QE2 1994 Refit: Project Lifestyle

[Lynda Bradford]

We can only provide this information thanks to the research work of Michael Gallagher.  Please do not copy without his permission

Part 1:

Date: 13 November – 17 December 1994
Timescale: 32 days
Contractor: Blohm & Voss Shipyard, Hamburg, Germany
Total Cost: £45 million ($72 million) (DM 50 million)
Captain: J Burton-Hall

Background: The re-engining of QE2 had secured the vessel’s future mechanically and technically for at least 20 years ahead of 1987 but years of refitting and refurbishment had, by the early 1990s, given QE2 an interior which was piecemeal to say the least with styles ranging from the 1930s to the 1980s. The 1990 and 1992 refits had gone some way to giving the ship an art deco 1930s style in several key areas on board but a great deal of work was necessary in her public areas. The state of the ‘hotel side’ and increasing competition in the cruise industry prompted Cunard to take urgent action and ‘Project Lifestyle’ was initiated which amounted to a major redesign of the ship itself as well as a complete rethink of the more tangible aspects of the ship’s accommodation, amenities and commercial identity.


‘Project Lifestyle’ was designed to ensure that QE2, the flagship of the British Merchant Marine, could continue unchallenged in her perceived role as the most glamorous and famous ship in the world. The investment was part of an overall Cunard's commitment to offering the finest in luxury cruising. This commitment was reflected in 1994 with the purchase of the Royal Viking Sun, the highest rated ship in the world, and the major refitting and upgrading of the Vistafjord at the same time as QE2 in November 1994.

The new designs for QE2 would emphasise the style, tradition and Cunard pedigree of the ship, while at the same time providing upgraded standards of passenger comfort and facilities which would allow an ageing ship to compete more effectively with newer competition.

Conceived in essence as the refit to end all refits, ‘Project Lifestyle’ would bring her more up-to-date in such things are catering, service and on-board revenue earning opportunities.

QE2’s scheduled annual dry-docking (26 November – 10 December) would be used and further time was gained with the cancellation of the two seven-day cruises either side of the original overhaul (scheduled to depart 19 November and 10 December). Outside the shipboard engineering domain, no shipowner or yard had ever before taken on a project of such magnitude in terms of the extent of outfitting to be accomplished within the given, extremely limited, timeframe.

The aims of ‘Project Lifestyle' were to:

- Emphasise QE2's uniqueness.
- Give the ship a coherent and traditional style.
- Meet the needs of the changes in lifestyles that had evolved since QE2 entered service in 1969.
- Allow passengers to move around the ship more freely – improving passenger circulation was the key to the new concept.
- Clearly define decks in keeping with the concept of an ocean liner.
- Bring 'the outside in', so that passengers were more aware of the sea.
- Display the fascinating heritage of QE2 and Cunard.
- Restore the ship’s original identity
- Bring her more up-to-date in areas such as catering, service and on-board revenue earning opportunities

The Contract

The refit contract was awarded to Blohm & Voss of Hamburg, Germany who had worked on the ship on three occasions (1990 refit, 1992 grounding repairs and 1992 scheduled refit).

British companies received 57% of the total contracts available and the two major outfitting contractors in the conversion of the public rooms were Mivan Marine (of Antrim, Northern Ireland) and CLC Marine Services (of Southampton).

Mivan's £2.6 million contract covered eight distinct areas: Yacht Club, Pub, Library, Queens Room, Caronia Restaurant, Grand Lounge, Casino Bar and Pantry, and Promenades.

CLC's £2 million contract included main staircases, landings, lobbies, and the featured Heritage Trail display cases. Separate areas included were the teenagers' Club, Tour and Travel Centre, and complete rebuilding of the old Midships Bar.

QE2 left New York on 13 November 1994 with a team of contractors on board who began the process of stripping out the public areas. She arrived at Blohm & Voss on 20 November where she was placed straight into the drydock. 32 days of re-building lay ahead and a workforce of 2,000 from 20 countries (and 400 QE2 crew) would work 24 hours a day in order to complete the ambitious project.

On the quayside lay the new aft structure, incorporating the new Lido and Yacht Club, which had been pre-fabricated and ready for placing on board as soon as the aft superstructure had been prepared with the removal of the Magrodome and Alpha and Beta tenders.

