Cunard block books at Lloyd Werft

The hotly contested contract for Cunard’s entire autumn fleet refurbishment program has gone to Germany’s Lloyd Werft. All three ships slated for refits will visit the Bremerhaven yard between October and December. It is estimated that total cost will be approximately £22 million ($34 million).

will undergo the most extensive refit of the three. Public rooms, passenger areas and all cabins will be refurbished, and two new ‘Grand Suites’ will be constructed. Cunard had earlier announced plans to spend £19.5 million ($30 million) on QE2 alone; £12 million on refurbishment and £7.5 million on technical work. The ship will be at the yard from November 12 to December 10.

, which is being renamed Seabourn Sun as part of the owner’s rebranding scheme, will be at the yard from October 29 to November 24, and Vistafjord, to be renamed Caronia, will be in from November 20 to December 8.

Announcing the award, Larry Pimentel, president and ceo of Cunard, noted considerable advantages for both owner and yard in having all three ships in the same shipyard at roughly the same time. “It makes it easier for our marine and technical staff to liase with Lloyd Werft and monitor the work on a day-to-day basis,” he said.