While we were on vacation in Long Beach, we checked out The Queen Mary before heading off on a 5-day cruise. The one-hour tour was totally worth it. The Queen Mary's Haunted Encounters Tour is an educational adventure that isn't too spooky. The guided tour person provided some eerie stories and history of the ship. The tour also highlights some of the most interesting ghost stories and experiences. After the tour, we relaxed with some drinks at the lovely Observation Bar. The staff was friendly and paid attention to us, and, the cocktails tasted amazing! While we were hanging out, we took in the awesome Art Deco style and the amazing views of the harbor and Long Beach. read more

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We did The Haunted Encounters Tour! I purchased tickets a week in advance. We loved it. Tuns of fun. And not too scary. It was a one hour walking tour through the Queen Mary. The tour guide did a great job. He took us to different rooms and shared about encounters that staff members and guests had experienced. The tour guide also shared stories of people that had passed away on the Queen Mary. He also shared about the most haunted room on the entire ship, room B340. Naturally we had to go to that room and check it out lol The lights were flickering in the room. But nothing else was noticeable when we were there. It was fun to learn about the history of the Queen Mary and learn about the people that had passed away on the ship, as well as the ghosts/ spirits that reside there today. Really fun tour! And the walking wasn't too bad because the guide would stop and wait and then share more stories. Just make sure you are on time for the tours! They start at the time on your ticket and they do not wait for anyone! read more

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This review is for our tour experience. I'm seeing a lot of reviews about the hotels condition and I would not go in here expecting it to be the Waldorf Astoria but that's for another time. Our tours and overall experience were quite pleasant. The ship has so much history and character. It's in pretty good condition for its age. Let's get the admission and parking out of the way. It's $40 + $5 service charge for adults and $18 for parking. With our AAA discount we were about to get about $8 off of our total entry fee. If you eat at one of their restaurants you can get your parking reduced to $8. Our day consisted of 2 tours and the viewing of two 4-D movies. Each tour is an hour long and they run concurrent so choose what interests you most and make a nice day out of it. First, we watched a 4-D film called Queen Mary: A Historic 4-D Voyage and it was a great way to prepare us for our tours that were later in the day. It was a cool little 15 minute doc about the history of the ship and how it became a landmark/tourist attraction in Long Beach. We kind of snuck into the second movie called SHARK. As the title states, the documentary was about sharks and the different types that are in the waters all over the world. Both movies were worth the price of admission and the 4-D experience was fully immersive. After watching the movies we rushed up to meet our tour group for The Glory Days tour. The tour was excellent because we were able to get an explanation as to the history, the who, what, and why of the ship. We learned about the companies that owned the ship, it's role in World War II, and the who's who of people that were on that ship. From Laurel and Hardy, Winston Churchill to Walt Disney countless figures from that era used the Queen Mary. So much history with a lot of the original decor make it a great time for anyone that appreciates the stories of yesteryear. After having a quick meal we had to go to our next tour called Steam and Steel which consisted of taking us about 25 ferry below the water line. This tour was more about the heart and brain that kept the ship going in its heyday. To really see how big the ship is you have to go underground. The equipment was so big, and to imagine the crews that had to work in extremely hot and steamy conditions really make you appreciate what the unnamed workers did to keep that ship afloat and in motion. This was a great day and overall experience we were able to walk the decks and many of the rooms. The Winston Churchill area was cool because they had a replica of the war room used in the movie "Darkest Hour". Not only was Winston Churchill an important figure during WWII but the Queen Mary played a pivotal role as well. Without giving away everything that this has to offer I suggest you go see it for yourself. It's a Queen not a Lil Yachty. read more

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Okay, this review is going to cover two parts of the Queen Mary: the hotel and the living museum. I'll start with the hotel. I booked an upgraded, Harbor View Deluxe Room for our brief weekend stay. (Side note: I learned that the travel sites don't always offer the best deals; I got a better rate by booking directly through the hotel's site.) The room itself was larger than either of us expected, with a great view of the harbor, as promised. The portholes opened (unnecessary in December). The light switches are all buttons that sometimes worked on first click, though it often took several pushes before a light turned on or off. There were two closets, several drawers, a desk with a chair, and one extra random chair sitting on the opposite side of the bed. I'm convinced they were once used in the ballrooms. The bathroom was tight but functional. One definitely does not have space to spread out toiletries and hair tools in there, but there's plenty of space for that on the desk. There was an odd noise - almost like an AM receiver - coming through the vent, which couldn't be opened or closed. The shower had great pressure, though the tub was so concave it was hard to stand up in (there was a dip in the middle and the sides were steep). The walls were paper thin. They were so thin at one point I looked up, expecting to be able to see right into the room next door. You could hear *everything*, and on our last night there, I wanted to knock on the adjoining door to ask our neighbor if she needed a lozenge and a tissue. The room was more modern than the last time it was an actual sailing ship, but it did feel a bit rundown and threadbare. There were two large stains on the carpet in our hallway, and the rest of the room had a bit of a neglected feel to it. Like it once was opulent but has since kind of sagged. Also, the free-but-included-in-your-resort-fee WiFi didn't work for the majority of our stay. We'd get connected, then an hour or two later get booted, and when we'd try to reconnect, we'd get an error telling us that we couldn't connect. Kind of annoying when you're paying $17/night for WiFi. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and they offered a number of pillow types, so that made things easy for me. But, comfortable as the bed was, sleep is not easy to come by if you're anything short of a "knocked-out-dead-to-the-world" sleeper. Pro tip, if you're booking a room there, request a room away from the vending/ice machine area. That was one popular spot, and we heard the machine every time a guest needed ice. And maybe bring some earplugs, because people can't seem to understand that if it's late at night, voices carry and penetrate uber-thin walls like nothing. Still, I enjoyed our stay as hotel guests. I enjoyed it immensely. I'd consider going back if my husband were up to it. And, we were there right before Christmas, so the ship was done up all pretty-like, which I adored. Now, the hotel as a living museum. My goodness, but this boat is impressive. We walked every deck from bow to stern several times, as far as we could get without going into restricted areas. I got my steps and then some just through that activity alone. They have plaques and notes posted up at every juncture, so you never know what information you'll find or what piece of history you'll stumble upon. If you're even slightly interested in the history of the ship or the area, you could take one of the guided tours, or you can grab your map and wander the ship on your own. There's a great deal to see, and lots to discover. read more

