Queen Elizabeth Marks 15 Years in Service with Cunard

The Queen Elizabeth is celebrating 15 years in operation with Cunard, following its delivery to the line on September 29, 2010.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the vessel was introduced as a larger, updated sister to the 2007 built Queen Victoria. Cunard notes that the Queen Elizabeth was created to honor the company’s historic design traditions while incorporating modern touches.

According to the line, the ship features “elegant double- and triple-height public rooms on a grand scale,” along with “intricately detailed interiors replete with rich wood paneling, mosaics, gleaming chandeliers and cool marbles.”

Queen Elizabeth II served as the ship’s godmother, naming the vessel during a pier side ceremony in Southampton on October 11, 2010. Over 1,600 guests attended the event, which also included a performance by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

The Queen Elizabeth entered service the following day, beginning its maiden voyage to the Atlantic Islands. The 13 night itinerary visited Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Funchal.

During its first season, the ship continued to sail from Cunard’s UK homeport, offering cruises to the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Iberian Peninsula and Northern Europe. In December 2010, it operated a 22 night Caribbean voyage with calls in Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua and other destinations.

After debuting in Alaska in 2019, the Queen Elizabeth has spent recent years sailing in North America. In 2025, the ship completed another Alaska season before repositioning to Florida via the Panama Canal.

Now based in PortMiami for the first time, the vessel is set to operate a range of nine to twelve night itineraries across the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, including visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Barbados, Montego Bay, Belize City and Cozumel.