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Cunard Reveals Queen Mary 2 Remastered
Multi-million dollar investment refurbishes the world's only ocean transatlantic liner
June 23, 2016 -Cunard'sflagship linerQueen Mary 2will set sail this month on herfirst voyage following an investment in the region of$132million,one of the most significant refurbishments undertaken bythe world's mostvenerable passengershipping line, now marking 176 years in operation.
On 23rdJune the remastered liner will sail into Southampton Water flanked by fleetroyaltyQueen ElizabethandQueen Victoria,to begreeted by a host of high-profile guests. The vesselwill then set sail for New York, continuing her schedule of iconic transatlantic crossings, a unique journey that has been enjoyed across the decades byfamouspersonalities from the Golden Age of Ocean travelincluding Audrey Hepburn, Clarke Gableand Winston Churchill,to political figures and luminaries of today such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President George H.W. Bush, film maker Wes Anderson, actress Tilda Swinton, James Taylor, and many others.
Theluxuryliner has beenlovinglyremastered with new contemporary interior designsand guest experiences, some of whichtake inspirationfrom the originalQueen Marythatlaunched at the height of the art-deco movement in the 1930s. Cunard's investment, marking 80 years since the original liner launched, has ensured every detail from the carpets to the curtains recalls that iconic vesselwhich became a symbol ofBritish elegance.
The remasteringfeatures:
- Redesign and refurbishment oftheQueensGrilland Princess Grillsuitesand restaurants, as well as Britannia staterooms, the latter to be fully complete by the end of the year
- The addition of 30 furtherBritanniaClub staterooms,15Britanniasingle stateroomsand five Britannia inside staterooms
- Redesign ofkey public spaces and restaurants, including the transformation of the former Winter Garden into the Carinthia Lounge, the introduction of The Verandah as the ship's new speciality restaurant, and the complete refresh and restructuring of the Kings Court, the ship's popular buffet area
- 10 additional kennels, complete with Liverpool lamppost and NewYork fire hydrant tomakedogs feel at home in the world's onlytransatlantickennelservice
- And as befitting theflagship of the Cunard fleet, a completerepaintof the ship exteriorandsignificanttechnical enhancementsand structural changes
Over one million man hours has gone in to the refurbishment, over a 25 day period, 594,000 square feet of luxurious new carpets (the equivalent of 10Britishfootball pitches) has been laid, 4,000 new framed pictures have been brought on board and over3,900 gallonsof paint have been applied to the ship's hull - are just a few examples of the sheer size and scale of these refurbishments.
The essence ofQueen Mary 2lies in allowinggueststo lose themselves in a world of glamour,timeless sophistication and luxury. Alongside brand new dining experiences, guests can sample the delights of the world's finest wine cellar at sea, with a unique collection of486fine winesand a stunning collection of Ports, dating back to 1840.
Thismodern iconalso plays host to some of the finest quintessential Britishand internationalbrands, withanexclusiveco-branded travelcollection from Aspinal of London,andsought afterCartierproductsavailablefor guests to purchase whilst on board.
TheQueen Mary 2experience isrevered for its exceptional crew– in its 176 year history Cunard has seen seven of its Commodores knighted, an honour no other shipping company can claim.On boardQueen Mary 2today thelevel of expertise and tradition is not forgotten, with highly trained and attentive staff, all graduatesfrom the ship's White Star Service Academy. Fromskilled personal butlers and concierge teams oftheCunard Grills to the teams of sommeliers and waiting staff across the breadth of dining venues – allareready to cater for the needs of every guest.
"The significantinvestment into our flagship,Queen Mary 2,isindicative of our commitment to our guests, and to thespecial placethat the ship holds, not only forthose who are passionate about our famedship, but alsoforthe unique position she holdsin the cruise landscape," said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard, North America. "From her spectacular debut in 2004, to her current remastering, Queen Mary 2 continues to capture the imaginationof those who experience her classic ocean liner voyages."
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