Cunard has selected Damen Shiprepair Brest to undertake a major refurbishment of Queen Mary 2, with the vessel scheduled to enter drydock on 31st March 2027 and return to service on 9th May 2027.
The extensive upgrades will introduce 31 new staterooms, refreshed Grill Suite interiors, and enhancements across dining, wellness, and entertainment venues aboard the iconic ocean liner.
The Queen Mary 2 refit represents a significant investment in what remains the world’s only true ocean liner in regular transatlantic service.
Since entering service in 2004, the 151,200-tonne vessel has been the flagship of the Cunard fleet, maintaining the tradition of scheduled crossings between Southampton and New York that dates back to the company’s founding in 1840.
Damen Shiprepair Brest, located on France’s Atlantic coast, has been chosen to execute the comprehensive renovation programme.
The facility has previously handled major cruise ship refurbishments and offers the technical capabilities required for such an extensive project on a vessel of Queen Mary 2’s size and complexity.
The drydock period of approximately five weeks will allow shipyard workers to access areas of the vessel that cannot be modified whilst she is in service.
This concentrated timeframe also minimises disruption to Cunard’s operational schedule, particularly important given Queen Mary 2’s role in maintaining the transatlantic crossing programme that forms a core part of the line’s identity.
Thirty-One Additional Staterooms Join The Accommodation Mix
The centrepiece of the refurbishment involves adding 31 new staterooms across two distinct categories.
Sixteen of these will be new Cunard Princess Grill Suites, significantly expanding the ship’s premium accommodation inventory and responding to strong demand from luxury cruise passengers.
The remaining 15 new staterooms will fall within the Britannia category, the ship’s standard accommodation class.
This addition addresses capacity in a segment that often sees high demand, particularly on popular transatlantic crossings during peak season.
These additions will increase Queen Mary 2’s total passenger capacity, though the exact new capacity figure has not yet been disclosed by Cunard.
The original design accommodated 2,691 passengers at double occupancy, with maximum capacity reaching 3,056 when all berths are filled.
The creation of new staterooms aboard an existing vessel presents engineering challenges, as designers must identify underutilised spaces and reconfigure them whilst maintaining compliance with maritime safety regulations.
On a ship of Queen Mary 2’s vintage, nearly 23 years old by the time of this refit, such modifications also provide an opportunity to modernise systems and update passenger amenities to contemporary standards.
Complete Grill Suite Transformation Elevates Luxury Experience
Every existing Grill Suite will receive a
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