Cunard is doing something it’s never done before – putting one of its iconic Queens in south Florida for a full Caribbean season. Starting October 16, 2025, Queen Elizabeth will begin sailing roundtrip Caribbean cruises ranging from 9 to 28 nights out of PortMiami. For a cruise line known for transatlantic crossings and world voyages, this move is a big deal.
Queen Elizabeth is a Vista-class ship, but let’s clear something up right away – this has nothing to do with Carnival Cruise Line’s Vista class (Carnival Vista, Horizon, and Panorama to name a few). Carnival’s Vista-class ships carry around 4,000 passengers, complete with water parks, IMAX theaters, and bike rides in the sky.
Cunard’s “Vista class” is a whole different story. It’s based on Carnival Corporation’s Vista platform, which predates Carnival’s Vista class by nearly a decade and was shared across several brands. Think Holland America’s Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam.
These ships are mid-sized – around 90,000 gross tons and carrying about 2,000 passengers – and were designed so each brand could give them its own identity.
So while the name “Vista” shows up in both places, Queen Elizabeth’s class has more in common with HAL’s fleetmates than with Carnival’s mega Fun Ships. Instead of neon atriums and water slides, think art deco design, ballrooms, and afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters. She may share DNA with her Carnival cousins, but she’s got a very different soul.
HAL’s Vista ships are the closest matches, right down to the deck plans, but with Cunard’s signature touches and, let’s be honest, a bit more formality.
Fresh from a Refit
Before her Miami debut, Queen Elizabeth spent three weeks in dry dock in Singapore. She came out with updated interiors, refreshed public spaces, and a general bow-to-stern tune-up.
Her inaugural Miami voyage departs October 16, 2025, on a 12-night roundtrip itinerary that visits Barbados and St. Lucia, among others. From there, she’ll settle into a schedule of 9- to 28-night Caribbean sailings that include classic ports like:
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- St. John’s, Antigua
- St. Maarten
- St. Thomas
- Bridgetown, Barbados
- Castries, St. Lucia
For Cunard fans, or those who want to try the line for the first time, it’s a way to experience the line’s traditions without booking a transatlantic or world voyage.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth to Sail from PortMiami in Winter 2025
The Queen’s Limited-Time Engagement
Here’s the catch: Queen Elizabeth isn’t sticking around forever. She’ll sail from Miami until April 2026, then head north for her Alaska season. She comes back to Miami in September 2026 for another Caribbean run, but after March 2027, she’s gone. With no plans to return.
So why only two seasons? My guess: Cunard was testing the waters (literally) to see how North American cruisers would respond. Miami is already jam-packed with options – mega-ships from Royal, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Virgin – you name it. Cunard, with its more formal and traditional vibe, is a very different sell. They may do well for a season or two, but ultimately, their bread and butter has always been longer voyages, world cruises, and the transatlantic crossings that keep Queen Mary 2 iconic.
My Trip on the Queen Elizabeth
I’ll be onboard myself on October 28, 2025, for a 9-day Western Caribbean itinerary with stops at Amber Cove, Montego Bay, Belize, and Cozumel. While it’ll be my first time sailing on Queen Elizabeth, I’m no stranger to Cunard. I’ve sailed several times on the legendary Queen Mary 2 out of New York, and I’m planning a roundtrip transatlantic on her again in 2026.
Be sure to stay tuned and follow along as my sailing date is coming up soon!