Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth begins Seattle-based Alaska cruise season ahead of Caribbean expansion

Cunard Line’s newly refurbished cruise ship Queen Elizabeth arrived at the Port of Seattle on June 12, 2025, to begin a season of Alaskan voyages as part of its expanded North American itinerary. This marks the first time Queen Elizabeth will homeport from Seattle, offering premium 7- to 11-night voyages through Alaska’s Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park, and other coastal destinations. The North American deployment signals a pivotal shift in Cunard’s global strategy, as the cruise line continues strengthening its luxury brand presence beyond its traditional European and transatlantic base.

Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), Cunard Line has been operating luxury passenger ships for 185 years. The decision to base a vessel on the U.S. West Coast for an extended period reflects a renewed emphasis on the North American luxury travel market, supported by regional tourism recovery and growing demand for high-end cruise experiences to Alaska.

Why Cunard is expanding operations into Seattle in 2025

Seattle’s emergence as a key cruise homeport aligns with broader trends in U.S. outbound leisure travel, where Alaska ranks among the most sought-after summer destinations. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will operate from the Port of Seattle between June and September 2025, offering itineraries with stops in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria, British Columbia, along with scenic cruising through Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.

The inaugural call was marked by a traditional plaque-and-key ceremony, symbolizing the ship’s official arrival into homeport status. Liz Fettes, Senior Vice President of Commercial for North America at Cunard, stated that the brand’s interpretation of luxury as both elegant and relaxed will resonate with U.S. travelers seeking elevated experiences without excessive formality. She emphasized that Queen Elizabeth embodies Cunard’s hallmark features—historic grandeur, meticulous service, and refined ambiance—while also offering regionally customized elements suited to North American clientele.

Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck described the partnership as a milestone in the city’s cruise expansion efforts, emphasizing its role in supporting local economic activity and advancing responsible tourism in collaboration with international cruise lines.

What’s new on board the refurbished Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth enters its Alaskan service period after a significant interior refresh. This includes major upgrades to Cunard’s Princess and Queens Grill categories, which now offer enlarged suites, expanded menus, private onboard lounges, and 24/7 butler service. Grill Suite guests will also enjoy a curated three-course Gala Evening menu designed by two-Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux, reinforcing the culinary prestige that Cunard aims to deliver in its premium offering.

Health and wellness programming has been updated as well. Passengers sailing on the new itineraries will have access to the Pavilion Wellness Café and the Harper’s Bazaar “Wellness at Sea” program, which includes three structured “Journeys” blending massage therapies, nutrition-focused menus, mindfulness classes, and ELEMIS-branded skincare.

The cruise line’s latest upgrades are strategically targeted at the growing cohort of wellness-minded luxury travelers who seek personalization, spa-style amenities, and brand-name partnerships while vacationing at sea.

Alaska cruise pricing and itineraries for summer 2025

Cunard is positioning its Alaska program as a premium alternative to mainstream cruise offerings, with prices for balcony staterooms starting at USD 1,109 per person based on double occupancy. Itineraries range from seven to 11 nights and are designed to offer both scenic cruising and culturally immersive port visits.

The sailing calendar includes stops at key Alaskan ports such as Ketchikan and Skagway, alongside Glacier Bay National Park and Inside Passage transits—widely considered highlights of any Alaskan voyage due to their natural beauty and navigational complexity.

Scenic cruising days are also built into the itinerary, allowing passengers extended time to view fjords, glaciers, and coastal wildlife. Cunard reports growing interest in such itineraries among American and international travelers alike, with early bookings showing strong traction for the June to September window.

Onboard enrichment includes local speakers and regional wine

One of the distinguishing features of Cunard’s Alaska program is its emphasis on cultural enrichment through partnerships with local experts. The line continues its collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), which contributes a rotating speaker series to interpret the region’s geography, wildlife, and indigenous heritage.

In addition, a new “Locals Onboard” initiative will feature 11 guest speakers from Alaska. The lineup includes a Tlingit master dance group, Denali mountaineering experts, historians, artists, and wildlife photographers. These elements are designed to deepen the contextual understanding of the destinations visited, making the voyage more than a visual experience.

In another nod to regional authenticity, the cruise will offer wines sourced from leading Pacific Northwest vineyards, including Elsom Cellars, Canoe Ridge Estate, Charles Smith Wines, and Goose Ridge. This curated wine selection supports Cunard’s goal of blending its European heritage with North American culinary trends.

Caribbean deployment to follow after Alaskan season

After concluding its Alaska service, Queen Elizabeth will reposition to Miami in October 2025 for its first full-season deployment in the Caribbean. This Caribbean program will run through the winter months and marks the first time Cunard has dedicated a ship exclusively to the region.

Entertainment upgrades for the Caribbean season include Broadway- and West End-style performances onboard, with Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster among the confirmed performers. A special full-scale production of the Tony-winning musical Come From Away will also be staged across multiple sailings.

The Miami deployment is strategically timed to coincide with the peak winter travel season, tapping into pent-up demand from U.S.-based cruisers and sun-seeking luxury travelers.

Strategic context: Cunard’s growth under Carnival Corporation

Cunard Line, one of Carnival Corporation’s portfolio brands, is being positioned to compete more directly with rivals in the luxury and upper-premium segments such as Seabourn, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Oceania Cruises. The expansion into Alaska and the Caribbean reflects both demand-side shifts and Carnival’s broader aim of maximizing asset utilization across geographic markets.

This year also marks the first time Cunard has operated four vessels concurrently—Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and the newly launched Queen Anne—a milestone not seen since 1999. That simultaneous deployment allows the brand to increase destination diversification, improve occupancy rates, and experiment with market segmentation strategies.

As Carnival Corporation continues to recover post-pandemic, analysts are paying close attention to the performance of its premium and luxury tiers. Industry observers believe that Cunard’s ability to generate pricing power and occupancy in the U.S. market will be critical to its long-term relevance within the cruise giant’s portfolio.

Institutional sentiment and future outlook for Cunard’s repositioning

Institutional sentiment around Carnival Corporation has trended cautiously positive through early 2025. While mainstream brands like Carnival Cruise Line have focused on volume and pricing flexibility, Cunard has remained consistent with its focus on guest experience, itinerary curation, and brand heritage.

With the Queen Elizabeth now deployed across two of North America’s most strategically important cruise regions—Alaska and the Caribbean—analysts expect Cunard to post stronger performance metrics in the second half of 2025. There is also speculation that if the current deployments succeed, Cunard may consider further long-term homeporting in North America or even expansion of its fleet in 2026–2027.

For now, the British cruise brand is emphasizing premium experience, regional immersion, and distinctive onboard programming as its competitive differentiators in a luxury market that continues to evolve.