Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth graced Sasebo Port in Nagasaki Prefecture with its inaugural visit on May 10.
The vessel anchored at Miura Pier around 6 a.m., staying overnight. The arrival sparked celebrations including a shoreside welcome ceremony and the “Queen Elizabeth Festival.” This event showcased performances from the Sasebo City Band, local musicians, and students from nearby universities and high schools, along with dance troupes and taiko drumming.

Vice Mayor Nishimoto remarked, “Since this is the first overnight cruise in Nagasaki Prefecture, we hope you enjoy Sasebo’s night view which is said to rival Nagasaki City’s, and the fresh seafood boasting the second highest catch in Japan.”
For this special occasion, 3,000 commemorative postcards featuring Queen Elizabeth were handed out, and the terminal stayed open 24 hours, allowing visitors to admire the illuminated ship throughout the night.
The Queen Elizabeth was on its nine-night Big Band Ball voyage, which had set off from Tokyo on May 5. After leaving Sasebo, the ship continued to Shimizu, returning to Tokyo on May 14.