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Paranormal Shipwalk Tour We came here on a busy weekend for the Queen Mary... there were lots of private parties going on including a high school prom! The loud DJ music on the ship deck somehow ruined the paranormal experience for me even though it is only a section of the ship but these kids were everywhere on the ship. Anyway, our tour commenced at 9:30p. Daniel, our tour guide, was informative and fun. His narrative was interesting and not monotone and too rehearsed. He gets a 5-Stars but the most important place I really wanted to see was the Grand Pool which was closed to the public for tours. We started off at the Engine Room, Propeller Room, down to the Boiler Room and ballrooms. We explored the paranormal hotspots of the RMS Queen Mary and learned of the history while exploring all of the reportedly haunted locations. It was a 2-hour tour. While the tour was interesting we were seeking a more intimate "haunted" experience. We had a big group with small children and, I think, even a baby. Also, not all areas were easily accessible by guests with mobility issues as one part was we had to climb down steep stairs. This wasn't our first ghost tour at the Queen Mary. Our first experience was in April 2012. It was a daytime tour where we purchased the Haunted Encounters Passport and included was the Haunted Encounters Tour. For me, that was more fun and that included access to the Grand Pool. This Paranormal Shipwalk Tour tickets were purchased through Groupon which was a great deal since I was also able to apply an additional 20% on top of the offer. Review #0092 updated read more

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I have been coming to The Queen Mary since I was a kid and after a few years of hiatus decided to visit to walk around the ship with my family after my youngest brothers graduation. I was disappointed to learn that you need to pay admission to walk around the ship and patronize the businesses inside. It was disappointing to see that the small village across from the parking lot is permanently closed and dilapidating. Most of the fun places to explore around the ship have become eyesores. After speaking with staff, I learned that the village is only open on Halloween for a scary ship experience. It sounds fun but that area used to be one of the more memorable things to do in Long Beach. I am not sure why you need to pay admission to walk around the ship. Maybe there has been a lack of business which caused certain things to go out of business and the need to charge a fee just to board the ship but in any sense not what I remembered. The aircraft hanger has also seen better days. Some of the windows appeared to be broken and the building appeared closed as well. The lack of care for the businesses around the Queen Mary make me wonder what the ship looks like on the inside and if many of the businesses I remember are still around. I have been interested in checking out a tour/ museum and I have heard good things about those. There is construction in the area so maybe once that is done I will see if it is worth visiting again. read more

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We took the Glory Days Historical tour, and our tour guide Tim was absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable and made the tour very fun. I wish more of the ship was available to view/tour, but what little you're able to view is beautiful. read more

Side note: This review is strictly about visiting the ship and doing the tours, I'll have another review for our dining experience. I had lived in Southern California for many years, and can only say that up until now, the only time I've visited the QM was either when they did their "Dark Harbor" during Halloween, of if there was a motorcycle show on the grounds. This was the first time my wife and I have ever visit the ship. First of all, getting to the QM can be a little confusing for first time travelers to that area. The freeway signs point to a port, but you have to make sure it's going to the Queen Mary. Stay alert and you'll get there. Once you get there, the parking is pretty straight forward. A day of parking is $22, but if you get your ticket validated by eating at one of the on-ship restaurants, it drops your parking down to $8. Be warned, though, the drop to $8 only lasts for 3 hours. We were lucky enough to have the parking attendant give us the discount even though we were WAY over the 3 hours. We had bought tickets from Groupon, so that saved a little bit of money. The first thing we did was go to the 4D movie about the history of the ship. It was super informative, albeit a bit cheesy with the air jets, bubble machine, water misters, and such "adding" to the movie experience. But it had some great info, definitely go see it. We went to the first class Art Deco Bar and got a couple drinks. They make a damn good Old Fashioned, so treat yourself to one of those is you happen to indulge. It's a great place to sit, look around, and imagine what it was like in it's heyday. Tour-wise, we did the "Haunted Encounters" tour, a 45 minutes walking tour of some of the most haunted places on the QM. Our tour guide was Daniel, and he was really great. The script was kinda corny, but Daniel definitely had a sense of humor ... think ghost Hunters meets Disneyland's Jungle Cruise ride. A lot of fun was had for sure. The second tour we did was to see the Princess Diana exhibit. No, it wasn't her remains on display, but it was a cool history lesson about the Royals and Diana's history and legacy. This is a LONG self-guided tour. Let me just say I had a huge history lesson about the royal family and could probably ace the "Royal Family for $400" question on double Jeopardy. All in all, it's a great place to check out if you've never been. I don't know if I'd go back ... maybe to stay as a hotel guest or for special events. But yeah, the bottom line is you really should go see it at least once in your life! read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Walking around this ship really is like a trip through time. You really do need to take your time to take all of the amazing stuff in. - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Took my mom and aunts on the Glory Days Tour. Our tour guide (I believe his name is Danny) was very informative, patient and friendly! He answered everyone's questions and did a great job. It was my first time visiting Queen Mary and I am already planning my next visit. It is a very special vessel! read more

