Amanda PhillipsCunard is splashing out £34 million on a major makeover for their 90,000-tonne Queen Victoria. The ship which entered service in 2007 is having a section of the aft decks sliced off to be replaced by a larger lido sun deck. Windbreakers and additional sun loungers, as well as luxury cabanas, will be introduced to accommodate sun-seekers, while the shaded area will be extended for those looking to dine al fresco. Full bar service will also be available throughout the day and into the evening when there will be live entertainment.
The Winter Garden with its glass canopy will be refreshed and enhanced for guests looking to relax while enjoying the sea views. Five of Queen Victoria’s elegant Penthouse Suites will be completely redesigned to maximise space and raise the quality of guests’ experience even further. The new suites feature floor to ceiling windows and doors, private balcony plus additional storage space and beautiful bathrooms with luxurious whirlpool baths.
The addition of 43 new staterooms will increase the capacity of the vessel to 2,074 passengers. New flat screen televisions plus tea and coffee making facilities will be added to all staterooms which will have new fabrics. Queen Victoria will also get a Britannia Club restaurant that has proved so popular on sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2. Located in the space of the former Chart Room, the new restaurant will be built alongside the main Britannia Restaurant on Deck 2.
In typically understated British style, Queen Victoria doesn’t do glitz. Dignified calm, as opposed to rock climbing walls or zip-wires, is the refined ambiance. Luxurious furnishings and eye-catching features lend an air of extravagance to the onboard atmosphere with muted colours and lots of dark wood. The design is in keeping with the ambiance of Cunard’s ocean liners of times past while the interior design offers the contemporary elegance of a modern luxury hotel. For more details of the new look to Queen Victoria and great deals, call our cruise specialists now on 0800 484 0314 or click on www.barrheadtravel.co.uk.