Why is the Queen Mary famous?

The Queen Mary was regarded as one of the most elegant and sophisticated ocean liners of her time, hosting Hollywood legends, British Royalty, and dignitaries.

What happened to the Queen Mary Ship?

With emerging preferences for air transportation, the Queen Mary docked permanently in Long Beach in 1967, where it now floats on Californian waters as an iconic attraction.

How much does it cost to on the Queen Mary?

Entry prices will vary depending on your choice of program or event at the Queen Mary. All visitors must hold an admission ticket or hotel room key for access to the public facilities of the ship. For more information, visit the official website of the Queen Mary.

What is the difference between an ocean liner and a cruise ship?

Ocean liners are constructed for transcontinental journeys across certain ports in different continents, while cruises are designed for smaller routes and are usually sailed nearer to land.

Insider’s Guide to The Queen Mary

When the RMS Queen Mary completed her final voyage from Southampton, England, in 1967, the legendary ocean liner embarked on an unexpected second chapter. Permanently moored in Long Beach, California, the ship has transformed from one of the world's most celebrated passenger liners into one of Southern California's most distinctive hotels and attractions.

Today, visitors can explore nearly a century of maritime and world history through guided tours, museum exhibits, preserved Art Deco interiors, unique dining experiences and overnight stays. Blending luxury, history and entertainment, the Queen Mary offers a one-of-a-kind experience aboard a maritime icon.

Tours & Exhibits Hotel Bars & Restaurants Weddings, Meetings & Private Events Events Fun Facts

History of the Queen Mary

Constructed in Scotland by the renowned shipbuilding firm John Brown & Company for the Cunard-White Star Line, the RMS Queen Mary embarked on her maiden voyage in May 1936. Just three months later, she captured the prestigious Blue Riband, awarded to the transatlantic passenger liner with the fastest average crossing speed.

Named for Mary of Teck, wife of King George V and Queen of the United Kingdom from 1910 to 1936, the Queen Mary embodied the elegance of the Art Deco era. Her lavish interiors featured more than 50 varieties of wood sourced from around the world. Passengers enjoyed amenities that were groundbreaking for their time, including two indoor swimming pools, libraries, a music studio, paddle tennis courts and telephone service capable of connecting callers worldwide. The magnificent Cabin Class dining room spanned three decks and featured a motorized crystal model of the ship that tracked the vessel's progress across the Atlantic.

The Queen Mary's career as a luxury passenger liner was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, when she was converted into a troopship and played a vital role in transporting Allied forces. After the war, she returned to transatlantic passenger service, once again carrying travelers between Europe and North America.

During her distinguished career, the Queen Mary carried more than two million passengers and transported approximately 810,000 military personnel during World War II. The arrival of the jet age in the late 1950s dramatically reduced demand for ocean travel, ultimately leading to her retirement in 1967.

That same year, the City of Long Beach purchased the legendary vessel and transformed her into a unique destination featuring a hotel, restaurants, lounges and entertainment venues. Following several ownership changes over the decades, the ship's lease was returned to the City of Long Beach, which launched an ambitious restoration effort to preserve and revitalize the historic landmark. Today, extensive work continues to restore the Queen Mary's iconic Art Deco grandeur for future generations to enjoy.

Tours & Exhibits

The Queen Mary welcomes visitors aboard daily to explore nearly a century of maritime history through guided tours, exhibits and immersive experiences. Whether you're a history buff or paranormal seeker, there's something for everyone to discover. The popular Glory Days Historical Tour traces the ship's remarkable journey from luxury liner to wartime troopship and Long Beach landmark, while the Steam & Steel Tour descends into the vessel's cavernous engineering spaces to reveal the technology that once made the Queen Mary the fastest ship on the Atlantic. Art and design enthusiasts can join the Queen Mary Art Tour, which highlights the ship's world-class Art Deco interiors, intricate woodwork and decorative masterpieces from the 1930s.

For those intrigued by the ship's supernatural reputation, a variety of paranormal experiences explore the legends and mysteries that have made the Queen Mary one of America's most famous haunted destinations. Visitors can also browse historic exhibits, enjoy waterfront dining, attend special events or stay overnight in one of the ship's restored staterooms for an immersive journey into the past.

