• Home
  • About PubClub.com Nightlife Pubs And Clubs Website
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

PubClub

Where The World Goes To Party!

Aboard The Queen Mary For Her 80th Annivesary

June 2, 2016 by kevinwilkerson Leave a Comment

Celebration Of Maiden Voyage Includes Winston Churchill’s Great Grandson

Queen Mary Long Beach at sunset
The Queen Mary stands tall – especially at sunset – in Long Beach, CA.

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger

The decks no longer have royalty and celebrities – or soldiers on their way to war – walking on them.

Although the great grandson of Winston Churchill strolled on them recently.

Randolph Churchill was part of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary, one time queen of the seas, which now sits permanently berthed in Long Beach, CA.

I sure hope I look this good at 80.

Queen Mary Long Beach at sunset
The Long Beach skyline can be seen from the wooden decks of the Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary may no longer transport people and troops across the Atlantic, and she may look somewhat dated when sitting next to today’s tall and massive all-white cruise ships, but she retains a stately glory that makes her a piece of high-seas history.

Today, the Queen Mary is an attraction in Los Angeles and her staterooms are hotel rooms. Several events are hosted on her throughout the year (New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day are two of them), there are exhibitions of Princess Diana and now the artwork and belongings of Winston Churchill and there’s a weekly a Sunday champagne brunch in her first-class dining room.

Queen Mary maiden voyage
The Queen Mary prepares for her maiden voyage on May 27 , 1936.
Randolph Churchill on the Queen Mary
Randolph Churchill has a glass of wine aboard the Queen Mary. Photo: KC Witherspoon
Queen Mary deck Long Beach, CA
The Queen Mary has a polished deck and historical photos. Photo: KC Witherspoon
Queen Mary Long Beach skyline
A creative look at the Long Beach skyline through one of the Queen Mary’s 2,000 portholes. Photo: KC Witherspoon
Queen Mary deck Long Beach skyline
The Long Beach skyline is just beyond the Queen Mary’s starboard deck. Photo: KC Witherspoon
Queen Mary English phone booth
PubClub.com’s photographer and blogger goof around in an English phone booth.
Queen Mary anti-aircraft guns
PubClub.com’s blogger sits behind an anti-aircraft gun on the deck of the Queen Mary. Photo: KC Witherspoon

On May 27, she turned 80 – her first voyage was out of England on that date in 1936 – and the ship’s executives brought in some of her past passengers, including war brides and World War II servicemen. While the Queen Mary was a luxurious ocean liner, she really earned her reputation transporting a whopping 800,000 allied soldiers across the Atlantic to fight Hitler in World War II.

And brought them back to America after the war.

BBC has produced a documentary on the history of the ship, which will air in America in August. It’s already been seen in Britain, and overnight ratings were higher than the ship’s 12 decks.

As opposed to today’s cruise ships, the Queen Mary was an open-ocean liner that made just one stop at a port, in Cherbourg, France.  It was England to America (New York City) in the days before air travel. Now, cruise ships are as much about ports of call as they are about being on the water.

The Queen Mary may not travel anywhere anymore, but you can travel to Long Beach and see, board and explore her. At $27 it’s not cheap, but that does include one of the tours, and PubClub.com highly recommends the Glory Days Historical Tour.

If you’re lucky, as your guide you’ll get Commodore Everett Hoard, who serves as honorary captain of the Queen. He speaks glowingly of her, as if he sailed her himself all those years across the Atlantic.

The funniest story about the ship is how she got her name.

Cunard wanted to name her the Queen Victoria, and when the head of the cruise line went to King George to ask permission, he said “we have decided to name our new ship after England’s greatest queen,” meaning Queen Victoria, the King’s grandmother.

To which King George replied, “my wife (Queen Mary) will be delighted that you are naming the ship after her!”

“So Queen Mary it is,” the head of Cunard no doubt said to himself.

