Cunard Line's newest ship, Queen Elizabeth has arrived at the Blohm Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, for her first scheduled dry-docking since she entered service in 2010. As well as conducting standard checks and maintenance, this multi-million dollar refit will create the ship's first-ever single accommodation options, along with enhanced stateroom and other amenities and improved restaurant facilities. In line with the company's environmental sustainability thinking, scrubber technology is also being introduced on the ship.
Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth (Photo: Business Wire)
Queen Elizabeth will leave the shipyard on Saturday 1 June and sail for Southampton, ahead of her 4 June cruise to Amsterdam.
"Queen Elizabeth is already a much loved ship and following this multi-million dollar refit, she is sure to shine brightly for years to come," said David Dingle, CEO for Cunard Line. "Whilst there has been investment across the ship, we are particularly delighted to announce that following this refit, there will be staterooms for single travellers on board a Cunard ship for the first time since QE2."
In response to passenger demand and changing demographics, a total of nine new single staterooms are being created on Deck 2 midships by remodeling part of Queen Elizabeth's casino. Eight of the single staterooms will be a new grade of Ocean View accommodation, and the ninth will be a standard Inside.
In The Lido, the ship's informal restaurant, refurbishments will mean that waiters with insulated coffee and tea pots will in the future serve passengers with hot drinks at all meals, while recessed risers will improve the styling of the self-service area as well as passenger flows within it.
More generally, carpets are being renewed and large flat-screen TVs mostly 32" or above are being installed in all passenger staterooms.
Sun awnings are being erected on the open area near the Lido pool at the stern on Deck 9 and on both sides of the Grills Upper Terrace area near the top of the ship to offer more shade on deck.
The creation of a dedicated studio will enable the ship's photographers to offer high-end portraiture, while the addition of touch screens in the photo gallery will continue the development of a digital environment in which passengers can more easily find and select their photos taken by the team.
Significant work is planned for the shopping area on board: the footprint is increasing, new Fine Jewellery and Watch shops are opening, and the layout, lighting and overall shopping experience for passengers are being enhanced.
On the technical front, scrubber technology is being installed in line with Cunard's commitment to minimising the company's environmental impact. This involves installing a new filtration system for the exhaust gas from the ship's engines.
Queen Elizabeth Technical Figures:
| Length: | 294 m | |||
| Width: | 32 m | |||
| Draught: | 8 m | |||
| Maximum Speed: | 23.7 knots | |||
| Passenger Capacity: | 2,068 | |||
| Staterooms: | 1,034 | |||
| Crew: | 1,005 | |||
For more information about Queen Elizabeth, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard Line toll free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travellers who seek a civilised adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
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