Docked in the harbor of Long Beach, California, The Queen Mary is a vessel that defies simple classification. Is it a luxury ocean liner of the past? A historic hotel with grand Art Deco design? Or is it one of the most haunted locations in the United States? Spoiler alert: it’s all three. With decades of fascinating history wrapped up in tales of wartime voyages and Hollywood glam, the ship has since become a magnet for history buffs, travelers, and paranormal investigators alike. Whether you’re drawn by its storied past or the chills of its ghostly legends, The Queen Mary promises an unforgettable adventure.
The History
A Regal Beginning: The Construction and Launch
The story of The Queen Mary began in the early 1930s. Constructed by John Brown & Co. in Clydebank, Scotland, the ship was designed to be the most luxurious and technologically advanced ocean liner of its time. Commissioned by the Cunard Line, her maiden voyage set sail on May 27, 1936, from Southampton, England, to New York City. She quickly captured the world’s imagination as a symbol of opulence and engineering prowess, featuring five dining areas, two swimming pools, a grand ballroom, and even a squash court.
At over 1,000 feet long and weighing more than 81,000 tons, The Queen Mary dwarfed most ships of its day. Travel on the Queen Mary was considered a significant social achievement and her suite-level cabins often welcomed the elite—Hollywood stars, royalty, and political figures.
Wartime Service: The Grey Ghost
When World War II erupted, The Queen Mary was retrofitted into a troopship, capable of ferrying over 15,000 soldiers at once. Painted military gray and stripped of her luxury, she was dubbed the “Grey Ghost” due to her stealth and speed across the Atlantic. Winston Churchill himself was transported on board several times during the war. The ship’s contribution to the Allied war effort was substantial, playing a crucial role in moving troops to and from the European Theater.
There’s one tragic chapter from this time that stands out: in 1942, while performing evasive anti-submarine maneuvers, the Queen Mary accidentally sank one of her own escorts, the HMS Curacoa, killing over 300 sailors. This incident is often cited in paranormal stories associated with the ship.
Post-War Renaissance and Retirement
After the war, The Queen Mary was restored to her pre-war glory and resumed her role as a luxury passenger liner. She sailed once again between Europe and the United States, ferrying travelers during what many call the golden age of transatlantic travel. But with the rise of air travel in the 1950s and 60s, ocean liners were slowly becoming obsolete.
By 1967, The Queen Mary was officially retired from active service. That December, she arrived at her new and final resting place in Long Beach, California, where she was converted into a floating hotel, museum, and event space.
The Haunt
While sunshine and palm trees surround her by day, when night falls, The Queen Mary reveals its eerier side. Paranormal activity has been reported on the ship since its retirement, and today, it’s considered one of the most haunted places in America.
Haunted Hotspots on The Queen Mary
- Stateroom B340: Possibly the most famously haunted room on the ship, B340 is said to be cursed. Guests have reported faucets turning on by themselves, lights flickering, and even spectral figures at the foot of the bed. The room was closed for years but reopened due to popular demand from paranormal thrill-seekers.
- The Engine Room: Known for its eerie ambiance, the engine room is home to “Door 13,” where a crew member was reportedly crushed to death during a routine drill. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a man in blue overalls roaming this dark, metallic corridor.
- The First-Class Pool: Though the pool has long been drained, reports of a ghostly girl named “Jackie” who drowned during a voyage persist. Witnesses claim to hear the sounds of splashing and laughter echoing through the empty room.
- The Boiler Room: Often used in ghost tours, this area has had consistent claims of temperature drops, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures moving between the machinery.
Ghost Hunts and Paranormal Investigations
Over the years, many professionals and amateur ghost hunters have explored The Queen Mary’s haunted depths. The ship has been featured on paranormal television shows such as Ghost Hunters, Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures, and Kindred Spirits. Many of these investigations caught evidence of EVP (electronic voice phenomena), mysterious footsteps, and unexplainable visual anomalies.
In fact, The Queen Mary offers several spooky experiences for guests hoping to test their courage: the Haunted Encounters Tour, Paranormal Investigations, and even overnight stays in the ship’s most haunted staterooms for those brave enough to see (or hear) what walks the decks after midnight.
Scientific Take or Spirit Realm? You Decide
While skeptics argue that the ship’s eerie sounds and sensations can be attributed to natural causes like the creaking of old metal or echoing hallways, others swear by their personal experiences. It’s this tension between scientific reasoning and unexplained phenomena that makes The Queen Mary such a compelling location—not just for travelers, but for dedicated paranormal investigators.
Conclusion: A Must-Visit for Ghost Hunters and History Buffs
Whether you’re chasing legends, App ghosts through your EVP recorder, or simply recount tales under the moonlit California sky, The Queen Mary offers something for every curious soul. You’ll walk the same decks as royalty, movie stars, soldiers—and perhaps the restless spirits that never truly left the ship.
From its grand beginnings to its wartime heroics, and now its mysterious paranormal reputation, The Queen Mary stands as a monument to time and mystery. It’s not every day you can stay in a luxury hotel that’s also a World War II monument and a paranormal hotspot. So if you’re up for a journey that blurs the lines between the physical and the spectral, book your stay on The Queen Mary. You might come for the history but stay for the haunts.