On the  Sun Deck of Queen Mary ship permanently anchored in the Long Beach harbor are many items of interest to tourists, vacationers and history buffs. A sports deck with shuffle board, Wireless Room, Ship Communications Exhibit, Bridge / Wheel House and Officers' Quarters can all be found on the ships uppermost public viewing points that on clear days afford spectacular views of downtown Long Beach, California.

Wireless Room - Among the ship's original radio equipment exhibited is a modern Amateur Radio Station, W6RO, which is operated by the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach, who daily talk to amateurs in the United States and the world.
This amateur radio station is equipped with emergency electrical power for operation in a disaster situation.

Elegant Queen Mary was purchased  by the City of Long Beach in 1967 and opened doors to the attraction after  three years of renovation. Restaurants, shops, tours, entertainment, banquet facilities and a hotel with 365 staterooms and suites provide opportunities for guests to relive the past. Included in the National Register of Historic Places, the stately ship contains beautiful wall murals and carvings made of precious and rare woods plus a large, sweeping ballroom with light fixtures and ornamentation befitting a queen.

Commissioned by Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd., the ship was built in Scotland and launched in 1934. After Her Majesty Queen Mary presented her personal standard, it embarked on its maiden voyage on May 27, 1936, departing Southampton. It took only five days to reach New York and in record time, won the Blue Riband for fastest North Atlantic crossings after six such trips.

One of the largest passenger liners ever built, the Queen Mary made over 1,000 crossings. During World War II, it was given the name, "Grey Ghost" when it was camouflage painted, its portholes blacked out and it began military transport.  Servicing the war effort, it traveled more than 600,000 miles and carried over 800,000 troops. One historic journey to New York in May of 1943 included passenger Winston Churchill and 5,000 German prisoners of war.  See California Ghost Hauntings

Queen Mary ship contains (4) 40,000 hp turbine steam engines, travels 13 feet to the gallon, has 4 propellers weighing 35 tons each, a 140 ton rudder and weighs 81,234 tons. In its glory days, it carried 1957 passengers serviced by a crew of 1174. 

The Queen cost the city about $3.5 million to purchase, stands 140 feet tall, over 1000 feet long and 145 feet wide. It offers tours, a hotel, shops and restaurants but is also used in movies and television productions. While rumored to have ghosts, guests say that simply adds to the charm of an historic (though not very seaworthy) ship. If you've seen the movie, Titanic, see a real survivor, Queen Mary.

HOTEL: You can stay aboard the Queen Mary in authentic period rooms for overnight stay.  What a way to celebrate!  We offer internet pricing and immediate reservation confirmation for your adventure. 

Things to do: Stay overnight, shop, dine and take a self-guided tour through the bridge, officers' quarters, engine rooms and upper decks.  A guided tour includes additional areas not open to the general public.   A fireworks display is presented Saturday evenings in the Summer. 

 Long said to have its own resident ghosts, visitors to the Queen Mary have reported many sightings over the years, including wet footprints near a dry indoor pool, and visits by long-departed crew members.

Hotel Queen Mary Reservations, Prices