I stayed here as a hotel guest for a few days because of the short drive to Long Beach Convention Center, and our Airbnb cancelled the morning of our check in. I have to say... I probably won't be staying at the Queen Mary again. I guess you have to want to stay here because of your interest in the ship's history or want a different type of experience. The maid comes knocking on the door between 8-9am everyday which is way too early and I have to tell them no three times before noon. I finally had to call them by 1pm to come service my room, and when I returned to the ship later at night... they never came. Food from room service is well below subpar. Pizza got me super sick, and the pasta and salad tasted off. The California omelet was the only thing I ordered a second time. Unfortunately the walls are paper thin.. you can clearly hear conversations in the hallways (like ship tours) or neighboring rooms. Hopefully it will only be conversations... I heard way more than I wanted to in the next room over one night! Staying here was cool, and it was a awesome idea to continue using the Queen Mary that has so much history for many generations and see what luxury oceanliner travel was like. Room service and the food are easy fixes, and I hope the hotel considers making some changes! read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Creepy hallways with renovations - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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loved everything about it! beautiful ship or boat was on my bucket list & finally got to visit it even though i live an hour away but still loved it :). read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

Took the Glory Days tour and our guide Ari did a fantastic job! She was informative, and kept the tour going at an enjoyable pace. It was a great tour even if you didn't come knowing what to expect. I came simply because I was traveling with friends and this was an activity suggested to us while we were in the Long Beach area. All the art deco on the ship made for a scenic tour. read more

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Lets be honest here. The Queen Mary while interesting, is far more focused on the hotel side than the random groups of tourists that come on board to tour the liner. We did not stay in the hotel but rather came aboard for the 'ghost tour" as my son had seen a youtube video talking about it and it seemed like something that might be interesting. First off it is a constant source of irritation to me when huge chunks of the any tour or museum are closed off. If the bridge, one funnel area, the grand pool area, plus multiple other areas are closed lets just be upfront about about when you sell me a ticket no? The ghost tour was okay and the guide was upfront about the veracity of the claims, but his narration was dull and uninspiring. Sort of a TourBOT 9000 voice over and over. It was cool to see some part of the ship like all the way up in the bow etc. No spirits accosted us in the haunted bathroom, but to be fair I had a lot of onions at lunch. For us the engine room was pretty cool, and its amazing how complicated and extensive it was. I'm boggled that the engineers could keep track of it all. They have a cutout section of the hull that is partially pumped out and lit up that is so you can see one of the huge propellers still attached. If you are in the area for my money the Battleship Iowa is close by and far more interesting. read more

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The Queen Mary is not well managed. Much of the interior is dilapidated, and it does a disservice to the legacy and glory of its elegant past. The shops peddle trinkets to tourists. It's just depressing watching a piece of nautical history being disgraced this way. read more

We went to an event here that included a one night stay in a room here and also an event the night before in the largest ballroom...the whole experience was a meh. I understand that this ship is historic, but it should not be dirty. Period. We had drinks in the bar area and it was the worst service I have had in my life. We waited over 35 minutes and there was only one table other than us. The drink menus were sticky and the tables were all dirty. As we sat, we noticed employees would wonder in to chit chat for extended amounts of time. Floors looked dirty. The rooms here are dusty, dirty and old. Sheets had old stains. Towels were old stained. Room would not stay cool. At the gala dinner our vegan entrees has noticeable cheese in it. Highly doubt it was faux. Do to the lack of signage throughout the halls... we found ourselves wondering around aimlessly. read more

People pay to stay or tour the Queen Mary? Lol, who are these people? The Queen Mary is an old dump that's clinging to its old self. I bought tickets last minute to see a magician at the Queen Mary. He was a hack but I'll explain the details on a separate review. Anyways, it's a giant boat. Compare it to the Titanic if you will but I rather be in one of those put-put boats or even a canoe. The carpet looked old and probably needed to be vacuumed. The clocks had an incorrect time and the hotel staff was just out of it. It was hard navigating around. It would be nice if they had more staff helping people navigate through the old wooden interiors. Oh by the way, the boat isn't for tall people. I mean, my S/O is 6'4" and if he didn't pay attention, he would have bonked his head on the exit sign. Trust me, save your money and go stay at the Hyatt, Hilton, or whatever because Queen Mary is a flop! read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - I'm on a boat (yeah, yeah) - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

