Cunard's Queen Elizabeth arrives in Seattle for summer of Alaska cruises
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth arrived in Seattle on June 12, where the ship will homeport for Alaska sailings for the first time.
After its summer Alaska season, Queen Elizabeth will do another first -- a full season of Caribbean sailings from Miami, beginning in October.
The roundtrip Seattle itineraries are between seven and 11 nights. Roundtrip cruises are convenient for U.S. guests, said Liz Fettes, Cunard's senior vice president of commercial North America.
"We have such a good amount of guests that come from California and from the West Coast, so I think the whole travel with ease, travel from your backyard for Cunard, it really goes in alignment with that," Fettes said.
Port of Seattle director Steve Metruck called it an honor to have Queen Elizabeth homeporting in the city for the first time.
"This partnership marks a major milestone in our work to expand economic activity and to support local jobs through cruise, and we look forward to advancing together our shared vision for sustainability and responsible tourism," he said in a press release.
The Alaska sailings will include lectures through Cunard's partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society as well as 11 speakers from Alaska, including historians, photographers and a dance group.
The ship's maiden season in the Caribbean that will follow marks the first time Cunard is dedicating a ship to the region for a full season.
"We know how vital it is to not only have Caribbean voyages, but be in the cruise capital of the world," Fettes said. "Miami is the heart of cruising."
Cunard completed a makeover of Queen Elizabeth on March 14, which included revitalizations of dining venues and the introduction the Harper's Bazaar Wellness at Sea Program. The program offers various physical treatments, workshops and nutritional programming.
"It's got a full list of healthy cuisine options, including plant-based menus," Fettes said. "And they're forward-thinking plant-based menus, versus it being a secondary option of having a vegan or veggie component."
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