Hotel

The Queen Mary offers one of California's most distinctive lodging experiences. Guests can stay aboard the ocean liner in one of more than 300 staterooms and suites, many of which retain original Art Deco details and period furnishings. Thoughtfully preserved and updated with modern comforts, the accommodations provide a rare opportunity to experience the elegance of transatlantic travel during the golden age of ocean liners.

Many rooms feature functioning portholes, original artwork and vintage design elements that evoke the ship's storied past. Accommodations range from spacious suites with separate living areas and enhanced amenities to deluxe staterooms that blend historic character with contemporary convenience. Family staterooms, mini suites and standard rooms are also available. For those seeking a more unusual stay, the (in)famous Stateroom B340—long associated with reports of paranormal activity—remains one of the ship's most intriguing spots.

Bars & Restaurants

Dining and nightlife aboard the Queen Mary blend historic elegance with contemporary flavors, offering visitors a variety of ways to experience the ship's enduring legacy.

The Chelsea serves seafood favorites, comfort foods and British-inspired dishes in a relaxed waterfront setting. Guests can also stop by the Promenade Café and Marketplace for coffee, pastries, sandwiches and grab-and-go snacks, while Jubilee pairs great coffee and ice cream with panoramic views of Long Beach’s skyline. One of the ship's most beloved culinary traditions is the Royal Sunday Brunch, an extravagant weekly feast featuring carving stations, seafood, desserts and other elevated offerings served in one of the vessel's grand historic spaces.

The Queen Mary's nightlife offerings include several distinctive lounges and bars. The Observation Bar, once a first-class lounge frequented by the ship's elite passengers, now serves craft cocktails, wine and beer amid beautifully preserved Art Deco surroundings. For a more intimate experience, visitors can seek out No. 3, a hidden speakeasy-inspired cocktail lounge tucked within the ship that pays homage to the Queen Mary's Prohibition-era roots with expertly crafted drinks and vintage ambiance.

Weddings, Meetings & Private Events

Among Southern California's most distinctive meetings and events destinations, the Queen Mary offers more than 80,000 square feet of flexible event space spread across 14 beautifully preserved Art Deco venues. From corporate meetings and conferences to weddings, galas and social celebrations, the historic ocean liner can accommodate gatherings ranging from intimate affairs to large-scale events with hundreds of attendees.

Venue options range from elegant rooms of just over 500-square-feet to grand spaces featuring soaring 33-foot ceilings. The magnificent Grand Salon, once the ship's first-class main lounge, encompasses nearly 9,000 square feet and can host up to 700 guests beneath its dramatic Art Deco interior. For a more intimate setting, the Royal Salon & King's View offers panoramic views of the Long Beach skyline, harbor and Pacific Ocean from what was once an exclusive first-class smoking lounge. Combined with waterfront scenery and unmatched historic character, the Queen Mary provides an unforgettable backdrop for any occasion.

Events

The Queen Mary serves as the backdrop for a variety of year-round events, including concerts, comedy performances, holiday celebrations and seasonal festivals. From relaxing wine tastings to haunted hijinks at Dark Harbor to literal fireworks on New Year’s and the Fourth of July, there is no shortage of memorable experiences aboard the iconic ocean liner. Recurring events include karaoke nights, afternoon tea service, Royal Sunday Brunch with live music, and art-and-wine experiences that blend culture, cuisine and history.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE QUEEN MARY

At 1,019 feet long, the Queen Mary is 136 feet longer than the Titanic.
The ship holds the world record for the most passengers ever transported on a single voyage: 16,683.
The Queen Mary was the first ocean liner to feature a dedicated Jewish prayer room.
During World War II, she earned the nickname "The Grey Ghost" because of her battleship-gray wartime paint scheme.
Her luxurious interiors feature Art Deco designs crafted from more than 50 types of wood sourced from around the world, earning her the nickname "The Ship of Woods."
Since retiring from service, the Queen Mary's grand ballrooms, elegant lounges and cavernous engine rooms have made her a favorite filming location for movies and television productions, including The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Natural (1984) and The Aviator (2004).