This review is of a very quick walk around tour on our own, waiting for a cruise on a ship next to the Queen Mary in the same port. We were told that if you showed your sign and sail card that they offer a discount for the walk around tour for the day. It was a good discount, however you had to pay full price for any of the attractions offered that day. The walk around your self only afforded you a trip to the Engine Room. I wasn't going to have lunch on the Queen Mary, however the lunch menu did look good, a bit pricey of course and that is to be expected, but we had already paid for the cruise and lunch is included. I found the ship to be amazing in that it was a piece of history that was available and somewhat lasting for all to enjoy. The ship on the outside itself looked old, tattered and in need of much repair. If we would have been there, just a week earlier we would have been able to enjoy the winter festival that the Queen Mary has each year. The construction of taring down the festival was all around the parking area and the small part of the ship in front, which made navigating through it a bit messy. It was not supervised by anyone and it was a horrible mess, that anyone could have fallen or gotten hurt and those that feel the need would have been able to collect a large insurance claim. I saw no one protecting this area at all. The up and down stairs and elevators to get to each section of what was open to the public was frustrating but we managed. The Engine Room was not what I expected. I was disappointed, however for a navy man, it would be absolutely fascinating. I am glad we walked the ship. I don't believe we will return. I do suggest to give yourself time to enjoy all the attractions and exhibits that they offer if you do decide to visit. Side Note: My uncle visited the Queen Mary many years ago and gave me an original menu. I do still have the menu, if I do find it again, I will take a photo. read more

It's been a while but this time I actually had to work. I was pressed for time and didn't have enough man power. But 3 very helpful Queen Mary's employees showed up with carts to unload and deliver to the wedding site. I could not have done it without them. I thank you from bottom of my heart. Anyway Queen Mary is gorgeous and I loved everything... maybe except the elevator situation. read more

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The Queen Mary is AWESOME!! All these years, I thought it was just a 'tacky tourist trap' that did the Halloween events. We finally decided to go check it out and we were very happily surprised. We did the History tour (YES) and the Haunted tour (Boring). I didn't realize how much history this beautiful boat had. It still holds the number for most passengers to date (16,600 during wartime!) and the stories on how it held that many people are crazy. It's visually beautiful inside, although it does show signs of wear. TO be fair, she's been around since the 1930's. The entrance fee does seem a bit steep but you get full run of the main areas, and it includes three tours. The history is the best part - I look forward to learning more and can't wait to return one day. read more

THIS REVIEW IS FOR NEW YEARS EVE If you want to spend your New Year's Eve standing in line then this is the place to be. I was so disappointed with this experience and feel like people should be more aware of what they get. Arrival - It took 30 minutes just to get to the parking booth. Considering New Year's Eve is a time when people drink a lot Queen Mary should have had a designated lane just for drop offs. Instead we had to wait in our Uber behind all the other cars paying for parking. Entrance - A huge line to get in. Not sure why since we weren't searched. It started to rain, luckily we brought an umbrella but I felt bad for those that were getting their party outfits/hair and makeup soaked. Bars - This was my biggest disappointment. There was one bar and one bartender in the Salsa themed room. We waited 30 minutes just to get a drink. The line was ridiculous and people were getting annoyed and I don't blame them. The lack of bars on the queen mary ruined my evening. I counted it and we spent a total of an hour and 13 minutes minutes in line at just two bars. Then we each ordered two drinks just so we wouldn't have to get in line again for a while. Holding two drinks while walking in heals on a wet boat and up and down stairs is not fun. I actually spilled one of my drinks when had to catch myself from almost falling. Music - When we bought our tickets we were excited about the themed rooms and being able to have different party experiences. Not so much. The rooms were hard to find, we stumbled on them but wish there had been more direction. Besides bartenders I only encountered two people actually assisting people with events on the ship. They gave you a map and it had the bands/dj playing but not the type of music it was. We ended up dancing at whatever room we wandered into. Couldn't really make out a theme though. For the price of the ticket I expected a more classy event. The place was a mess, they lacked guest service, the lack of enough bars just really made for a lackluster New Year's Eve for me and my date as it took away time to really explore the ship and enjoy the night. read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Line for the only bar in the salsa themed room and we were in the middle. There was more people in front of us. - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Brought my wife here for the "Queen Mary Christmas," which should be renamed "Give us $52 to walk around an old docked boat and get us to charge you more for everything - oh, and parking is $20 too." Frankly, I want my money back. Please, save your money and buy whoever you are going with one more present. You'll be glad you did. Absolute tourist trap. If you're in the area, admire it from afar and head over to Disneyland or Knotts Berry Farm. Not worth a cent of what you're going to pay. Santa doesn't even have a real beard... obviously fake, the guy was shaping it while we peeked in for a quick photo (we were quickly shooed away)... Honestly, they should pay us to come here and get got. Ridiculous. I'm surprised they don't have someone walk around and charge you to take photos on your phone... read more

