The Queen Mary – Revisit The Era Of Glamorous Ocean Travel

Ahoy matey! It's Retro Roadmap Reporter Keith Valcourt reporting from the high seas! (well, kinda...)

I was going to start this review by saying, “If you ever find yourself in Long Beach, California...” but realized that unless you are in the shipping business, about to go on a cruise, or Snoop Dogg, you never really find yourself in the Port of Los Angeles, the City of Long Beach.

So, in order for me to recommend taking the trip there better be something really Retro Roadmap worthy to see.Luckily, there is.  And unlike most of my other reports, this place is not mainly food driven. Although there are several restaurants aboard.

That's right, I said “Aboard.”

For this report I took my family on a retro road trip to visit the famous The Queen Mary cruise ship.  A once grand luxury ocean liner, the vessel now permanently anchored in Long Beach and serving as a multipurpose tourist attraction.

From 1936 to 1967 the ship sailed across the ocean catering to everyone from the casual traveler to the rich and famous.  In 1967, the vessel became permanently moored in Long Beach.

In 2014 it is many things.  A hotel. A mall.  A place to take tours (guided or self led) as well as  a museum space, collective of restaurants and banquet hall/party space.  Hell, it's even got side attractions within 100 feet including a Russian submarine and huge dome.

There usually is an admission fee if you are touring the boat, but here's the tip  if you are on a budget-- skip the guided tour.  Look for the escalator to the right of the hotel entrance and head up from there.  You'll then be free to roam (or is it stroll) the ship's several decks at no charge. 

The ship is beautiful and looks as if it were frozen in the golden age of sea travel.  Some of the walls are adorned with black and white photos of the rich and famous who sailed on the Queen back in the day.  Bob Hope.  Fred Astaire.

There are also rooms including “Radio Room” and “Captain Quarters” that give you a clear look into life on-board the ship in the forties and fifties.  It's fascinating to see the vintage spaces as they were decades ago.  Make sure your wander from port to starboard (that's back of boat to front.  Or vice versa) (actually we just found out from a nautical reader that Aft to Stern is front to back of a boat. - Mod B :-)) and check out every deck.  Peek into the overpriced shops.  Climb up on the smokestack.

Check out the museum (extra charge.) They had a Princess Dianna retrospective when we were there.   If you are not faint of heart, visit the “Isolation Ward,” a creepy below deck area where sick travelers went to die. At Halloween the ship is transformed into a Haunted Shipwreck complete with Zombies and Ghosts haunting (The Queen is said to have many spirits about) and the Isolation Ward is said to be extra spooky.

On New Years Eve, they throw one hell of a retro Big Band party complete with swing and ballroom dancing.  A great chance to get you inner Flapper on.

And if it's in your budget you can actually book a room.  Staying on the Queen Mary is just like taking a cruise without the sea sickness.

There are also more than a half dozen eateries on The Queen Mary.  We ate at the ship's most reasonably priced restaurant--“Promenade Cafe” and although the burgers were just okay, it was worth the price just to sit, eat and enjoy the view of Long Beach Harbor from The Queen Mary's middle deck.

The Queen Mary is a lovely nostalgia packed day of fun.  I highly recommend you “Find Yourself In Long Beach” for a visit.  It's well worth the drive.  Plus you may see Snoop Dogg.  Word.  Up?