LA is a city that loves a makeover — and so Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth stopped by San Pedro for a quick glimpse of its stunning refresh, fresh from her first-ever Alaskan season before heading to Miami to make her Caribbean debut.
Lauren Goldenberg aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.
Ever wondered what 185 years of luxury cruising history feels like compared to 2025 standards of wellness and design? The Queen Elizabeth could be your answer, with its glam new era of timeless opulence, reimagined through a modern lens.
The Queen’s Suite aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo courtesy: Cunard.
The British luxury liner’s reimagining gets the star treatment, meticulously enhanced to reflect a new era of elevated cruising where white-glove service meets holistic luxury. Grand yet intimate, the Queen Elizabeth now invites guests to indulge in bespoke experiences at sea.
The Queen’s Room aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo courtesy: Cunard.
Renovations and refurbished spaces
Newly refurbished spaces include the Queen’s Room, where dramatic high ceilings and glittering chandeliers channel Old World glamour with a modern twist. The Commodore Club, a perennial favorite of Cunard’s loyal fans, has also been reimagined with rich textures and elegance. Across the ship, Staterooms and Suites have been upgraded to keep guests in comfort, featuring plush bedding and refined design, as well as the option of a private balcony.
Aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo courtesy: Cunard.
The Pavilion Wellness Café is another welcome addition — with a healthy, plant-forward menu to make any Erewhon devotee pause mid-scroll. I had the chance to sample three of their smoothies (all in the name of research, of course) and they were all delicious. Perfect for guests to sample a new one each day with options ranging from the refreshing Triple Berry Detox (a blend of berries, banana and chia seeds) to freshly pressed juices and (possibly my favorite) the Healthy Amazake, a Japanese drink made from fermented rice.
Smoothie and fresh juices from the Pavilion Wellness Café aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Lauren Goldenberg
The menu includes a variety of dishes that I didn’t get to try, but I did get to ogle at. From date and nut bars to avocado toast and healthy salads, everything looked delicious and total #lunchandbrekkiegoals.
Selection from the Pavilion Wellness Café aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Lauren Goldenberg
Wellness goes couture
In a stylish new collab with Harper’s Bazaar, Cunard has unveiled its Wellness at Sea program — a curated suite of treatments and therapies with offerings from acupuncture and reflexology to bamboo massages and anti-inflammatory therapies. Award-winning luxury skincare products used at the spa are from Elemis, a leading British anti-aging brand.
The Commodore Club aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo courtesy: Cunard.
The Britannia restaurant
One of the fun things about being aboard a large, 2000+ passenger liner like Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is the variety of menus and eateries. One of the ship’s iconic dining options is the elegant Britannia Restaurant, where the three-course menu was both modern and refined with starters ranging from cream of tomato soup to poached sea trout with beets and rosemary or marinated and grilled vegetables atop black rice and yogurt.
Poached Chicken entree from the Britannia Restaurant aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Lauren Goldenberg.
Main entree selections for the day included options such as pan-fried cod with saffron potatoes to poached chicken with Lyonniase potato and morel mushroom and leek ragout. Never pass up dessert which included chocolate marquise, pear and ginger cake, or a coconut, key lime and passion fruit tart.
Poached Sea Trout with Beets from the Britannia Restaurant aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Lauren Goldenberg.
All menu options were made to order, with accommodations for guests with dietary restrictions and allergies.
Elegantly prepared Chocolate Marquise dessert from the Britannia Restaurant aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Lauren Goldenberg.
With the Queen Elizabeth setting her sights on Miami — her new homeport — this is a ship poised to redefine luxury travel in the Caribbean.
The Grill’s Terrace aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Photo courtesy: Cunard.
