Hamilton Now ‘QM2′s’ Home Port
Recently reflagged in Bermuda, the Cunard luxury liner “Queen Mary 2″ [pictured] just completed a two-week refit with “Hamilton” replacing the British city of “Southampton” as its home port on the ship’s stern.
More than 18 miles of new fabric and carpets have been laid in the liner, and work has been carried out on all the ship’s staterooms, and several of its bars.
Peter Shanks, president of Cunard, said: “The ‘Queen Mary 2′ is an iconic leader in the world of luxury ocean travel. We are committed to maintaining that impeccable reputation, and this significant refurbishment is an important investment on behalf of our guests.”
The most controversial change in the UK, however, is the replacement of the name “Southampton” with “Hamilton”.
In October Cunard announced that its vessels would be registered in Bermuda, rather than Britain.
The decision allows the company to take advantage of the lucrative market for weddings at sea — ceremonies which are not recognised under British law.
Critics in the UK accused the shipping firm of abandoning its British heritage. They argued Cunard was changing the registration of its ships to Bermuda to save money rather than make it because crew wages and conditions will no longer governed by UK employment law.
“Queen Mary 2″ ship will be back in service on December 19, when it sails from New York to the Caribbean.
