old cruise ship long beach

• Hotel Rooms Choose from 200 original first class staterooms and suites Specials & Packages Packages & Special Offers Services & Amenities Modern amenities and world-class service Fitness Room Rejuvenate with our fitness options
• Attractions Tours & Exhibits Get an up close and personal look at the Queen Mary with our exciting tours & exhibits Summer Event Series Explore exciting activities and special events on The Queen Mary all summer long Supper Club Enjoy dinner and a show aboard the Queen Mary Fourth of July Celebration Celebrate an all-American 4th of July aboard The Queen Mary! Queen Mary Heritage Foundation Membership Experience everything the Queen Mary has to offer with a tour package
• Dining Casual Dining Enjoy inspired meals and quick bites at our restaurants Chelsea Chowder House A contemporary restaurant offering memorable seafood dishes Bars Enjoy the 1930's classic sophistication of the Queen Mary bars Royal Sunday Brunch A local favorite, voted “Best Brunch” by OpenTable Group Dining Distinct dining options for groups of 15 or more
• Meetings & Weddings Meetings Explore one of the most unique meeting and conference venues in Southern California Weddings The Queen Mary has been host to unforgettable weddings for over 70 years Socials The Queen Mary is the ideal location for any social occasion Event Spaces Over 80,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space across 14 Art Deco salons
• History Timeline Re-live the Queen Mary’s rich history, from her ground-breaking construction to today Stats & Fun Facts Everything you ever wanted to know about the Queen Mary Design & Preservation Learn about the era of elegant Art Deco design and how the Queen Mary is maintained with preservation projects Press Releases Press Releases about the Queen Mary Amateur Radio Discover the on-board radio stations starting in the 1960s
• Visit Hours & Parking Find open times for the Queen Mary and its dining and parking. On-Board Shopping An array of unique shops featuring souvenirs, one-of-a-kind treasures, clothing, memorabilia, historic documents, artwork and more Nearby Attractions The Queen Mary is a great central hub to all of Southern California’s most popular attractions Directions Your guide to getting to the Queen Mary
• What's On Deck
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Stats & Fun Facts

• Design & Preservation

Press Releases

• Amateur Radio

A Trip Across Time

"Today we come to the happy task of sending on her way the stateliest ship now in being. It has been the nation’s will that she should be completed, and today we can send her forth no longer a number on the books, but a ship with a name in the world, alive with beauty, energy and strength! May her life among great waters spread friendship among the nations!"

– King George V on the Queen Mary launch

The Queen Mary’s creation and launch was nothing if not extraordinary and her story is rich with history, elegance and grandeur. From the time her construction began in 1930 in Clydebank, Scotland, the Queen Mary was destined to stand in a class all her own. Despite suffering economic setbacks during the Great Depression, which stalled construction on the ship for several years, Cunard Line spared no expense on building the Queen Mary – which was originally known as job #534.

The Legend Behind The Name

Legend has it that the board of directors at Cunard had decided to name the ship the Queen Victoria, which would have been in keeping with the tradition of Cunard ships having the "ia" suffix (Mauretania, Aquitania and Berengeria). As per protocol, legend states that the Cunard directors went to ask King George his blessing of the ship's proposed name saying, "We have decided to name our new ship after England's greatest Queen," meaning Queen Victoria, the King's Grandmother. Upon which the King is reported to have stated, "My wife (Queen Mary) will be delighted that you are naming the ship after her."

The Maiden Voyage Of The Queen Mary

On May 27, 1936, the Queen Mary departed from Southampton, England embarking on her maiden voyage. She boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and even a small hospital. The Queen Mary had set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, which the rich and famous considered as the only civilized way to travel. She quickly seized the hearts and imaginations of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, representing the spirit of an era known for its elegance, class and style.

Since her retirement from the sea as an active liner in 1967, the Queen Mary has never been more popular as an iconic Southern California attraction, hotel, and venue for special events. The ship carried some 2.2 million passengers in peacetime and 810,000 military personnel in the Second World War, but here in Long Beach, an estimated 50 million people have visited. The day the ship was launched in 1934, a well-known English psychic, Lady Mable Fortiscue-Harrison would predict, “The Queen Mary will know her greatest fame and popularity when she never sails another mile or carries another fare-paying passenger.” A compelling insight!

A Timeless Treasure

Her majesty's mechanics, top of the queen, from the height of luxury to wwii.

For three years after her maiden voyage, the Queen Mary was the grandest ocean liner in the world carrying Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope and Clark Gable, royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and dignitaries like Winston Churchill. During this time she even set a new speed record, which she held for 14 years. But when the Queen Mary docked in New York in September 1939 that would be the last time she would carry civilian passengers for many years.

As World War II started, the Queen Mary's transformation into a troopship had begun. She was painted a camouflaged grey color and stripped of her luxurious amenities. Dubbed the "Grey Ghost" because of her stealth and stark color, the Queen Mary was the largest and fastest troopship to sail, capable of transporting as many as 16,000 troops at 30 knots. After the end of WWII, the Queen Mary began a 10-month retrofitting process, which would return the ship to her original glory. On July 21, 1947, the Queen Mary resumed regular passenger service across the Atlantic Ocean, and continued to do so for nearly two more decades.

The Last Great Cruise

The increasing popularity of air travel helped signal the end of an era for the Queen Mary. By 1965 the entire Cunard fleet was operating at a loss and they decided to retire and sell the legendary Queen Mary. On October 31, 1967, the Queen Mary departed on her final cruise, arriving in Long Beach, California, on December 9, 1967. She has called Southern California her home ever since. The Queen Mary is now a floating Hotel, Attraction and Event & Wedding Venue, home to three world-class restaurants and an icon in Southern California.

The Last Great Cruise Timeline Discover the Queen Mary's Incredible Journey Read More

Commodore everette hoard tells the tale of the last great cruise read more, learn the story of the last great cruise of rms queen mary.

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Years of Glory

The Creative Years

1929 - 1935.

With a desire to replace Mauretania, Aquitania and Berengaria, the Cunard Line begins to discuss plans to build a new pair of super ocean liners. Undettered by lofty goals and the Great Depression, the building of the Queen Mary becomes a ground breaking technological achievement.

Glamour Years

1936 - 1939.

The Seeds Are Planted

At Cunard Line’s annual meeting, Chairman Sir Thomas Royden makes the first official announcement that “the question of new tonnage is one constantly in our minds.” The Cunard Line begins plans to design a new pair of super ocean liners to replace the Mauritania, Aquitania and Berengaria on their North Atlantic route.

Cunard Line announces that John Brown & Company, LTD., of Clydebank, Scotland, had been selected as builder of the new liner.

First keel plate is laid for job #534 (which was eventually named the Queen Mary) at John Brown Shipyard.

The Great Depression Hits

Work begins on the new Southampton dry dock, to be known as the King George V Graving Dock.

December 11

Work halts on Job #534 because of the Great Depression and an inability to secure further bank loans. The hull plating is 80% completed and the ship stands nine stories high.

The King George V Graving Dock is officially opened with King George V and Queen Mary steaming into the dry dock aboard the Royal Yacht, Victoria and Albert. The dock is the largest in the world at the time. It is 1,200 feet long, 135 feet wide at its entrance, 59 feet deep, holds 58 million gallons of water, and can hold any ship up to 100,000 tons.

The effective date for transferring the assets of the Cunard Steamship Company and the White Star Line, to the newly formed Cunard White Star, LTD. Cunard was credited with 62% of the share capital and White Star with 38%.

The North Atlantic Shipping Bill is passed. The British Treasury makes advances of £4,500,000 toward the completion of #534, and authority was to be sought to make an advance not to exceed £5,000,000 for a second liner.

After 28 months, construction resumes on job #534

Rivals Cunard Line and White Star are forced to merge.

September 26

Job #534 is launched, and named the Queen Mary by her Majesty Queen Mary, accompanied by His Majesty King George V. The ship is moved to the nearby fitting out basin.

September 28

Installation of boilers begins around this date.

Installation of engines and almost all of the heavy machinery is completed. Funnels and both masts are in position.

Unprecedented luxury and forward-thinking technology make the Queen Mary popular with British Royalty, Hollywood celebrities and dignitaries alike, raising the bar for luxury travel and ultimately becoming the grandest ocean liner ever built.

The War Years

1939 - 1946, the maiden voyage.

King Edward VIII makes inspection tour of the ship.

The Queen Mary departs John Brown Shipyard, steaming down the Clyde River to Gourock, Scotland. The ship goes aground twice despite prior dredging of the river and her shallow draft. Anchor trials and adjustment of the magnetic compasses are made off Gourock. Twenty of the Queen Mary’s lifeboats were left off the ship to save weight. Since they were manufactured in Gourock, the lifeboats were lifted into their davits upon ship's arrival.

March 24 - 26

Preliminary speed trials are made on the way to Southampton.

March 27 - April 8

Dry docked in King George V Graving Dock.

