A Gala Night onboard a Cunard Queen
(15 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Michael Capps
Saint Johns, FL
Veteran Owned Travel Agency, always in style!
After traveling the world for over 20 years with the Army, I am putting all of that experience and passion into making dreams come true for other families. I bring discipline, attention to detail, and a commitment to exceptional service to the wor...
After traveling the world for over 20 years with the Army, I am putting all of that experience and passion into making dreams come true for other families. I bring discipline, attention to detail, and a commitment to exceptional service to the world of travel.
Not only have we planned countless trips and cruises to Disney Parks and Resorts, the Alaskan Wilderness, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe, but we also like to share the travel style trends from vintage fashion, to elegant formal attire.
Let's start planning together to bring you the most memorable, stress-free, stylish, and high class vacation imaginable.
When I’m not traveling or planning your trip, I enjoy time with my loving wife and two amazing children in Saint Johns, Florida.
Can Be Reached At
1-904-316-2241
Gala Night in the library on the Queen Mary 2
We thought we may feel out of place. For months we had looked forward to our first Gala Night on board the Cunard Queen Mary 2, the worlds only Oceanliner still in operation. We knew that cruiser sensibilities had changed over the last several decades, and that we may not encounter many people who romanticize the "golden age of travel" the way that we do. But we decided that we would go "all in" on the formal Gala Night for our voyage. While I wore a slim black tuxedo, and Mrs. Dapper donned a fitted golden gown, and we exited our stateroom right at 6pm excited to embrace the atmosphere. WE WERE NOT ALONE!
When the sun was starting to set on our first day at sea, so much glamour filled the ship, as passengers across all generations embraced the elegance of the Royal Ball ambiance. We especially enjoyed seeing the smallest passengers (though there were very few) in their finest formal attire heading to dinner. We also noticed how everyone seemed to stand a little bit prouder as they walked the hallways of the art deco-style ship, almost like stepping right into a old movie. I couldn't help it. I had to order a martini to complement my tuxedo. And even though this has never been my go-to drink, it seemed just right.
There were, of course, professional photographers on board to capture the memories, but we received a little bit of special advice from an exceptional crew member. Our bartender, Jason, told us that the library would be closed for the evening, but the doors remain open. The lighting and background in the library provide some of the most interesting, artistic, and unique photo opportunities on board. So as we finished our drinks, we headed to the library to take one of our favorite pictures form the entire cruise.
The dinner and cocktails that evening added their own special "Gala Night" themed touches, and the captain furnished a glass of champagne to every passenger in celebration. The "Be Our Guest" show opened with the cast performing in vintage bellhop uniforms, a perfect nostalgic tribute to the storied past of the oceanliner. But the ballroom dancing did more to make this evening a special occasion than any thing else we experienced on board. While we were certainly not experienced dancers, we still joined the floor and moved as gracefully as we could to the live orchestra among the more skilled passengers. It was a legitimate Royal Ball the way many have only held in Disney-style fantasies.
It's no mystery, based on this post, that we loved everything about the Gala Night experience. Were there some on board that weren't so enthused? Of course, and there were areas on the ship that still catered to more casual tastes such as the Golden Lion Pub and buffet areas. The main dining room, however, did expect passengers to adhere to the elevated dress code, and we did overhear a gentleman commenting that he was told to put on a jacket before entering the dining room for dinner.
So we concluded our Gala Night all smiles, having experienced a true special occasion at sea, that is so different that anything else we have witnessed on any other cruise line. We were grateful to Cunard for continuing this tradition (while also affording some more casual locations). So grateful, in fact, that we have already booked two more Cunard line voyages! We hope to see Jason the bartender again to get some more great photo recommendations!