QE2 remained in the Dry-Dock until 14 December and was back in her homeport Southampton the next day.

Part 2: information on the design team and what they hoped to achieve ......

[Lynda Bradford]

Part 2:

Passenger areas and spaces

The Design Teams:

‘Project Lifestyle’ was originally developed by MET Studio Ltd., a London-based corporate design agency without any existing experience of shipboard design. Cunard’s wider management was skeptical about MET’s ability to oversee a major and complex refurbishment without specialist knowledge and so Cunard’s Chairman John Olsen was persuaded to team Alex McCuaig with the cruise ship interior designer John McNeece who had recently designed and supervised renovations of Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess.

MET Studio Ltd

In addition to being co-coordinator of every aspect of the design, from public
rooms to corridors and promenades, MET Studio was given the significant
double task of designing a new Cunard external livery, incorporating in the
overall scheme of modifications a return to the original well-known and classic
exterior profile of the ship.

John McNeece Ltd   

The role of McNeece was extended from the design and development to being
appointed as project manager on behalf of the joint design team.

In a twist of fate, both McCuaig and McNeece had connections with QE2’s origins. Alex McCuaig started his design career with James Gardner and John McNeece had been suggested by the Council of Industrial Design as a potential designer for QE2 in early 1965

Working with McNeece, McCuaig prepared an overall concept for the projected refurbishment, which was unveiled to Trafalgar House’s directorate in February 1994. This sought to ‘research into expectation levels of the existing customer mix’ and ‘to identify the shortfall in delivery.

The exhaustive research that was undertaken during the initial planning stages among regular QE2 passengers, Cunard staff and suppliers helped to formulate a design philosophy. Question after question was asked about what the QE2 represented, what was liked and not liked and what the passengers really wanted. Not surprisingly, the words grace, elegance and British kept popping up time and time again and it was these pointers the designers decided to preserve and enhance.

Research also indicated that passengers behave differently at different times of the day so the masterplan was designed to allow the ship to behave differently. The focus of activities would shift naturally from place to place, from daytime to nighttime areas. To achieve this, the public spaces were carefully orchestrated across the three main decks of QE2. The ship’s flow was revised so that spaces with linked functions were physically linked as well.

MET Studio and McNeece proposed to create an ‘unspoken aspirational hierarchy’ across the three main public room decks. In reality, what this translated into was the careful separation of activities on the three main passenger decks into a sandwich, vertically graded in terms of their relative ‘exclusivity’ and ‘sophistication’, in order to achieve the most effective ‘adjacencies’ to encourage greater onboard spending by passengers. Boat Deck was to house the most upmarket spaces, with those on Upper Deck and Quarter Deck becoming progressively more populist. This was a complete reversal of QE2’s original planning strategy, which, from the outset had the most exclusive accommodation on Quarter Deck and the shops, discotheque and teenage areas on Boats Deck, where the ship’s rolling motion would be slightly accentuated due to the height above water.

According to MET Studio:

“The ship’s interiors are to be made more sophisticated with a directly aspirational element in the more formal public areas. The sense of promenading, the highlighting of the ship’s heritage and the carefully directed circulation resulting in clarity for passengers and better return from revenue-generating areas for Cunard are priorities”.


Passenger Areas Budget: It was estimated that a thorough refurbishment of QE2’s passenger areas would cost in the region of £40 million over and above the £4.7 million needed for a standard scheduled overhaul. Trafalgar House eventually agreed to £32 million (more than QE2 cost to build in the 1960s) being spent on re-designing the passenger areas and accommodation in order to create an entirely new image.

See topic for information on Project Lifestyle Projects that weren’t realised

See also Project Lifestyle Masterplan

Next  .....part 3 with more information on the changes to passenger areas

[Lynda Bradford]

Part 3

Passenger Areas and spaces (contd)

Sports Deck

Sports Deck renamed Sun Deck

The new Sun Deck Bar, was constructed aft of the funnel area.

