Taking place at Blohm + Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, Germany, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 7, the major soft goods refurbishments will comprise all staterooms, Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, the Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants, the Commodore Club, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuel’s, the Play Zone/Kids’ Zone, and a complete redesign of the Golden Lion Pub. To ensure that the latest changes will complement the ship’s signature elegance and glamour throughout, Cunard has again partnered with the noted Tillberg Design AB in Höganäs, Sweden, the company involved in Queen Mary 2’s original design.

“Queen Mary 2 is an iconic leader in the world of luxury ocean travel and continues to receive high ratings by guests and the cruise industry,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “A ship that still turns heads everywhere she goes, she is unquestionably the pride of our fleet. We are committed to maintaining that impeccable reputation, and this significant refurbishment is an important investment on behalf of our guests.”

The 14-day refit will require a team of thousands of workers replacing the equivalent of almost ten football pitches of carpet and manufacturing about 18 square miles of fabric into over 6,000 individual items. Specific plans include:

• Staterooms – All 1,310 staterooms aboard Queen Mary 2 will receive a fresh look with new carpeting, curtains and beddings, and some will receive new furniture. The revised design will be in keeping with current designs but with an enhanced sense of luxurious comfort, as can be experienced in luxury hotels around the world.

• Golden Lion Pub – With its increasingly popular traditional British pub lunch menus, busy bar, exciting sports events and nightly music offerings, the pub will benefit from a complete refurbishment and redesign to enhance its endearing appeal. The new design retains the British pub atmosphere and also evokes an American country club feel similar to the warm colours and plush seating in the same venues aboard sister ships Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Upgraded television screens will also be installed.

• Canyon Ranch SpaClub – An extensive refurbishment of the first Canyon Ranch SpaClub at sea will include the teak surrounds of the hydrotherapy pool and adjacent wet areas, and a general upgrade of all the facilities. In addition, new exercise machines in the fitness centre and new and improved features in the Beauty Salon will be installed.

• Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants – A new, lighter carpet design for both of Queen Mary 2’s exclusive Grill restaurants will enhance the existing ambience, maintaining the reputation of these fine dining venues as among the best at sea or on land.

• Commodore Club – One of the most visited public rooms aboard Queen Mary 2, this breathtaking lounge overlooking her bow will be refreshed with a new carpet design and additions to the white leather furnishings of chairs, sofas and bar stools.

• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar – A popular space especially on Transatlantic Crossings, this venue featuring the exquisite Veuve Clicquot brand of champagne will see a new carpet and soft furnishings design.

• Sir Samuel’s – This busy venue which features specialty coffees during the day and an impressive menu of wines at night, will receive a new compliment of carpeting and furniture coverings.

• The Play Zone/Kids’ Zone – Cunard’s first-rate facilities for younger guests will undergo a complete refurbishment, including new soft play areas, plus upgrades to the very latest in electronic gaming technology and entertainment.

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In addition to the current major refit, when Queen Mary 2 returns to service on 8 December, she will introduce several new on board features, details of which will be disclosed soon.

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I wonder what the new features will be?

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Originally posted by eroller:
Thanks David. I'm most curious about this piece of the press release ...

I wonder what the new features will be?

Ernie

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The Golden Lion is the worst of the ersatz English pubs of the cruiseships I have sailed or visited. Rarely will you see a tin strip ceiling. The captain's chairs are out a 1960's suburban basement rec room.

Princess ruined the Chart Room when that was refurnished and recarpeted. It used to look like it was out of the Queen Mary 1, now a Crowne Plaza hotel.

Sir Samuels, was a very nice design, crowded at dinner, but empty the rest of the time.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
Removing the Todd English restaurant and replacing it w/an indoor-outdoor 'Verandah Grill' casual restaurant would be a great move. QM2 needs a good poolside dining venue for cruises and for Transats-weather permitting.

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I agree. Turn Todd English into a casual indoor/outdoor grill, and then turn the Winter Garden into a new specialty restaurant.

[ 10-28-2011: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
It would be a great location for a specialty restaurant but installing a galley may be an issue.

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I thought about the galley issue as well, but I figured it was close enough to the King's Court that somehow that galley space could be utilized or expanded. Either that, or build out a new galley which seems pretty common these days during ship refits, where specialty restaurants are getting added to older ships all the time.

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Originally posted by BMWM5:
Cunard did not mention any refinements to Kings Court.

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