Queen Elizabeth Homeports in Miami for Full Caribbean Season

Published on Nov 2, 2025, 7:52 pm CST

4 min read

Key points

Cunard homeports Queen Elizabeth in Miami for the first time, offering nine to 21 night Caribbean itineraries through April 2026
Ship showcases a major 2025 refresh, including Grills enhancements, Pavilion Wellness Café, and upgraded public spaces
At sea debut of Come From Away headlines entertainment alongside Artists in Residence and Insight Speakers
Hugh Bonneville joins as an Insight Speaker in November 2025 with Sutton Foster scheduled for February 4, 2026
New experiences include Abbey Road Listening Lounge with Bowers & Wilkins and Karibe Caribbean dining

Impact

Booking Window: Miami roundtrip sailings run October 2025 through April 2026, with nine, twelve, and twenty one night options
Cabin Strategy: Refreshed Grills suites and venues raise demand, so price check alternate dates or categories
Entertainment Planning: Select sailings feature Come From Away and named guests, verify dates before you book
Wellness & Dining: Pavilion Wellness Café and Karibe menus add variety for travelers seeking healthier or regional cuisine
Port Convenience: PortMiami access and late afternoon departures favor same day arrivals with buffer time

For the first time in its 185-year history, Cunard has based a ship in Miami for an entire season. The 2,000-guest Queen Elizabeth arrived at PortMiami on October 16, 2025, to start roundtrip Caribbean itineraries running through April 2026. Sailings range from nine to 21 nights and split between Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, giving South Florida cruisers a new, classically styled option without a repositioning flight.

The change that matters to travelers is simple: more Cunard access from a major U.S. cruise gateway. With Miami as a homeport, guests can pair a long Caribbean itinerary with easier air schedules and a wider choice of pre- and post-stay hotels, trimming travel friction compared with seasonal departures elsewhere.

Queen Elizabeth's refresh, spaces, and dining

Queen Elizabeth completed a three-week transformation in March 2025 at Seatrium's Admiralty Yard in Singapore. The project revitalized signature venues, added sun-shaded outdoor areas, and elevated Grills accommodations. Guests will notice refreshed detailing in the Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge, and The Pavilion, along with new furniture on the Grills Terrace. The refresh also introduced the Pavilion Wellness Café for plant-forward menus and sustainably sourced meat, fish, and dairy, plus enhancements that support a broader wellness program onboard. Karibe, a new concept celebrating Caribbean coastal flavors, and "The Whispering Hour," a happy-hour experience in partnership with Whispering Angel, round out the updates for this Miami season. These changes align the ship with current preferences for lighter dining and indoor-outdoor lounging without losing Cunard's Art Deco-inspired atmosphere.

Entertainment headliner: Come From Away at sea

The marquee entertainment addition is the first at-sea production of the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away. Special events around select performances include appearances by figures tied to the show's real-world story, and the production is designed for the ship's Royal Court Theatre. The musical anchors a wider program featuring Artists in Residence and a rotating slate of Insight Speakers, from Olympians to actors. Notably, actor Hugh Bonneville, known for Downton Abbey and Paddington, is scheduled to join a November 2025 voyage as an Insight Speaker, and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster is slated to perform on the February 4, 2026, departure.

Beyond the mainstage, the new Abbey Road Listening Lounge in the Commodore Club offers a 60-minute, themed session on Bowers & Wilkins headphones, featuring recordings tied to London's Abbey Road Studios, from The Beatles to contemporary film scores. It is a quieter add-on that pairs well with Cunard's cocktail program and formal evenings.

Itineraries and who benefits

Through April 2026, Eastern Caribbean routes call at ports such as San Juan, St. John's, Castries, Bridgetown, Philipsburg, and Road Town. Western Caribbean sailings reach Amber Cove, Montego Bay, Belize City, and Cozumel. Travelers who favor sea days on a traditionally styled ship, ballroom dancing in the Queens Room, and white-glove service will find this deployment especially attractive. Those seeking named-talent performances and curated lectures get the most value on dates with Artists in Residence or Insight Speakers.

Background: Cunard's Miami pivot

Cunard previewed this move in early 2025, positioning the refresh to support a two-season North American strategy, with Miami in winter and Seattle for Alaska in summer. The March completion in Singapore set the timeline for the October 16 Miami debut. For U.S. cruisers, the result is a predictable schedule from the nation's busiest cruise port, plus a product that feels "new" without abandoning Cunard's hallmark traditions.

Final thoughts

Cunard's Miami season brings heritage cruising to an easy-to-reach homeport, with upgraded venues, a headline musical, and a calendar of guest performers. If you want a longer Caribbean trip with classic ceremony and modern wellness options, Queen Elizabeth's 2025-2026 Miami program is built for that blend.