Queen Elizabeth is a 90,901gt cruise ship operated by Cunard. Introduced in October 2010, she combines Art Deco-inspired interiors with established Cunard traditions and a scale that is smaller and more intimate than Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne.
Construction and entry into service
Queen Elizabeth was built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy as yard number 6187. Her design is derived from Carnival Corporation's Vista-class platform and is closely related to Queen Victoria, although the ships have individual interior treatments and some differences in layout.
Fincantieri delivered the ship to Cunard at Monfalcone on 29 September 2010. Queen Elizabeth II named her at Southampton on 11 October, continuing a royal association shared by earlier Cunard ships bearing the Queen Elizabeth name.
The maiden voyage departed Southampton on 12 October 2010 for the Canary Islands under the command of Captain Christopher Wells. Queen Elizabeth is registered at Hamilton, Bermuda. Her permanent IMO number is 9477438, her MMSI is 310625000 and her call sign is ZCEF2.
Size and capacity
The ship measures 294 metres in length and 32.3 metres across the beam, with a draught of approximately 7.9 metres. Her current registered gross tonnage is 90,901gt, marginally above Fincantieri's 90,900gt technical figure and the 90,400gt stated when she was delivered.
Cunard publishes a normal operating figure of approximately 2,074 guests and 911 crew. The company's safety information records a higher certified maximum of 2,175 guests and 1,097 crew, giving a maximum total of 3,272 people aboard.
Queen Elizabeth has 16 decks in total, including 12 passenger decks. Cunard's current ship information lists 1,045 staterooms, while Fincantieri's original technical record gives 1,046 passenger cabins. The small difference is retained in Deck7's source notes rather than concealed.
Machinery and performance
Queen Elizabeth uses diesel-electric propulsion. Fincantieri's technical record lists four MaK 12M43C diesel-generator sets, each rated at 12,000kW, within a generating installation producing 64,000kW of electrical power.
Two podded electric propulsion units, each originally rated at 17,600kW, drive the ship. Fincantieri records a service speed of 21.7 knots, while published vessel data gives a maximum speed of approximately 23.7 knots.
The ship was designed for long-distance deployment as well as regional seasons, allowing Cunard to use her for World Voyages, Pacific crossings, Alaska itineraries and programmes in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean.
Accommodation and dining
Accommodation is divided among Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill categories. Each category is connected to its own principal restaurant, with the Grills suites and dining rooms forming Cunard's premium offering.
The ship's main dining venues include the Britannia Restaurant, Britannia Club Restaurant, Princess Grill, Queens Grill and the informal Lido Restaurant. Steakhouse at The Verandah provides an additional speciality option, while the Golden Lion recreates the atmosphere of a British pub at sea.
Cunard records 738 balcony rooms and nine single rooms within Queen Elizabeth's accommodation inventory. Suite and stateroom designs retain the line's restrained maritime character while incorporating improvements introduced through successive refits.
Entertainment and public rooms
The Queens Room hosts afternoon tea, ballroom dancing and Cunard's Gala Evening programme. The Royal Court Theatre presents production shows, visiting entertainers and speakers taking part in the Cunard Insights enrichment programme.
The Commodore Club observation lounge overlooks the bow, while the Garden Lounge provides a conservatory-style space beneath a glass roof. The two-level library, Grand Lobby, casino, Yacht Club and Golden Lion contribute to the ship's traditional character.
Outdoor spaces include the Pavilion Pool, Panorama Pool Club and the Games Deck, where passengers can play bowls and croquet at sea. The Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa, fitness facilities and promenade deck support a quieter style of cruising.
Completed 2025 transformation
Queen Elizabeth completed a three-week transformation at Seatrium's Admiralty Yard in Singapore on 14 March 2025. The work prepared the ship for her inaugural full Alaska season from Seattle and subsequent Caribbean programme from Miami.
The Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge and Pavilion were refreshed, alongside accommodation and other public areas. The Panorama Pool Club was updated to create a more contemporary outdoor venue suited to warm-weather itineraries.
Cunard also introduced the Pavilion Wellness Café, with a menu focused on plant-based dishes and sustainably sourced ingredients. The Grills experience was enhanced, and a new Gala Evening menu created by Michel Roux was added to the programme.
The 2025 project is the latest completed major refurbishment at Deck7's verification date and is therefore recorded in the ship index.
Environmental equipment
Queen Elizabeth is conventionally fuelled and was not built for liquefied-natural-gas operation. Cunard confirmed in 2023 that the ship had been equipped to connect to shore electricity at compatible ports, allowing onboard engines to be shut down or their use reduced while alongside.
Shore power can reduce local air emissions and noise when suitable port infrastructure and an appropriate electricity supply are available. It does not change the fuel used while the ship is sailing.
Deck7 has not located a sufficiently clear current primary source confirming Queen Elizabeth's precise exhaust-gas cleaning configuration. The relevant index field is therefore marked as unknown rather than inferred from installations elsewhere in the Carnival Corporation fleet.
Itineraries
Following her 2025 transformation, Queen Elizabeth began operating a full Alaska season from Seattle before moving to Miami for Caribbean voyages. Cunard has also deployed the ship extensively in Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
Her combination of recognised Cunard traditions, extensive outdoor deck space and a size below the newest generation of megaships gives Queen Elizabeth a distinct place within the line's four-ship fleet.
The Queen Elizabeth name
The present Queen Elizabeth is the third major Cunard passenger ship associated with the name. She follows the original Queen Elizabeth, which entered service in 1940, and Queen Elizabeth 2, universally known as QE2, which entered service in 1969.
Unlike those purpose-built transatlantic ocean liners, the current Queen Elizabeth is classified here as an ocean cruise ship. Her design and worldwide deployment are centred on cruise itineraries rather than a scheduled liner service.