First look: Inside the revamped Queen Mary 2
Just how much has changed aboard Queen Mary 2, the famed Cunard ocean liner that recently underwent a massive makeover? USA TODAY is getting a first-hand look this week during a sailing from Southampton, England, and we're posting our first photos in the carousel above and at our Facebook page.
As can be seen in the photos, the 25-day overhaul was giant in scope and brought significant alterations to wide swaths of the vessel including its restaurants, lounges, spa and suites. The work also included the addition of 50 new cabins, including the ship's first singles cabins. Costing more than $130 million, the project is being billed as the largest and most expensive undertaking of its kind for Carnival Corp., the parent company of Cunard.
Unveiled in 2004, Queen Mary 2 was the world's largest passenger vessel at the time of its debut and remains one of the largest afloat. Built with a long, reinforced bow that cuts through the waves and powerful engines capable of a speedy 28 knots, it was specifically designed to operate regular trans-Atlantic crossings -- a niche that it now has to itself.
For more USA TODAY photo tours of iconic ocean liners and cruise vessels, click on the links below.
Adventure Canada: Ocean Endeavour
Alaska Marine Highway System (ferries): Kennicott
Alaskan Dream Cruises: Admiralty Dream
AmaWaterways: AmaViola
American Cruise Lines: Queen of the Mississippi; American Eagle
American Queen Steamboat Company: American Queen; American Empress
Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara Journey; Azamara Quest; Azamara Quest (before 2016 makeover)
Avalon Waterways: Avalon Panorama; Avalon Expression; Avalon Angkor; Avalon Tapestry II; Avalon Myanmar; Avalon Passion
Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Eclipse; Celebrity Constellation; Celebrity Century; Celebrity Reflection; Celebrity Solstice; Celebrity Silhouette
Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Magic; Carnival Breeze; Carnival Sunshine; Carnival Breeze, Magic compared; Carnival Destiny (before transformation into Carnival Sunshine); Carnival Ecstasy; Carnival Splendor; Carnival Inspiration; Carnival Liberty; Carnival Valor; Carnival Dream; Carnival Imagination; Carnival Miracle; early icons of the Carnival fleet; Carnival Vista
Celebration Cruise Line: Bahamas Celebration (out of service)
Costa Cruises: Costa Favolosa; Costa Deliziosa; Costa Diadema; Costa Atlantica; Costa Luminosa
CroisiEurope: Elbe Princesse
Cruise & Maritime Voyages: Marco Polo; Discovery
Crystal Cruises: Crystal Symphony; Crystal Serenity
Cunard Line: Queen Mary 2; Queen Elizabeth; Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (retired)
Disney Cruise Line: Disney Wonder; Disney Fantasy and Dream compared; Disney Fantasy; Disney Dream; Disney Magic
Emerald Waterways: Emerald Sky
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Braemar
Hebridean Island Cruises: Hebridean Princess
Holland America Line: Nieuw Amsterdam; Westerdam; Eurodam; Oosterdam; Statendam; Veendam; Koningsdam
Hurtigruten: Midnatsol; Lofoten; Nordstjernen; Fram; Kong Harald
Lindblad Expeditions: National Geographic Sea Lion
Celestyal Cruises: Louis Majesty; Louis Olympia; Orient Queen
MSC Cruises: MSC Fantasia; MSC Divina; MSC Preziosa
Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Jade; Norwegian Breakaway; Norwegian Sky; Norwegian Epic; Norwegian Gem; Norwegian Getaway; Norwegian Escape
Oceania Cruises: Riviera; Marina; Nautica; Sirena
Paul Gauguin Cruises: Paul Gauguin
P&O Cruises: Britannia
Princess Cruises: Ruby Princess; Crown Princess; Grand Princess; Emerald Princess; last look at the 'Love Boat'; Royal Princess under construction; Royal Princess; Sapphire Princess; Regal Princess; Diamond Princess; early icons of the Princess fleet; Star Princess; Golden Princess
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Mariner; Seven Seas Explorer
Royal Caribbean International: Oasis of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Grandeur of the Seas; Jewel of the Seas; Allure of the Seas; Quantum of the Seas; Anthem of the Seas; Freedom of the Seas; Harmony of the Seas
Scenic Cruises: Scenic Gem; Scenic Sapphire
Seabourn Cruise Line: Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Odyssey; Seabourn Quest
SeaDream Yacht Club: SeaDream I
Semester at Sea: World Odyssey
Silversea: Silver Spirit; Silver Shadow; Silver Galapagos; Silver Cloud
Star Clippers: Star Flyer; Royal Clipper
Un-Cruise Adventures: Safari Explorer; Safari Endeavour (in Mexico's Sea of Cortes); Safari Endeavour (in Alaska); Wilderness Discoverer; S.S. Legacy
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection: S.S. Catherine; S.S. Maria Theresa; River Countess; Ganges Voyager II
Vantage Deluxe World Travel: River Discovery II; River Splendor
Viking River Cruises: Viking Odin; Viking Bragi; Viking Heimdal; Viking Skirnir; Viking Vili
Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Star; Viking Sea
Voyages to Antiquity: Aegean Odyssey
Windstar Cruises: Wind Surf; Wind Star; Star Pride; Star Breeze; Wind Spirit
Yachts available by charter: Christina O
Retired ocean liners, cruise ships and yachts: SS United States; SS Rotterdam; Royal Yacht Britannia
Theme galleries: The most spectacular suites at sea; the last of the great ocean liners; ship christenings with Queen Elizabeth II; Royal ship christenings through the years