We had had a sea day to recover after our busy day in Rotterdam before Queen Anne docked in Hamburg. This was to be another daytime only visit with the challenge of the U-Bahn to take us to the lake
Day 6: 19th December 2025: Hamburg
Queen Anne docked next to Westfield, a large shopping centre much closer to the centre of the city than the docks.
Again upstairs for breakfast in Artisans’ Foodhall and then we left the ship.
Once inside we headed for the U-Bahn. The number of passengers overwhelmed the number of ticket machines. Plus most of us didn’t initially have clue how to get a ticket!
We caught the U4 just one stop to Jungfernstieg.
Once we had navigated our way to the surface we immediately recognised where we were. This was close by where the shuttles on previous visits had dropped us off.
Walking from the Jungfernstieg station
The pavilion was closed where we ate lunch last visit was closed for development.
The market by the town hall was very busy – we didn’t wait for Santa and his sled to pass overhead.
More developments
The last view before we caught the U-Bahn back to Westfield.
Westfield
Before we went to the cruise terminal we walked around the shopping centre – also because at first we were unable to find out where to go!
Leaving Hamburg
Here some ornaments that haven’t been “borrowed” by guests…
After our evening meal we looked in on the evening’s entertainment before one last look at the art gallery.
Day 7: Saturday 20th December 2025: At Sea
We planned to have another restful day as Queen Anne went down the Channel back to Southampton.
This is one of the interesting items around the ship.
In the afternoon we went for a drink in the Chart Room. The atmosphere had completely changed after the the new passengers had joined the ship in Hamburg. We watched as passengers now tipped dollars after every drink was delivered. When a passenger asked if there was a problem with getting her latte, the brusque answer was something along the lines “we are busy, wait.”
It seems tipping with cash was the best way to get served. At this point we left the bar and now had yet another impression of what service would be like on Cunard on a trans Atlantic trip.
After dinner we went to see Aled Jones in the theatre.
A quick visit to art gallery and here was the Chagal that we had heard about.
The ship’s clock reverted to UK time overnight.
Day 8: Sunday 21st December 2025: Southampton
Disembarkation went very smoothly and that was the end of our first Cunard experience. Not sure it is an experience that we will repeat anytime soon after the service we had received in the restaurant and observed n the Chart Room.