Key Aspects:
- Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth has officially rerouted its September 21 itinerary to Endicott Arm.
- A landslide on August 10, 2025, closed Tracy Arm, creating unsafe navigation conditions and triggering a local tsunami.
- The vessel’s earlier September 14 sailing is likely to also be affected.
With one of Alaska’s most iconic fjords off-limits after a recent landslide, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is the latest vessel altering course in response.
Cruise passengers set to enjoy the 90,901-gross-ton ship’s 7-night voyage received notice that their visit to Tracy Arm, one of Alaska’s most photographed fjords, will now visit Endicott Arm.
In a notice, Cunard explained the adjustment: “We have recently been made aware that due to a landslide, we are no longer able to visit Tracy Arm on 21 September 2025.”
The cruise line went on to detail that the switch to Endicott Arm will be a fantastic substitution, as it “is known for its dramatic fjords, cascading waterfalls, and awe-inspiring Dawes Glacier.”
The September 21 cruise is the first sailing officially confirmed to be rerouted, but Tracy Arm’s closure suggests that an earlier scheduled arrival will also likely be impacted.
Cunard has not yet issued an updated notification for that earlier setting, but similar changes have already been made by other cruise lines navigating the Inside Passage, including Royal Caribbean.
By redirecting to Endicott Arm, Cunard preserves a “glacier day” for its guests, who are setting sail from Seattle on the confirmed itinerary that was changed.
That September 18, 2025, departure had Tracy Arm scheduled after a call in Ketchikan, Alaska, and preceding an afternoon arrival into Juneau on September 21.
The cruise line says the Juneau call will continue without changes following the ship’s sailing to Endicott Arm.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you on board Queen Elizabeth,” the statement continued.
Queen Elizabeth, which is currently sailing an 11-night Alaskan itinerary from Seattle that doesn’t include Tracy Arm, has a subsequent voyage on September 8, 2025, with the affected area featured on September 14. It will likely be diverted to Endicott Arm.
Landslide Forces Cruise Changes
The landslide that closed Tracy Arm occurred on August 10, 2025, when a large section of slope collapsed into the fjord and triggered a localized tsunami.
Waves between 10 and 15 feet were reported in the narrow waterway, dislodging debris and creating unsafe navigation conditions for vessels.
No ships were inside Tracy Arm at the time, but the incident immediately raised concerns about the stability of the surrounding area.
Since then, cruise lines have been forced to re-evaluate their itineraries. Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas was one of the first to announce a change, rerouting away from Tracy Arm on August 13 and sailing directly to Juneau.
Queen Elizabeth will leave her inaugural Alaska season following her September 18 sailing. Beyond visiting Ketchikan, Endicott Arm, and Juneau, the 2,081-guest ship will make a final call in the Last Frontier in Sitka on September 22 before returning to Seattle on September 25.
From there, the fleet favorite begins a nearly month-long repositioning to Miami for a winter season in the Caribbean.
