Cunard, the world’s most iconic luxury cruise line, has today unveiled the first images of Queen Victoria following her three-week refurbishment at Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam.
The luxurious 2,000-guest ship now features a refreshed Grand Lobby, a reimagined Queens Room, enhanced Princess and Queens Grill Suites and the introduction of The Pavilion Wellness Café following the extensive transformation.
Queen Victoria is renowned as a modern classic within the Cunard fleet, distinguished by her grand public rooms, sweeping staircases, rich wood panelling and spacious open decks. The ship is also home to one of the largest libraries at sea, and the Royal Court Theatre, the first at sea to feature West End-style theatre boxes.
Revitalised iconic spaces
The transformation has been carefully designed to preserve Queen Victoria’s distinctive character, while elevating her signature spaces for today’s luxury traveller.
At the heart of the refurbishment is a refreshed triple-height Grand Lobby embellished with regal details, creating a striking first impression as guests are welcomed on board.
The iconic Queens Room has also been reimagined, ensuring it remains an elegant setting for Cunard’s famous afternoon tea, live music, dancing and glamourous Gala Evenings. The new look is inspired by the vibrant floral borders of the Royal Palaces as well as Queen Victoria’s beloved orange blossom jewellery, gifted to her by Prince Albert. Butterflies also feature in the design, offering a subtle nod to the Royal Family’s longstanding commitment to the natural world.
Elevated Grill Suites experience
The ship’s renowned Grill Suites experience has been enhanced, with Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suites and their restaurants benefitting from sophisticated furnishings, and thoughtful design upgrades, while the redesigned Grill Suites Lounge and lift lobby give guests a stunning welcome, and have drawn on inspiration from Queen Victoria’s favourite jewels.
Reflecting the growing importance of wellness in luxury travel, Queen Victoria now becomes the third ship in the Cunard fleet to feature The Pavilion Wellness Café. Following successful introductions on Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth, the venue offers breakfast, lunch and daytime dining centred around plant-based cuisine alongside sustainably sourced meat, fish and dairy options.
Additional accommodation choices
The refurbishment has also introduced eight additional Britannia staterooms, including three in a new premium category, Britannia Deluxe Oceanview, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows designed to maximise ocean views.
Paul Ludlow, President of Cunard, said:
“Queen Victoria has long been loved by our guests for her timeless elegance, distinctive character and uniquely warm atmosphere. This transformation has been carefully designed to celebrate those qualities while introducing thoughtful enhancements that reflect the expectations of today’s luxury traveller.
“Whether guests are enjoying the reimagined Queens Room, relaxing in our enhanced Grill Suites or dining at The Pavilion Wellness Café, every aspect of the refurbishment has been created to enrich the experience on board. We are delighted to share this first look and look forward to welcoming guests on board for Queen Victoria’s next chapter.”
Queen Victoria offers a diverse programme of voyages to destinations around the world, including the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords and Canary Islands. The ship will embark on her 109-night World Voyage on 10 January 2027, calling at 32 ports including Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town, alongside maiden calls to Dakar, Senegal, and Durban, South Africa.
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For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, visit www.cunard.com
