QE II Slims Down for New Year

The venerable Queen Elizabeth 2 is scheduled to come out of dry dock in Southampton, England, on Thursday, having shed 260 passenger berths in its first capacity reduction since it was launched in 1969. The ship is to immediately set sail for Le Havre, France, then return to Southampton for a transatlantic crossing to New York followed by a Caribbean cruise.

The liner’s first cruise after its last renovation, performed in 1994 in Germany, brought complaints of flooding toilets, brown water and ongoing construction activity.

The latest upgrade, by Britain’s A&P; Group Yard, is less extensive. Many but not all inside cabins are being removed, reducing capacity to 1,500 from 1,760 passengers. The main objective is to reduce demand for seating so that all five QE2 restaurants can have a single seating for dinner, Cunard said. Restaurants, bars and other public areas also are being refurbished. Prices for transatlantic crossings (which include air fare back) in 1997 will range from $1,995 to $12,125 per person, double occupancy; current rates are $1,895 to $10,975.