Several members of the Sovereign team were fortunate to travel onboard RMS Queen Mary 2 as she departed Hamburg where she has spent the past 3 weeks being extensively refurbished. On Thursday 23 June Cunard’s flagship returned to Southampton, Remastered. Over the course of her refit, the interior and exterior of the flagship has been transformed. We are proud to give you a first-hand glimpse of what Queen Mary 2 looks like after her refurbishment.
As we arrived at the cruise port in Hamburg we were all blown away by how impressive Queen Mary 2 looked. After gazing in awe for several minutes, we began the embarkation process and as we got closer to the ship it was even more evident as to how immaculate the paintwork is on the exterior of the ship. The whole ship has been repainted from the hull all the way up to the iconic red funnel. It is by far the most stunning ship that I have ever visited.
The layout of the ship is perfect and the public areas are very spacious. The first public space you walk through as you enter the ship is the Grand Lobby and it certainly lived up to its name. Not only was the Lobby grand, but it was also very luxurious with its prominent staircase leading down to an elegant seating area and piano. This entrance made us feel a great sense of importance, as if you were royalty.
There are a wide range of bars and lounges spread out across the ship. A personal favourite of mine was the Carinthia Lounge; a tranquil retreat by day, the serene Carinthia Lounge provides the perfect place to relax and catch up with friends, or a good book, as well as enjoy light breakfast and lunch dishes along with premium teas and coffee, handmade patisseries and a special Champagne Afternoon Tea experience. When the sun sets, the atmosphere evolves into an inviting evening spot where carefully selected wines are paired with tasting plates, and relaxed entertainment. I loved the design of the Carinthia Lounge as it boasts a fresh colour scheme comprising of powder blue, cream and gold, accompanied with vertical metal Art-Deco inspired screens and a large Port wall.
For lunch and dinner each day we dined in the world-renowned Queens Grill restaurant. Guests staying in the Queens Grill Suites have a table reserved in the Queens Grill restaurant. You’ll always be greeted warmly by name, and appreciate the ultimate interpretation of White Star Service during breakfast, lunch and dinner, served when you wish between 6.30pm and 9pm. The appearance of the restaurant is stunning and the food is exquisite. It is definitely worth staying in Grill Suite accommodation just so you can experience this world-class dining service!
If you are looking for a dining experience that is more relaxed, then the newly refurbished Kings Court restaurant is the place to go! Enjoy a casual breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night buffet in the relaxed self-service Kings Court restaurant. With cuisine options that take inspiration from around the world, you’ll always find something to tempt you. The restaurant opens for continental breakfast at 4am and the full breakfast menu runs from 6:30am to 11:30am.
Queen Mary 2’s Remastered interiors have taken years to plan and design. Cunard worked with world-class designers to create lounges, restaurants, bars, staterooms and suites that are at once contemporary and reflective of Cunard’s illustrious past. This is especially evident in the Q4 Penthouse Suites where we stayed. We stayed in Suite 9060 and it was the best accommodation I have ever experienced at sea. The whirlpool bath, lengthy veranda and the two large Samsung Smart TV’s were the highlights of the suite, and not to forget the Butler too! Complimentary beverages stocked in the fridge were also a great addition to the suite. The beds were very cosy and relaxing, perfect after a night of dancing in the G32 Nightclub onboard!
Queen Mary 2’s interiors have been completely remastered from big changes, like the transformed Kings Court and the beautiful Grand Lobby, to smaller details, such as the new furnishings in our Grills Suites. Other notable changes to the ship include the addition of a new speciality dining restaurant, The Verandah, or the refurbished Britannia Club Restaurant and Britannia accommodation. Queen Mary 2 has undergone a huge transformation, one that makes the most iconic ship at sea even more luxurious and contemporary than ever before!
To view more images of the ship’s new appearance, please click here to visit our Facebook page.
Book a future voyage on Queen Mary 2 now and experience the stunning transformation for yourself! Only Sovereign guarantees you the very best fares on all Cunard Line voyages so please contact us today to secure your place!