Nursery

The Nursery was completely re-designed with an open plan design and updated. The open plan was necessary to conform with regulations that had been introduced since QE2 entered service.
The Children's Room Creche and Cinema topic where you can find memories of this area

Public Bathrooms - A new changing room and unisex toilet facilities were constructed.

Boat Deck

Queens Grill
Designer: McNeece

The Queens Grill was re-styled with the removal of the existing banquette styled seating. This seating was replaced with new chairs identical in design to those free standing units already in use. Refurbishment work included new carpeting, curtains and fabrics in royal blue and gold. Some table re-arrangement took place to provide additional room for diners.

Queens Grill Lounge
Designer: McNeece

The Queens Grill Lounge was totally refitted and transformed into an elegant retreat with a design matching that of the Queens Grill. The refurbishment involved new large and comfortable chairs upholstered in midnight-blue, new tables and new carpeting. New artwork included framed John Stobart prints of ports around the world.

Midships Passageways - The Boat Deck passageways promenades amidships were re-decorated with new carpeting, deckheads and lighting.

G Stairway

see topic on the G Stairway

The G-Stairway aft on Upper Deck was extended up through to Boat Deck providing easier access from below to the shopping arcade – now necessary with the removal of the staircase in the Grand Lounge.

Sports Centre - A new Sports Centre was created utilising the new deck space from the extension below and featuring tennis and golf facilities.

Bathroom Facilities -New disabled bathroom facilities were built outside the Queens Grill Lounge and outside the Boardroom.

Now on to Part 4: the refit of the Upper Deck ......

We can only provide this information thanks to the research work of Michael Gallagher.  Please do not copy without his permission

[Thomas Hypher]

Sports Centre - A new Sports Centre was created utilising the new deck space from the extension below and featuring tennis and golf facilities.

Is this the raised Sports Deck area at Boat Deck aft? If so wasn't this area an original to 1969 aft deck area which had most of it's window screening removed to open it up during this refit and wasn't a new addition and didn't use new deck space?

https://www.beyondships.com/images/QE2_beta_.JPG

This photo illustrates the November 1983 to November 1994 configuration of this area with the Magrodome. It also appears to have been taken before the 1987 re-engining refit given the black painted davit for the tender pontoon.

[Lynda Bradford]

The 1971/72 Plan shows Sports Deck that was original to QE2 at the time.



It was renamed Sun Deck when the Funnel Bar was constructed at the time of the 1994 refit



The 1994 refit information mentions the new "Sports Centre" area.  I remember people often calling this the Sports Deck as there was tennis and golf nets.  But on the refit document it is listed as on Boat Deck.

[Chris Thompson]

I remember those tennis courts by the Magradome. That green plastic decking was very slippery when wet and would act like a cheese grater on your skin!

[Thomas Hypher]

Sorry Lynda and Michael for my misunderstanding! On further research from comparing photos from 1969 and after this refit I now realise the area I thought became the Sports Deck at Boat Deck aft in this refit actually became part of the Boat Deck shops just forward of the new in this refit Sports Deck which was built atop new deck space as you mention. Talk about confusing changes to the ship over her seagoing life!

[Michael Gallagher]

While I liked the Magrodome and I really liked her overall profile with it and with Alpha and Beta the aft decks were a bloody mess to put it politely!

[Lynda Bradford]

Onwards and downwards on our tour of the Project Lifestyle refit. 

Part 4

Passenger Areas and spaces (contd)

Upper Deck

New Caronia Restaurant
Designer: MET Studio

See also QE2 Restaurants topic

The positioning of the First-Class restaurant was to change during this refit so the First Class Columbia Restaurant located on Quarter Deck was re-located to the area occupied by the Mauretania Restaurant on Upper deck. The ‘switch’ allowed Columbia and Grill passengers to share he new Crystal Bar. This would rationalise bar service for the Columbia and the two Princess Grills and create a better meeting place for all three.

The ‘new’ first-class restaurant was named Caronia after Cunard’s first-class cruise ship of that name which was in Cunard service from 1949 until 1965. The design concept for the room reflected the routes the ship sailed and the specification was ‘to the same quality as the Caronia’.

Dining capacity: 580
Decor: shades of cream, dark blue and Braemar green.  Biscuit coloured carpet with inset motif. Structural columns were redone with steamed beech veneer featuring sunburst sand-blasted glass screens.

