Cunard Line to add 30 new staterooms during Queen Mary 2 refit and refurbishment

Cunard Line is set to increase capacity aboard its flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 with the addition of 30 new staterooms as part of a major refurbishment scheduled for 2027.

Updated deck plans published on Cunard’s website reveal that the vessel will gain a mix of new suites and inside cabins, increasing passenger capacity by approximately 2.5%.

The 151,400-ton ship, which entered service in 2004 and remains the world’s only purpose-built ocean liner in regular transatlantic service, currently accommodates 2,620 guests at double occupancy.

Most of the additional accommodation will be created on Deck 13, where a section currently used as an open-air sun deck will be converted into a new stateroom area. Plans show the addition of 18 Princess Grill Suites and five inside cabins in the space, according to reporting by Cruise Industry News.

Further accommodation changes are planned elsewhere on the ship. The existing Concierge Lounge on Deck 9 is set to be converted into four inside staterooms, while a new Penthouse Suite will be added on Deck 8 in an area currently occupied by a bookshop adjacent to the vessel’s library.

On Deck 6, part of the ship’s Teens and Kids Zone will also be repurposed to accommodate four additional inside cabins.

The revised deck plans indicate several changes to public areas. A new sun deck is expected to be created on Deck 14, while the Boardwalk Café on Deck 12 is due to be removed as part of the project.

While Cunard has yet to formally announce details of the refurbishment programme, the cruise line has confirmed on its website that Queen Mary 2 will undergo enhancements ahead of the 2027 northern hemisphere summer season.

The vessel is expected to enter dry dock in late March 2027 and return to service in May 2027.

The refit and refurbishment will represent one of the most significant modifications to Queen Mary 2’s accommodation offering since the ship underwent a major refurbishment in 2016, when new Britannia Club staterooms and kennels were added, along with extensive updates to public spaces and dining venues.

The upcoming project is expected to ensure that Queen Mary 2 remains competitive in the premium and luxury cruise market while preserving her role as Cunard’s flagship and the only ocean liner operating regular crossings between Southampton and New York.