April 15 - 19

Official speed trials are held in the Irish Sea off the Isle of Arran. British Olympic runner Lord Burghley runs one lap (400 yards) in evening dress around the Promenade Deck in under 60 seconds.

The ship is officially handed over from John Brown Shipyard to Cunard White Star Line at exactly noon.

King Edward VIII, Her Majesty Queen Mary, the young Princess Elizabeth, the Duke and Duchess of York (soon to be King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester visit the ship. Queen Mary presents her personal standard to the ship. It was displayed at the head of the main staircase on Promenade Deck and is now located on board the Queen Elizabeth 2.

The Queen Mary departs Southampton at 4:33 p.m. on her maiden voyage, arriving in Cherbourg, France at 8:47 p.m. and departing at 12:39 a.m. the following morning.

Arrival at Pier 90 in New York at 4:20 p.m. Crossing time: 5 days, 5 hours and 13 minutes.

August 19 - 31

On her sixth round-trip voyage, the Queen Mary wins the Blue Riband for the fastest North Atlantic crossings from the French Line's Normandie. The Normandie wins the honor back in 1937.

The World Record

Docked without the aid of tugboats in New York, by Commodore Irving. Voyage #53 West.

August 3 - 15

Won the Blue Riband back from the Normandie on her 48th round-trip voyage. The Queen Mary held the record

Departed Southampton on final peacetime voyage, carrying her largest number of passengers: 2,552, including Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hope and millions in gold bullion. 

As England and France declare war on Germany, the Queen Mary’s days as a passenger ocean liner appear over. With her record-breaking speed and size, the Queen Mary is retrofitted to serve as a troop ship during WWII. Dubbed, the “Grey Ghost,” the Queen Mary hauled as many as 15,000 men while playing a pivotal role in guiding the allied forces to victory.

The Golden Years

1947 - 1961, september 2.

Crew members black out ship's portholes.

September 3

England and France declared war on Germany.

September 4

The Queen Mary arrives in New York.

The Birth of the Grey Ghost

Departs New York for Sydney, Australia, to be fitted as a troopship. Accommodations increased from  2,140 to 5,500.

First voyage as a troop transport. Sailed in convoy with Aquitania, Mauretania (II), Empress of Britain, Empress of Canada, and Empress of Japan, from Sydney, Australia, to Gourock, Scotland, with 5,500 troops.

August 5 - September 16

Dry docked in Singapore. Paravanes fitted.

December 13

Degaussing strip installed in Sydney.

January 27 - February 8

Hull damaged while entering dry dock in Boston Naval Shipyard. Troop capacity increased.

February 18 - March 28

"40 Days and 40 Nights" voyage from Boston to Sydney, Australia. First time the Queen Mary carried American troops (8,398 troops, 905 crew).

May 11 - 16

First time more than 10,000 persons had traveled on any ship (9,880 troops, 875 crew). 

August 2 - 7

First time a complete division was carried on any ship. First Armored Infantry Division (15,125 troops, 863 crew).

The Queen Mary collides with British light cruiser Curacoa. Seventy tons of cement are used to temporarily patch the bow in Gourock, Scotland.

October 14 - November 2

Dry docked in Boston Naval Shipyard to install new more permanent bow piece.

December 23, 1942 - April 22, 1943

“The Long Voyage” from Gourock, to the Suez, Sydney, Australia, and return to Gourock. Total mileage: 37,943 miles. Ship transferred to Atlantic Ocean.

Winston Churchill transported from Gourock to New York, to meet with President Roosevelt. 5,000 German prisoners of war were also on board.

July 25 - 30

Carried the greatest number of people on a floating vessel: 15,740 troops, 943 crew. Total: 16,683.

August 5 - 9

Winston Churchill transported from Gourock to Halifax, Canada, for 2nd Quebec "Quadrant" conference.

August 27 - 31

Winston Churchil returns to Gourock, Scotland, with 15,116 troops.

D-Day Invasion of Europe.

The War Nears an End

Armament removed from ship, except the six-inch gun.

VE DAY (Victory Europe)

14,833 troops and 1,000 crew transported. total: 15,883.

Funnels repainted in Cunard colors.

February 3 - May 19

Six war-bride voyages, transporting 12,886 European brides and children to the United States and Canada.

May 23 - September 18

Seven war-bride voyages transporting European brides and children to Canada. Ten stowaways were discovered on the first crossing.

February 10

Docked in New York without the aid of tugs.

After a 10-month retrofit, the Queen Mary returns to her original glory. With her military duty over, the ship reclaims her place as a world-class ocean liner, but a sea of major changes is just starting to become evident.

Final Years at Sea

1962 - 1966, september 24 - 27, 1946.

The Queen Mary makes its final military voyage from Halifax to South Hampton.

February 15 - May 3, 1947

Work to restore the ship to passenger service begins as the ship at the King George Dry Dock.

May 3 - July 24

Furnishings reinstalled after being recovered from different ports around the world.

July 23 - 25

Participating in the post-war sea trials in the English Channel and met the Queen Elizabeth for the first time during peace off the coast of South Hampton in the Solant just off Cowes.

First post-war voyage departs South Hampton New York with 1,897 passengers, 1,280 crew members under the command of Commodore Illingworth.

Two ship service begins for Cunard with the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth

December 31, 1949

In 1947, Cunard shareholders acquired the 38% of Cunard-White Star that they didn't already own and in 1949 bought out the entire company, operating individually as the Cunard Line. The Cunard Line and White Star line merged in 1934 when the two companies had experienced financial difficulties.

June 15 - 20, 1951

Walt Disney sails aboard the Queen Mary to attend European Premier of Alice in Wonderland.

December 31, 1951

Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden sail aboard the Queen Mary to visit with President Harry S. Truman.

July 11 - 15, 1952

The SS United States secures Blue Riband traveling from Bishop Rock to Ambrose Light in 3 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes. The Queen Mary held the Blue Riband since August 8, 1938.

January 15 - 20, 1953

Winston Churchill sails to meet President elect Dwight D. Eisenhower.

November 1954

Queen Elizabeth returns to England aboard the Queen Mary after three-week good will tour of Canada and the United States.

January 26 - March 26, 1958

Stabilizers installed aboard the ship at King George Dry Dock in South Hampton.

April 22 - 23, 1958

Record turnaround in New York of 17 hours and 58 minutes. In the early days, the ship would be in port for 36 hours.

February 1961

Queen Mary transported 36 tons of gold and silver from South Hampton to New York.

The 1960s were a decade of major change and with the rise of popularity in air travel; ocean liners were slowly becoming obsolete. The old world luxury and sensibilities of the Queen Mary seemed outdated in a modern world now transfixed on the notion of space exploration.

Long Beach Years

1967 - present, march 3 - 9, the beginning of the end.

Wave floods parts of Main, A and B Decks. Voyage #382 East.

Docked without the aid of tugs in New York, by Captain Watts. Voyage #397 West.

Docked without tugs in New York, by Captain S.A. Jones. Voyage #419.

December 23 - 29

First cruise: Southampton to Las Palmas. Voyage #425.

February 25 - March 23

Mediterranean cruise: New York, Las Palmas, Tangier, Piraeus, Naples, Cannes, Palma, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Madeira, New York. Voyage #477.

Cunard announces that the Queen Mary is for sale.

First letter of inquiry from H.E. Ridings of Long Beach.

August 2 - 4

In King George V Graving Dock. Fastest ever turn - around in dry dock, and first time ever sailed with passengers from dry dock. Voyage #485 West.

August 24 - 29

Fastest eastbound crossing since Blue Riband record: 4 days, 10 hours, 6 minutes. Voyage #486 East. Second fastest Atlantic crossing since 1938.

Transatlantic Passengers:

1954 - by ship: 1,000,000; by air: 600,000 1957 - by ship: 1,000,000; by air: 1,000,000 1961 - by ship: 750,000; by air: 2,000,000 1965 - by ship: 650,000; by air: 4,000,000

Officially retiring from ocean travel, the Queen Mary was moved to sunny Long Beach, California where it is a living landmark, popular attraction and hotel, exposing a whole new generation of fans to bygone era.

Queens' captains open orders telling them of the decision to sell the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

First Meeting between Lord Mancroft and Long Beach, California representatives in New York.

$3.45 million Long Beach bid accepted.

September 22 - 27

Last Eastbound transatlantic crossings. Voyage #513 East.

September 29 - October 6

Cruise from Southampton to Las Palmas & Gibraltar. Voyage #514.

October 13 - 19

Cruise from Southampton to Las Palmas. Voyage #515.

Departed Southampton on Final Voyage to Long Beach, California. Voyage #516.

The Queen Mary arrives in Long Beach, California.

Removed from British registry and officially turned over to the City of Long Beach. Ship also became fully dependent on shore-side utilities.

April 6 - May 18

Dry docked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard.

February 27

The Queen Mary moved to Pier J.