Passengers mainly entered the restaurant from the Crystal Bar as the former forward entrance (at A Stairway) was effectively hidden by a new bulkhead. The existing tables were re-used and re-installed in new locations in accordance with the new layout for the room.

Several specially-commissioned works of art were placed in the room:

as a centrepiece: a weighty, ‘energetic’ 3-metre sculpture, 'White Horses', by Althea Wynne, supposedly alluding to the breakers of the North Atlantic. This also tied in with the theme for the Crystal Bar aft.

On the new bulkhead placed in front of the A Stairway entrance: a mural of a Pacific island scene (with the Caronia in the background) in an ethno-primitive style by Jane Human.

A 2-metre model of Caronia complete with her original builders plate was placed in an enclosed case on the aft bulkhead.

A painting of Caronia in Cape Town by Stephen Card was hung near the entrance and Maitre d’s desk.

New Crystal Bar
Designer: MET Studio

Topics that may be of interest:

New Crystal Bar design and
The Crystal Bar

The existing Princess Grill Starboard Lounge, Mauretania Lounge and private Mauretania dining area aft of the Mauretania Restaurant were removed and the space opened up and combined to create a new bar – the 186-seat Crystal Bar.

in this topic Louis de Sousa has posted a deck plan that shows the area prior to the creation of the Crystal Bar

Expanding the whole width of the ship, the bar was designed to service the new Caronia Restaurant, Britannia Grill and the Princess Grill. To provide access To the Princess Grill below 12 m² of deck on the portside was cut open and removed in order to allow a new staircase to be built down to Quarter Deck and the Grill. The new stairwell matched the one on the starboard side providing access to the Britannia Grill.

"Designed to recall the legendary observation bar on the Queen Mary, the Crystal Bar was decorated in a decidedly international flavour with a special russet and gold finish, a pale green carpet with American cherry timber panels lining the walls. Chairs in rich cobalt blue with an inlaid pattern, incorporating cream and peppermint were placed around granite-topped tables. The bar itself was done in American cherry timber and above it was fitted a slender arching canopy that fired fingers of low voltage light down onto the bartop."

Artwork reflected the theme of the ‘white horses’ and a cast-glass feature in 3D was placed behind the bar.

Michael Gallagher posted in the Crystal Bar topic “Contrary to popular belief the bas relief of the winged horse was never on the first Queen Elizabeth. It was intended for the ship but was rejected by the artist as it had tinny air bubbles in it. The relief then spent many years under the desk of the PR Manager at Cunard's London HQ prior to finally being placed on a ship in 1994.”

We can only provide this information thanks to the research work of Michael Gallagher.  Please do not copy without his permission

More Upper Deck 1994 refit information .....

[Lynda Bradford]

Part 4 continued ....

New Golden Lion Pub
Designer: McNeece

The Golden Lion Pub topic

The Theatre Bar was removed and replaced by a traditional English pub, named The Golden Lion after the famous Cunard logo of a lion rampant. The introduction of a pub was a key focal point for the ship as a whole keeping with the nostalgic expectations of the ship.

The work involved replacing all existing wall finishes, linings and fixtures.

The Golden Lion was designed to accommodate 100 and was decorated in mahogany and rich Victorian reds and greens, polished brass and polished glass bevel edged mirrors with new banquette seating and wooden chairs and tables. On offer would be draught beers, pub games, an upright piano and a Karaoke Centre – with most of the facilities, and new audio equipment, being housed within a cabinet in a new recess.

New Linn Hi-Fi Demonstration Room

The Cruise Staff Office was relocated and the space was converted into a Linn Hi-Fi Demonstration Room and Sales Office. (Linn Hi-Fi installed the sound system in areas such as the Yacht Club).

Casino

A new bar was constructed in the Casino area.

Grand Lounge
Designer: McNeece

The 500-seat Grand Lounge was totally re-configured and re-designed with the forward twin ‘horseshoe’ staircases being removed to provide for a new deeper and more functional stage; to compensate for this ‘G’ Stairway was extended up to Boat Deck. The existing stepped floors, floor finishes, fixtures, handrails, veneered wall panels, lighting and all furnishings were stripped out with the room going back to bare metal.

