Cunard is planning to carry out a $40m renovation project that will add capacity to its smallest cruiseship.
The Carnival subsidiary has hired Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to carry out the work on the 1,850-berth Queen Victoria (built 2007).
The project will start 5 May at Fincantieri's Palermo yard will be complete on 4 June.
30 new cabins
The effort will bring 30 passenger cabins to the vessel, increasing its passenger capacity to 2,081.
Cunard North America senior vice president Josh Leibowitz told reporters at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference that the company will be "slicing off" a portion of the aft decks of the ship.
That will add new cabins, rebuild 24 existing cabins and add a sundeck.
Engineering gymnastics
"This is a feat of engineering," he said.
In addition to adding staterooms, the project will refurbish existing spaces with design enhancements.
The changes involving transforming some staterooms into 43 large Britannia Club staterooms, and Cunard Grand Suites will be reconfigured to maximise space.
