sales on board. The casino was very small, although I must admit, it was usually empty. The ship has a sliding covered pool. On the windiest day, it was left uncovered, WHY??Had it been closed, people could have enjoyed the pool area. Cunard really needs some help from Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean.
The cabin was nice. The sheltered balcony was good on windy days, otherwise, I would prefer a regular balcony. It is nice to have a full size shower which isn't always available on other cruise lines.
In Port Elizabeth, we took the excursion to Addo Elephant Park. The park is an hour plus out of Port Elizabeth, but the ride is well worth it. The close up experience with these Elephants is great. At a watering hole, we saw dozens of Elephants, many part of the same herd. They would walk down a hill, all headed for the watering hole where they played. Even though we had just been in Kruger, this was a Great experience. I would highly recommend this tour.