Queen Mary Story and Power Train Tour, and Upper Decks opened, weekends only.

Jacques Cousteau's "Living Sea" portion of Museum of the Sea (M.O.T.S.) opens.

February 20

Largest day’s attendance: 19,600.

First 150 hotel rooms opened.

Preview opening of Mary’s Gate Village (Now the Queen’s Marketplace).

Queen Mary Tour Inc. takes over operation of Museum of the Sea.

September 1

Wrather Port Properties Ltd., a subsidiary of Wrather Corporation, signs a 66-year lease to manage the Queen Mary and adjoining acreage.

Howards Hughes’ Spruce Goose flying boat opens to the public next to the Queen Mary.

Walt Disney Company buys Wrather Corporation for $152 million. The agreement includes the Disneyland Hotel, and management of the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose property.

City of Long Beach resumes responsibility for the Queen Mary from the Port of Long Beach.

Aero Club of Southern California announces sale of Spruce Goose to Evergreen International Aviation Inc. in McMinnville, Oregon.

Disney advises the City and Port of Long Beach that it will end its lease for the operation of the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose. The company agrees to operate the attraction until September 30, 1992.

September 30

Walt Disney Company gives up lease on the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose property. Remainder of 1992, The Port of Long Beach becomes operator of property, and looks for new operator. Hotel Queen Mary closes.

Spruce Goose is moved out of The Dome and put on barges headed to McMinnville, Oregon, having been sold to Evergreen International Aviation Inc.

December 31

The Queen Mary closes.

Joseph F. Prevratil, President & CEO of RMS Foundation, Inc. signs five-year lease with the city of Long Beach to act as operators of the Queen Mary.

February 26

The Queen Mary reopens to the public. Self-guided and guided "Captain's Tour" resume. Most restaurants and Sunday Brunch are back.

Hotel Queen Mary reopens with 125 rooms operational. Banquet rooms are operational.

Audio tours begin again in English, German, Japanese and Spanish.

Remainder of Hotel Queen Mary's 365 rooms reopen.

Captain John Treasure Jones, the 33rd and last captain of the Queen Mary dies at the age of 87 at his home in Chandler's Ford, England, just north of the port town of Southampton.

Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Launch and Naming of the great liner. Officiating are RMS Foundation President Joseph F. Prevratil; H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent representing the British Royal Family, grandson of Her Majesty Queen Mary; Scotland's Clydebank District Provost Jack McAllister and other special guests.

The Queen Mary celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its Opening Day

RMS Foundation, Inc., schedules Diamond Jubilee Celebration for the 60th Anniversary of the Queen Mary’s Maiden Voyage from Southampton to New York.

"Titanic: The Expedition" exhibit makes its West Coast debut aboard the Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary celebrates 30 years in Long Beach.

February 23

Two Cunard legends meet for the first time. The new Queen Mary 2 sailed into the port of Long Beach and greeted her historic namesake, the original Queen Mary. The two ships saluted each other with their one-ton signaling horns.

The Queen Mary’s amateur radio station (W6RO) is renamed the Nate Brightman Radio Room in honor of Mr. Brightman’s more than 40 years old dedication to the station.

The Queen Mary celebrates 40 years in Long Beach.

The Queen Mary celebrates her 75-year anniversary of the Maiden Voyage.

Diana: A Legacy of a Princess Royal Exhibit premiers at the Queen Mary.

Stats & Fun Facts

Discover the Queen Mary's incredible journey. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Queen Mary.

See how the Queen Mary measures up to Titanic. The results may surprise you! Read More

Discover hollywood celebrities and political dignitaries that are part of the queen mary's history. read more, preserving a historic icon.

On Sept. 26, 1934, at the John Brown & Company shipyard on the banks of the Clyde River in Scotland, Job Number 534, the largest ship the world had ever seen, slid down the launchways into the water as Queen Mary addressed the crowd, speaking into the microphone, "I am happy to name this ship the Queen Mary. I wish success to her and to all who sail her." One thousand and one transatlantic crossings later, the Queen Mary retired in Long Beach, arriving on Dec. 9, 1967. At exactly 12:07 p.m., John Treasure Jones, the Queen Mary's last sailing master, ordered "finished with the engines," signaling the end of one career and the beginning of another. The Queen Mary lives on now as a full-service Long Beach hotel, historical landmark and entertainment venue, giving visitors a unique glimpse into a bygone era when steamships were the most regal way to travel. The National Register of Historic Places Program is administered in California by the State Office of Historic Preservation, and placement on the National Register affords a property the honor of inclusion in the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.

We thank all of our guests for their continued support of this truly wonderful ship. Check out the information below to find out how you can help support the Queen Mary and take a look at some of the recently completed projects. Email us at [email protected] if you have specific questions.

A Trip Back In Time

The Queen Mary has a long and distinguished history and we invite you to explore her past. We strive to locate and maintain as many authentic historical documents as we can in hopes of carrying on the Queen Mary legend. Please peruse and discover the rich history of the Queen Mary. If you have any authentic Queen Mary documents, lists or memorabilia that you would like to share with us, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 562-499-1791. Keeping the Queen Mary’s history alive and preserving her past is of utmost importance.

The Queen Mary Art Deco Style

The Queen Mary features some of the grandest, most intricate and beautiful interior designs ever aboard an ocean liner. Influenced by the Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 30s, the interior design includes strong curves and geometric forms representing elegance, glamour, function and modernity. Learn more about the ship’s iconic style here . 

Check back for new and exciting updates about the Queen Mary

Royal Sunday Brunch | November 10, 2023

Reopening Announcement | March 24, 2023

The Queen Mary - Our Story – Amateur Radio

Radio during the queen mary’s decades at sea.

Like all other vessels of her era, the Queen Mary used maritime MF and HF radio frequencies to communicate with other ships and with shoreside high seas radio stations. Most of the world’s shipping lines contracted with radio companies to provide equipment and skilled radiomen for their ships, the largest being Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company. Cunard Lines selected the much smaller International Marine Radio Company to provide their ships with radio equipment and operators. IMRC designed and custom-built most of the equipment used on Cunard liners, and employed the radiomen who maintained and operated it. Some of that IMRC-built equipment is still on display in the Wireless Room. IMRC radiomen sailed on every voyage of the Queen Mary, using the radio callsign GBTT, providing communications in support of intership safety, navigation, weather, news reports, ship’s business, crew and passenger messages, and even radio-to-landline telephone calling for those who would pay the rather high prices for that service. Except for the ship-to-shore radiotelephone calls, most other traffic was passed using Morse code radiotelegraphy. In this era, radiotelegraphy was more efficient and reliable, being able to get through noise and signal fading much better than the AM and SSB voice modes. Even into the 1950s and 1960s when Amateur Radio became increasingly popular, IMRC radiomen weren’t much interested in tuning-in and operating on the ham radio frequencies. Indeed, after working a watch of four to six hours of pretty much constantly sending and copying Morse code traffic, the radiomen had little desire to do more of the same on the ham bands on their own time.

Amateur Radio Station GB5QM on the Queen Mary’s Last Great Cruise

Amateur radio first came aboard the Queen Mary for her Last Great Cruise in 1967. Upon learning that the City of Long Beach was considering the purchase of the Queen Mary to serve as a larger-than-life icon of its emerging status as an ‘International City’, Long Beach resident and radio amateur Nate Brightman, K6OSC, fell head-over-heels in love with the idea. He bent every ear and pulled every string he could to convince city leaders to go ahead with the deal. They heard him, and the purchase was made. Then, learning about the emerging plans for a Last Great Cruise to deliver the liner to Long Beach, Brightman hatched a plan to place an amateur radio station aboard the ship to contact and converse with radio amateurs around the world during the Queen Mary’s Last Great Cruise.

Brightman had to overcome many significant impediments to this project. The Cunard Line, US State Department, and the British Government all had to be brought into agreement to permit this event to happen. When all was arranged, Long Beach radio amateur Al Lee, W6KQI, led a team of amateurs as they flew to England, boarded the Queen Mary, installed their radio equipment, and broadcast from the Queen Mary at sea using the British-issued callsign GB5QM during the Last Great Cruise. Every radio amateur around the world who made contact with GB5QM was sent a commemorative ‘QSL’ (confirmation of radio contact) certificate. One of these certificates is still on display in the radio display room.

W6RO Aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach

Nate Brightman’s vision for amateur radio aboard the Queen Mary did not end when she reached her final mooring in Long Beach. He was already at work on a plan to establish a permanent amateur radio station aboard the ship. This proved to be his most daunting undertaking ever, requiring 11 years of persistent negotiating to convince City and ship officials to grant his aspiration. Space was approved on the Sports deck in the structure originally housing the ship’s squash court. This was an ideal location as it provided direct access to the roof overhead for antennas and was in a position to be passed by visiting tourists as they exited the wheelhouse and officer’s quarters exhibits. Construction was funded by the City, and the console was re-created from Brightman’s own photos of the ship’s original Wireless Telecommunications console, formerly located on the Promenade deck portside, photos which he shot during a VIP tour shortly after the ship’s arrival in Long Beach in 1967.

