QUEEN VICTORIA For Early Refit

Cunard Line announced today that QUEEN VICTORIA will enter the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, in January 2015 for a multi-million dollar refit.

QUEEN VICTORIA will see the addition of her first single staterooms, nine cabins will be constructed from part of the casino.  Carpets will be renewed throughout the ship, and large flat-screen TVs will be installed in all passenger staterooms; and in the ship’s informal Lido restaurant, waiters will in the future serve hot drinks at all meals.

“QUEEN VICTORIA’s multi-million dollar refit will ensure this much-loved ship remains in tip-top condition for her World Cruise in 2015 and beyond,” said David Dingle, CEO for Cunard Line.

As on QUEEN ELIZABETH, sun awnings will be erected on the open area near the stern Lido pool and on both sides of the Grills Upper Terrace area near the top of the ship to offer more shade on deck.

The shopping area will increase significantly and new fine jewelry and watch shops are opening.

On the technical front, scrubber technology is being installed aboard, a filtration system for the exhaust gas from the ship’s engines.

The timing of QUEEN VICTORIA’s dry dock is being brought forward, as a bearing on one of the ship’s propulsion units will need replacing prior to her previously scheduled dry dock in December 2015. This has no impact on the safety of the ship, but it is timely for the bearing to be replaced prior to the ship’s Round World Cruise beginning 20 January 2015.

As a result, two sailings have to be cancelled: the 12-day cruise to the Canaries on 3 January 2015, and a short five-day trip to Amsterdam and Cherbourg on 15 January 2015. Passengers (and their travel agents) have been informed.

David Dingle stated, “While we are sorry to be cancelling the two cruises, we are looking forward to welcoming all those affected back aboard a Cunard ship in the near future, perhaps on QUEEN VICTORIA or QUEEN ELIZABETH, both of which will be sailing in 2015 fresh from their make overs.”