The Queen Mary
Long Beach, California
The Queen Mary is probably the most famous ocean liner in history (besides the Titanic) and she is open to the public as an amazingly unique hotel, tourist attraction and eatery. Her classic design and rich history make her well worth a visit if you are in the Long Beach / Los Angeles area.
 Docked in Long Beach, California, the Queen Mary is 1,019.5 feet in length, has over 2,000 portholes, 11 decks, and once had a passenger capacity of 1957 with an additional 1,174 officers and crew. Her maiden voyage was May 27, 1936.
During World War II, the Queen Mary was used in war service from March 1940 until September 1946. During this time period, she carried 765,429 military personnel for a total of 569,420 miles. She resumed peacetime passenger service on July 31, 1947 and then retired from this service after completing 1,001 crossings of the Atlantic, on September 19, 1967. She arrived in Long Beach, California on December 9, 1967.
Today this great vessel is a one-of-a-kind floating hotel and attraction for both tourists and the locals of Long Beach. The hotel features 314 guest rooms which have been upgraded with modern amenities like flat screen televisions while still maintaining their classic design and charm.
There are numerous restaurants on the Queen Mary. Sir Winston’s Restaurant and Lounge provides an outstanding five star eating experience with a panoramic view of the harbor and city while serving an outstanding menu of old school classics. Chelsea Chowder House & Bar also gives you the great view of the harbor and city while specializing in seafood. The Champagne Sunday Brunch in th e elegant Grand Salon (which was the vessel's original First-Class Dining Room) has been named one of the top Sunday Brunches in the United States. We had dinner at Sir Winston's and it was magnificent.
Tours of the Queen Mary are offered daily by expert guides who assist you in discovering the history and mystery of this great ship. Walking the decks of the Queen Mary was like stepping into a history book.
Our guide told many stories of celebrities and royalty but also of the Queen Mary's important role during World War II. On the day the war was announced, the ship was filled with passengers in the middle of a cruise. Crew members went to every passenger cabin and blacked out the portholes. No visible lights were allowed as she continued across the Atlantic for fear that an enemy submarine would spot them and torpedo the ship!
A history like this makes a guided tour of the Queen Mary a must if you are in the Long Beach / Los Angeles area.
Watch our video of this cruise - VIDEO!
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We were the guests of the Queen Mary in 2010.
Florida Cruise & Travelers Magazine
PO Box 560318
Rockledge, FL 32956 USA
SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Staff Feature - copyright Sunny Harbor Publishing
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