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This place is dirty and room was so small and dirty and rundown. NO air, very HOT, PLUS THEY CHARGE YOU for Facilities FEE ???? $16.95 a night, Parking $22 was WHAT THE HELL IS FACILITIES FEE ????? We were there two nights checked in at 10 pm and left at 8am. These Hotels are reaping off their customers so much Extra for things that they don't have and no one uses .. PLUS 22 AMEX FEE AND They give You NO service .....no coffee in room. You can be old but not nasty. It was sad to see great ship being ruined!!!!!!!! Shame on you!!! 99.00 room turns out to be much much more. Since Garrison investment night Queen Marry, they turned it to trash read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Bill of EXTRA CHARGES THAT they did not told us till we saw the bill . - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

I remember coming here a long time ago with my family and it felt so much bigger than it currently is. It's also because I was much smaller. There's a lot of history over here. Use your student id or veterans id for a discount when purchasing tickets. There's also a submarine that's next to it that you can check out. During Halloween time they do their ghost stories and haunted maze which does get very busy so plan ahead of time. This ship is very very clean! You constantly see someone cleaning or sweeping and it still carries that vintage feel when you walk around. Bring a nice camera with you. Or a tripod of you want to take pics with your friends and families. There are lots of good viewing spots, picture spots, places to snack, food and just places to rest and enjoy the view. Overall an experience that I'd say is nice to have if you're in the Long Beach area. read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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When a place is defined as haunted, I never know what that means. First of all, I keep an open mind, but generally I feel like humans aren't comfortable with death. Ghosts and the supernatural sort to me are just made-up excuses for people to justify their existence which they feel is terribly important in the grand scheme of universal things. However, the Queen Mary will definitely carry a weird vibe as you walk through it. The ship sits in the water, so it is slightly tilted. The basement of the boat is freezing, and the main decks are sweltering in the summer heat. The interior is so old, it is sometimes hard to tell whether or not the boat is clean or dirty. The stairways around the engine room are definitely disgusting with all the caked-on dust on the sides. I understand that the Queen Mary has been struggling financially, so perhaps attention to these kinds of details will get overlooked. The most impressive aspect of this ship are the engine rooms. The size of the ship was put into perspective when I saw what it took to move it forward in the open sea. I felt small looking down into the water at one of the ship's propellers which was illuminated by an underwater spotlight. The other area I liked about the ship was the medical care area. You already know medical knowledge was limited back in the day. However, to actually read about it and see the tiny rooms reserved for care or quarantine really gave me the shivers. Even if I pictured this area in its time, and sterilized, I still got a little sick to my stomach. To me, these were the two most authentic areas on the ship. Mainly because they weren't touched. The areas most probably didn't see collectively as passengers when the boat was still commissioned. I originally went to see Princess Diana's dresses. I suppose I was expecting more out of that too. I wanted to learn about her life but the paired reading plaques revealed little that I didn't already know. I think it was a great idea for Princess Diana to donate her dresses to an auction which raised money for charity. Other than that, the exhibit does a good job reminding you how much happier she was as a princess when she was off doing her own thing. There is also a list of duties displayed for you to read in terms of the job of becoming a princess. It isn't just a marriage. If you become a princess, it is a job. So much irony when people abuse the term when concerning little girls. Not to mention that some of the list comes off as rather sexist. All in all, the Queen Mary is a historical jaunt. A floating museum if you will. It's a clever idea and use of space.. along with the hotel. I don't know that I could bring myself to stay in one of the rooms on that ship. I'd be scared of catching bed bugs before running into a ghost. I didn't see how the rooms were kept, so I really can't speak to their level of cleanliness. It does appear that most of the staff hired for the ship is for hospitality. If you go, I would almost take the guided tours while you stay. It would be easier to ingest before aimlessly exploring the boat like I did. There's even a Starbucks on the ship selling assorted caffeinated beverages and treats to keep you awake and focused. read more

RECOMMENDED FOR: ~Long Beach Visitors ~History Buffs ~Sailing/Boat Enthusiasts This review is for the Queen Mary Experience, not the hotel.... thats in another listing. I spent less than 24 hours on the Queen Mary this weekend and had a great time exploring. Its currently decorated for the holidays, which is AWESOME and they have multiple events taking place that are outside the norm. During our visit, we took two of the standard tours, Steam & Steel and Haunted Encounters. We missed the Princess Diana exhibit, but we did visit the Their Darkest Hours exhibit about Churchill, WWII, and the role of the QM. We also checked out the 4D theater for a 15 minute version of the Polar Express. We also wandered and explored other areas of the ship. The Steam and Steel tour takes you into the bottom of the ship and talks about the inner workings of the ship. Its interesting enough, but not super exciting. The Haunted Encounters takes you around the ship and talks about areas where ghosts/spirits have been seen and where people have died. That was a little more entertaining. Both tours shared some historical information that apparently is part of the third tour that we were unable to take called Glory Days. We felt like we got a pretty good overview of the history, the workings, and the lore. The Churchill exhibit is amazing. I don't know if its semi permanent or only temporary, but its worth seeing for sure. During the holidays they have a ton of things going on, Santa photos, ice skating, hot cocoa bar, gingerbread house building and lots more. Tons of photo ops and they put up old photos of Christmas on the ship around the ship! There are also multiple shops and restaurants on the ship. I can recommend the Chelsea Chowder House as it is the only one I ate at. You can check out my review on their page. IN addition, there are regularly scheduled events and shows and tours that take place for additional fees, some are pricey, but you can go ghost hunting, or watch a seance, or see musical shows, etc. We did not do these things on this trip, but check out the website for whats coming up! I highly recommend a visit to the Queen Mary if you've never been and its on your to do list. Its really cool and worth exploring. I just don't recommend ponying up for the cost of a room on it unless you just have a lot of expendable income lying around. read more

