The British luxury cruise line Cunard is giving one of its ‘queens’ a ‘comprehensive refurbishment’: she is heading to dry dock in Europe. The Dutch shipyard Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam will be carrying out the work.
The ship, built in 2007 by Fincantieri in Italy, is due to enter dry dock on 17 October. Extensive work, primarily to the interior, is planned until 5 November, before it returns to regular service.
On board the cruise ship, which has a capacity of 2,000 passengers, the ship’s signature areas will be ‘carefully modernised’, as Cunard has now announced. The ‘Grand Lobby’ will be redesigned, and the legendary ‘Queens Room’ will also be reconceived so that it continues to provide the perfect setting for Cunard’s famous Afternoon Tea, live music and glamorous gala evenings. The Cunard Grill Suites – “a hallmark of the brand” – will also be upgraded. The “Queens Grill” and “Princess Grill” suites will feature luxurious fittings and a new design. In addition, eight further “Britannia” cabins will be introduced, including three in the new “Britannia Deluxe Oceanview” premium category, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic sea views.
To reflect the growing importance of wellness for the modern luxury traveller, the ‘Queen Victoria’ – following its introduction on the ‘Queen Anne’ in 2024 and the “Queen Elizabeth” in 2025, the “Queen Victoria” will be the third ship in the Cunard fleet to feature a “Pavilion Wellness Café”. This wellness-focused venue will serve breakfast, lunch and light bites; the menu will feature plant-based dishes as well as sustainably sourced meat, fish and dairy products.
Cunard’s CEO, Katie McAlister, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to further refine the range of experiences and facilities on board. In doing so, we approach every decision with the utmost respect for the heritage and charm that make this ship so unique.”
The fleet of the cruise line, founded in 1840, currently comprises four ships: the ‘Queen Mary 2’, the ‘Queen Elizabeth’, the ‘Queen Victoria’ and the latest addition, the ‘Queen Anne’, which entered service in May 2024. Cunard is part of the US-based Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise line, with a portfolio of cruise lines calling at more than 800 ports and destinations worldwide.
