In The News: Queen Mary 2 Gets A $130 Million Dollar Makeover

Queen Mary 2 is back on the open seas after a makeover to end all makeovers, costing in the region of $130 million.

The iconic ocean liner spent 25 days out of water at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Germany, where 5,200 men and women worked over a million hours to overhaul her machinery, refresh the exterior of the ship and transform her reception rooms, dining areas and cabins.

The refurbishment, which is the biggest makeover Cunard has witnessed in its 176 year history, included adding 6,000 pieces of new furniture and 4,000 pieces of art to the cruise ship's rooms.

The ship also required an extensive lick of paint using more than 2,500 gallons in the refresh and almost 600,000 square feet of new carpet (the equivalent of 10 football pitches) were laid.

The Princess Grill restaurant has been remodelled with a Regency style, while the Queens Grill will now be sporting an Art Deco look. The buffet restaurant King's Court was also given a fresh makeover featuring more open plan cooking areas that are expected to showcase cooking demonstrations by kitchen staff.

Meanwhile, lovers of French food will be pleased to learn of the new Verandah restaurant, overlooking the ship's stern, which is replacing the specialty Italian restaurant masterminded by celebrity chef Todd English. 

There is also an extra dining venue for passengers to enjoy with a more relaxed feel in the form of the Carinthia Lounge, which serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and then tapas in the evening.

Alongside brand new dining experiences, guests can sample the delights of the world’s finest wine cellar at sea, with a unique collection of 486 fine wines and a stunning collection of Ports, dating back to 1840. Extracurricular activities have also been given a shine, including the Royal Court Theatre, which is now sporting a brand new 22-foot wide, high definition LED screen. 

Any pets making the voyage with their owners are also in for a treat, with the kennel area given a spruce up that included a lamp post from Liverpool and a fire hydrant from New York to make dogs feel at home in the world’s only transatlantic kennel service . 

Queen Mary 2 has also increased in size after 50 cabins were added to her inventory, including 35 pre-fabricated rooms that were hoisted onto one of her decks, as well as 15 cabins for solo travellers unveiled elsewhere on the boat.

But while the cabins were refreshed in the ship's signature colours and new soft furnishings, some of the biggest transformations took place in the communal areas.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your business and leisure travel needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
rawhidetravel.com