Cunard has unveiled the design concept for the refurbishment of the Queen Mary 2. The ship will welcome passengers back to the world's only transatlantic liner with a fresh new look when it returns to service in May 2027, following a major refurbishment. The unveiling coincided with the ship's departure from Southampton on November 10th for its 450th transatlantic crossing.
The Queen Mary 2 will debut a redesigned interior under a unique and timeless aesthetic called Cunard Deco. Inspired by the company's transatlantic heritage, this concept combines the cinematic glamour of Hollywood's golden age with the elegance and tradition of Cunard's history, along with the understated elegance characteristic of British style.
The refurbishment will incorporate new Grill suites, an enhanced wellness offering and renovated passenger spaces, while preserving the Art Deco identity that distinguishes the ship and its status as an icon of transatlantic travel glamour.
To bring this creative vision to life in the new spaces, Cunard has collaborated with renowned illustrator Tanu Vasu, who has created an exclusive collection of illustrations. These images offer a first glimpse into the transformation of some of the most iconic spaces on the Queen Mary 2 and reflect the spirit, craftsmanship, and aesthetic language that will guide the project.
The interior design is by London-based studio AD Associates, which drew inspiration from Cunard's historical archives and the decorative arts of the Queen Mary . The result aims to construct a visual narrative that connects Great Britain and the United States, past and present, across the Atlantic.
As the flagship of the Cunard fleet and the only ship in the world to regularly operate transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, the Queen Mary 2 holds a prominent place in maritime history. The planned refurbishment, scheduled for 2027, is part of the company's ongoing commitment to the future of luxury ocean travel.
Paul Ludlow, Chairman of Cunard, stated that the aim is to preserve and enhance the elements that make the Queen Mary 2 a unique ship, while incorporating improvements that will further elevate the onboard experience. He also expressed his confidence that the refurbishment will allow the ship to remain a benchmark for luxury ocean travel for years to come.
A design that connects two continents
The creative process began in the Cunard historical archive in Liverpool, where designers studied original plans, ornamental proposals, and artwork from the 1936 RMS Queen Mary. From this material, they translated the decorative arts of the 1930s into a contemporary language adapted to the ship.
The renovation will encompass all accommodation categories, from Britannia cabins to Grand Duplex Queens Grill Suites, as well as the Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants and the Grill Suites Lounge.
The Cunard Deco concept combines British elegance with the glamour of voyages between Southampton and New York. Cunard has been sailing the Atlantic since 1840, and the Queen Mary 2 has been operating on this route since 2004.
AD Associates conceived the ship as a tapestry woven between two continents, Great Britain and the United States, in which design and narrative intertwine. The warp represents structure, steel, and order, while the weft incorporates stories, styles, and memories.
From this intersection of elements emerge custom designs for carpets, wall coverings, decorative panels and works of art, many of them inspired by the 1936 ocean liner. Each space in the Grill suites will have its own story, although all will share a common motif: the scallop shell, a historical symbol associated with protection and safety during sea voyages.
Its distinctive fan-shaped silhouette, reminiscent of tidal lines and horizons, will take on different forms depending on the space. In the Queens Grill Suites, it will be inspired by the prow of the Queen Mary 2 crossing the Atlantic; in the Princess Grill Suites, by the cinematic symmetry of the Manhattan skyline; and in the Grill Suites Lounge, by the shape of a peacock's feather fan.
This latest design revives the tradition of social promenade aboard the Queen Mary , affectionately known to its passengers as Peacock Alley, where elegant travelers strolled, met and enjoyed the ship's social life.
The embroideries and artworks created specifically for the project will add new details to this narrative. In the Princess Grill Suites, headboards embroidered with cityscapes will evoke transatlantic voyages, while the printed bathroom panels will reinterpret Leslie MacDonald Gill's map of the Atlantic, which adorned the first-class dining room of the original Queen Mary
That map included a working clock. In the new version, the hands will stop at 4:33 p.m., the exact moment the first Queen Mary sailed from Southampton in May 1936.
Chris Finch, founder and CEO of AD Associates, explained that research in the Cunard archives in Liverpool, along with plans and decorative artwork from the Queen Mary , provided both the aesthetic inspiration and the stories that give meaning to the project's creative decisions. He noted that passengers may not initially know that the clock depicted in their suite is stopped at the minute the historic ocean liner embarked on its maiden voyage, but learning this detail changes their perception of the space.
A tribute to British craftsmanship
The renovation will also pay homage to the artisanal crafts that characterized Cunard's ocean liners of the 1930s, including marquetry and cabinetmaking.
The project will involve specialist British suppliers, such as Ulster Carpets, an internationally recognized luxury carpet manufacturer distinguished with a Royal Warrant, an accreditation that also supplies royal residences such as Buckingham Palace.
Interior design for a ship presents different requirements than for a land-based space. All fabrics, finishes, and carpets must meet the highest maritime safety standards. The creative team at AD Associates will bring its 20 years of experience in luxury hotel design to the project.
In addition, numerous original elements of the ship will be preserved and restored, such as the woodwork, stone floors and various accessories, with the aim of reducing waste and preserving the craftsmanship that is part of its identity.
450 voyages and a new stage for an icon
The Queen Mary 2 departed Southampton on November 10th for its 450th transatlantic crossing. To commemorate this milestone, the voyage includes the special 450 Club, an immersive and theatrical experience with various onboard activities celebrating the history and allure of travel between Europe and America.
The ship is named after the original RMS Queen Mary , which made its maiden voyage 90 years ago, in 1936. With the new interiors, Cunard recovers part of the decorative legacy of that historic ocean liner and carries it into a new stage of its connection with the Atlantic.
The renovation also responds to the growing interest in luxury travel that offers history and special experiences, in a context where more and more travelers value the journey itself as much as the destination.
The Queen Mary 2 will enter dry dock at Damen Shiprepair Brest in France on March 31, 2027. It is scheduled to return to service on May 9 of that same year.
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