Cunard has announced a “transformative” makeover for Queen Elizabeth before her 2025 inaugural season from PortMiami and her debut in Alaska from Seattle. The luxurious vessel will undergo a significant refurbishment between late February and mid-March 2025. Her refit will take place in Seatrium’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore.
For the first time in Cunard history, one of their vessels will sail a full season in Miami offering roundtrip Caribbean voyages. The itineraries will vary from nine to 28 days and include destinations such as Montego Bay, Jamaica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. John’s, Antigua. Queen Elizabeth’s Caribbean season will begin with a 12-night roundtrip voyage from PortMiami on October 16, 2025.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said, “As Queen Elizabeth prepares for her highly anticipated debut seasons in the Caribbean from Miami and Alaska from Seattle, this transformation marks an exciting new chapter for Cunard. Inspired by the beauty of these extraordinary destinations, the ship’s revitalization will seamlessly blend timeless elegance with modern comforts, creating an unparalleled guest experience.”
The transformation of Queen Elizabeth will refresh her interior and exterior spaces like the Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge and The Pavilion. One luxury experience–the Grills–will be “elevated to new heights.” The suites will receive new furnishings, detailing and design. The Grills dining experience will feature a new Gala Evening menu crafted by Michelin-starred Chef Michel Roux. The three-course menu will highlight specially curated dishes with seasonal ingredients offering the “finest culinary experience at sea.”
Queen Elizabeth will feature The Pavilion Wellness Café which debuted aboard Queen Anne this year. The venue will showcase a menu celebrating plant-based cuisine alongside sustainably sourced meat, fish and dairy. In addition to the café, the wellness program will feature the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea. The program provides three-day packages focused on relaxation, recovery or energy restoration.
After Queen Elizabeth’s dry dock, she will spend the spring in Asia sailing from her homeport in Yokohama to South Korea and multiple destinations in Japan. She will sail a transpacific voyage from Yokohama, making her first appearance in Alaska as she begins her summer season on June 23, 2025. She will offer 10- and 11-night roundtrip itineraries from her homeport in Seattle to destinations like Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka along with scenic views of Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.
Queen Elizabeth will begin to reposition to PortMiami in September 2025 but not before she sails along the coast of California and Mexico and transits through the Panama Canal. She will remain in the Caribbean through March 2027.