If you enjoy Indian food, Aranya is one of the speciality dining restaurants worth knowing about before sailing on Cunard’s Queen Anne.

If you are comparing Queen Anne’s speciality restaurants, you can also read what to expect at Sir Samuel’s.

Aranya, described by Cunard as a journey through the “Spices of India”, the menu goes beyond familiar curry-house favourites, with dishes influenced by different flavours and cooking techniques from across India.

You’ll find choices including softshell Malabar crab, duck seekh kebab, tandoor-roasted poussin, slow-roasted beef short rib and pot-sealed biryani, alongside vegetarian options and traditional accompaniments for the table.

Aranya carries an additional cover charge, so what do you actually get for your money, what can you order, and is it worth booking?

What is Aranya on Queen Anne?

Aranya is Queen Anne’s Indian speciality restaurant, offering a more contemporary interpretation of Indian cuisine than you might expect from a traditional Indian restaurant.

The menu is relatively compact, with a choice of appetisers, main courses and desserts. Meat and seafood feature prominently, but there are also dedicated vegetarian dishes, including roasted sweet potato tikki and masala-roasted cauliflower, while the pot-sealed biryani can be prepared as a vegetarian option.

Rather than concentrating simply on heat, dishes combine spices with ingredients including saffron, tamarind, coconut, fenugreek, cardamom and caraway, giving you plenty of variety across the menu.

Where is Aranya on Queen Anne?

Aranya is located on Deck 9, towards the aft of Queen Anne.

Inside, soft blue and grey tones are mixed with botanical artwork, gold detailing and bold black and white flooring. Tables are well spaced, with a mixture of individual tables and comfortable banquette seating.

It’s a relatively intimate restaurant and feels smart without being overly formal.

How Much Does Aranya Cost on Queen Anne?

When I sailed on Queen Anne in 2024, Aranya had a cover charge of US$35 per person.

The cover charge included an appetiser, main course and dessert, along with dishes served for the table, including dal makhani, saffron basmati rice and naan.

If you wanted to order more, additional appetisers were US$9, additional main courses US$15 and additional desserts US$5. The grilled lobster tail also carried a US$15 supplement.

Prices can change, so it’s worth checking the current charge for your sailing in My Voyage.

What’s on the Aranya Menu?

The menu at Aranya isn’t enormous, but there’s a good amount of variety. When I visited, there were five appetisers and six main courses, with seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes available.

Appetisers

The appetisers included Softshell Malabar Crab, served with masala fries and garlic and coriander chutney, and Barbary Duck Seekh Kebab, flavoured with saffron, mace and caraway and accompanied by sesame prune marmalade.

Other choices included Roasted Sweet Potato Tikki with tamarind and chickpea chutney, Lasooni Prawns with garlic and fenugreek, and Charred Lamb Chops with Kashmiri chilli, black cardamom and smoked aubergine.

The softshell crab is particularly striking when it arrives, with the whole crab served alongside the masala fries. The duck seekh kebab is presented very differently, accompanied by chutneys and pickled red onion.

Both give you a good idea of Aranya’s approach: recognisably Indian flavours presented in a contemporary speciality-dining style.

Main Courses

The six main courses offered a mixture of seafood, meat and vegetarian options.

Choices included Roasted Wild Turbot with coastal spices, coconut and curry leaf; Tandoor-Roasted Poussin with saffron, chilli and fenugreek; and Spiced Slow-Roasted Beef Short Rib, served with caramelised red onion, cashew nut yoghurt gravy and cashew crumb.

There was also a Grilled Lobster Tail with coconut moilee, which carried an additional US$15 supplement, and Masala-Roasted Cauliflower with smoked tomato and lentil sauce.

Another option was the Pot-Sealed Biryani, which could also be prepared as a vegetarian dish. It arrives at the table in an individual pot sealed beneath a layer of pastry, with mint raita served alongside.

Whichever main course you choose, dal makhani, saffron basmati rice and naan are brought to the table to share, giving you several different flavours and accompaniments alongside your chosen dish.

Desserts

There were three desserts on the Aranya menu during this sailing.

Jamun was served with passion fruit, rose and pistachio nougat. The familiar syrup-soaked sweet is given a more contemporary presentation, with the different elements arranged individually across the plate.

Alternatively, you could choose Malai Lychee Kulfi, served with pistachio and rose, or a lighter Fresh Fruit dessert seasoned with chaat masala.

A small frozen bite was also served during the meal, presented on a stick on a leaf-shaped plate.

What is Aranya Like?

Aranya feels quite different from Queen Anne’s larger dining rooms. It’s relatively intimate, with well-spaced tables and a calm atmosphere.

The presentation of the food is also part of the experience. Dishes are carefully presented without becoming overly fussy, with touches such as the pastry-sealed biryani pot making some courses particularly memorable when they arrive at the table.

It feels special enough for an evening of speciality dining while remaining comfortable and relaxed.

Is Aranya on Queen Anne Worth It?

If you enjoy Indian food and want to try something different from Queen Anne’s included restaurants, Aranya is well worth considering.

One of its strengths is the variety. You can choose between seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes, and the menu goes beyond the dishes you might immediately associate with an Indian restaurant.

At US$35 per person when I sailed in 2024, the amount of food included also made it feel good value, particularly with the additional dal, rice and naan brought to the table.

For the combination of food, presentation and intimate setting, Aranya feels like a genuine speciality dining experience rather than simply somewhere different to have dinner.

If you’re deciding which speciality restaurants to book on Queen Anne, Aranya is an excellent choice if you enjoy Indian flavours and want to try one of the ship’s more distinctive dining venues.

Booking Aranya on Queen Anne

If you want to dine at Aranya during your Queen Anne cruise, it’s worth making a reservation, particularly if you have a specific evening or dining time in mind.

Reservations can be made through My Voyage, with availability potentially offered once you’re onboard too.

When I sailed on Queen Anne in 2024, Aranya was open for dinner from 6pm until 9pm. Opening times, menus and prices can change, so check the details for your particular sailing before dining.