Cunard North America president Rick Meadows said the refurbishments responded to passenger input.
'We are delighted to incorporate their wish for more outdoor space with enhancements to the Upper Grill Terrace and additional areas for sunbathing. We also provided more single staterooms for our single travelers,' he said.
Some 2,000 contractors of 30 nationalities worked a total of 600,000 man-hours around the clock to replace all 215,278 square feet of carpet in the passenger areas. They also renewed all 3,167 mattresses and replaced more than 19,685 square feet (3.75 miles) of pipe work insulation. Some 2,695 gallons of paint were used inside and out, enough to paint 54 Boeing 737s.
Queen Victoria embarked on its world cruise Thursday in Southampton.
World voyage passengers were welcomed with a flag-raising ceremony at the ship’s mast. This was to hoist the signature flag for the first time on board and, as is traditional, was performed by the youngest crew member, deck cadet Fraser Browne, 20.
The flag will be flown at landmarks across the world during all three of the Cunard fleet’s world voyages and will be auctioned at their conclusion with all proceeds going to The Prince’s Trust, the line's official charity.
Highlights of the refurbishment are here.