Amateur radio equipment for the Queen Mary’s new Wireless Room was donated by the Swan Radio Company of Oceanside upon Brightman’s request to the company’s founder, Herb Johnson. The equipment and antennas were installed, some of the ship’s original radio equipment was added for display, and the new Wireless Room was opened for operation on April 22, 1979. Frm that date forward, volunteer radio amateurs from the local ham radio club, the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach, as well as others from all over southern California, have staffed the Wireless Room, making radio contact with hams across the US and around the world and demonstrating ham radio to the ship’s tourists as they pass by. Many of them still use Morse code.

Brightman served as manager of the station from 1979 until his retirement in 2013 – nearly 35 years! The station was re-dedicated as ‘The Nate Brightman Wireless Room’ in 2007 in his honor. W6RO enjoys worldwide fame on the ham radio bands. Amateurs who make an on-air contact with the station are sent the very popular W6RO ‘QSL’ card commemorating their exchange with the Queen Mary.

Be sure to stop by the Wireless Room on your tour of the Queen Mary. And, if you’re lucky enough to encounter one of the volunteer radio amateurs there, enjoy a conversation about all things radio.

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End of an era: The world's oldest cruise ship is finally heading to the scrapper

The Astoria was built just 36 years after the sinking of the Titantic, when ocean liners still ruled long-distance travel. And, in its early days, it crisscrossed the Atlantic on a regular schedule along with such iconic vessels as the SS United States, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and the SS Andrea Doria.

But that was just a teaser for the improbably long and eventful career that was to come for the vessel, originally known as the Stockholm.

Sailing the world's oceans since 1948, the 556-passenger ocean liner has had a second — and a third and a fourth — life as a cruise vessel, playing a role in the development of the modern age of cruising from the 1960s to the present day. For many years, it has been the longest-serving cruise vessel at sea.

Alas, that long career is finally coming to an end, according to a shipping news outlet.

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After three-quarters of a century, the famous and at times infamous story of the Astoria will finally come to a close in the coming months at a scrapyard, shipping news publication TradeWinds reported Tuesday .

The shipping site said the 16,144-ton vessel had been sold for recycling at an as-yet-unknown scrapyard.

As TradeWinds noted, the ship was ordered way back in 1944, even as World War II still raged, by the Swedish American Line — a company that offered regular passenger service between Sweden and New York City. It was built specifically for transatlantic travel, with an ice-strengthened bow that could deflect the icebergs that used to be more common in the North Atlantic.

Notably, it was one of the first new passenger ships put into service after World War II, sailing its first voyage in February 1948.

Related: 2 more iconic cruise ships from the 1990s head to the scrappers

Still, it wasn't until eight years later, in 1956, that the vessel, then still known as the Stockholm, became a household name.

That was the year it collided with the 3-year-old Andrea Doria, the most iconic Italian ocean liner of the time. The accident took place off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, as the two vessels steamed in opposite directions in foggy conditions.

Both ships suffered significant damage. The Andrea Doria eventually rolled over and sank, and 51 passengers and crew members from both vessels were killed — one of the worst maritime disasters since the sinking of the Titanic.

The accident resulted in one of the most unusual survival stories in the history of passenger shipping.

A 14-year-old girl, Linda Morgan, who was sleeping in her bed on the Andrea Doria at the time of the accident, was somehow ejected out of her ripped-open cabin and thrown onto the deck of the Stockholm, where she was found by a crew member. A sister sleeping in an adjoining bed was killed, as was the girl's stepfather in an adjacent room. She became known as the "miracle girl."

Soon after the accident, after repairs, the vessel began its second life as a cruise ship — and an unusual one at that. The vessel was transferred in 1960 to the East German government to serve as a cruise vessel for East Germans under the new name Volkerfreundschaft.

It was transferred several more times between various cruise companies, and renamed many times, too, over the ensuing 63 years. Along the way, its interiors were completely rebuilt to make it more suitable for modern-day cruising.

It has sailed under the name Astoria since 2016 for British line Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic .

TradeWinds reported that cryptocurrency billionaire Brock Pierce acquired the vessel in 2021 with the intention of using it as a cruise ship but has since dropped the idea. TPG was unable to reach Pierce for confirmation.

For a cruise ship to remain in service for 75 years is extremely rare. Most modern-day cruise ships are designed for a life of 30 years, and they sometimes are retired and scrapped even earlier than that. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of cruise vessels just 20 to 30 years old were permanently removed from service.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

• Cruise From
• Long-Beach-Los-Angeles

Long Beach (Los Angeles), CA

• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Radiance

* Coming Soon

When we talk about cruising from Los Angeles, fyi: we’re talking about cruises from Long Beach. A short drive from LA is where you’ll find this seaside Southern California city that’s inseparable from its big-city neighbor, while undeniably moving to its own local beat. Dotted with dozens of parks, beaches and multiple public golf courses (fore times five!), Long Beach also boasts perhaps the world’s most unique hotel — located aboard the old-time ocean liner The Queen Mary (which is haunted, or so go the rumors). You can experience it before one of Carnival’s cruises from Long Beach, but definitely don’t miss the glitzy, big-city Los Angeles — the right place to experience the left-coast life. Take in the storied sights of this City of Angels, from its modern museums and high-end shopping to its funky seaside towns and star-studded SoCal sights dotting the hills and boulevards. Hollywood — hooray! So if you’re dreaming about a cruise from Los Angeles, remember: Carnival’s cruises from Long Beach are just the ticket.

• Climb aboard the Queen Mary , a glamorous 1930s ocean liner.
• Find your favorite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Stroll through the art and antiquities of the Getty Center ® .
• Take the backlot tour of Universal Studios ™ for a look at Hollywood mythmaking.
• Gaze into the starry night sky through the Griffith Observatory's ® giant telescope.

See it all from Long Beach (Los Angeles).

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

Legends of America

Traveling through american history, destinations & legends since 2003., ghosts of the queen mary in long beach, california.

The Queen Mary at Long Beach, CA. Photo by Kathy Alexander.

Resting in Long Beach Harbor is the RMS Queen Mary, a colossal ship that was bigger, faster, and more powerful than the Titanic . The 1,000-foot ship began her life when the first keel plate was laid in 1930 at the John Brown shipyard in Clyde, Scotland. The Great Depression held up her construction between 1931 and 1934, but she was finally completed, making her maiden voyage on May 27, 1936.

For three years, the luxury ocean liner hosted the world’s rich and famous across the Atlantic, including the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, David Niven, Mary Pickford, George, and Ira Gershwin, and Sir Winston Churchill, to name a few. Considered by the upper class to be the only civilized way to travel, she held the record for the fastest-ever North Atlantic crossing.

But, when World War II broke out in 1939, luxury travel immediately ceased, and the ship was transformed into a troopship known as “The Grey Ghost.” During this time, her capacity was increased from 2,410 to 5,500. By the end of World War II, the ship had carried more than 800,000 troops, traveled more than 600,000 miles, and played a significant role in virtually every major Allied campaign. She had also survived a collision at sea, set the record for carrying the most people on a floating vessel (16,683), and participated in the D-Day invasion .

During her service in the war, the Queen Mary was painted a drab grey, hence her nickname, the “Grey Ghost.”

At the close of the war, the ship began to transport more than 22,000 war brides and their children to the United States and Canada. Known as the “Bride and Baby Voyages,” she made 13 voyages for this purpose in 1946.

Its duty to the war complete, the Queen Mary was refurbished and resumed her elegant cruises in July 1947, maintaining weekly service between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York. However, by the early 1960s, transatlantic cruises were falling out of fashion due to air travel becoming affordable for the masses. In 1963, the ship began a series of occasional cruises, first to the Canary Islands and later to the Bahamas. However, she proved ill-suited for the work without central air conditioning, outdoor pools, or other amenities now commonplace on cruise ships. In 1967, she was withdrawn from service after more than 1,000 transatlantic crossings.

That same year, the Queen Mary was sold for $3.45 million to the city of Long Beach, California , as a maritime museum and hotel. On December 9, 1967, she made her final voyage to Long Beach. After 1,001 successful Atlantic crossings, she was permanently docked and soon became the luxury hotel she is today.

The decks on the Queen Mary still sport their original wood flooring, Kathy Alexander.

Internationally recognized, the historic floating hotel and museum attract thousands of visitors annually. It has also attracted several unearthly guests over the years. Some say the Queen Mary is one of the most haunted places in the world, with as many as 150 known spirits lurking upon the ship. Over the past 60 years, the Queen Mary has been the site of at least 49 reported deaths, not to mention having gone through the terrors of war, so it is no surprise that spectral spirits of her vivid past continue to walk within her rooms and hallways.