With a new principal colour scheme of gold, sunset and black, the Grand Lounge was rebuilt and refurbished with new chairs and carpeting.

A new Control Room was built (including a new sound and light system was installed with 72 ways of dimming, 12 for the houselights that were left unchanged and 60 ways for the stage lighting. A new series of DMX outlets were provided around the stage with the system being controlled by a Celco Pathfinder console).

A new curved fronted stage, with integral steps at each side, together with a new full height elliptical frontage, was built. The dance floor was covered with a movable carpet to provide additional capacity.

New Tour and Travel Office - The Teen Centre (starboard side) was removed and replaced by the Tour and Travel Office which was re-located from the port side.

New Cruise Directors Office - The portside site of the Tour and Travel office was used for the creation of a new Cruise Directors and Social Hostess' Office.

Related topics:
Teen Centre 1987 to 1994 the area was transformed into the Tour and Travel Office in 1994
Tour and Travel Office 1987 to 1994 which became the New Cruise Directors Office

Yacht Club
Designer: MET Studio
Forum topic on Yacht Club

The existing Yacht Club area was completely stripped out and removed and replaced by a new lobby area stretching from one side of the ship to the other housing a major display as part of the Heritage Trail introduced on board.

The removal of the Magrodome and Sports Area aft of the existing Yacht Club enabled a new, enlarged Yacht Club to be created a little further aft. The original Yacht Club, although popular, had failed to impress so the design of the new club was to be dual-purpose, almost chameleon-like which could be used for dancing, cabaret and corporate events. In addition it had to accommodate changes in general passenger use; by day it had a softer, quieter mood, while at night it served as a lively sophisticated nightclub. This supported the intended flow of activities towards the ship’s stern late at night. To do the venue justice, the deck space beyond was extended to give a sea view and the sports area was relocated to Boat deck. (This was made possible with the removal of the Magrodome).

For the new Yacht Club, Blohm & Voss prefabricated a new aluminium deckhouse, enabling outfitting to commence before the 80-ton unit was lifted aboard. The new deckhouse and outdoor area aft would be 31 metres wide and 38 metres long. The design had to lend itself to pre-fabrication as well as accommodate air-conditioning trunking across the deck from the space below.

See Jane Sharpe’s photo of the prefabricated unit being lifted onboard

The floor could not be raised wholesale so the chosen solution was to raise the centre section only, thereby creating an elevated central space inside as well as giving a raised area of aft deck where deck games could be grouped in a sheltered area.

The side elevation also had to complement the sloping aesthetic of the existing side screen to the aft end of the decks below as well as accommodate structural vertical stiffening. This was achieved by splitting the windows into bays that became gradually larger towards the aft end – the spaces between the window bays carried the vertical frames from deck to deck.

When the new structure was lowered into place, it fitted so well that there was only a 5-mm clearance.

The design of this ‘extensive’ room consisted of a public area on two levels with four steps between the perimeter and the lower (main) seating area and area for dancing. In order for the daytime / nighttime transformation to be a success, specially designed controlled lighting had to be incorporated.

The new 224-seat Yacht Club was decorated in an elegant America’s Cup theme with a dark blue and green carpet and pale blue and arctic white walls, steamed beech vaneers and a mahogany decking dance-floor and central floor. Comfortable tub chairs (in royal blue and bottle green) were grouped around wood-topped tables. A special decorative feature were the models and pictures of America’s Cup yachts and the five sail-like cloth ‘sculptures’ covering the aft windows. These sail-like fabric panels were fitted around the bulkheads of the bar and all were lit from behind in cold cathode Particular attention was paid in the design to disabled passengers with a long ramped access from the port side where the quarter-moon bar was located.

Considered to be one of the best improvements of the refit, the Yacht Club became very popular – for the first time, passengers could enjoy a view of the ocean from the bar.

Removal of the Magrodome
see forum topic

The Magrodome sliding glass roof and existing Sports Centre was removed; the space created being utilised by an expanded Yacht Club and to provide much needed additional sun bathing deck space.

Promenades - Upper deck corridors and promenades were re-carpeted and new seating was placed throughout.

