Do not sit in the front row. It’s great advice, especially in the case of an interactive show like the Bright Lights Society’s rollicking good murder mystery aboard Cunard’s gorgeous new Queen Anne—and especially when you listen to said advice. Which I didn’t. Which is why I found myself a reluctant participant, soft shoeing before the audience with a heavily pompadoured “murder victim.”

It was early into my cruise from London to the Norwegian fjords and I had been hearing fellow passengers rave about “Noir” and its cast of zanies, featuring Sly Fingers Sam, who warms up the crowd with pounding piano tunes, an extremely flexible French maid named Trixie Martini and a hard-boiled detective sleuthing about beneath his fedora. The actors give their all and then some to this wholly original and irrepressible show, a manic mix of song and dance and slapstick, where murder most foul is cloaked in the swirling haze of a fog machine.

“Queen Anne is Cunard’s first new ship in many years, and we took advantage of the opportunity to bring our entire guest experience a big step forward,” said entertainment director Michael Harvey. “One brand new venue for the ship is the Bright Lights Society, a cabaret-style venue that offers immersive and fun shows and a cast that performs six nights a week.”

With its name inspired by Cunard’s heritage as the first shipping line to install electric lights onboard, Bright Lights is also the nightclub aboard Queen Anne. This, combined with the splashy productions, has made it very popular among guests. But be forewarned: Tickets go fast for “Noir” and the equally energetic “Fizz” (think burlesque collides with music and romance), both typically selling out each evening.

“Our feedback is telling us that guests are loving the variety of ways in which they can spend their evenings, from the excitement of the Bright Lights Society to the relaxed and fun Golden Lion where there is always a quiz, game show or live musical act on stage to the elegance of the Queens Room,” said Harvey.

As Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne is all about variety, presented in a beautiful package that honors the traditions of the nearly 185-year-old cruise line while giving it contemporary vibes. Named after Anne, the first monarch of the Kingdom of Great Britain, the 3,000-passenger ship is the second largest ship in the Cunard fleet. She rules in the entertainment, onboard activity, wellness and dining departments while staying true to the line’s ethos of grand voyaging.

In addition to the main dining room, Queen Anne’s upcharge restaurants Tramonto, Sir Samuel’s, Aji Wa, Aranya and the Golden Lion each dish up a unique gastronomical experience in settings from elegant to casual: Mediterranean flavors, steakhouse favorites, Japanese tastes, classic Indian cuisine and pub classics designed by two Michelin starred chef Michel Roux.

My favorite place to dine was in the Princess Grill (exclusively for guests in Princess Grill Suites). The room is refined yet relaxed and the service impeccable—and it has the added luxury of an inviting lounge where both Princess Grill and Queens Grill suite guests may gather throughout the day for drinks, quiet work time and relaxation.

Offering the ultimate in relaxation is Cunard’s Mureel Wellness and Beauty, a calming oasis with steam bath, sauna, cold room, Himalayan salt sauna, thermal pool and thermal loungers—not to mention all the soothing therapies to buff, scrub, massage and moisturize the skin and nourish, condition and revive the hair. I had a facial during my cruise that was so soothing and sybaritic that I nodded off during the 50-minute treatment.

As for activities aboard Queen Anne, the menu is wide-ranging and lengthy: swimming and sunning beneath a showstopper of a retractable glass roof, yoga and other fitness classes in the wellness studio, enjoying the music of DJs and live bands around the ship, boutique shopping, movies under the stars, reading in the library (and taking in that spectacular ocean view) and a spate of sporty pursuits including paddle tennis court, pickleball, putting green, table tennis and shuffleboard. New for Cunard is Queen Anne’s Archery at Sea program.

“This is a fully operational archery studio where guests can pick up their first real bow and arrow,” said Harvey. “This has been enormously popular, and every single available session has been booked since we entered service earlier this year.”

But back to the entertainment, which was my favorite part of my time aboard Queen Anne. I love any ship that offers theater at sea—and Cunard really raises the bar with its productions.

“We have really broken new ground in terms of theater entertainment on Queen Anne, with a mix of high-energy productions featuring the latest technology and even plays coming onboard direct from (London’s world-famous theater district) West End,” said Harvey.

I was in the audience at the Royal Court Theatre for “Pride & Prejudice *Sort Of” and it was mesmerizing, from its cast of sassy servants to the charming set to the superlative singing.

For the production, Cunard partnered with renowned producer David Pugh to produce not only the Olivier Award-winning show—an irreverent and big-hearted retelling of Jane Austen’s iconic love story—but a critically acclaimed version of Noel Coward’s “Brief Encounter,” too.

“He was ingenious at how he managed to take these big productions and make them work in our venue,” said Harvey. “The production values are really something you would expect to see in the West End or on Broadway. We have an extraordinarily talented and versatile theater cast to present these performances, some of which include aerial acts, lasers and even a spaceship.”

Cunard proclaims its ships are a world unto their own. They are that, and a world apart—one with plenty of choice and in a setting of contemporary elegance.

Cunard is a world-class luxury British cruise line, whose fleet includes Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne. From five-star restaurants and in-suite dining to inspiring guest speakers, the library and film screenings, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. Destinations include Europe, the Caribbean, the Far East, Alaska and Australia. For more information, visit www.cunard.com.

Tip: For a pre-cruise stay, consider The Londoner (www.thelondoner.com), a gorgeous luxury property located in the heart of Leicester Square. Described as “the world’s first super boutique hotel,” it has 350 sumptuous bedrooms and suites, six concept eateries and bars, a spa and—my favorite spot—the Residence.

For hotel guests, this chummy little enclave serves complimentary breakfast (freshly baked sweet brioche Danishes, Greek yogurt with honey, granola and seasonal fresh fruit) as well as a complimentary selection of Mediterranean-inspired antipasti: chargrilled Romana artichokes, grilled piquillo peppers with goat’s cheese, pickled wild garlic mushrooms with chili and fennel seeds, olives with rosemary and lemon, and more. It is divine—the perfect relax-and-nibble spot between sightseeing outings.

My stay began with a personal greeting and a glass of wine to sip while my bags were dispatched to the room. And what a gorgeous room: serene in an earthy palette with comfy bed and fainting couch and, not to be indelicate, a killer bathroom featuring a futuristic toilet that lifted its lid and warmed the seat as soon as you entered. A bonus of staying at The Londoner is that, just steps from the hotel, you can see Mary Poppins, captured in bronze from umbrella to magical satchel, landing in Leicester Square Gardens as well as chimney sweep Burt swinging on a light pole.

Kathy Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer and the author of seven books, including Perfect Day Kentucky: Day Trips, Weekend Getaways and Other Escapes and Secret Cincinnati: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. Contact Kathy at KathyWitt24@gmail.com or visit her website, www.KathyWitt.com.