The Queen Mary’s engine room is located 50 feet below water level, which is said to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. Used in the filming of the Poseidon Adventure, the room’s infamous “Door 13” crushed at least two men to death at different points during the ship’s history. During a routine watertight door drill in 1966, the most recent death crushed an 18-year-old crew member. Dressed in blue coveralls and sporting a beard, the young man has often been spied walking the length of Shaft Alley before disappearing by door #13.

In the area of this heavy door in the Engine Room, we got some very creepy feelings, Kathy Alexander.

Its first and second-class swimming pools are two more popular spots for the Queen’s otherworldly guests. Though neither is utilized today for their original purpose, spirits seemingly are not aware of that. In the first-class swimming pool, which has been closed for more than three decades, women have often appeared in 1930’s style swimming suits wandering the decks near the pool. Others have reported the sounds of splashing and spied wet footprints leading from the deck to the changing rooms. Some have also spied the spirit of a young girl clutching her teddy bear.

In the second-class poolroom, the spirit of another little girl named Jackie has often been seen and heard. Allegedly, the unfortunate girl drowned in the pool during the ship’s sailing days and reputedly refused to move on, as her voice and laughter have been captured here. However, author, and paranormal investigator, Cher Garman points out that there are no known drownings to have ever occurred on the ship, although she says Jackie is there.

In the Queen’s Salon, which once served as the ship’s first-class lounge, a beautiful young woman in an elegant white evening gown has often been seen dancing alone in the shadows of the corner of the room.

Yet more odd occurrences have been made in several first-class staterooms. Here, reports have been made of a tall, dark-haired man appearing in a 1930’s style suit, as well as water running and lights turning on in the middle of the night, and phones ringing in the early morning hours with no one on the other end of the line. In the third-class children’s playroom, a baby’s cry has often been heard, which is thought to be the infant boy who died shortly after his birth.

Other phenomena throughout the ship are the sounds of distinct knocks, doors slamming and high-pitched squeals, drastic temperature changes, and the aromas of smells long past.

These are a few of the many reports of apparitions and strange events at this luxury liner-turned-hotel.

Today, the Queen Mary, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provides a wide range of guest rooms for travelers and 14 Art Deco salons, tours, restaurants, shops, and exhibits.

The first-class pool on the Queen Mary is said to host a number of unearthly spirits.

Contact Information:

Queen Mary Hotel and Museum 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach, California  90802 562-435-3511 or 800-437-2934

© Kathy Alexander / Legends of America , updated January 2023.

The Queen Mary: A Haunting Like No Other   (more about the only officially sanctioned paranormal investigation of the ship)

Haunted California

Ghostly Legends & Mysteries

California Main Page

• Cruise History

13 Former Carnival Ships – Where Are They Now?

Sarah Bretz, Contributor

• November 17, 2020
• 2.8K shares

Carnival Cruise Line, formed in 1972, is known today as the most popular cruise line in the world.

Since its conception, the cruise line has had eleven ships that are no longer sailing with them, five of them added to the list after the cruise industry shut down in 2020.

Some have been scrapped, and some continue to sail under other cruise lines today.

Check out a bit of history behind the twelve former ships and see where they are now.

1. Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras was sold to Carnival from Canadian Pacific in 1972 and was just over 18,000 gross registered tons. She sailed under the Carnival flag until 1993 and was then sold to Epirotiki.

Many names and a few cruise lines later, the ship was laid up and ultimately sold for scrap in 2003. She was in service for a total of 42 years.

In 2021, Carnival will debut the new Mardi Gras , the largest ship in the fleet. It will feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, as well as a variety of new dining and bar venues.

2. Carnivale

Before being sold to Carnival in 1976, Carnivale was called Queen Ann Maria for the operator Greek Line. In 1993, Carnival transferred her over to a subsidiary cruise line, Fiesta Marina Cruises.

After a few other cruise lines and the ultimate name of Topaz sailing under the Peace Boat Organization, she was retired and laid up in April 2008.

The ship was beached in India to be scrapped that summer, and the process was completed in 2009.

3. Festivale

Carnival acquired Festivale in 1977 from the South African Marine Corporation. She was originally a mail service ocean liner, but when Carnival bought her, they refit her into a cruise ship in Japan for $30 million.

A few cruise lines later, she ended up with Premier Cruise Line, sailing under the name Big Red Boat III . When Premier went bankrupt in 2000, the ship was seized, and Big Red Boat III was ultimately scrapped in 2003.

4. Tropicale

Tropicale was a monumental ship for Carnival, as she was their very first new build. She began sailing in 1982, mainly in the Caribbean.

The ship was then transferred to Costa as Costa Tropicale , then to P&O Australia as the Pacific Star.

After that, she was sold to Pullmantur Cruises, refurbished, and sailed as Ocean Dream . As of 2012, Ocean Dream left Pullmantur and was chartered to Peace Boat.

In January 2021, the ship was scrapped.

Holiday was Carnival’s second purpose-built cruise ship. Constructed in Denmark, Holiday entered service in 1985. In 2003, she was refurbished, and in 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, she was used as temporary housing for victims of the storm.

She sailed from Alabama to the western Caribbean until 2009, when she was transferred to the fleet of Iberocruceros, another cruise line owned by Carnival Corp. and renamed Grand Holiday .

After that, she was transferred to the Ibero Cruises fleet and was transformed into a floating hotel for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In 2014, she was sold to the British cruise line Cruise & Maritime Voyages and sailed for them under the name Magellan .

After CMV ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in July 2020, Greek ferry operator SeaJets purchased Magellan at auction in October 2020 for $3.4 million.

Seajets is planning to turn the ship into a floating hotel in Liverpool for the 2021 Grand National, but she was resold for scrap due to high operating costs. She was renamed Mages and sailed to Alang, India, for scrapping in January 2021.

6. Celebration

Celebration was built for Carnival in 1986 in Sweden. She sailed for them until 2008, when she underwent a refurbishment and began sailing for Iberocruceros as the Grand Celebration .

In May 2014, she was transferred to Costa, and after a very short-lived run (she was actually sold the day before her first Costa cruise), she was acquired by the newly formed Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to begin sailing in February 2015.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line sold the ship in November 2020 , and she was beached in Alang, Turkey, on January 14, 2021, for scrapping.

Jubilee was built in Sweden in 1986 for Carnival Cruise Line, and Celebration and Holiday were her near-sister ships. In 2004, she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Sun .

In 2012, Pacific Sun left P&O and was sold to HNA Cruises, who named her Henna . She sailed for them until November 2015, when HNA shut down operations after three years of losing money.

The ship was sold and scrapped at the Alang, India yard in 2017.

Read More: Former Carnival Cruise Ship Getting Scrapped

8. Carnival Fantasy

Fantasy was the first ship in Carnival’s new Fantasy class when she entered service in March 1990. Built at Kavaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland, the ship initially sailed Caribbean cruises from Miami.

In 2007, the ship was re-christened Carnival Fantasy and refurbished in 2008, 2016, and 2019. She sailed for Carnival for 30 years until the cruise industry shutdown in March 2020.

In July 2020, Carnival sold the ship, and it was scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey.

LAST LOOK: Remembering Carnival Fantasy [PHOTOS]

9. Carnival Ecstasy

Carnival Ecstasy debuted in 1991, and it is the second ship in the Fantasy Class.

As one of the most versatile and popular vessels in the “Fun Ship” fleet, her over-the-top Joe Farcus-designed interiors became a fan-favorite, including the iconic 1934 Rolls-Royce Saloon, which was later relocated to the Gateway on Carnival Celebration.

In February 2022, Carnival announced the retirement of Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Sensation from the fleet. Unlike Sensation, Ecstasy resumed its regular service in Mobile, Alabama, from March to October 2022.

It is the only ship out of the six other retired Fantasy-class ships that offered a farewell cruise season to its guests.

The last voyage happened from October 10 to 15, 2022. In November 2022, the ship arrived at the Aliağa scrapyards in Turkey for scrapping.

10. Carnival Sensation

Launched in 1993, the Carnival Sensation was one of the early stars of Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy-class ships. Built in Finland, she joined her sisters Fantasy, Ecstasy, and Imagination in bringing a more casual and fun-focused approach to cruising.

Back then, she was considered quite the modern marvel, boasting features like the seven-deck-high neon-splashed atrium, a tiered lido deck, and even a 24-hour pizzeria. Her inaugural season saw her setting sail from Miami, whisking passengers away to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on sunny escapes.

Over the years, the Sensation saw several renovations and updates, adding balconies to cabins and sprucing up public spaces. She also switched home ports a few times, spending stints in Tampa and Port Canaveral before returning to Miami.

In 2022, the Sensation’s time came to an end. After nearly 30 years of service, she was sold for scrap.

11. Carnival Fascination

Fascination entered service in 1994 as the fourth member of Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy class. The ship was built, like her sisters, in the Kavaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland. She was re-christened Carnival Fascination in 2007.

