12 DEC: Nearly 30kms of new carpet was laid on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 during a just-completed two-week refurbishment in Hamburg.
Cabins got new curtains and bedspreads, furniture was replaced in bars and restaurants and some key facilities were upgraded.
But for UK maritime watchers, the most significant ‘new look’ appears on the stern of the ship, where the name Southampton has been replaced by Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda.
Cunard announced in October that its vessels would be registered in Bermuda, rather than Britain.
The decision allows the company to take advantage of the lucrative market for weddings at sea – ceremonies which are not recognised under British law.
Some have suggested that the decision to register its ships overseas is motivated also by the desire to avoid Britain’s employment laws.
Introduction of the 2010 Equality Act means that ships registered in Britain are required to pay all staff from European Union countries wages equal to those of British citizens. Registering the ship outside the EU avoids this requirement.
The latest refurbishing has seen QM2’s Golden Lion Pub completely re-designed to feature a new colour scheme and plush seating similar to the same venues on Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, along with upgraded plasma televisions.
The Canyon Ranch SpaClub was given a general upgrade of all its facilities and new exercise machines in its fitness center; and the ship’s children’s area, the Play Zone, was given soft play areas and new electronic gaming technology and entertainment.
