When visiting Long Beach, pay homage to the Queen Mary, a luxurious passenger ship that made the Titanic seem like a bathtub toy. At 1,019 feet long and 81,000 tons, the Queen Mary was one of the largest and most elegant ships of the early 20th century; the ocean liner made 1,001 crossings between New York and England beginning in 1936.
Now permanently docked in Long Beach, the Queen Mary is not just a floating museum—the ship also offers top-notch dining, dazzling city skyline views, overnight accommodations in original first-class staterooms, and a full calendar of performances and events.
MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Long Beach
Guided Tours of the Queen Mary
You can explore some parts of the iconic vessel on your own, but guided tours offer a more in-depth experience. The History Tour delves into the first, second, and third-class passenger quarters, and takes a look at the ship’s evolution from luxury liner to military transport ship during World War II. For mechanical insight, the Below Decks Tour takes a look at the ship’s engineering quarters, dominated by boiler rooms and propulsion systems.
Haunted and Paranormal Tours on the Queen Mary
The Queen Mary’s rumored hauntings and paranormal legends have earned the iconic ocean liner a spot on Time magazine’s “Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America” list. The Haunted Tour explores the ship’s most infamous cabins, corridors, and stairwells, where resident spirits are said to roam.
For an even eerier experience, venture into the unknown with the Paranormal Ship Walk or Graveyard experiences. These after-hours tours take you through hidden rooms and compartments rarely accessible to the public, as guides recount chilling tales of the ship’s most legendary specters.
Before you leave, commemorate your bravery with a keepsake from Jackie’s Spirit Shoppe, located in the Queen Mary’s former Third-Class Dining Lounge, now said to be a gathering place for some of the ship’s most notorious spirits.
Dining on the Queen Mary
While onboard, enjoy a meal in one of the Queen Mary’s three award-winning restaurants.
- For cocktails and views: Head to the Observation Bar (formerly the ship’s first-class lounge). Stop by on Friday evenings for live music or Wednesdays for a lively night of karaoke.
- For fine dining: Check out The Chelsea to sip on creative cocktails and dive into seafood towers for two, cioppino laced with saffron tomato broth and lobster chucks, and the ship’s famously decadent clam chowder. On Sunday afternoons, The Chelsea offers tea service, complete with freshly made scones and jam, finger sandwiches, and elegant dessert options.
- For a big weekend breakfast and opulence: Indulge at the Royal Sunday Brunch, where champagne flows freely and banquet tables are stuffed with 50 unique dishes from around the globe.
Spend the Night on the Queen Mary
For a uniquely nautical experience, spend the night aboard the Queen Mary in one of the ship’s 346 original staterooms and suites. Choose a stateroom on one of the three decks (all above sea level). No two rooms are alike, but many have Art Deco–style built-in cabinets, original wood paneling, and artwork.
Events at the Queen Mary
Throughout the year, the Queen Mary’s social calendar overflows with performances and events, from comedy nights to wine-tasting dinners to local live music performances.
One of the biggest annual parties is Dark Harbor. Each fall, the ship and surrounding harbor transform into a massive month-plus-long Halloween festival featuring elaborate haunted mazes, séances, immersive attractions and live performances, carnival rides, themed bars and speakeasies, and plenty of festive eats.
Things to Do Near the Queen Mary
While you’re in the area, check out the other attractions in Long Beach, such as the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Museum of Latin American Art, and marinas that are the shove-off point for whale-watching cruises.
Torrance, the neighborhood next door to the west, is a destination for global shopping and dining (the ramen scene here is particularly outstanding) and its 1.5 miles of beaches.
Head in the other direction and you can stroll along Seal Beach to take in all its charms, including Seal Beach Pier, the state’s fourth-longest wooden pier.
Want a Long Beach local’s advice? Find out the favorite spots of longtime resident and President and CEO of the Museum of Latin American Art, Lourdes Ramos-Rivas