Queen Mary Long Beach Facts, Figures, Social Media & Address

• Length: 1,019.5 feet (about the same as today’s cruise ships)
• Decks: 12 (today’s liners have 16-18)
• Portholes: 2,000
• Top Speed: 33 mph (appx.; today’s cruise ships top out at around 28)
• Website: www.queenmary.com
• Twitter: @TheQueenMary
• Instagram:TheQueenMary
• Phone: (877) 342-0738
• Address: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA

 

Filed Under: Long Beach Tagged With: Long Beach, Queen Mary

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Unfinished Man

Search

Today On PubClub.com

TOP UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES
• Aug. 16 – National Rum Day

Quote Of The Day:
“It takes no more time to look at the good side of life as it does the bad side.”
–
Jimmy Buffett

LET’S BE SOCIAL!
 
PubClub.com is a member of the Travel & Tourism Marketing Association, Inc.​, and the Travel Massive chapters in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County (CA).

Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Destinations

  • Destinations (1,997)
    • Asia (15)
      • Japan (4)
        • Tokyo (3)
      • Taiwan (1)
      • Thailand (7)
    • Australia (19)
      • Surfer's Paradise (3)
      • Sydney (5)
    • Brazil (7)
      • Rio (2)
    • Camping (1)
    • Canada (19)
      • Montreal (2)
      • Niagara Falls (5)
      • Toronto (1)
    • Caribbean (54)
      • Cuba (1)
      • San Juan (5)
      • Virgin Islands (18)
    • Central America (1)
      • Costa Rica (1)
    • Europe (96)
      • Amsterdam (14)
      • France (2)
      • Germany (4)
      • Ibiza (2)
      • Kiev (1)
      • London (6)
      • Malta (1)
      • Moscow (1)
      • Munich (5)
      • Paris (4)
      • Poland (3)
        • Krakow (2)
      • Prague (6)
      • Switzerland (34)
        • Basel (5)
        • Bern (3)
        • Swiss Alps (1)
        • Zermatt (3)
        • Zurich (4)
    • Greek Islands (25)
      • Corfu (3)
      • Ios (2)
      • Mykonos (5)
      • Santorini (5)
    • Mexico (9)
      • Cabo San Lucas (1)
      • Puerto Vallarta (1)
      • Tijuana (1)
    • Ski Resorts (67)
      • Aspen (1)
      • Austria (4)
      • Big Bear (13)
      • Big Sky (6)
      • Mammoth (16)
      • Squaw Valley (4)
      • Whistler (2)
    • Tokyo (1)
    • USA (1,675)
      • Alabama (3)
      • Alaska (1)
      • Arizona (6)
        • Lake Havasu (1)
        • Scottsdale (3)
        • Sedona (1)
      • Boston (5)
      • California (1,252)
        • Carmel (24)
        • Central Coast (9)
        • Lancaster (16)
        • Los Angeles (792)
          • Catalina Island (12)
          • Culver City (1)
          • El Segundo (4)
          • Hermosa Beach (172)
            • Fourth Of July (12)
            • Smackfest Events (22)
          • Hollywood (14)
          • Huntington Beach (1)
          • Lake Arrowhead (2)
          • Long Beach (40)
            • Grand Prix (11)
          • Manhattan Beach (76)
          • Marina del Rey (6)
          • Newport Beach (42)
          • Orange County (26)
          • Party Report (15)
          • Redondo Beach (81)
          • Santa Monica (3)
          • South Bay (93)
          • Sunset Strip (4)
          • Temecula (12)
          • Venice Beach (5)
        • Mendocino (12)
        • Monterey (30)
          • Restaurant Reviews (10)
        • Napa (5)
        • Oakland (7)
        • Palm Springs (8)
        • Paso Robles (4)
        • San Clemente (1)
        • San Diego (236)
          • Balboa Park (1)
          • Del Mar (10)
          • Events (65)
          • Gaslamp (40)
          • Lifestyle (4)
          • Ocean Beach (4)
          • Pacific Beach (3)
        • San Francisco (68)
          • Events (12)
      • Chicago (10)
      • Colorado (4)
        • Denver (4)
      • Florida (82)
        • Daytona Beach (1)
        • Ft. Lauderdale (3)
        • Jacksonville (1)
        • Key West (25)
        • Keys (8)
        • Miami (9)
        • Panama City Beach (3)
      • Hawaii (23)
        • Waikiki Beach (14)
      • Indianapolis (3)
      • Las Vegas (156)
      • New Jersey (1)
      • New Orleans (40)
      • New York City (14)
      • Newport, R.I. (1)
      • North Carolina (1)
      • Oregon (9)
        • Portland (8)
      • Seattle (2)
      • South Carolina (3)
        • Charleston (3)
      • Tennessee (39)
        • Franklin (3)
        • Gatlinburg (5)
        • Knoxville (8)
        • Nashville (4)
        • Smoky Mountains (3)
      • Texas (6)
        • Austin (6)
      • Utah (2)
      • Virginia (1)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Hong Kong (1)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Events

