QUEEN ELIZABETH
June 29, 2022 | Alaska Cruise – Day 6: Ketchikan, Alaska
Day 6 of our Alaska cruise aboard Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) brought us to Ketchikan on June 29, 2022. After visiting Sitka the previous day, the ship continued south through Southeast Alaska for our final Alaskan port before beginning the return voyage to Vancouver.
Queen Elizabeth represents a modern continuation of Cunard’s long passenger-ship tradition, combining the company’s historic identity with the design and amenities of a contemporary cruise ship. Built by Fincantieri and entering service in 2010, she was the third Cunard vessel to carry the Queen Elizabeth name, following the original RMS Queen Elizabeth of 1940 and Queen Elizabeth 2, which served from 1969 to 2008. Although her name and styling draw heavily on Cunard’s ocean-liner heritage, the present Queen Elizabeth was designed primarily for cruise service. Her worldwide deployments have included Europe, Alaska, Asia, Australia, and extended voyages across the Pacific.
Information List
Name: Queen Elizabeth
Operator: Cunard
Builder: Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
Launched: January 5, 2010
Entered Service: October 2010
Maiden Voyage: October 12, 2010
Class: Vista Class
Length: Approximately 964 feet
Beam: Approximately 106 feet
Gross Tonnage: 90,901 GT
Guest Capacity: Approximately 2,081
Crew: Approximately 1,000
Passenger Decks: 12
IMO Number: 9477438
Operator During This Voyage: Cunard
Voyage: Q220
Cruise: Seven-night roundtrip Alaska cruise from Vancouver
Visit Shown: June 29, 2022, Ketchikan, Alaska
History and Features
Construction and Entry Into Service:
Queen Elizabeth was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, as the newest addition to Cunard’s three-ship fleet.
Her float-out took place in January 2010 before fitting-out work continued through the year.
Queen Elizabeth II named the ship at Southampton on October 11, 2010, continuing a royal connection with Cunard stretching back generations.
The ship departed Southampton the following day on her maiden voyage.
Her arrival gave Cunard a fleet consisting of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth, each carrying a name closely associated with the company’s history.
Design and Features:
Queen Elizabeth is based on the Vista-class cruise-ship platform and is closely related to Queen Victoria, although design changes give the two vessels individual identities.
Her exterior incorporates Cunard’s traditional black hull, white superstructure, and red-and-black funnel.
Interior spaces draw heavily on Cunard history and Art Deco influences rather than attempting to reproduce a historic liner exactly.
Major public spaces include the three-level Grand Lobby, Queens Room ballroom, Royal Court Theatre, Commodore Club, Golden Lion pub, library, restaurants, and extensive open decks.
The ship also includes separate dining arrangements associated with Cunard’s traditional Britannia, Princess Grill, and Queens Grill accommodations.
Service:
Since entering service in 2010, Queen Elizabeth has operated worldwide cruises rather than maintaining a regular scheduled transatlantic service.
Her deployments have taken her through Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, Alaska, and the Pacific.
Longer voyages and World Cruise itineraries have continued Cunard’s tradition of sending its ships on extended international journeys.
Her 2022 Alaska season included voyages from Vancouver through Southeast Alaska, allowing Cunard to combine its traditional shipboard experience with one of North America’s major cruise regions.
Our 2022 Alaska Cruise:
Our seven-night Alaska voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth began in Vancouver on June 24, 2022.
June 24 served as Day 1 and embarkation day, with the ship departing Vancouver for the Inside Passage and Alaska.
Day 2, June 25, was spent at sea as we sailed north.
The voyage continued to Glacier Bay on June 26, Icy Strait Point on June 27, and Sitka on June 28.
Ketchikan on June 29 was Day 6 and our final Alaskan port of the cruise.
Following Ketchikan, Queen Elizabeth began the southbound portion of the voyage toward Vancouver, with June 30 spent at sea before our return on July 1.
Ketchikan – June 29, 2022:
Ketchikan was the final Alaska port on our cruise and followed the previous day’s visit to Sitka.
Located along the Tongass Narrows in Southeast Alaska, Ketchikan developed around fishing, canneries, timber, and its position along the Inside Passage.
Its waterfront allows cruise ships to berth close to the historic downtown area, making the port one of Alaska’s most recognizable cruise destinations.
The call represented a change from the more scenic cruising and smaller-community experiences earlier in the voyage, bringing Queen Elizabeth into one of Southeast Alaska’s busiest cruise ports.
After leaving Ketchikan, the ship continued south for a day at sea on June 30 before completing the seven-night roundtrip voyage in Vancouver on July 1.
Legacy:
Queen Elizabeth carries a name closely connected with some of Cunard’s most historically important passenger ships.
While she is a cruise ship rather than a traditional express ocean liner, her design deliberately incorporates elements of Cunard’s maritime identity and passenger-service traditions.
Her worldwide deployments have allowed the Queen Elizabeth name to remain visible in ports far beyond the historic North Atlantic routes associated with earlier Cunard liners.
More than a decade after entering service, she remains an important part of Cunard’s modern fleet and its connection between historic passenger-ship traditions and contemporary cruising.
