Alaska greeted the first Cunard ship in more than 20 years May 15 and 16 as the Queen Elizabeth docked in Kodiak and Anchorage on the final leg of its 61-night journey from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver, B.C.
The luxury liner will sail four times through the Inside Passage this season through the end of June.
The Queen Elizabeth is the youngest Cunard Queen and was put into service in 2010. It combines state-of-the-art technology with stylish equipment and a classic cruise experience. The ship was renovated in 2014 and more than 1,003 crew members take care of a maximum of 2,081 passengers.
Cunard returns for a full season from June through to September in 2020, thanks to the success of this year’s season.
“We are so excited to offer an extended season in Alaska on Queen Elizabeth in 2020,” said Josh Leibowitz, Senior Vice President Cunard North America. “Due to strong demand and passenger feedback, Cunard has more than doubled its voyages in Alaska, visiting the most incredible cities with longer time in port to enjoy this inspiring destination.”
This expanded program will offer 10 roundtrip sailings departing Vancouver, ranging from nine to 12 nights, plus one special cruise to San Francisco including an overnight stay on Independence Day. The itineraries include cruising through Glacier Bay.
| History | |
| Name: | Queen Elizabeth |
| Owner: | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Operator: | Cunard Line |
| Ordered: | October 2007 |
| Builder: | Fincantieri Monfalcone Shipyard, Italy |
| Cost: | UK£350 million (approx.)[1] (US$560 million) |
| Completed: | October 2010 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Vista Class cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | 90,901 GT |
| Length: | 294 m (965 ft) |
| Beam: | 32.3 m (106 ft) |
| Draught: | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Decks: | 16 total
12 accessible to passengers |
| Propulsion: | Diesel-electric
Three ABB bow thrusters (3 × 2,200 kW) |
| Speed: | 23.7 knots (43.9 km/h; 27.3 mph) |
| Capacity: | 2,092 passengers lower beds, 2,547 maximum passengers |
