Interviews Captain's Log Queen Elizabeth

In conversation with Captain Stephen Howarth

Captain Stephen Howarth, Captain of Queen Elizabeth, sits down to tell us about how he climbed the ranks at sea and what he loves most about sailing the world.

5 min 24 Jan 2024

Cunard

Author

Good afternoon Captain! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today. Let's start with your history - how did you become Captain of Cunard's Queen Elizabeth?

I started my career at sea with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service in 1987. After ten years there, I moved into the cruise industry with P&O Cruises – later to become part of Carnival UK. Since 1997 until today, I have sailed with many of the corporation’s brands – P&O Cruises, P&O Australia, Princess Cruises, Fathom and, of course, Cunard.

I was promoted to Captain in 2016, and for the last three and a half years, have been lucky enough to sail as master on board Queen Elizabeth. I am originally from Manchester but have lived in Slovakia for the past decade with my wife and son.

That's quite a portfolio of cruise lines! What is a typical day for you as Captain?

Every day is different! If we are heading into port, I will generally be up before sunrise to sail the ship in. As with many jobs, there is always administration to do, so a good portion of my day will be spent at my desk or in meetings. Then it’s time to sail the ship again. Our current itinerary in Alaska has a lot of interesting navigation through fjords and passages, seeking out glaciers and wildlife. On top of that is the more social side, with cocktail parties to host and the occasional wedding to conduct. I try to get ashore, too, particularly if it is a new destination.

What is your favourite location on board and why?

The Queens Room is the heart of the ship. It is where we host all our cocktail parties and it is a pleasure to walk through the room in the evening and see our guests dancing. It is such an elegant area and so very Cunard.

The Queens Room on board Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, with ample seating, raised stage and shining dancefloor for guests to enjoy

Do you have any expert tips for guests on making the most of their voyage?

Always read the Daily Programme. It gives so much information about what is going on around the ship, so you never miss anything, as well as important information on such subjects as arrival and departure times and clock changes. Every guest gets a fresh copy delivered to their stateroom each evening, showing information for the following day.

There can't be many ports in the world you haven't visited - what is the destination you enjoy returning to most?

My favourite cruising area is definitely Alaska. I have always loved being among mountains, and during my leave, my family and I spend much of our leisure time hiking or skiing in the European Alps or the High Tatras mountains, which are only a stone’s throw from our home in Slovakia. Being able to sail a beautiful Cunard ship such as Queen Elizabeth through such jaw-droppingly beautiful mountain scenery in Alaska is really the best of both worlds for me.

Is your favourite port in Alaska too?

No, my favourite port has to be Sydney, Australia. I think that the cruise ship terminal at Circular Quay is the best-located berth in the world, nestled between the iconic Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge and in walking distance from downtown Sydney.

Can you share with us a memorable moment from a voyage?

Every time we sail a ship up to a glacier in Alaska is an amazing event. It isn’t just our guests that enjoy the experience. Navigating a Cunard ship through the winding fjords and then being faced with an immense wall of ice at the end of it is still a thrill for me every time we do it.

What do you love most about being a Captain?

I love being part of a great team. It is a real pleasure to be able to coach the younger deck officers and develop their ship-handling skills on the bridge. On Queen Elizabeth, we have such a fantastic ship’s company and I am immensely proud to work with them all.

What is your proudest moment during your career with Cunard?

I was fortunate enough to be Deputy Captain on board Queen Mary 2 in 2015, when Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth all met in Liverpool to take part in the River Dance to celebrate Cunard’s 175th anniversary. Over one million people lined the banks of the Mersey that day to watch.

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth meet in the Mersey, Liverpool for a gathering in front of the Three Graces and thousands of people on the riverside.

What do people mostly get wrong about your job and the industry?

As a Captain, that I am on the bridge all the time: “If you’re here, who’s driving the ship?” We have a team of highly trained bridge officers who navigate the ship on our days out on the open sea.

On the industry as a whole, people mistakenly think that cruising is just for people who have retired. Cruising is for everyone. We love to see young families on board our ships. It’s a great way to see the world and to sow the spirit of travel and adventure in young minds.

Where would you most love to visit (as a Captain and/or tourist)?

I think I have visited most places in the world now, whether through my work or on leave – from Spitzbergen to Antarctica, from a thousand miles up the Amazon to the Himalayas. As I previously mentioned, I have a passion for mountains and nature – maybe a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro? I think I would have to leave the ship behind though!

What would be your dream voyage as a guest?

There are so many choices. The Mediterranean has so much diversity and history between ports in such a small cruising area. Alaska has the most stunning scenery in the world. Australia and New Zealand have beautiful natural scenery and world-famous destinations. The Caribbean has the beaches. There’s something special about sailing into New York at sunrise on a mighty ocean liner, too. But if I could only choose one cruising area, I think I would like to try Hawaii. It’s an area I have not spent much time in. It has amazing scenery and I would love to explore the volcanoes and forests.