The cruise was our first on Cunard. Unusually for a Christmas Market cruise we would overnight in Zeebrugge. On our first day we visited Bruges.
Day 1: Sunday 14th December 2025: Southampton
Our journey down to Southampton was remarkably clear and we were at the terminal by 2:15pm.
An even bigger surprise was the lack of queues when we checked the car in at the terminal. We then had a short wait in the terminal before security and boarding the ship. Once onboard we we were able to go straight to our cabin.
We were very impressed with our cabin. Before sorting out unpacking we went to the upper deck to have a snack and to see the buffet. It was very different from other ships as none of stations were self service. Back in our cabin our cases had arrived we unpacked.
After a visit to the ship’s purser (reception) to pick up maps for the first port we went to the Chart Room bar, and this bar served Shipyard.
After an early dinner we relaxed again in the Chart Room.
Day 2: Monday 15th December 2026 Zeebrugge, Belgium
By the time we were ready for breakfast the quayside was full of coaches.
We could see a couple of mine countermeasures ships across the port for us. The BNS Oostende and BNS Antwerpen
Breakfast was in the buffet on the upper deck. The good news was that we would not need to carry our passports on our visit to Bruges.
Bruges
When we boarded our coach we were surprised that had the same courier leader that we had had on our Christmas market trip last year when we went to Brussels.
On our journey to Bruges we were told about the formation and then growth of Zeebrugge as a port. We past trains loaded with cars waiting to be exported, including one full of JLR Defenders. We arrived in the outskirts of Bruges and we then had to walk through a park to reach the centre of the city.
We passed the Gunpowder Tower and then Burgher’s Lodge.
Out of the park we met one of the tourist horse tours and false advertising outside a bar!
(FREE BEER TOPLESS BARTENDERS & FALSE ADVERTISING)
Coffee time in the Market Square
This bar was packed both inside and outside. We did find a table outside. While we drank our coffees we watched the stream of passers-by entering and leaving the square. The coffee was expensive at €5 each!
Beer Wall
Lunch
Outside the restaurant we had could see the tourist boats in one of the canals.
Another coffee
Before the park we stopped to get warm and have hot chocolates and a shared waffle.
Walking back to the coach
This is the building in the car park.
While we waited for our coach I walked across the car park to have a look at the art under the road above.
Amazingly there were no port security queues unlike our previous visit a year ago on Iona. P&O Aurora was docked in Zeebrugge and as we past we were surprised at just how badly rusted the ship was rusted on the upper decks. Surprise as we were booked on the ship in May in 2026.
The 3 Tones
To get to the theatre we had to pass the Queen’s Room. Below a band was playing to a full house. We were at the the Royal Court Theatre to see the 3 Tones. The announced Cunard’s policy in the theatre was strictly “no photographs” as well as the usual ban on video or audio recording.
Showtime: The 3 Tones
Three outstanding vocalists from different musical backgrounds combine to deliver a spectacular show spanning musical genres from classical and musical theatre. to pop, swing and rock n roll.
Our evening was rounded off by a quiet drink in the Chart Room.
Queen Anne stayed in Zeebrugge overnight and on the next day we went to Blankenberge.