Cunard·Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth - Panama Canal Crossing: Miami to Seattle

4(159 reviews)
via U.S. News & Cruise Critic · Jun 2026
|20 Nights|7 Ports|12 Sea Days

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth repositions from her Miami winter base to Seattle for Alaska season on this 20-night voyage - a full Panama Canal transit followed by Mexico's Pacific coast and San Diego.

Classic CruisersBucket List TravelersRetireesScenic Cruisers

Price Range

$

Budget

DepartureMiami, FL
Dress CodeFormal Nights
MealsIncluded
WiFiPaid

*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Cunard before booking.

Ship Details — Queen Elizabeth

View full Queen Elizabeth details

Year Built

2010

Tonnage

90,901 GT

Passengers

2,092

Crew

1,005

Decks

12

Class

Vista

Itinerary & Route Map

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Onboard Amenities

Royal Spa
Queens Room Ballroom
Royal Court Theatre
Casino
Library
Garden Lounge
Swimming Pools
Specialty Dining
Fitness Center
Commodore Club
Winter Garden
The Lido
Britannia Restaurant
Britannia Club
Princess Grill
Queens Grill
Lido buffet
The Steakhouse at the Verandah
Golden Lion pub
Queens Room ballroom
Pavilion Wellness Café
Spa with thermal suite & hydropool
Two Deck 9 pools
Royal Arcade shops
Games Deck (croquet/bowls)

Cruise Highlights

Full daylight Panama Canal transit between Colon and the Pacific
Cartagena's walled city and Costa Rica's Puntarenas coast
Mexican Riviera duo of Huatulco's bays and Puerto Vallarta
Thirteen leisurely sea days of white-glove Cunard tradition

About the Ship

What Travelers Say About Queen Elizabeth

Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Queen Elizabeth sailing. Based on 2,000 discussions.

Queen Elizabeth is the newest of Cunard's Vista-class trio of Queens, launched in 2010 and slightly newer than Queen Victoria. Where Victoria leans into heavy Victoriana, Elizabeth's signature is lighter, geometric 1930s Art Deco glamour, made airier still by a March 2025 Singapore refit. The vibe is unmistakably British and traditional: gala formal nights, ballroom dancing in a proper Queens Room, white-gloved daily afternoon tea, enrichment lectures, and croquet on the Games Deck - closer to a floating grand hotel than a waterpark at sea.

What People Love

  • Authentic British ocean-liner experience with White Star service, gala nights, and heritage atmosphere no contemporary line replicates
  • Daily white-glove afternoon tea in the Queens Room with live music
  • Lighter, elegant 1930s Art Deco decor that feels airier and more glamorous than Queen Victoria's heavier Victoriana

Common Complaints

  • Recurring food-quality complaints in recent reviews, with dishes described as middling, overdone, or inconsistent in the main dining room
  • A nickel-and-diming perception, with new upcharges reported on items like pub burgers and removed in-cabin extras
  • Highly variable service, with recent reviews swinging from excellent to indifferent
See the full Queen Elizabeth ship page — all 16 pros & cons, review & FAQs

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