By many accounts during its visit in early 2016, Cunard’s stately ocean liner Queen Mary 2 – the oldest of its current fleet of three Queens – was certainly showing her age. Comments were being made that carpets were fading, paintwork needed a refresh and the general vibe of the ship was a bit tired.

Nobody would be making those comments anymore.

After QM2 set sail from Australia after that visit and returned to its home in Southampton, she made her way to Hamburg and essentially disappeared from view for nearly a month. What emerged was nothing short of a brand new ship built within the existing hull. And so a few months later, she returned once again to Australia to show off to its local adoring public a night and day revamp which reinvigorated the classic liner, bow to stern and top to bottom.

Every corner of the ship was gleaming, with corridors shining, carpets displaying a rich, full colour red – even the smiles on the crew were wider than a year earlier.

Cruise Advice was invited onboard to tour the new-look ship to celebrate its glorious return to Sydney. It’s clear the grandeur and majesty is well and truly back on Queen Mary 2.