The Grand Old Lady Queen Mary

After living in Los Angeles for over fifteen years, I finally visited The Queen Mary in Long Beach. I'd been meaning to for a while now. I'd read a few reviews online about how old and run down she was, how small the rooms were, how disappointed some people were that she wasn't the way she used to be. But why would she be? If you came to be in the 1930's, you'd need a few repairs yourself. Of course she's old! And if Long Beach rescued her from being turned into scrap metal, let's be grateful that we can still at least walk those same passageways today.

I absolutely love history, so I was obviously fascinated to hear about everything the QM had been through, especially during the war years. During World War II, she was used to carry troops back and forth through U-Boat infested waters, but the Germans never caught her, since she was too fast for them. Bigger than The Titanic, The Queen Mary was able to maneuver deftly and swiftly coast to coast for years. As a luxury liner, she carried royalty and offered classic entertainment (Bob Hope live and in person, for one). And now you can take lots of tours while you're there, or just wander around, poking into hidden corners. I'd recommend the historical tours, with the proper guides to answer questions and take you into places not normally open to the public.

Most of the original paneling and artwork are still on display, as are the remains of the engine room. By the way, the actual rooms are small indeed, and yes, you can hear through the walls; since she's docked, with no running engines, you can hear everything now. But that wasn't what she was built for. It's a little sad not to be able to see her in her glory, chopping through oceans. She's trapped against a parking lot, tied down, while other cruise ships set sail. But you can still hear some echoes of her majesty and no modern ship has as strong a personality. If you stay overnight, I am sure you will encounter something mystical. It's a big ship and takes at least a full day or two to fully explore.

Like modern ships (and hotels), she offers restaurants, shops and a spa. They'll even let you get married here. The pool is empty (and presumably haunted) but there are plenty of lounge chairs and room to play. Hey, Hollywood agrees with me about the nostalgia thing too, since a heck of a lot of television and movies were filed here (X-FILES, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, OUT TO SEA, CHAPLIN, THE PARENT TRAP, THIRTEENTH FLOOR, to name but a few - look it up!)

I am happy and grateful to have had a chance to board her and take in some of that old world mystique. If you're into the supernatural, so much the better - who knows what you might encounter. So give the old girl a break and appreciate what has actually been preserved and honor her history - respect your visit. Tell her hey for me.

Kate West Reviews Online Hub Pages Since June 2008 All Rights Reserved