Classic elegance in the Last Frontier

Cunard’s sailings promise nature-filled excursions by day and reasons to get fancy (if you’d like!) by night.

The 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth, which calls Alaska home from June through September, often evokes British grandeur (both real and fictional) as it ventures gracefully into the wilds of the Last Frontier. Walls of glaciers calve into floating icebergs around the vessel as white-gloved waiters orchestrate high-tea service in a perfect choreography of passed platters and tiered cake stands.

The key difference between royal customs and life on board Queen Elizabeth: no daily tuxedos or etiquette classes required. Cunard mixes opportunities to get dressed up with a relaxed day-to-day atmosphere while navigating Alaska’s mossy rain forests, oceans teeming with wildlife, and rivers of slowly moving ice.

Embarking on an Alaskan cruise on this regal ship – where an orchestra brings ballroom dancers to the floor and guest lecturers share epic tales of adventure – makes for not just a comfortable voyage but a highly social one. The line creates celebratory occasions without ever feeling stiff, from casual karaoke in the shipboard pub to optional formal nights.

Itineraries and excursions put Alaska’s wildlife front and center.

Passengers are likely to nab their first bald eagle or dolphin sighting of the day on the walk to breakfast, while excursions whisk them away to more zoomed-in views of nature. 7 day round trip voyages from Seattle, Washington call at Ketchikan to board a floatplane flightseeing tour. One highlight: Misty Fjords National Monument, where waterfalls plunge down the reserve’s sheer rock walls. On that same sailing, cruisers can peer into the crevasses and azure pools of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier on a bird’s-eye-view heli-tour before landing for a walk on the ice. Combining the rugged and refined in Sitka, Zodiacs embark on marine safaris in search of sea otters, sea lions, and whales. Wildlife-watching continues en route to the remote, waterfront Fin Island Lodge for Dungeness crab and wild salmon paired with local Alaskan beers.

Eleven Night Round Trip from Seattle, Washington combine convenience (the same arrival and departure port) with more-remote highlights typical of one-way Alaska cruises. Queen Elizabeth sails all the way to Hubbard Glacier, where daylight breaks over the 350-foot-high ice cliff as the ship approaches. Passengers spot sea lions resting atop icebergs and listen for the magnified crack similar to an ice cube tray – aka “white thunder” – signaling a calving glacier.

At sea, Cunard’s resident naturalist, Dr. Rachel Cartwright, helps bird-watchers and animal lovers identify puffins and distinguish harbor seals from sea lions. Even without an expert’s eye, one of Alaska’s great surprises is how engaging the passing scenery can be. Passengers take it all in from the suite-exclusive Grills Terrace on Deck 11, the Commodore Club on Deck 10, or Deck 9’s outdoor whirlpools and chaise lounges. A breaching humpback whale or a pod of Dall’s porpoises warrants a justifiable time-out from rounds of croquet on Deck 9.

Channel high society – or chilled-out fun – while at sea.

During Alaska’s long summer nights, Cunard fills its social calendar with extravagant evenings and low-key options. The grande dame: an Ice White Ball on each sailing’s gala evening, with a black-tie dress code and ballroom dancing in the Queens Room. This elegant evening often transitions into an after-party in the Yacht Club, where DJs play contemporary dance tunes and vintage disco favorites. (Pro tip: Queue up in the Lido’s late-night line for french fries and tacos after the dancing winds down in the Queens Room.)

Special events come with cocktails and (optional) costumes.

Other themed nights on board allow for more creativity (and fewer cummerbunds): think Roaring 20’s formal night. On the casual end of the spectrum, the English-style Golden Lion pub hosts karaoke and trivia, bringing passengers together over draft ales and crisp fish-and-chips.

A slate of guest lecturers also adds an enlightening sense of adventure into the onboard entertainment mix. Hear life stories from mountain climbers, naturalists and more!

Expect British traditions, but with plenty of international influence.

For all its deep ties to England, Cunard is a culinary globalist. In Britannia Restaurant – the two-story, wood-furnished main dining room – nightly five-course dinner menus feature English classics such as smoked salmon and spring lamb alongside Alaska-inspired poached sockeye, reindeer steaks, and fresh crab. The main dining room offers a smart, jacket-optional dress code that keeps things semi-casual after 6 p.m.

The same attire requirements apply to the Steakhouse at The Verandah. Passengers tuck into booths with ocean views for fine-dining flourishes that include waitstaff offering them a choice of steak knives for rib eyes and Beyond Meat veggie burgers. Laid-back meals take place at the Golden Lion or the Lido, which serves casual bites and snacks all day.

Let Cunard make your Alaska dreams come true.