Queen Elizabeth Delays Alaska Cruise for Essential Maintenance

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is sailing a modified Alaska itinerary after its departure from Seattle was delayed by approximately 24 hours.

The ship had originally been scheduled to leave its homeport late in the afternoon on September 17, 2026, but did not get underway until the following day. According to a statement issued onboard, the 2011-built vessel remained in Seattle to allow essential maintenance work to continue.

After moving to a different berth to accommodate another vessel, Queen Elizabeth stayed in port overnight before eventually departing Seattle at 5 p.m. on September 18.

Cunard initially advised that the delayed departure was expected to affect the remainder of the voyage, which had been scheduled to include four destinations and experiences in Alaska and Canada.

According to reports from passengers onboard, the revised itinerary no longer includes the planned visit to Juneau. Scenic cruising in Endicott Fjord was also canceled as a result of the delay.

Queen Elizabeth is still expected to call at Ketchikan and Victoria before returning to Seattle as originally scheduled on September 24, 2026.

The seven-night sailing marks part of Cunard’s final summer season in Alaska aboard Queen Elizabeth. The original itinerary included Victoria, Juneau and Ketchikan, along with scenic cruising in Endicott Arm. Following its return to Seattle, the ship is scheduled to begin a repositioning voyage to PortMiami ahead of a fall season in the Caribbean.

The 21-night repositioning cruise will include a complete transit of the Panama Canal, as well as calls at destinations in California, Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean.

Once in Miami, Queen Elizabeth will operate a series of nine- to 11-night cruises through early 2027, before returning to Southampton, England, remaining in Europe for the following summer. This means that Cunard currently has no further Alaska cruises scheduled.