In her 26 years of operating for Carnival, she received refurbishments and upgrades in 2006, 2010, and 2013. Fascination cruised from New York, San Juan, and Jacksonville.

In July 2020, Fascination entered long-term layup status and was sold to a disclosed buyer, later revealed to be an Asian company, for use as a floating hotel. In November, she underwent a name change from Carnival Fascination to Century Harmony .

However, due to strict Chinese policy, the ship wasn’t able to sail. In October 2021, she was sold for scrap and arrived at Gadani, Pakistan, in February 2022 as Y Harmony .

12. Carnival Imagination

Like her Fantasy-class sisters, Imagination was built at Kavaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland. The ship entered service in 1995 and most recently sailed Mexican Riviera itineraries from Long Beach, California.

The ship was renamed Carnival Imagination in 2007 and was refurbished most recently in 2016.

The vessel entered long-term layup status in July 2020; Carnival announced the ship had been sold for scrap in August 2020 and was sent to the scrapyard in Aliaga, Turkey.

Last Look: Remembering Carnival Imagination [PHOTOS]

13. Carnival Inspiration

Built in 1996 at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland, Inspiration was the fifth entry in the Fantasy class. Renamed Carnival Inspiration in 2007, the ship was most recently refurbished in 2010.

The ship sailed Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, California. After the cruise industry shut down in March 2020, Carnival announced in July that the ship and Carnival Fantasy had been sold for scrap and sent to the shipbreakers in Aliaga, Turkey.

Last Look: Remembering Carnival Inspiration [PHOTOS]

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Owned and operated by Carnival Corporation, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is located alongside the legendary Queen Mary.

The neighboring Port of Los Angeles is just a quick drive away. We welcome you to stay and play in Long Beach before you embark on your journey. Bon Voyage!

Is there parking at the cruise terminal?

Parking is available at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal parking structure for $23 per day (rates subject to change). 0-30 minutes - No charge, 31 to 59 minutes $4.00, 1 to 2 hours $8.00. Note: The Garage Height Limit is 7'0". Oversized vehicles (those utilizing more than one parking space) cannot park in the cruise terminal garage and guests must make alternate/offsite parking arrangements.

For questions about parking, please call (800) 764-7419.

Hotel options and where to stay near the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

There are plenty of hotels and accommodations convenient to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. Any hotel in the greater Long Beach area will only a few short minutes away from the Cruise Terminal. Find the perfect place to stay on our website .

Are there restaurants near the Long Beach Cruise Terminal?

Just a short ride from downtown Long Beach, you will find over 100 restaurants, bars, and nightlife to enjoy. Explore Pine Avenue, The Promenade, or Shoreline Village for fresh seafood, local gastropubs, fine dining, and more!

Places to Visit Near the Cruise Terminal

555 EAST STEAKHOUSE

For more than a decade, 555 East has provided superior prime beef to the choosiest beef lovers in the Long Beach area. And as good as our prime cut is, we believe…

AGAVES KITCHEN & TEQUILA

Next Door by Agaves is the best spot to have Mexican lunch and dinner right here in downtown Long Beach. Here, gourmets can sample the finest traditional Mexican dishes in a…

ALEGRIA COCINA LATINA

Alegria Cocina Latina is located in trendy Downtown Long Beach, near the waterfront and arts center. With colorful Spanish décor and twinkling white lights along its patios, it is warm and artistic…

AMMATOLI MEDITERRANEAN BITES

AMMATOLI is distinctive and extraordinarily fresh and healthy. We only use the finest quality ingredients, and all our produce and bread are delivered daily.Our Mediterranean influenced kitchen gains inspiration from the best…

ARIZE BISTRO

An experienced Le Cordon Bleu graduate, partnered up with Thailand's No. 1 culinary school graduate to create memorable, irresistible, delicious, mouthwatering and beautiful dishes for you and your family to enjoy.

THE AULD DUBLINER IRISH PUB

The Auld Dubliner is Long Beach’s very first authentic Irish pub imported directly from Dublin, Ireland. Located at the Pike Outlets on Pine Avenue between Ocean and Shoreline, The Auld Dubliner offers…

BEACHWOOD BLENDERY

Beachwood Brewing & Blending is an 18-tap tasting room located on Long Beach Blvd in Downtown Long Beach featuring a rotating mix of our award-winning local beers, including distinctive West Coast IPAs…

BEACHWOOD BREWING

Brewing Downtown Long Beach has been serving downtown Long Beach tasty food and world-class beers brewed since 2011. Offering over 30 award-winning craft beers on tap, we’ve got something for everyone. Join…

BIRDIES N BREWS

At Birdies N Brews we have two golf simulator bays that we rent out for up to 6 people each. These simulators allow to hit real golf balls on our virtual driving…

THE BLIND DONKEY

The Blind Donkey is Long Beach's local whiskey bar. Located underneath the BroadLind Hotel. Head down the steps to discover our dimly lit bar, smooth jams, and enjoy the cities best Old…

BO BEAU KITCHEN + ROOF TAP

Located in the heart of downtown Long Beach serving Dinner nightly at 4:30 pm. Social Time: Monday – Friday 4:30pm - 7pm California Comfort Food with Global Influences. The food reflects classic…

BUONO’S AUTHENTIC PIZZERIA

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THE BREAKFAST BAR

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Located in the beautiful Aquarium of the Pacific over looking Rainbow Harbor and the Seal exhibit. Cafe Scuba offers a variety of selections including healthy, sustainable seafood options, made to order sandwiches…

CAFE’ SEVILLA SPANISH RESTAURANT & TAPAS BAR

Cafe Sevilla has been dedicated to providing the true essence of Spanish culture, music and cuisine since 1987. Located in the heart of downtown Long Beach, Cafe Sevilla is proud to offer…

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN — PIKE-RAINBOW

California Pizza Kitchen is a casual-dining restaurant serving up California creativity through its innovative menu items. CPK provides a range of California-inspired dishes, from signature hand-tossed and hearth-baked pizzas, to imaginative salads…

DISTRICT WINE

District Wine is a full-service wine tasting bar and lounge specializing in small production boutique wines and imported beer. Tapas and handmade flatbreads are offered to compliment our wine and beer list…

DOLY’S DELECTABLES

Nestled near the heart of downtown Long Beach, DoLy’s Delectables offers its loyal patrons the lingering sweetness of that last pleasant dream before rising for a new day. The little café follows…

FICKLEWOOD CIDERWORKS

Located in the East Village of downtown Long Beach, Ficklewood Ciderworks curates a complete cider experience. From the incredible fermenters to the relaxing, family-friendly environment, Ficklewood is a place to unwind, visit…

FUEGO AT THE MAYA

THE FUNNEL HOUSE

Offering homemade cookies, funnel cakes, lemonade and coffee. Come create your own ice cream sandwich or funnel cake sundae!

GEORGES GREEK CAFÉ (PINE AVE)

Traditional Greek dishes in a family atmosphere. Authentic, homemade Greek food prepared on premises from Mama’s recipes. Open daily, now offering a variety of American breakfast items such as pancakes, French toast…

GLADSTONE’S

We like to party... Our favorite part of our business is celebrating special moments with our guests. Whether you are getting married, having a baby shower, marking another great birthday, retiring, having…

HAMBURGER MARY’S

The original Hamburger Mary’s was a funky, friendly dive put together on a shoe-string budget. With humble beginnings as an eclectic late-night beer and burger joint, Hamburger Mary’s quickly established itself as…

ICE CREAM & FROZEN YOGURT ON THE BOARDWALK

Choose from 16 flavors of ice cream and 6 flavors of fat-free frozen yogurt. Offering fresh baked waffle cones, smoothies and sundaes.

