QUEEN ELIZABETH
June 24, 2022 | Vancouver, British Columbia
Our Alaska cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) began at Vancouver’s Canada Place on June 24, 2022. These photographs were taken while the ship was docked and we were preparing to board for a seven-night voyage to Alaska, with visits to Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan before returning to Vancouver.
Our Alaska cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) began at Vancouver’s Canada Place on June 24, 2022. These photographs were taken while the ship was docked and we were preparing to board for a seven-night voyage to Alaska, with visits to Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan before returning to Vancouver.
Entering service in 2010, Queen Elizabeth carries forward many of Cunard’s traditional design elements, including the line’s black hull, white superstructure, and distinctive red-and-black funnel. Her Art Deco-inspired interiors also pay tribute to the original Queen Elizabeth, connecting the modern ship with Cunard’s long history of passenger travel.
Information List
Name: Queen Elizabeth
Operator: Cunard
Year Entered Service: 2010
Shipyard: Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
Class: Vista Class
Length: 965 feet (294 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)
Tonnage: 90,900 GT
Passenger Cabins: 1,046
Passenger Capacity: Approximately 2,081
Passenger Decks: 12
Service Speed: Approximately 21.7 knots
Maximum Speed: Approximately 23.7 knots
Country of Registry: Bermuda
Port of Registry: Hamilton
IMO Number: 9477438
Facilities Include: Queens Room, Royal Court Theatre, Grand Lobby, Golden Lion Pub, Commodore Club, Garden Lounge, Britannia Restaurant, Queens Grill, Princess Grill, The Verandah, Lido Restaurant, library, casino, spa, fitness center, swimming pools, shops, and outdoor promenade areas
History and Features
Construction and Launch:
Queen Elizabeth was ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in 2007 as a new addition to Cunard’s modern fleet.
Construction took place at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.
Her keel was laid on July 2, 2009.
Three coins representing important periods in Cunard history were welded into the ship during the traditional coin ceremony.
The coins dated from 1938, representing the original Queen Elizabeth; 1967, representing Queen Elizabeth 2; and 2010, representing the new ship.
Queen Elizabeth was technically launched on January 5, 2010.
Fitting-out continued throughout 2010 as her passenger accommodations and elaborate public rooms were completed.
Fincantieri delivered the completed ship to Cunard on September 29, 2010.
At approximately 90,900 gross tons and 965 feet long, she was then Cunard’s second-largest ship after Queen Mary 2.
Naming and Entry Into Service:
Queen Elizabeth arrived in Southampton following her delivery from Fincantieri.
Queen Elizabeth II served as the ship’s godmother.
The Queen officially named the vessel in Southampton in October 2010.
Her involvement continued a long association between the British Royal Family and Cunard.
Queen Elizabeth began her maiden voyage from Southampton on October 12, 2010.
She joined Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria to create a three-ship Cunard fleet.
Her introduction also restored the Queen Elizabeth name to Cunard following the retirement of Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2008.
The Queen Elizabeth Name:
The 2010-built Queen Elizabeth is the third major Cunard passenger ship associated with the Elizabeth name.
Together with Queen Mary, she became one of the most famous transatlantic ocean liners of the twentieth century.
Queen Elizabeth 2, usually known as QE2, entered service in 1969.
QE2 became one of Cunard’s most famous ships during a career lasting nearly four decades.
The present Queen Elizabeth was designed to acknowledge this history without attempting to recreate either earlier vessel.
Her name, exterior colors, artwork, and interior design all provide connections with earlier generations of Cunard ships.
Design and Style:
Queen Elizabeth is based on the Vista-class cruise ship platform used for several vessels constructed for Carnival Corporation brands.
Her design is closely related to Cunard’s Queen Victoria, which entered service in 2007.
Cunard and Fincantieri extensively adapted the platform to reflect the company’s traditional style.
The ship carries Cunard’s familiar black hull, white superstructure, and red funnel with black bands.
Her interiors incorporate strong Art Deco influences inspired in part by the original Queen Elizabeth.
Wood paneling, polished surfaces, artwork, maritime memorabilia, and traditional furnishings distinguish many of her public spaces.
The design combines the layout and technology of a modern cruise ship with visual references to Cunard’s historic passenger liners.
Service:
Since entering service in 2010, Queen Elizabeth has operated an unusually broad range of international itineraries.
Her career has included voyages in Europe, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, and the Pacific.
She has also completed extended world and international voyages.
Southampton initially served as an important base for many of her European and longer voyages.
Over time, Cunard increasingly deployed the ship internationally for extended periods.
Australia became particularly important to Queen Elizabeth, with the ship operating multiple seasons from Australian ports.
The ship has also operated extensively in Alaska, using Vancouver as a principal turnaround port.
Her Alaska itineraries combine port calls with scenic cruising through areas such as Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.
Passenger operations were suspended during the worldwide cruise shutdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Queen Elizabeth subsequently returned to passenger service and resumed Cunard’s international cruise program.
As of September 2026, Queen Elizabeth remains in active service with Cunard.
