Before
leaving on its annual Around the World Cruise out of New York
on Jan. 6, Cunard Line Ltd unveiled a newly refurbished Queen
Elizabeth 2 to the world. Completed in a record-breaking six-and-a-half-week
period at the Lloyd Werft Shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany in
late 1999, the $18 million refurbishment of the Great lady represents
a continuation of British presence at sea. "The refit is
an endorsement of Carnival, the parent company of Cunard, to
put Cunard back on the path to profitability, said Cunard CEO
and president Larry Pimentel at a January press conference on
board ship. "In the 18 months under the Carnival wing,
we have accomplished much.’’ After the many ups and downs the
company has had in recent years, Pimentel stressed that the
company "has now returned to profitability.’’
The
QE2’s $18 million refit and hotel refurbishment saw the removal
of nearly 50 coats of paint from her hull and repainted in the
icy wintry weather of Bremerhaven. Acres and acres of carpeting
and miles of fabric, as Pimentel described it, went into the
ship’s interior refurbishment. What’s more, the "project
was completed on time and under budget,’’ said Pimentel, "a
remarkable feat given the busyness of the shipyards today.’’
All the vessel’s public areas have been redone in more modern
tones and upholstery. The Queens Room is specially striking
with its electric blue and gold motif carpeting and contemporary
furnishings that open up the area to more light and space. Even
the Grand Lounge, the Casino and the Golden Lion Pub got a dress
over.
The Dining Rooms were also spiffed up. Outstanding is the refurbished
Caronia restaurant with its rich mahogany paneling, table lighting
and crystal chandeliers that replicate the elegance of an English
manor. (Expect to see more of that in the new ships ahead, predicts
Pimentel, evidently referring to the Queen Mary project.) The
Queens Grill also was redecorated with new furniture and carpeting
and a new serving galley while the more intimate Princess and
Britannia Grills have redesigned seating arrangements and new
furnishings. In the cafeteria-style Lido Pavilion, a new buffet
facility was installed and the furniture was reupholstered.
All
passenger accommodations were enhanced. Two new grand suites
were created in tan and gold color schemes with marble master
and guest bathrooms. Both suites feature a separate living-dining
area apart from the bedroom in the Queens Grill category: the
575 square foot Caledonia Suite (No. 8200) on Boat Deck and
the larger 777 square foot Aquitania Suite (No. 2149) located
forward of the Midships Lobby on Two Deck. Also on Two Deck,
the 770 square foot Carinthia Suite (No. 2151, formerly the
Midships Suite) was enlarged while two additional Princess Grill
category cabins ( Nos. 2153 and 2154) were also added. In addition,
all suites and cabins have been refurbished and existing furnishings
reupholstered
.New
directional signage was installed in the passageways and stairwells—a
big help for passengers trying to find their way around the
maze of corridors. The Business Center was upgraded with new
computer email facilities for those just itching to send a cheery
message home. And on the Royal Promenade, Harrods of London
has joined the other elegant boutiques gracing the area.
But
entertainment for its passengers is definitely on the mind of
Cunard. In tandem with the ship’s refurbishment, Cunard has
introduced an innovative entertainment concept: its theater
will be the venue for a Broadway-bound show. Passengers will
be able to see a work in progress, even attending dress rehearsals,
workshops and be able to meet the cast and production personnel
in group discussions. "This is really the reverse of the
way musical theater currently arrives on ships, remarked Greg
Von Seeger, Director of Entertainment for Cunard and Seabourn
Cruise Lines. "Generally a shipboard audience views a revue
troupe’s performance of a medley of popular songs from a show,
long after the Broadway opening. On the QE2, guests will witness
the birth of a blockbuster, performed by the actual cast who
may appear on Broadway. No other cruise ship has this,’’ he
added.
Beginning
in May, the first show will be "Enter the Guardsman’’ a
romantic musical adapted by Scott Wentworth, the director of
the production, from an early 1900s comedy by Ferenc Molnar.
The play has already been presented in London in 1998 to wide
acclaim and it was nominated for the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award
for Best New Musical. Cunard also plans to augment the performances
and rehearsals with guest celebrities from theater and film
giving commentary, interviews and lectures. Some of the personalities
expected on board this year are actor James Coburn, playwright
Neil Simon, and illustrator Al Hirschfield
In
the near future, Cunard plans to offer "one holiday, two
ships" cruises, where, for example, one can sail from England
to the U.S. and then smoothly transfer to the Caronia (formerly
the Vistafjord) for a New England cruise. The QE2 will return
also to stops at Continental ports such as Cherbourg and also
be taking a more southerly route in the Atlantic with a unique
stop at a port or two.