KING’S FISH HOUSE — PINE AVENUE

King's Fish House, a unique Southern California find as the quintessential American fish house, is quickly becoming a Southland fixture, establishing new locations from Calabasas to Orange County. With the familiarity, simple…

L’OPERA RISTORANTE

Celebrating Over 23 Years of Award Winning Classic & Modern Italian Cuisine! L'Opera was established in 1990 in a historical clock tower building on the corner of First Street & Pine Ave…

LA TRAVIATA

Located in the historic french-revival Willmore Building, La Traviata is one of the best kept secrets in Long Beach! La Trav serves an award winning Nuevo Italian menu in our Dining Room…

THE LAUGH FACTORY

The World Famous Laugh Factory and Stand-Up Comedy Hall of Fame comes to Long Beach. The Laugh Factory Long Beach features today’s top stand-up comedy stars three nights a week (Thursday -…

MICHAEL’S DOWNTOWN

A Long Beach favorite since 2013, Michael's Downtown transforms the freshest locally sourced ingredients into crave-worthy Italian food for our guests to enjoy. Our menu ranges from hand-made pasta and wood-fired pizza…

We are a family owned business that has been located on the ground floor of the Historic Cooper Arms building in downtown Long Beach, California since 1996. Modica's commitment is to provide…

NAREE THAI RESTAURANT

Naree Thai is a top-notch Thai restaurant located in downtown Long Beach. Large windows let in natural sunlight that make the atmosphere bright and welcoming. The food tastes even better than the…

NAVY PROOF FOOD & SPIRITS

Navy Proof Food & Spirits, located in the Westin Long Beach, is their newly debuted destination restaurant. A concept created by Howe & Brown Hospitality, the restaurant offers locals and travelers alike…

OBSERVATION BAR AT THE QUEEN MARY

Once the original First Class Lounge, the chic Art Deco Observation Bar is the perfect place to relax, meet friends or simply enjoy the sunset and panoramic views. The Observation Bar is…

THE ORDINARIE

The terms Ordinarie, Tavern and Inn remained synonymous throughout most of the eighteenth century; these institutions were licensed to provide entertainment “for all persons” including “Strangers and their horses.” While your…

PARKERS’ LIGHTHOUSE

Parkers’ Lighthouse serves up inspired seafood, steak, chicken and pasta dishes . The Queensview Steakhouse located on the third floor of Parkers' Lighthouse, is proud to offer prime steaks, fine seafood, &amp…

THE PIE BAR

Meet your new obsession, The Pie Bar! Pie is the ultimate comfort food bringing back delicious memories of time spent with family. Enjoy a slice of our famous Key Lime Pie with…

PROMENADE CAFE

The Promenade Cafe is located in the Promenade Lobby of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, just off the Pine Avenue Entrance. Open everyday during conventions, consumer and trade shows -…

QUEENSVIEW STEAKHOUSE

The Queensview Steakhouse, located on the third floor of Parkers’ Lighthouse, has a warm and inviting ambiance like no other dining establishment in Long Beach. Take in the “supper club” dining experience…

THE REEF ON THE WATER

A landmark since 1958, The Reef has a fresh new look and feel . The restaurant features beautiful waterfront patios and decks overlooking the downtown Long Beach skyline. The menu specializes in…

ROSE PARK ROASTERS

Rose Park Roasters on Ocean Blvd is the third and newest coffee shop from Rose Park, a popular local coffee roaster and bakery. The space is bright and airy with a beautiful…

SHANNON’S CORNER

Only true sports bar downtown. Always friendly locals. All ages. Busy nightlife until 2am every day of the year. Long bar, Big Screens, All games shown. Great food. Breakfast served all day…

SHENANIGANS IRISH PUB & GRILLE

For decades, the Irish public house has been a social and community hub for the people of Ireland. It functions as both a place to consume alcohol at leisure as well as…

SIP LOUNGE — TEMP CLOSED

SIP is a modern, upscale, upbeat cozy lounge that serves signature cocktails, hand crafted beers, fine wines by the glass and perfectly paired food items. The decor featuers intimate seating areas with…

SOLITA TACOS & MARGARITAS

Founded on centuries-old rituals of turning agave into sacred tequila nectar, Solita Tacos & Margaritas invites guests to gather around to celebrate great food and hand-crafted margaritas. Conceptualized by the visionaries behind…

THE STAVE BAR

Classic Style Full Bar Noon - 2am Daily 90+ Scotches, Whiskeys, Bourbons & Ryes, 20+ “Signature Cocktails” Old Fashioned, Aviation, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Mules & more! 50+ Wines 20+ Draft Beers direct…

TEQUILA JACK’S

Tequila Jack's has something for everyone, from tacos and tostadas to tequila-glazed babyback ribs! The menu is a mouth-watering collection of innovative, Baja-style Mexican dishes, and the refreshments are unmatched. At Tequila…

THAI DISTRICT

Modern Thai Kitchen Yet very authentic in taste and ingredients – We hope to welcome you!

WATERCRAFT LOUNGE

Pick up a signature blend of our locally roasted artisan coffee and espresso while you explore the city. Watercraft Market also offers a farm-to-table menu from which you can order craft breakfast…

Overlooking Rainbow Harbor, Yard House offers American fusion cuisine along with the world’s largest selection of draft beer. Whether you’re in the mood for a grilled burger and a pint of your…

Things to Do

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

Our animals welcome you back! In the Southern California/Baja Gallery, you can meet giant sea bass, leopard sharks, eels, seals, sea lions, white abalone, and other species found locally or in Baja…

LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

The Long Beach Museum of Art is located on a magnificent bluff overlooking the Long Beach Harbor, Catalina Island, the Queen Mary and the Pacific Ocean. The campus includes the historic Elizabeth…

MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. It is the pioneering museum in the United States dedicated…

THE PIKE OUTLETS

Are The Pike Outlets open?Certain stores and restaurants are open. Check out their website for up-to-date openings.Located next to the Convention Center and Aquarium of the Pacific, The Pike Outlets is a…

SHORELINE VILLAGE

Is Shoreline Village open?The Boardwalk is currently open, as well as Wheel Fun Rentals, Long Beach Parasailing, and Marina Sailing. Shoreline Village restaurants are open for pickup.Wander, Adventure & Explore! Shoreline Village…

What to do in Long Beach pre- or post-cruise?

If you have a day or two pre- or post-cruise, then you'll find plenty to do and see in Long Beach. The Aquarium of The Pacific , Long Beach Museum of Art and Museum of Latin American Art are must-sees for visitors. Shoppers will find all their favorite brand names at a discount at the Pike Outlets , right in downtown Long Beach. For more unique boutiques in pedestrian-friendly settings, check out Retro Row on 4th Street , the East Village Arts District , or visit the Belmont Shore or Bixby Knolls neighborhoods.

Check out these crafted itineraries and things to do in Long Beach!

What time does Carnival Cruise depart from Long Beach?

For more information including times of arrival and departure visit Carnival's website or download their mobile app .

Do you need a passport for a cruise?

For domestic cruises (cruises that begin and end in a U.S port) a valid, unexpired government-issued photo I.D. for all guests 16 years of age or older is required. For European and Transatlantic cruises, U.S citizens are required to carry a passport, valid for six months beyond the date of their visit. Learn more here .

To book your cruise or for questions about your reservation call Carnival Cruise Line at (800) 764-7419

Here's how to get from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the cruise terminal:

Here's driving directions from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to the cruise terminal:

Driving directions from the San Diego (south) to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal:

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Neighborhoods

Home to a perfect blend of wonderful and welcome communities.

Plan Your Trip

Whether you’re visiting Long Beach, California for business, fun or both, you’ll always find something unconventional to do.

Events in Long Beach

Special events in Long Beach invite visitors to experience a variety of festivals, sporting events, concerts, and celebrations throughout the year.

It’s a scientific fact that Moms are the best (trust us, we’ve crunched the numbers). So it only follows–logically–that you want to get her the best for Mother’s Day. Fortunately

We may not live by bread alone, but it certainly lends more flavor to life. Long Beach is recognized as a haven for those practicing that most ancient and fundamental

Nothing builds bonds inside an office like getting together outside of it. Long Beach offers so many fun ways to strengthen your team, from swinging clubs to throwing axes to

If the term “antiques” conjures up images of grandma’s attic and dusty, somewhat creepy objects and ephemera, imagine this: boutiques, stores and swap meets chock full of fun furnishings, funky

If you find yourself at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach–the weekend of April 19-21–consider yourself not only in a wonderful situation but wonderfully situated to enjoy food and

As it has for nearly half a century, the 49th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach returns to rock the International City as the world’s fastest cars power down Shoreline

Long Beach’s cannabis dispensaries are alive and growing, providing products for those with physical and emotional needs as well as those looking to refocus or relax. Distinguished by clean environs

While Long Beach is one of California’s largest cities, its urban setting is offset by its proximity to and incorporation of nature. Its location along the coast and ample green

The single block stretch of First Street, between Elm and Linden Avenues, in Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, presents an amazing amalgam of places to eat, shop, drink, grow

Get your bridal party together and have some creative fun for your bachelor or bachelorette party in Long Beach! Whether your crew loves to get pampered or go on adventures

Filipino baked goods are becoming increasingly popular and there is a growing number of bakeries in Long Beach serving them up. From longtime fixtures like Gemmae Bake Shop to newcomers

Record stores are magical places where music lovers build community around a shared appreciation (or compulsion): searching for their favorite sounds while discovering new ones. Long Beach is fortunate to

Actor and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will serve as the grand marshal for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar series race on Sunday, Apr. 21.

Katherine Legge and Takuma Sato, drivers with a legacy of winning races, breaking barriers and setting milestones, will be honored at this year’s Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame ceremony

Queen Mary in Long Beach: The Complete Guide

TripSavvy / Christian Hundley 

Things to Do

Hotel queen mary, tips for your visit, the queen mary.

On your next trip to Long Beach, California, you should stop by the cruise ship that never moves—the Queen Mary.

Originally built in 1937, the ship had a long and fascinating 30-year career before making its 516th and final voyage to Long Beach, California, on Dec. 9, 1967.