Bathroom Facilities - All bathroom facilities were totally refitted and a new disabled facility was built adjacent to the Ladies at the Cinema.


Part 5  the Quarter Deck .....

[Lynda Bradford]

Part 5: Quarter Deck

Princess Grill (Port)

The Princess Grill Port was renamed Princess Grill.  A new main entrance from Upper deck was created with the installation of the staircase from the Crystal Bar.  This addressed passengers’ complaints that the Princess Grill was difficult to locate using the spiral staircase from the Grill Bar on One Deck.

The bulkhead at frame 182 was opened up to provide access from the new Grill lobby to the Grill Room itself. The new spiral stairway has its walls done in American cherry timber and received a green carpet. The new entrance area featured a new timber deck floor finish and was equipped with new bathroom facilities, storeroom, office and restaurant manager’s desk.

New Britannia Grill

see topic The Britannia Grill Story

The Princess Grill Starboard was renamed Britannia Grill after Cunard's first vessel. (Other naming suggestions included: Windsor, Countess, Presidents or Verandah Grill). A model of Britannia (in a glass case) was positioned at the entrance and a painting of Britannia was hung inside the room. The spiral stairway had its walls redone with American cherry timber and received a new green carpet (matching that found in the Princess Grill).

The Princess Grills Confusion topic may be of interest to readers

New Mauretania Restaurant
Designer: McNeece

The ‘switch’ of restaurant locations resulted in the relocation of the Mauretania Restaurant from Upper Deck above into the area occupied by the Columbia Restaurant on Quarter Deck below. The 7,750-square foot room was refurbished to become the ‘new’ 464-seat Mauretania Restaurant.

New work included the provision of waiter stations including heating cabinets and all associated M&E alterations; the fitting of non-slip ceramic tiles, the supply and fitting of all joinery including servery, canopy, doors and wine bar and the fitting of a new stainless steel buffet counter. Existing chairs were re-upholstered in cream and table bases were re-painted.

A new concessionaires’ dining area was created in the aft starboard annexe of the restaurant.

As a tribute to the Mauretania (1907 – 1935), the design of the Mauretania Restaurant included:

- Pictures of Mauretania (which hung in the space on Upper deck) being hung around the room.

- A model of Mauretania being placed in the centre of the room.

- Mauretania’s original engine telegraph being placed in the room.

Quarter Deck, D Stairway

Topic on D Stairway

The staircase area and lobby outside the Restaurant was totally refurbished with new wood panelled walls, staircase banisters and lighting. The original tapestries were relocated and replaced by a 16-foot model of the first Mauretania encased in glass and illuminated at night.

As the daylight outside changed, the lighting within the display would mimic the outside. At night time the portholes in the model would light up via a fibre optic harness and the sky would change from near white through various shades of blue to midnight blue.

 Quarter Deck 1994 refit information continued  ......

[Lynda Bradford]

A wee reminder:

We can only provide this information thanks to the research work of Michael Gallagher.  Please do not copy without his permission

Part 5: Quarter Deck continued ...

New Chart Room
Designer: MET Studio
Chart Room Topic

The Midships Bar, which had remained relatively unchanged from its original appearance 25 years earlier, was completely stripped and removed. The space was renamed the Chart Room and this new 92-seat lounge / bar was opened up and re-designed along the lines of a gentlemen’s club with a nautical setting. New features included an all-new bar (in American cherry timber) and fittings, as well as new bulkheads (also in American cherry timber with gold leaf finishes in places), carpets, lighting system, banquette seating in blue and loose chairs in green and blue. The piano from the Queen Mary was re-located here from the Midships Lobby.

The original access to E Stairway was re-opened.

The ocean-going theme was reflected in a spectacular back-lit glass feature representing the route of QE2 across the Atlantic in russet and blue with photo-etched details and gold inlaid text over the surface that was built behind the bar.

Various other navigational instruments were displayed in showcases and a specially-commissioned calligraphic frieze by artist Brody Neuen-Schwander comprising of quotations on sailing by various personalities, was hung on the upper walls.