June 24, 2022 Alaska Cruise:
On June 24, 2022, Queen Elizabeth was docked at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver at the beginning of voyage Q220.
The seven-night cruise operated roundtrip from Vancouver.
June 25 was spent at sea as the ship sailed north toward Alaska.
On June 26, Queen Elizabeth entered Glacier Bay National Park for scenic cruising.
Icy Strait Point was visited on June 27.
The ship called at Sitka on June 28.
Ketchikan followed on June 29.
June 30 was spent at sea during the return voyage south.
Queen Elizabeth returned to Vancouver on July 1, completing the seven-night voyage.
The itinerary provided a combination of Alaska port visits and scenic cruising while allowing passengers to begin and end their voyage at Canada Place.
Canada Place and Vancouver:
Canada Place is located along Vancouver’s downtown waterfront and serves as the city’s primary cruise ship terminal.
Its distinctive white sail-shaped roof has become one of Vancouver’s most recognizable landmarks.
Vancouver is one of the principal embarkation ports for cruises to Alaska.
Ships departing Vancouver travel through the protected waters between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia before continuing toward Alaska.
The port’s location allows cruise passengers to begin their voyage directly in downtown Vancouver.
Canada Place has regularly hosted Cunard ships during the company’s Alaska programs.
During her 2022 Alaska season, Queen Elizabeth operated a series of roundtrip voyages from Vancouver.
Queens Room and Grand Lobby:
The Queens Room is one of the defining public spaces aboard Queen Elizabeth.
Designed as a traditional ballroom, it is used for dancing, afternoon tea, receptions, and other events.
The venue continues a Cunard tradition associated with several generations of the company’s ships.
The Grand Lobby forms the central interior space aboard the vessel.
A sweeping staircase, decorative artwork, and polished finishes reinforce the ship’s traditional design.
Major passenger spaces extend outward from the lobby across several decks.
Together, the Grand Lobby and Queens Room provide some of the strongest visual connections between Queen Elizabeth and Cunard’s historic style.
Dining and the Grills:
Cunard maintains its traditional accommodation-based dining system aboard Queen Elizabeth.
Britannia Restaurant serves passengers occupying most Britannia accommodations.
Britannia Club provides a separate dining experience for passengers booked in Britannia Club staterooms.
Princess Grill serves passengers occupying Princess Grill suites.
Queens Grill provides dedicated dining for passengers in the ship’s highest suite category.
The Grills concept has existed in various forms throughout Cunard’s history and remains a defining part of the company’s modern ships.
Additional restaurants provide casual and specialty dining options.
The Golden Lion recreates the atmosphere of a traditional British pub.
Afternoon tea remains another longstanding Cunard tradition aboard the vessel.
Observation and Outdoor Spaces:
The Commodore Club is positioned high and forward aboard Queen Elizabeth and provides expansive views ahead of the ship.
Its location makes it particularly suited to scenic cruising in destinations such as Alaska.
Outdoor promenade areas allow passengers to walk around large portions of the ship while remaining close to the sea.
Upper decks provide additional viewing areas for glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and coastal scenery.
The Garden Lounge features a glass-covered design that provides natural light while protecting passengers from cooler weather.
These enclosed and outdoor observation areas make the ship well suited to itineraries where scenery is an important part of the voyage.
Vista Class:
Queen Elizabeth belongs to the broader Vista family of cruise ships developed for Carnival Corporation.
The basic platform has been used by several Carnival Corporation cruise lines.
Cunard’s Queen Victoria was the first version constructed specifically for Cunard.
Queen Elizabeth followed in 2010 with a closely related design.
Although sharing basic engineering and architectural elements with other Vista-derived ships, Cunard’s vessels were heavily customized.
Their black hulls, traditional public rooms, Grills accommodations, Queens Rooms, libraries, and maritime-inspired interiors distinguish them from related vessels operated by other brands.
The Vista platform gave Cunard a smaller companion to Queen Mary 2 that could operate a broad range of worldwide cruise itineraries.
Relationship to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria:
When Queen Elizabeth entered service, she joined Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria as Cunard’s three Queens.
Queen Mary 2 is substantially different from the other two ships because she was purpose-built as an ocean liner for regular transatlantic service.
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are cruise ships designed primarily for worldwide cruising.
Their smaller dimensions allow them to visit destinations and operate itineraries that would be more restrictive for Queen Mary 2.
The three ships frequently operated different worldwide deployments while maintaining Cunard’s traditional identity.
Queen Anne joined the fleet in 2024, expanding Cunard to four ships.
Legacy:
Queen Elizabeth continues one of the most historically significant names associated with Cunard.
Her Art Deco-inspired interiors deliberately connect the modern vessel with the company's twentieth-century passenger liners.
Her international deployments have made her one of the most widely traveled ships in the modern Cunard fleet.
Alaska has become an important part of her career, adding a distinctly scenic cruising role to a service history that has already included Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.
More than 15 years after entering service, Queen Elizabeth remains an active link between Cunard’s historic identity and its modern cruise operations.
