Cruises

New in Cruise: Queen Mary 2 Makeover Adds Suites and Pet Space

By Erica Silverstein Sep 11, 2026 12:05pm

Cunard Queen Mary 2 Carnival Corporation

Welcome to New in Cruise, our biweekly update on all the latest happenings in the sector. Here’s the latest news you can use in cruise:

A queen always needs to look her best, even if it means quietly disappearing from public view for a month to go under the knife for a facelift. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the grand dame that dominates the transatlantic route between New York and Southampton, is about to do just that with a massive makeover sure to keep the ship looking younger than its nearly 23 years.

Cunard announced on Wednesday that its flagship would head to dry dock at Damen Shiprepair Brest in France at the end of March next year for a “stunning refurbishment.” When the ship re-emerges on in early May, it will feature a refreshed design that aims to infuse Queen Mary 2’s Art Deco elegance with modern style.

“This is a significant investment in Queen Mary 2, and every decision has been approached with deep respect for her heritage, her character and the sense of occasion that only Queen Mary 2 can offer,” Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said in a statement. “We are not reinventing what guests love about her; we are refining it beautifully and ensuring she carries it forward.”

In addition to restoring the ship’s good looks, the refurb will add 31 staterooms, including 16 new Princess Grill Suites and 15 Britannia category cabins. The ship’s passenger capacity will increase from 2,695 to 2,759, marking the second capacity bump since the ship debuted with room for 2,620 guests. Existing Grill Suites will be upgraded with new interior design and furnishings, including redesigned bathrooms with spa-inspired features sure to please your big-spender clients.

Queen Mary 2’s popular kennels will also add capacity, a boon for travelers who fight over the limited spots to bring their pampered pets aboard. The redesigned kennel area will include a refreshed owner’s lounge and expanded outdoor walking space.

Cunard has only teased the rest of the to-do list, which includes increased outdoor space for guest relaxation, an updated spa, new luxury boutiques, and a tech upgrade to the ship’s planetarium.

The announcement is on brand for a Carnival Corporation cruise line, as the company is focused on extending the life of existing ships while launching a limited number of new ships each year. Sister cruise line AIDA’s Evolution refurbishment program was so successful that in April, Holland America announced its Evolution refurbishment program, the largest fleet update in the company’s history, impacting six ships. In July, Cunard revealed details of Queen Victoria’s fall 2026 refurbishment, which also includes refreshing the Grill Suites, adding Britannia cabins and debuting a wellness cafe.

Non-Carnival cruise lines such as Azamara, Oceania Cruises, Crystal, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are also planning major upgrades to select ships.

Cunard fans have been conditioned to appreciate mature makeovers versus fresh ingenues. When the line’s newest ship, Queen Anne, debuted in 2024, it was the first new ship for the line since Queen Elizabeth launched more than a decade earlier. The cruise line has no new ships on order.

British queens are known for their longevity, and Cunard is betting big that Queen Mary 2 will continue to rule the waves as a well-coiffed silver vixen. Tell your clients to pack their ball gowns and tuxedos, not to mention Fluffy’s fanciest collar, so they’re ready to cross the Atlantic in royal style to match their ride.

In Case You Missed It…

New Ships and Launches

Regent’s soon-to-debut Seven Seas Prestige will feature the line’s largest spa, including Regent’s first salt room, a 6,006-square-foot fitness center, enhanced Medi-Spa offerings, and a private 161-square-foot gym inside the Skyview Regent Suite.
Holland America has moved up Oosterdam’s Evolution refurb; the line has canceled existing sailings departing between Sept. 11 and Dec. 9, 2027, and the enhanced ship will return to service on October 31, 2027, and sail five new itineraries.
Norwegian Cruise Line opened the new 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark on its private island, Great Stirrup Cay.
MSC World Asia will debut in December 2026 with five new bar concepts, including the Clubhouse and Soda Bar for families, Terrace Bar and Lounge for Italian atmosphere and cocktails and the Pan Asian Bar serving Southeast Asian-inspired drinks and regional beers.
Margaritaville at Sea will sail from Galveston for the first time when its new Beachcomber ship debuts in October 2027.

Sailings to Watch

Seabourn’s 2029 world cruise aboard Seabourn Quest will be a 138-day journey from Miami to Lisbon visiting 58 destinations across 31 countries and 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and including eight overnight calls and 20 extended stays.
Oceania announced a completely gluten-free sailing, in partnership with Celiac Cruise, aboard Oceania Vista in 2028; the 12-night journey from Southampton through England, Ireland and Scotland. Developed in partnership with Celiac Cruise, every onboard dining venue will offer fully gluten-free menus, giving guests complete freedom and peace of mind at sea.
Scenic Eclipse will sail a limited number of expeditions to the remote Chilean Fjords in 2027.
Riverside Luxury Cruises is introducing three new cycling-focused sailings on Riverside Mozart in July and August 2027 on the Danube.
Seabourn will deploy Seabourn Quest on a new 30-day Amazon River cruise, sailing round-trip from Miami in November 2028 and visiting 15 ports in seven countries as part of the line’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
Royal Caribbean has teamed up with Suntory Global Spirits to offer bourbon tastings on 17 ships during the month of September.

Itinerary Roundup

Explora Journeys is replacing its planned Middle East sailings in winter 2027-2028 with new South America cruises on Explora I and the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Atlantic islands on Explora V
Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for new ship Carnival Tropicale, which will sail from Galveston, TX, to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean (featuring many of Carnival’s own Paradise Collection ports) beginning in April 2028.
MSC Cruises’ new MSC World Atlantic will set sail from Port Canaveral in 2027 and be the line’s first World Class ship to call in Grand Turk on its Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises unveiled its 2028 itineraries including three new ships debuting on the Danube, Rhine and Mekong; eight new itineraries across Europe and Asia; and an 11-day June Mystery Journey that claims to go “beyond the river.”

On Sale Now

Celebrity Cruises’s Labor Day sale is offering second guest savings, additional discounts and double points to Captain’s Club members through Sept. 21.
MSC Cruises’ Labor Day sale has been extended through Sept. 14, so clients have more time to take advantage of up to 40% off cruise fares, additional discounts on sailings from U.S. ports and free kids fares on select itineraries.

Loyalty and Rewards

Explora Journeys launched Beyond Commission, a rewards program for travel advisors that pays advisors up to 2% of the qualifying journey value on new bookings, delivered as a virtual gift card.
Carnival Cruise Line has officially launched its new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, along with a co-branded credit card that will allow members to earn redeemable points and status stars more quickly.
Azamara Cruises has teamed up with retail company Starboard to create the Azamara Shopping Rewards program, where guests can earn points for onboard retail spending and redeem them for products, travel and experiences.