Since then, the Queen Mary has been docked in the Long Beach harbor and converted into a hotel and tourist attraction, which some even believe to be haunted. Guides' voices echo in the now-empty engine room, where 27 boilers once generated 160,000 horsepower. In fact, the ship has been in Long Beach longer than it sailed the oceans and is now known as an icon for its home city.

Bigger, faster, and more powerful than its predecessor, the Titanic, the RMS Queen Mary had a long career with 1,001 successful Atlantic crossings. Built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde, Scotland, in 1937, the Queen Mary held the record for the fastest-ever North Atlantic crossing.

It carried the rich and famous across the Atlantic for three years in great luxury. During World War II, it carried troops. Afterward, the ship ferried war brides and children to the United States and Canada before returning to service as a transatlantic cruise ship.

In 1967, the ship's owner, Cunard, sold the Queen Mary for $3.45 million. After the boat's final voyage, it became permanently docked in Long Beach and has been there ever since.

It may not be as enormous as today's mega-cruise liners, but the Queen Mary is an elegant reminder of a bygone era. 

The least expensive way to see the ship is the self-guided tour which takes visitors over the 1,020-foot-long Queen Mary, from the engine room to the wheelhouse. Unfortunately, the tour route is poorly marked, and the big ship can be pretty intimidating when toured on your own. You may get more out of your experience if you take one of their guided tours. 

They offer several themed tours, which change from time to time. One of the most popular is Ghosts and Legends of the Queen Mary, which dramatizes paranormal and historical events aboard the ship. You can also take tours in the evening, including haunted explorations and midnight ghost tours led by paranormal experts. You can see a list of current tours on the Queen Mary website .

The Scorpion, a Foxtrot-class Russian submarine, is moored just below the Queen Mary's bow. A tour of the cramped quarters and military conditions (78 crew shared two showers and three toilets) provides an interesting contrast to the Queen Mary in size and luxury.

Events at the Queen Mary

Every Halloween, the Queen Mary is home to Dark Harbor , an intense Halloween experience that features haunted mazes, a 4D theater experience, and live monsters and entertainment.

The ship also hosts seasonal and holiday celebrations, mystery murder dinner shows, a Scottish festival, and other events. You can find their upcoming events on their website .

The ship isn't just a tourist attraction, it doubles as a hotel as well. With authentic wood-paneling, original artwork from the 1930s, and time-appropriate styled decor, you can easily imagine yourself on a transatlantic journey along with Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and others. The ship includes 347 staterooms and suites, all of which come with standard amenities.

The smaller rooms are reasonably priced but can be a bit dark. For a taste of the luxury of a bygone era, splurge on a Deluxe Stateroom or a Royalty Suite.

• The Queen Mary is open daily, and a reservation is not required for a regular tour.
• There is an admission fee, as well as a parking fee.
• Allow a few hours for a leisurely tour, as there's a lot to see.
• Take a guided tour for a more efficient and educational experience.
• Grab a map on your way in. Certain things, including elevator stops, are labeled in ship jargon, but the map makes things easy to understand.

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• The Old School Cruise

The Old School Cruise 2024

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• cruise-terminal-information

Long Beach Cruise Terminal Information

Last updated on September 16th, 2023 at 03:33 pm

Located adjacent to the iconic Queen Mary, Long Beach's cruise terminal offers a lively departure point for cruises to Mexico, Hawaii, and beyond. Experience the city's coastal charm, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, or relax on the beautiful beaches before your voyage.

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is located 231 Windsor Place, Long Beach, CA 90802, USA.

FYI: There are two cruise ports in Los Angeles – the World Cruise Center in San Pedro and Carnival’s Long Beach cruise terminal in Long Beach. See here for information on San Pedro Cruise Terminal .

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal, known as the “Dome” is located right beside the Queen Mary – Cunard’s grand ship that has been permanently docked and turned into a hotel (currently closed and undergoing renovations). When coming off the highway, follow the signs for the Queen Mary, General Parking. It branches off with a sign to the cruise terminal once you reach the main gate.

Parking is available onsite at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal ( click here for details ), but there are many Long Beach hotels with Park and Cruise packages. 

If you’re flying into LAX or Long Beach airport, click here for different transportation options.

Carnival Cruises from Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Carnival sails a few ships out of the Long Beach Terminal, to destinations in Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska.

The Carnival Radiance, Panorama and Miracle are homeported in Long Beach for 2023. The new Carnival Firenze, which was previously a Costa ship, will be sailing out of Long Beach in 2024.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal Tips

Long Beach Cruise Terminal is owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Lines and is a smaller port, so getting from shore to ship is a fairly smooth process.

When it comes to accessibility, the Long Beach cruise terminal doesn’t provide wheelchairs if needed. If mobility is an issue, there is seating available while waiting to board, or it’s advised to contact Carnival in advance to arrange a wheelchair at the port.

Park and Cruise Hotels in Long Beach

Fly and Cruise Hotels in Long Beach

Hotels Close to Long Beach Cruise Terminal

Long Beach/Los Angeles Weather

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is located in the Los Angeles area and enjoys warm weather all year, which makes any time a great time to visit. Late summer is especially suitable for beach visits, when the water is spectacularly warm. Keep in mind that the smog tends to be thickest during the summer months, and the autumn and winter can be a bit nippy due to the Santa Ana winds.

See Excursions in Los Angeles

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The Old School Cruise 2022!

Be a part of all the fun Cinco De Mayo Weekend aboard the all new Carnival Radiance for The Old School Cruise 2022! Sailing out of Long Beach, April 29th through May 2nd. Have the time of your life with legendary Old School artists like Zapp, Midnight Star, Stevie B, Rose Royce, Evelyn “Champagne” King and many more! Book now with this exclusive offer, just for our Old School family - Use promo code “JIMMY100” and receive a $100 Holiday Discount! You can book at TheOldSchoolCruise.com or by calling (888) 639-8888. Don’t wait, as this offer is VERY limited and will sell out. Let’s make some memories on the Old School Cruise 2022!

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The First Nuclear-Powered Guided Missile Cruiser: USS Long Beach CGN-9

Posted: April 29, 2024 | Last updated: April 29, 2024

In the annals of naval warfare, few ships have marked as significant a technological leap forward as the USS Long Beach CGN-9, which became the first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser to join the U.S. Navy. Commissioned on September 9, 1961, the Long Beach represented a formidable combination of nuclear propulsion and missile armament that defined a new era in maritime power projection.

The inception of Long Beach as a "new class" warship—designed entirely after World War II—brought about several firsts. It was the only ship of her class, making her unique in design and purpose. As the third Navy ship christened in honor of Long Beach, California, she became the last ship built on a traditional "cruiser hull" in the US Navy, which was abandoned in favor of scaled-up destroyer hulls for subsequent cruisers. This distinction earned her the title "The Only Real Cruiser" in her later years.

Long Beach's design incorporated cutting-edge technology from the outset, initially planned as an "all-missile" ship. However, at the behest of President John F. Kennedy, two 5"/38 caliber gun mounts were fitted for added versatility. Her high superstructure housed the SCANFAR radar system, the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars, which were pioneering forerunners of the Aegis combat system's AN/SPY-1 radar.

Her weapons suite was formidable, initially featuring Talos long-range and Terrier medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), ASROC anti-submarine rockets, Mark 46 torpedoes, and the two 5"/38 caliber gun, capable of surface and shore bombardment to a range of 18,000 yd (16 km). Through the years, the Long Beach's arsenal evolved, embracing advancements such as the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, enhancing her long-range strike capabilities.

The nuclear propulsion of the Long Beach—powered by two nuclear reactors allowing speeds of 30 knots without refueling—enabled her to serve as a cornerstone of U.S. maritime strategy. Her operational prowess was demonstrated during the groundbreaking "Sea Orbit" operation. Alongside the USS Enterprise and USS Bainbridge, she formed the first all-nuclear-powered task force in May 1964, circumnavigating the globe without refueling, underscoring the strategic autonomy nuclear propulsion afforded naval forces.

Throughout her service, Long Beach played a pivotal role in various global operations, ranging from peacekeeping in the Mediterranean during the Cold War to combat operations during the Vietnam War. She notably served as a radar picket in the Gulf of Tonkin, directing air operations over North Vietnam. During the Gulf War, she supported coalition forces, providing maritime dominance through her sophisticated sensor and weapons systems.

After over three decades of service, the USS Long Beach's operational life came to an end. She was decommissioned on May 1, 1995, after a storied career that saw her sailing through multiple conflicts and across the world's oceans. Her legacy persists, not only in the memories of her crew but also as a harbinger of the nuclear age in naval warfare.

Today, the hull of the once-mighty cruiser awaits its final disposition at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, following the removal of her superstructure. As the Navy progresses and new ships join the fleet, the pioneering spirit of the USS Long Beach CGN-9 continues to resonate, a testament to innovation and power in U.S. naval history.

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