My friend and I visited Club Wyndham on the Queen Mary. The ship was beautiful but not worth the price to go there. Parking varied on time spent at the ship anywhere from $10-$35 and tickets for tours were quite pricy. We got vouchers from Wyndham that paid for everything so it was a good deal for us. The complimentary food at the Wyndham was very good. Sourdough bread, fresh green salad , and really good pasta. Drinks included coffee, tea, and water. There were tons of neat artifacts and shops to look at. This was a fun little adventure but not worth full price. I think this would be very boring for a child after 30 minutes. I lost interest after an hour or so . read more

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Parking is $22. Lets start off there. No, there is no special discount for guests who have spent $270 on a room. It's ridiculous. Really. When you arrive to the front little welcome booth or whatever, the KIDS, yes KIDS, working there are unprofessional and don't care honestly. My girlfriend had some questions and they didn't talk. They were MUTE until I said "HELLLOOOOOOOO?" And then they found their voices! It was amazing! I stayed in a "mini suit" (room M018) with my girlfriend. Don't waste your money on such a big room. It's pointless. They do have this cool option where you fill out a card, leave it hanging at your door and they'll bring you breakfast at the time you want it. The buffet at the Promenade Cafe is about $34 a person but we spent $45 ($5 tip) on a yummy breakfast right in our hotel room and it filled us up. Oh man, the walls? PAPER THIN and we got yelled at by our "neighbor" for laughing. It was only 08:30pm. Live a little! Geezus. Walking around the ship at night was cool. We even spoke to an employee and she was giving us hints about where to go on the ship that's the freakiest. I wish I got her name. It was a fun experience but I'll never stay again. read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Like being on a cruise ship (that actually leaves the docks), it takes a few days to get familiar with the decks and maneuvering the maze to get to your room. However, we only had 1 night, new year's eve, to get dinner in and enjoy all the festivities of the Auld Lang Shine - Around the world NYE theme. Let's just say it wasn't fun when at one point he was carrying my stilettos, close to midnight, as we were roaming the halls buzzed, trying to find our room, me - barefooted with a blister! :'( THANK goodness we found our way in time for me to change shoes and make it back out on the Brittania deck to see the fireworks while counting down to 2016! Made it all worth it, even in the 40 degrees chill! From our dinner reservations at 6 pm to past midnight, it was all really quite a blur! We didn't really get to go all around the world visiting the 7 themed areas they had decked out. Mainly our fault, and mine for trying to be all stylin when there was no way I could do that much walking around in high heels! It was better when I finally gave up and resorted to flats. But hey, at least we took advantage of the 6 drinks included in our package. Comfy, cozy bed kept us warm in the chill. We turned the thermostat to 80 degrees but it felt like 65 in there, don't think it was working. Other than that, no complaints about the room, knowing that it's an old ship I wasn't expecting posh. It did the job. We had a good time. Would I rush back to stay at the Queen Mary? Probably not. It was more for the event package. Kinda cool to be so close to the fireworks to start off the new year and have a comfy place to crash. Plus, there are some sentimental values, a few being that I grew up in the LBC and my siblings were named after the ship! lol! Making myself the acting queen! Another story for another day ... :) read more

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I found the Historic Passport Tour on Groupon and grabbed it thinking it would be a good way to actually learn some history (and not just buy food deals, lol). I didn't have any preconceived ideas since I knew nothing about the Queen Mary other than it was haunted and there was an annual Halloween party. Our tour-guide had a scary booming voice that projected well. He listed off historical dates like Wikipedia and was knowledgeable of details like the wood on the ship to specific artists and their artwork. I learned a ton about the use of the ship as well as interesting facts like that it has 3 whistles, 2 anchors and 160 k horsepower. Wow! The 1 hour tour flew by! The shorter Ghost & Legends tour was totally gimmicky but fun nonetheless. It is meant for families and is not scary at all. There are light tricks and some "ghost" sightings. The tour guide here was also great and had a dry sarcastic tone that went well with the tour. Additionally, there is a self-guiding audio tour which I didn't like and didn't find that interesting as you had to walk to random spots to find the audio # and the facts were boring and hard to pay attention to. The audio pick up area is also a ways away downstairs and kinda annoying to walk to. The plus is that while you are there you can checkout the amazing engine room (a must see) and the Bob Hope exhibit! Lastly, we got to seew the Russian Submarine which was really SMALL and you have to really get low to get through those circular window between rooms. lol! I liked seeing the sub though as well as the living quarters men had to live in. NOTE: the Parking rate here is kinda high at almost $20! Also, wear comfortable shoes! read more

