QE2 Refit

[rjms74]

I have earlier today received some further details from Cunard UK re QE2's current refit:

 

"A great deal of recarpeting and re-upholstery is taking place as summarised below:

 

Carpets:D E G Staircases, Yacht Club, Casino, Crystal Bar, Golden Lion, Princess Grill, Britannia Grill, Shops, Midships Lobby, Library, Bookshop, Caronia Restaurant, Mauretania Restaurant and Purser's Square. Design hasn't changed, but at least they are new.

 

Re-upholstery: Bench Seats in Queens Room, Brit. Grill Furniture, Prin. Grill Furniture, Grand Lounge Chairs, Golden Lion Banquettes, Caronia Chairs, Yacht Club Furniture.

 

New bathrooms in 20 P Grade Cabins.

 

Six Public Toilets to be Refurbished: Yacht Club (ladies & Gents), Golden Lion (Ladies & Gents) and Pavilion (Ladies & Gents)

 

Penthouses: Redecorated & new Carpet."

 

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

 

RJMS74

[rjms74]

Re my earlier post the staircase carpets should have read D, E & G.

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

[dougnewmanatsea]

Interesting to hear that 20 P grade cabins got new bathrooms.

 

I wonder if this got rid of all the remaining "unrenovated" cabin bathrooms, or if there are still even more remaining?

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

Another item for the refit list. I read that some if not all of the pantries on the accomodation decks are being refurbished. Of course passengers will not see this. It was detailed in Cunards response to defects found in a CDC inspection.

 

Best wishes, Stephen.

[cunardqueen]

All in all its doesnt seem much for the length of time she is in dock? Would be interesting to see her with the hole in the side where the kitchen equipment was removed,

Still at least they are still spending money on her !!!! and that we should be thankfull for!

 

Stephen, You can give us a full report when you return, warts and all if there are any!!!

cheers

Myles

[hardastarboard]

All in all its doesnt seem much for the length of time she is in dock? Would be interesting to see her with the hole in the side where the kitchen equipment was removed

 

There will be much much more going on behind the scenes, I can assure you. The hotel side of the refit is usually tiny, the majority of it will be technical maintenance, or deck related jobs. With regards to the hole in the ships side, this goes on every refit, and the ship usually has half a dozen or so. They are cut out as it is much easier to get stores etc onboard, and give a direct link to the engine room and alleyways, saving the need to drag stores down pax alleys. They are also used to get most of the services through ie. water, sewage, electricity, compressed air etc etc.

Hopefully this pic from the last refit will work for me!

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

I must admit I last time I was aboard QE2 (September 2005) the carpets and upholstery seemed fine to me. Perhaps I don’t notice such things. Some of the public toilets did look a bit grotty. The ones near the Pavilion have been awful for years.

 

I did think the penthouse we were in need of refurbishment. The paintwork was marked, wardrobe doors would no close and open properly, and hot and cold arrows missing off the shower. Nothing too disastrous just a bit shabby. When my friend saw the photos, she said it looked like a room at one of those Hilton hotels they built on the M1 in the 1980s. I don’t think she was being complimentary.

 

Also at any refit a large part of the work will be inspection. Lloyd’s Register and Maritime & Coastguard Agency will both have both specific certification requirements from the refit.

 

It will be fun in a few days to see what has been done. We could have one of those new bathrooms.

 

Best wishes, Stephen.

[dougnewmanatsea]

I agree with Stephen, when I was aboard in January the carpets and upholstery looked fine and indeed I thought most of the carpets had just been replaced in 2005.

 

I definitely agree about the public toilets though, most of them definitely were in need of refurbishment.

 

Anyhow, it will be interesting to see what is done.

[Cunard Cruiser]

It seems unfair that only the Grill cabins are alwasy given more attention. The C and M grades really do need new carpets, bedding and dressers.

 

I was hope that the E and G staricases would have a better color carpet and I would love to see the E stairway walls changed to the color faux wood like G stairway.

[carlmm]

It seems unfair that only the Grill cabins are alwasy given more attention. The C and M grades really do need new carpets, bedding and dressers.

 

It looks like what ever Cunard does in refits will be regarded by somebody as wrong. I remember some time back when there was another refit of the QE2: Many C grade cabins got new bathrooms and promptly somebody on the board complained why they care about Caronia cabins when there are not-upgraded P grade bathrooms.

To my knowledge over the years all cabins got their share of refit, one time maybe only Grill cabins, another time Mauretania or Caronia cabins.

 

By the way when I stayed in a tiny inside single Mauretania, what I was liked most, was the old furniture, yes, with signs of wear and tear, but so much more character. Thus please no new dressers for me.

[pnhmrk]

It seems unfair that only the Grill cabins are always given more attention.

 

Could it be something to do with the fact they cost more?

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

I have crossed or cruised in a selection of origional cabins and one of the newish penthouses. The penthouses and surrounding areas do seem to show the wear. Possibly the prefabricated construction is more flimsy. Also water gets in to the penthouses and causes marks on painted surfaces and peeling wallpaper. Cunard have struggled to get the whole Queens Grill area right decoratively so they keep trying. The origional cabins I have had on Deck 5 have been in better condition in many ways. They are certainly more solidly built.

 

I really don't think residents of the origional cabins are being treated unfairly. In my view many of the origional cabins are decoratively superior. I love those cabinets.

 

In some ways Cunard is very egalitarian. Everybody gets the same soap, bed linen, nightly chocolate, towels, pillows and theatre seats. I believe lines like HAL, Celebrity and NCL differentiate some of these on cabin grade.

 

This year we are back in an origional cabin. The things I will miss from the penthouse are the space, the balcony, the service, the service and the service.

 

Best wishes, Stephen.

[pnhmrk]

I believe lines like HAL, Celebrity and NCL differentiate some of these on cabin grade.

 

You're kidding (I hope:) ). I couldn't imagine being on a ship where my treatment depended on what kind of cabin I'd got.