Cunard Line is preparing a significant refurbishment of its flagship ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, that will increase the vessel’s accommodation capacity through the addition of 30 new staterooms during a scheduled dry dock in 2027.
Updated deck plans published by Cunard indicate that the 151,400-gross-ton vessel will receive a combination of new suites and inside cabins, raising overall passenger capacity by ~2.5%. Since entering service in 2004, Queen Mary 2 has remained the only purpose-built ocean liner operating regular transatlantic crossings and currently accommodates 2,620 guests at double occupancy.
The majority of the new accommodation will be created on Deck 13, where part of an existing open-air sun deck will be enclosed and converted into a new stateroom section. Plans show the addition of 18 Princess Grill Suites and five inside cabins in this area.
Further modifications are planned across several other decks. On Deck 9, the current Concierge Lounge is scheduled to be transformed into four inside staterooms. A new Penthouse Suite will be introduced on Deck 8, occupying space presently used by a bookshop adjacent to the ship’s library. On Deck 6, a section of the Teens and Kids Zone will be reconfigured to accommodate four additional inside cabins.
The refurbishment will also bring changes to several public areas. A new sun deck is expected to be created on Deck 14, while the Boardwalk Café on Deck 12 is set to be removed as part of the redevelopment project.
Although Cunard has not yet formally detailed the full scope of the refit, the company has confirmed 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 of the same year.
The project represents one of the most substantial alterations to the ship’s accommodation inventory since her major 2016 refurbishment, which introduced new Britannia Club staterooms and kennels while also modernising a number of public spaces and dining venues.
Once completed, the refit is expected to strengthen Queen Mary 2’s position within the premium and luxury cruise sector while preserving her longstanding role as Cunard’s flagship and the sole ocean liner maintaining regular service between Southampton and New York.