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3.5 stars rounding up to 4 stars. When we visited we went on a very hot day so we probably could have had a better time but the heat got to us. I purchased the $15 meal vouchers and no tour. This allowed us access to the 4th floor of the ship and use the $15 towards meals so it wasn't a bad deal. I made reservations for the tea room prior to our visit. We checked in easily and went to the 4th floor. It was difficult to flag down an employee as we couldn't find signs directing us to the tea room. My little four year old was freaking out that we were on this huge ship so it took some calming him down while we were on the ship. We finally found the tea room after finding an employee who directed us where to go. The tea room is adorable but my little boy kept crying and didn't want to be in there so we left. The employees were great and very understanding. We walked around until we found the Chowder house and my son was calm by the time we were seated. We loved the Chowder house and they had great service. After lunch, we walked around a bit and checked out the ship. It's definitely worth a visit and nice to check out this piece of history. I've read some reviews stating the ship is haunted and I definitely think so too. There are some eerie parts on the ship. Definitely a nice place to visit if you're in the area. Also, check out their tiny gift shop where they have tiny trinkets and souvenirs you can take home. read more

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I have been on The Queen Mary before, for holiday parties, and stayed the night... but this was a good 15 years ago... alcohol was involved.... Im old now and have selective memory.... but yesterday I went for lunch and actually walked around and explored the ship. I didnt understand the concept AT ALL in the beginning that you had to buy a voucher to just get on the ship. There is a kiosk, that has all sorts of tours listed, but we were going for lunch. Apparently you have to buy food vouchers, still. That is not listed on the kiosk, and it should be. So we waited in a decent sized line that took a good half hour to get through, to purchase $15 food vouchers each. We ate at Promenade Cafe, and dont forget, if you eat on the ship, PAY WITH THOSE VOUCHERS! They take that amount off of your bill. Which is nice, but weird. Anyway, we walked around the ship and it was pretty awesome. It smells a little musty but come on, its a old ship. There were a lot of cool things to look at, and it was not very crowded, which surprised me on a holiday weekend... but it was perfect. There are a lot of stairs to go up and down, but they do have elevators for the inside parts of the ship. It was neat to go down on the isolation floor and see all sorts of rooms and different parts of the ship. read more

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Im not so sure if your $ is worth coming here. I felt depressed to think that all the people that actually enjoyed sailing off on this ship has all passed away. Feeling of gloomy and a little haunting experience for me. The 4D movie was very short - Heard alot of people say "thats it?!" at the end and to pay for every exhibit its kind of a little waste. (buy the combo if you can - better that way) read more

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Sorry..... $20 for parking???? RIDICULOUS~ It is definitely a landmark in Long Beach. Famous Queen Mary... it is good to come & check out a piece of history. However, the ship has been transformed to like a "cruise". Many gifts shop & restaurants. Only take about less than an hour to walk around on the ship. Everything on the ship.... overpriced!! read more

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The Queen Mary is one of those places, that people have to go and experience at least once. She is an old boat and they don't make them like this anymore! I appreciate the fact that the Queen Mary has been re-purposed for much more than a hotel. The Queen Mary hosts many events and regular experiences for patrons. Each time you visit you can see this historic ship from a new point of view: from ghost tours, to ice skating and other unique experiences... my husband and i were seeking a fun place to spend: Valentine's Day, my Birthday and President's day (a long weekend). We wanted to get away close by and the Queen Mary won our vote on this trip. We attended a world record event (for the most people eating yogurt in one place), saw a fireworks show (and the boat was lit up in Pink for V-Day). We enjoyed a fabulous buffet, embraced afternoon tea, and visit the Princess Di exhibit on board. Did I mention they were hosting a Scottish Festival on-site on the same weekend? This involved many food vendors, sheep herding events, Scottish Highland games and more... This is the first time we took our pup on the road too. This was his first check in and the hotel gave him the royal red carpet treatment all weekend long! It was a fulfilling birthday celebration. I wasn't as enthusiastic about the rooms/cabins, but it's probably one of a handful of places to stay in Long Beach (other options were not so great either) and the amenities made up for this - also the room gave us somewhere to rest between activities, where we could have our pup with us and drink champagne safely! Go and enjoy the Queen Mary for a special event - they really know how to do "hospitality"! read more

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Okay. Ive been sitting on this review for a while cause there's no easy way to say it so here it goes... We came to visit the Queen Mary for one reason and one reason and one reason only... we came seeking GHOSTS! Yeah yeah Im a sucker for all that but hey its all about scaring the crap out of your kids right? My fam. & I signed up for the extra spooky tour (not the actual name) which included a ghost tour thats lead by a couple of actors and played up with light, smoke and loud sound effects. I wont give too much away cause I thought it was worth every dime (about a 30 min tour, and not for the claustrophobic). The other guided tour was a smaller tour that takes you through the ships various locations where documented "sightings" or "unexplained phenomenon" have occurred. Both tours are totally different and only overlap in the pool area. Finally the extra spooky tour included a self guided tour where you're given an audio headset and a map showing yet even more spots where supernatural events have occurred. Its a shame we ran outta time for that last one. So there I am snapping away with my iPhone hopping to get 'THAT ONE PICTURE" that will put me in the Queen Mary hall of fame, or at least a free meal (Ey! I can dream can't I?). Well my friends no such luck. :( Of all the pics taken, not one freaky looking mist or spontaneous light appeared on my camera. Oh well. I'd come back just to try some of the other restaurants they seemed fairly reasonable and you get a lovely view of downtown Long Beach. Who knows, on my next visit I could get lucky and chat it up with the lady in black or the kid who was cut in half when a pressurized door came crashing down on him. You probably wont need to bring Nuclear Accelerator either. Peace. read more

