Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship calls Miami home for 1st time

The queen is alive and well after getting a bit of work done and set to spend an extended holiday in Miami, bringing with her some award-winning entertainment.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship arrived to PortMiami last week and will for the first time be calling Florida home for a long-term winter Caribbean sailing season.

The 2,081-passenger ship that debuted in 2010 has as its godmother the late Queen Elizabeth II. While she passed in 2022, her visage remains omnipresent on board among plaques, murals and paintings. Her namesake ship earlier this year underwent a three-week revamp bringing some updated spaces as well as a general polish to vessel.

For its Miami stay, the line has also brought on board a production of “Come From Away,” performed at sea for the first time. This winner of Tony and Olivier awards debuted in 2015 and is inspired by the true story of the town of Gander, Newfoundland and its role after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The town, which had a population of about 11,000, became the temporary home to nearly 6,600 air passengers and crew who came from 38 commercial flights that were grounded when airspace was closed over the U.S. and Canada.

The modified one-hour, 40-minute production has a 12-person cast and will have two performances per sailing making its debut on Oct. 26 in the Royal Court Theatre.

“The show is such a roller coaster of emotions,” said actor Joe Hillard during a preview performance on board last week. “It looks very kind of simple and easy, but it’s very complicated. It’s very intricate. So it’s a lot, kind of condensed into a small amount of time, as well as, whilst it’s such a joyous, incredible story about kindness and community, to have it on the backdrop of such a horrific incident, there’s a lot of emotions involved as well.”

Hilliard plays character Kevin T based on Kevin Tuerff, who was on hand to discuss the production as well.

“What happened there changed my life. It was truly amazing to witness and because I wasn’t sure where we were,” Tuerff said noting they had to wait for 15 hours on board before being let off the plane.

“We were treated to such amazing kind of kindness and compassion. They could have just sent out pizza boxes and water to the people on the planes, but they opened their borders, their communities, their schools,” he said. “They let us in. They let people in to take showers in their home — total strangers from more than 90 countries, and I came back to Texas, where I lived at the time, and I said, ‘Would we do the same?’ And so that’s why I’m so happy that this musical is continuing.”

The atrium aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is...

The atrium aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Queens Room aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Garden Lounge aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The two-deck library aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Golden Lion pub aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Commodore Club aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cafe Carinthia aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is set to begin its first ever full season of sailing from PortMiami, seen docked on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

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As far at the improvements on board, they include a redesign to the Queens Room, the ballroom dance floor space amidship including a new carpet pattern to replicate the garden shrubbery inspired by the Royal Palace’s tradition of planting mulberry trees, something done since the reign of King James I in the 16th century.

Other spaces getting spiffed up include the Commodore Club, Garden Lounge, the Pavilion and Grills terrace.

Pulling inspiration from the line’s newest ship, 2024’s Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth has also introduced the Pavilion Wellness Café, with a health-focused menu serving breakfast, lunch and daytime dining. Also new is the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea program, which also was introduced on Queen Anne.

The luxury ship has most of its sailing life bounced around the world not spending too long in one place similar to the line’s ships Queen Anne and Queen Victoria while the iconic Queen Mary 2 is known for its transatlantic sailings to and from New York.

For this maiden season in Miami, the ship will offer voyages from 9 to 28 nights visiting destinations including St Lucia, St Maarten, St Thomas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Anguilla and Barbados with sailings continuing through February.

For the stay, the line has curated 32 experiences across 12 destinations such as a private catamaran trip around Antigua’s coastline with sushi and barbecue prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Another option is an offroad 4×4 trip in Barbados capped with a wine and cheese picnic.

“The Caribbean has long been a favorite destination for our guests, and we’re pleased to offer a new way to experience these much-loved islands through our ‘Iconic Collection’,” said Cunard President Katie McAlister. “These experiences go beyond the usual tourist spots. They’re designed to create lasting memories and deeper connections with each place, all with the signature Cunard touch our guests expect.”

Prices start at $1,070 per person based on double occupancy.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship calls Miami home for 1st time – Orlando Sentinel

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