New Library and Ocean Bookshop
Designer: MET Studio

Quarter Deck Library topic

The Library and Card Room were gutted, amalgamated and rebuilt into a new Library (existing Library) and Ocean Bookshop (former Card Room space) – the largest such facility at sea and the only bookshop at sea. A new multi-media facility was incorporated in the bookshop in a separate CD-Rom room with four computers and an extensive CD-Rom and multi-media library.

The new decor consisted of American walnut and steamed beech vaneer on the bulkheads and shelving, rustic red leather seating and study desks.

A new luminous ceiling was incorporated to provide good overall reading light and vertical lighting was provided to allow the book shelves to be views clearly. It was possible to halve the light level evenly without using dimmers.

Two heritage items were placed on display here: the model of the Aquitania, specially sectioned along its length to show the vessel’s interior layout, and the oil painting of Cuba – considered being one of the finest marine paintings owned by Cunard. In addition, a central glass-fronted cabinet, featuring a range of memorabilia for sale, was built.

Queens Room
Designer: MET Studio

The Queens Room was refurbished to emphasis the royal heritage of the Cunard Queens.

The bust of HM The Queen was made the centre-point of the room in a central spot-lit alcove, backlit in impressive deep blue velvet. Blue cold cathode lighting and a key light was installed to contrast with the new curved gold wall. Two large bronze vases stood guard on either side of the bust framing the scene. The Royal Standards presented by the Monarchs to the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2 were also hung.

No major structural alterations took place – the original grid-like coffered ceiling and columns were retained - but new birdseye maple vaneer wall panels were incorporated on the bulkheads, reflecting a return to this traditional material in other areas of the ship.

The tan-brown cubist armchairs were replaced with new specially-designed smaller chairs in mustard yellow or deep royal blue. New carpets and curtains (also in mustard yellow and blue). The lighting and sound systems were replaced.

New Teen Centre: The Teen Centre was re-located to aft of the Queens Room on the port side. Renamed Club 2000 and equipped with video games, the area received new bulkheads, deckheads, carpeting, entrance doors, banquette seating and loose furniture and lighting.

New Lido
Designer: McNeece

The existing area had been in need of refitting as it was faced with three major problems.

1. the area had the dual function of being a restaurant and nightclub and this was to the detriment of both (with the added complication of the swimming pool).

2. the failure of the Magrodome.

3. the lack of facilities to service the buffet adequately.

The Lido was the largest space to be refitted in the work and involved the removal of the existing swimming pool and Magrodome glass roof. The One Deck pool was brought more closely into the Lido scheme by way of both inside and outer stairways and a nearby service Pavilion. The major work was the installation of the new kitchen facilities in the centre of the Lido and on One and Two Decks – a three deck facility in all with new staircases built to connect the three levels.

The new 500 seat Lido Restaurant with kitchen and buffet area provided QE2 with her first fully functional large-scale alternative restaurant venue for the type of informal breakfast, lunchtime and midnight buffet dining which cruise passengers had come to expect.

Features included  a new bar, new tea and coffee station, new furniture new buffet lines and the new dedicated galley. The 'winter garden' atmosphere was achieved with the use of natural warm blond timber planked floors, brass fittings and a white, beige and peppermint green colour scheme. An earlier plan to incorporate a central dome was dropped.

Lighting played an important role in the new Lido. Cold cathode lighting was used effectively to fill in a central dark space caused by the high amount of daylight by the aft end windows. These windows could make everything inside look too dark as the eye accommodates itself to the bright windows. By balancing the relative amounts of white and blue light in coving, the daylight didn’t appear to drop off so rapidly. Ironically, more light was required during the day, in a situation like this, than at night.

Art Work: Two large murals, by Giancarlo Impiglia, were specially commissioned by Cunard and named ‘Lifestyle I’ and ‘Lifestyle II’ and depicted passenger scenes on board an ocean liner.

New Galley
Designer: McNeece

A new preparation kitchen was built in the centre of The Lido that extended over three decks (Quarter down to Two) to service both the Lido and the new Pavilion on One Deck.

Bathroom Facilities: All bathroom facilities were totally refitted and a new disabled facility was built adjacent to the Ladies at D Stairway

[Lynda Bradford]

One Deck

New Pavilion
Designer: McNeece

The swimming pool area was brought more closely together with the new Lido with the construction of a new glass-enclosed cafe area - the Pavilion.