  • Events (505)
    • BVI Interline Regatta (5)
    • Carnival (5)
    • Cinco de Mayo (2)
    • Exercise and Socalize (2)
    • Fourth of July (8)
    • Halloween (9)
    • Holidays (18)
      • Thanksgiving (6)
    • Indy 500 (10)
    • Kentucky Derby (12)
    • Memorial Day Weekend (5)
    • New Year's Eve (39)
    • Oktoberfest (10)
    • Party Report (46)
    • Running Of The Bulls (5)
    • Spring Break (6)
    • St. Patricks Day (8)
    • Sundance Film Festival (8)
    • Super Bowl (15)
    • Valentine's Day (9)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Sports

  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Sports (473)
    • Baseball (7)
    • Beach Volleyball (3)
    • College Football (268)
    • Golf (11)
    • NFL (44)
    • Olympics (13)
    • Racing (25)
    • Soccer (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Lifestyle

  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Lifestyle (1,511)
    • Beach Reads (1)
    • Cannabis (4)
    • Celebrity Sightings (6)
    • Entertainment (18)
    • Mr. Sorehead (3)
    • Music (270)
      • Festivals (56)
      • Jimmy Buffett (35)
      • Trop Rock (13)
    • Party Stories (2)
    • People Profiles (9)
    • Singles Life (6)
      • Men Vs Women (2)
      • Relationships (2)
    • Social Media (2)
    • Spirits (25)
    • Travel (637)
      • Airlines (30)
      • Blogger (362)
      • Cruise Ships (19)
      • Hotels (14)
      • Product Reviews (3)
      • Singles Travelers (1)
      • Solo Travel (2)
      • Touring Blog (12)
      • Weather (17)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

From the Bar Stool

  • From The Bar Stool (307)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Bars

  • Bars (258)
    • Bars & Food (24)
    • Bars & Nightlife (195)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

News

  • Business News (3,531)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • News (39)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Colleges

  • Colleges (28)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Food and Drinks

  • Food and Drinks (362)
    • Beer (95)
    • Cocktails (41)
    • Foddie Blog (25)
    • Rum (4)
    • Singles Cooking (1)
    • spirits (6)
    • Spirits & Beer Industry (79)
    • Tequila (10)
    • Wine (76)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (4)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (2)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Subscribe To The PubClub Party Report!

Subscribe To Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

About PubClub.com

PubClub.com is a content-oriented nightlife tourist guide dedicated to social-minded travelers with articles on worldwide destinations such as Amsterdam, the Greek Islands, Prague, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Canada, and more. Top keywords for search are pubclub, pub club, party pubs, club pub, travel pub, pub club night, pubs and clubs and the pub club.
Read More...
Our Terms | Privacy

Legal

Featured Video: The PubClub Song

The PubClub Song By Evyn Charles!

Powered by imFORZA