The Queen Victoria sailed alongside a shower of fireworks marking the start of its 2015 round-the-world voyage, showing off its striking new look. The ship departed Southampton in top condition, having just returned from a comprehensive 20-day refurbishment at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg.
Nine new single cabins have been added as part of the refurbishment. In addition to refurbishing the existing furnishings, improvements have been made to the outdoor areas, the beverage service at the Lido Restaurant, and eight new internet stations have been added on the library's upper deck.
Two thousand contractors of thirty different nationalities worked a total of 600,000 hours around the clock to replace 215,278 square meters of carpet in the passenger area. They also renewed all 3,167 mattresses on board and replaced approximately 19,685 square meters – 3.75 miles – of pipe insulation. 10,201 liters of paint were used inside and out, enough to paint one Boeing 737.
“The results of the Queen Victoria ’s refurbishment are a true testament to Cunard’s ability to respond to passenger demand. We are delighted to incorporate more outdoor space with enhancements to the Upper Grill Terrace and additional sunbathing areas. We have also added more single cabins for solo cruisers. This is the commitment to our passengers that has stood for 175 years,” commented Rick Meadows, President of Cunard, North America.
This refit depended largely on the connection between the ship and the shipyard, and throughout the refurbishment, the service patterns on board Cunard's White Star Line were taken into account. To respect the workers' rest periods and their tea breaks, more than 1,200 liters of soup were consumed daily—served in true Cunard style, with pieces of bread—and 2,000 biscuits and some 80,000 cups of tea and coffee were consumed during the 20 days.
In honor of the company's anniversary, the Queen Victoria welcomed its passengers, who will be circumnavigating the globe, with a commemorative flag-raising ceremony on the ship's mast. The flag was being raised on board for the first time, and as is tradition, it was carried out by the youngest crew member, 20-year-old Cadet Fraser Browne. The flag will be flown at iconic locations around the world during the fleet's three world voyages, with all proceeds going to The Prince's Trust, with which Cunard collaborates.
A shower of fireworks lit up the sky as the Queen Victoria set sail. Its first destination was Ponta Delgada in the Azores on January 23rd before it sailed on to the Caribbean, transited the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and Australia.