The existing ‘Hamburger Haven’ and Pool Bar together with the gents and ladies bathroom facilities were gutted and the space was rebuilt to feature a bar, food serving counter and cafe-style seating overlooking the pool in an enclosed setting. New lobby areas on both the port and starboard side were built leading to the new staircases that connected the Lido with the Pavilion.

A 'winter garden' atmosphere was achieved with the use of natural warm timbers and a white, beige and peppermint green colour scheme.

Giancarlo Impiglia, mural named ‘The Regatta’ was specially commissioned by Cunard and was hung behind the bar.

New Galley
Designer: McNeece

A new preparation kitchen was built to service both the new Quarter Deck Lido above and the new Pavilion aft. Extensive alterations immediately behind the Pavilion included the removal of the Quarter Deck Swimming Pool tank, the pool chlorination plant and five L grade inside double cabins (1108, 1109, 1100, 1112, 1113 – ten passengers). In addition the cross alley at H Stairway was partitioned so access to the staircase was now only from the starboard side.

A new spiral staircase connected the new preparation kitchen with the Lido kitchen above.

The corridor bulkhead walls in this area on both sides were recovered.

Corridors - the corridors and cross alleys were re-carpeted.

[Lynda Bradford]

Two Deck

Midships Lobby
Designer: MET Studio

As passengers boarded QE2 through the Midships Lobby, the new style had to establish the standards for finishes and materials that would be carried out throughout the ship. The white mushroom column – part of the original ship – was retained and was uplit from recessed fittings around the base while the rest of the space was totally refitted.

New installations included a new ceiling, wall panels, carpeting, furnishings and central seating area design. The new design featured tropical cherry timber panelling and a mulberry / plum carpet inlaid with gold and sherwood green ornate detailing. The centre banquette seating was done in sage green with plum bolsters and gold detailing.

Four spectacular blue oceanic murals by Peter Sutton depicting four eras in the Cunard history were incorporated in the design and surrounded the entire space.

New incandescent lighting was also installed. Cold cathode lighting, washed with tungsten light, was used with the new murals.

Pursers Office - The Pursers Lobby and Travelex Bureau de Change area was redecorated.

Bathroom Facilities - All bathroom facilities were totally refitted.

Preparation Kitchen - For the new Lido and Pavilion a new Preparation Kitchen was built in the former Baggage Assembly Room aft on Two Deck and below the same new space on One Deck. A new staircase was built to connect the spaces.

Corridors - The corridors and cross alleys were re-carpeted.

[Lynda Bradford]

Three Deck

Launderette - 12 new washing machines and dryers were installed in the self-service launderette.

Corridors - the corridors and cross alleys were re-carpeted.


Four Deck

Corridors - the corridors and cross alleys were re-carpeted.

Five Deck

Embarkation Lobby - the embarkation lobby areas (used when QE2 passengers had to use tenders to go ashore) were redecorated and improved.

Corridors - the corridors and cross alleys were re-carpeted.

Six Deck

Hospital - the Hospital was completely rebuilt, modernised and updated.

General

Public Toilets - a new master plan for public toilets was developed which involved the re-construction of all of all public facilities on Boat, Upper, Quarter and Two, Decks. The work included new deckhead linings, new tiling and fixtures and fittings. All the bulkheads were fully tiled and vanity units were installed with mirrors and side and back lighting. The mirrors had a sandblasted Cunard logo and back light.

In addition several new facilities were constructed – mainly to meet disability regulations.

Sun Deck - a new changing room and unisex toilet facilities were constructed.

Boat Deck - two disabled bathrooms were constructed forward adjacent to the Board Room on the port side and the Queens Grill Lounge on the starboard side.

Upper Deck - a new disabled facility was built adjacent to the Ladies at the Cinema.

Quarter Deck - a new disabled facility was built adjacent to the Ladies at D Stairway.

One Deck - the toilets near the One Deck Swimming Pool were rebuilt as part of the Pavilion concept.

Information System - a new televised information system was installed.

Clocks - all the ship’s clocks were replaced by regular analogue ones with the name Cunard on their faces.