Cunard is preparing Queen Mary 2 for one of her most significant updates in years, with the ocean liner scheduled to enter dry dock in France on March 31, 2027, for a refurbishment spanning accommodations, wellness, entertainment, shopping and even her famous kennels.
The work will add 31 staterooms, including 16 new Princess Grill Suites, while every existing Grill Suite will receive refreshed interiors. Mareel Wellness & Beauty will be transformed, Illuminations will receive a major digital upgrade and additional outdoor deck space will be created.
Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to return to service on May 9, 2027. Cunard says the project is intended to modernize the onboard experience without changing the Art Deco character and traditions that distinguish its flagship.
Queen Mary 2 Will Add 31 New Staterooms
One of the biggest changes will be an expansion of the ship’s accommodations.
Cunard will add 31 staterooms across Queen Mary 2. Sixteen will become new Princess Grill Suites, while the remaining 15 will be Britannia accommodations.
Existing Grill accommodations are also getting substantial attention. Every current Grill Suite will be refreshed with new interiors, furnishings and finishes.
Bathrooms throughout the Grill Suite categories will receive new designs with what Cunard describes as premium, spa-inspired features.
The changes will extend beyond the suites themselves. Both the Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants will be refreshed while retaining the space, comfort and exclusivity associated with Cunard’s Grill experience.
More Outdoor Space Is Coming
Guests will gain additional outdoor deck space during the refurbishment, providing more places to relax, watch sunsets and spend time outside while at sea.
Several traditional activities associated with Queen Mary 2 will remain. Cunard specifically confirms that classic deck games, paddle tennis and pickleball will continue to be part of the onboard experience after the work is completed.
The approach reflects Cunard’s broader plan for the project: introduce noticeable improvements without replacing the characteristics guests already associate with the ship.
Queen Mary 2’s Kennels Are Getting an Upgrade
One of Queen Mary 2’s most unusual features will also be improved during the dry dock.
The ship has dedicated kennels for guests traveling across the Atlantic with their pets, and Cunard plans to redesign the kennels while increasing their capacity.
The owners’ lounge will be refurbished, and the outdoor walking area will be expanded.
The improvements are particularly relevant to Queen Mary 2’s regularly scheduled Transatlantic Crossings between Southampton and New York, where the kennel service gives passengers a distinctive option for crossing the Atlantic with their pets.
Mareel Wellness & Beauty Will Be Transformed
Cunard will overhaul Queen Mary 2’s Mareel Wellness & Beauty space as part of the refurbishment.
The updated area is being designed around relaxation, restoration and wellness. The announcement does not provide a detailed list of new treatment rooms, services or facilities, so additional specifics about the transformed space remain to be announced.
Shopping aboard Queen Mary 2 will also change, with Cunard introducing a new collection of luxury stores intended to create a more boutique-style retail experience.
Illuminations Planetarium Gets a Digital Upgrade
Queen Mary 2’s cultural and entertainment spaces are also included in the project.
Illuminations, which Cunard describes as the largest planetarium at sea, will receive a major digital upgrade designed to create more immersive experiences beneath its dome.
The Royal Court Theatre will continue presenting West End and Broadway productions, while Cunard’s Insights program will continue bringing speakers and cultural figures aboard the ship.
Rather than replacing these established parts of the Queen Mary 2 experience, Cunard is focusing the refurbishment on updating the spaces and technology surrounding them.
Art Deco Character Will Remain Central to Queen Mary 2
The design work is being led by Chris Finch, one of Queen Mary 2’s original designers.
Cunard says the updated interiors will draw inspiration from classic Hollywood glamour alongside British tradition and refinement, while remaining recognizable as Queen Mary 2.
Illustrator Tanu Vasu has also been commissioned to create a collection of artwork interpreting the refurbishment. Her illustrations are intended to communicate the atmosphere and design vision of the project rather than relying solely on digital renderings.
Vasu said her memories of seeing Cunard ships arrive in Australia made the project personally meaningful and described illustration as a way to capture both the design and sense of occasion associated with the ship.
Queen Mary 2 Returns to Service May 9, 2027
Queen Mary 2 will enter Damen Shiprepair Brest in France on March 31, 2027, and is scheduled to return to service May 9.
The new suites and staterooms have already gone on sale for voyages departing from May 2027.
After returning to service, Queen Mary 2 will continue operating her signature Transatlantic Crossings along with special Event Voyages and itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and the Caribbean.
For longtime Queen Mary 2 guests, the significance of the refurbishment is as much about what Cunard intends to preserve as what it plans to change. The ship will gain new accommodations, updated suites, more outdoor space, improved kennels and refreshed wellness, entertainment and retail areas, while Cunard says the ocean liner’s Art Deco identity and distinctive Transatlantic experience will remain at the center of the ship.
Source: Cunard
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