Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Begins Its Last Scheduled Alaska Season — Seattle Sailings Through September 2026

What Cunard announced

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth arrived in Alaska in May 2026 for what the line and trade press describe as its last scheduled summer season in the region. Cruise Industry News reported June 11 that Cunard's published deployment shows no Alaska return in 2027 or 2028.

Cunard's own "Farewell Alaska" stories page markets 2026 as Queen Elizabeth's final Alaska voyages. The line returned to Alaska regularly starting in 2019 after a decades-long absence from the market.

Queen Elizabeth's 2026 Seattle season and ports

Queen Elizabeth is sailing seven- to 11-night roundtrips from Seattle through late September 2026. Itineraries call at Inside Passage staples including Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, B.C. — with select sailings adding Sitka, Haines, and Wrangell. Scenic days at Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier appear on published schedules depending on the week you book.

This is Queen Elizabeth's second Seattle-based Alaska summer after a 2025 debut season in the market. Cunard's official stories page notes Ketchikan as the most-visited Alaska port on these itineraries — useful if you're choosing between a shorter seven-night loop and a longer port-heavy sailing.

Our Seattle Alaska cruise planning guide covers Pier 66 versus Pier 91 logistics for Seattle fly-in cruisers.

What happens after September 2026

When the Alaska season wraps, Queen Elizabeth is scheduled for a 21-night repositioning from Seattle to PortMiami via the Panama Canal in late September 2026. That southbound move ends this ship's summer in the Pacific Northwest and sends Cunard's Alaska capacity elsewhere for the foreseeable planning window.

Cunard has welcomed more than 67,000 guests on Alaska voyages since returning to the region — but the published 2027 and 2028 deployments do not currently include an Alaska return. We're not saying Cunard will never sail Alaska again; we are saying 2026 is the scheduled window for this product on Queen Elizabeth.

What this means for you

If you've priced mainstream Seattle Alaska lines and still want Cunard's formal British onboard style — white-glove service, gala evenings, fine dining — this is your planning deadline. The experience sits a tier above the Royal Caribbean and Princess options that dominate Seattle sailings, and the fares reflect that.

When we checked on June 11, 2026, sample Queen Elizabeth Alaska sailings started from about $1,151 per person including taxes and fees — well above many mainstream Seattle Alaska fares. Compare that total against Voyager of the Seas' first Seattle Alaska season or other lines before you decide whether the Cunard premium buys you the trip you actually want.

Who should prioritize booking now? Couples and retirees who specifically want Cunard in the Inside Passage — not generic "last chance" urgency, but a real product window. Who can wait? Value-minded families comparing seven-night loops should price mainstream lines first. Anyone considering a Vancouver one-way should also read our Vancouver Alaska planning guide — different homeport, different itinerary math.

Balcony inventory on late-September departures can tighten as the season closes; verify cabin category on your specific sailing before deposit.

What to do next

Shortlist your departure month and port mix first, then compare total fare — not just lead-in inside — against mainstream Seattle Alaska options in the same weeks. When you're ready, browse Cunard Alaska sailings and filter by date and cabin type.