Queen Victoria Begins Refit Ahead of 2026-27 UK Season

Cunard’s Queen Victoria has begun a 16-night repositioning cruise from Civitavecchia to Southampton after completing its summer Mediterranean deployment. The ship will return to roundtrip operations from the UK port for the 2026-27 fall and winter season.

The Southampton assignment will extend beyond the winter program and the ship’s next world cruise. Queen Elizabeth will take over Cunard’s Mediterranean fly-cruise program in 2027.

The repositioning itinerary includes calls in Spain and Portugal, with visits to Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Malaga, Lisbon and La Coruna before arrival in the United Kingdom.

Queen Victoria’s fall and winter schedule covers Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. The ship will also operate Cunard’s annual world cruise, departing Southampton in early January 2027.

At 111 nights, that voyage will be Cunard’s longest itinerary of the winter season. Its route takes in the Caribbean, North America, Hawaii, Australia, Asia and Africa.

Before starting the seasonal program, Queen Victoria is scheduled to enter drydock in the Netherlands for a 19-day refurbishment. The project includes The Pavillion Wellness Cafe and improvements to Cunard Grills suites. The Grand Lobby and Queens Room are also due for refurbishment, while eight Britannia staterooms will be added.

Built in 2007 by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, Queen Victoria measures approximately 90,000 gross tons and accommodates about 2,050 passengers, with roughly 1,000 crew. The vessel previously underwent major updates in 2017 and 2022.

Cunard did not release comment from an executive on the deployment or the refurbishment.

Following the world voyage, the ship’s May-to-December 2027 schedule will offer itineraries across Europe, the Atlantic and North Africa. Cruise lengths will range from three to 16 nights.

See current Queen Victoria fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.