The Glory Days Historical Tour - Tours Near Me - Long Beach, California

The moment I realized that there's a completely isolated parking lot just for the Queen Mary with no street parking within one mile of the lot, I knew I was in it for the tourist trap. I originally purchased a special deal via Groupon (Historic First-Class Passport for $16 per person, original price is $31) and the Historic First-Class Passport includes two guided tours (the regular 1-hour tour called the Glory Days Historical Tour and 35-minutes tour called the Ghost and Legends); however, I was able to request and successfully exchange the Ghost and Legends tour to the Princess Diana exhibit at the box office. Parking: $18 for entire day. $8 for 3-hours parking with restaurant validation. Where's the Glory Days Tour: Take the elevator to the 4th floor and check-in at the tour center & passenger photos office first. After that, go around the corner and wait at the designated tour area where the tour guide will begin the tour. *** The Glory Days Historical Tour (1-hour guided tour) *** A very knowledgeable tour guide and he mentioned some interesting facts: *If you want to enjoy 4~5 days Queen Mary voyage back in 1930's, then a ticket for two passengers would be $17,000 for first class, $9,000 for the second class, and $5,000 for the lowest class (converted from 1930's value to 2015's value). * Queen Mary mostly sailed from England to New York. * The City of Long Beach won the bid by offering $3,450,000 (scrap metal price). * The last Queen Mary voyage was a 39-day journey from Southampton, England to Long Beach (to save fuel, only the ship only ran two out of four engines). * If you want to rent a room at the Queen Mary now, one night would cost on average $120 per night (but could get as low as $55 per night). *** Princess Diana Exhibit (self-guided tour) *** Absolutely no photography. The exhibit mostly focuses on the English royal family in the last 100 years, so the exhibit isn't exclusively about Princess Diana. Expect to read lots of fancy letters personally written by various loyal family members. 50% of the exhibit showcases Princess Diana's dresses, her wedding, and her charity works. 40% of the exhibit goes over miscellaneous information about the English royal family in the last 100 years such as Prince Charles & his lover Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother (mother of Queen Elizabeth II), and King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II). 10% about Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Princess Kate. *** Don't forget to check out the Promenade Deck, gift shops, and the Ships Model Galley. If you have additional time, do the self-guided audio tour and you'll get to explore the Engine Room and other areas of the ship not cover by the 1-hour guided tour. 4-star with Groupon discount deal and honestly I would probably give 3-star if I had to pay the full price. read more

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A historical place in Long Beach that you must visit! There are many things to do on the Queen Mary such as the Sunday brunch, eating, tours & even plain exploring. The tour prices range from $35-75. I did the $35 one & it was the paranormal night walk! You learn about the ship's history and past residents or current ones if you believe in ghosts. It was two and a half hours long, and very informative. The Queen Mary itself is a beautiful ship & worth the visit even if it's just to walk around. read more

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Not worth it. If you do it buy the groupon or living social. We went through the entire tour in about 2 hours... Cost was too much & they charge a additional $2 service fee plus parking!?! No thanks. read more

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We had an awesome time. it's amazing how much fun you can have in your own city just miles away. We really enjoyed the courteous staff at the Queen Mary the exhibits we didn't get to see the tour so we will be back possibly spend the night can't wait for next adventure. read more

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"I'm the king of the world! WOO!" - Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), "Titanic" It's a shame that the front of the Queen Mary's bow is blocked off so people couldn't reenact this scene (and the "I'm flying!" one) from the movie... or then again, it could be because there's so many people who'd want to line up to do it! I've always wanted to tour the Queen Mary ever since I saw her and the nearby Russian Scorpion submarine docked near the cruise ship pier we were boarding a number of years back. So, when Groupon offered a deal for two first-class passports (allowing us two guided tours with admission), I had to get it. We enjoyed the views from the ship, the beautiful architecture and woodwork throughout, and even learned a little history about her (for example, she served as a troop carrier in WWII and earned the moniker "The Gray Ghost;" she was purchased by the city of Long Beach for a little over $3 million; and several Hollywood productions such as "The Poseidon Adventure" were filmed onboard). While we liked the Glory Days tour, the Ghosts and Legends tour was a bit on the hokey side - I honestly thought it was going to be more scary, based on the hype. To be fair, the boiler room did look creepy. We didn't have time to do the self-guided tour (and as such, missed seeing the engine room), nor did we have a chance to go aboard the Russian sub. What we did, though, was have a romantic moment aboard the bow of the Queen Mary when I presented my lady with a promise ring. Nobody can take that away from us! I do have to say, though, that the Queen Mary is still a functioning (and high-end) hotel... most of the staff (and our Glory Days tour guide/captain James) were pretty cool, however. As Groupon/Amazon Local/Living Social have various deals on admission that pop up, we'll be coming back again to catch all the stuff we missed on the first try. read more

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