SOUTHAMPTON'S Queen Elizabeth 2 will begin her next career as a Southampton based cruise ship later this month with a new look.

QE2 is to undergo a wide-ranging refit in Germany after she arrives back in Southampton for the first time with Queen Mary 2 this Saturday.

At the moment the two Queens are crossing the Atlantic together, marking QE2's last passage from New York to Southampton as Cunard's scheduled carrier.

This role will be officially handed over to QM2 during a VIP reception on QE2 at 106 berth in the Western Docks shortly after the arrivals this weekend.

QE2 is due to leave the Mayflower Terminal at 3pm and sail past QM2, alongside 38/9 berth in the Eastern Docks, on her way to Germany.

The three-week long refit will include marine and technical areas as well as extensive refurbishment of many of the liner's public areas.

Peter Shanks, Cunard's Southampton based senior vice-president for Europe, said: "We have undertaken a full survey of the ship to establish exactly what needs to be undertaken during her refit.

"We continue to be fully committed to QE2 and this refit represents further investment in this legendary vessel to ensure she begins her new career with the highest possible standards, that have always been a byword for this world-famous ship.''

It is Cunard's boast that over the past 35 years, since QE2 first entered service, the company has spent more than 15 times her original cost of £29m on maintaining, refurbishing and upgrading the ship, which the company says still has many years of service in front of her.

The refit will also result in a number of changes to the passenger facilities on the ship's outside decks, including a canopy and larger bar area on the sun deck.

"We are also refurbishing the whole pool area as QE2 moves towards becoming a full-time cruise ship,'' said Mr Shanks.

QE2 is due to leave Southampton on the first voyage of her 2004 cruise programme on Saturday, May 22 when she begins a seven-night voyage to Oslo, Norway, Copenhagen, Denmark and Amsterdam in the Netherlands before returning to the city and then leaving for a cruise to Ireland, Guernsey and Cherbourg in France.