Today the ship is part of the Long Beach skyline, since opening day on May 8th 1971. At left, sunlight still manages to glisten off a hull built more than some 60 years ago. (Right) The QUEEN MARY looks ever so majestic with her lights aglow.
A "real" bridge, full of traditional wood and brass, a thing of the past and absent in most modern day passengers ships. .
Looking down a long passageway from a unusual vantage point, in a canyon of original wood paneling. The handrails to help passengers walk during rough seas is actually made of plastic, a luxury item back in the 1930's.
Before the days of the modern cruise ship "Atrium"- the Piccadlily Circus on board QUEEN MARY, looking forward.
At night and a perfect time to explore decks upon decks and locate legendary "ghosts."
The MARY departs from her New York berth for the last time on her final cruise in which she would steam some 14,559 miles from Southampton to Long Beach via Cape Horn. One of her longest voyages in fact. Rob O'Brien collection
Looking aft towards the wheelhouse and forward superstructure, from her well deck and anchor windlass gear. The teak decks are for the most part in good condition in this area of the ship. A Teak Deck Restoration project began in 1995, with completion of the Sports Deck in 1997. Along with the Sun Deck, nearly $1 million has been spent restoring over 20,000 square feet of deck space.
The QUEEN MARY is at the pier on her final call at New York in September 1967. Rob O'Brien collection
The former Cabin Class Main Lounge on Promenade Deck looking forward, stretches 30 feet high through three decks.
The former Cabin Class Main Restaurant was meant to seat 815 people. The decorative map by Macdonald Gill is in the center. A crystal model of QUEEN MARY would 'travel' over the map indicating where the ship was during transatlantic service.
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The funnels (also called stacks) of the MARY are not the originals as they were severely rusted and were replaced with those seen here before she opened in 1971. The height of the first forward funnel rises 70.5 feet from its base, the second behind rises 67.5 and the third stank stands 62.5 feet tall.
The QUEEN MARY at New York - a Moran tug is at her bow in this image dated, September 1963. Rob O'Brien collection
The ship with flags flying at her final departure from Southamton, England. Photo: Copyright Ron Baker
The Cabin Class Lounge is now called the Queens Salon on board Hotel QUEEN MARY. This room employs two types of woods including makore and maple burr. This view looking aft during its last years of service under the Cunard Line banner. Photo: Courtesy of William Cotter
The same space on board the ship, with obvious posed models in early times. Photo: Courtesy of William Cotter
Its Brunch time in a late 1960's crossing looking down the promenade deck. Photo: Courtesy of William Cotter
Looking down the port side of the Promenade deck looking forward in the present day on Hotel QUEEN MARY.
Directly over the stage in the image above is Maurice Lamberts bronze-relief panel entilted "Symphony.".
"Unicorns in Battle" by Alfred Oakley and Gilbert Bayes is a large gesso panel which frames the curved onyx fireplace below. It is flanked by two dark alabaster torchieres. Hinged doors in the panel open to reveal what used to be film projection equipment which in her years past, control the cinema room directly behind.
A more detailed image of the 15' by 24 foot map located at the forward end of the Cabin Class Resturant on C Deck.
"A Sussex Landscape" by Bertram Nicolas once dominated a corner of the Long Gallery, before that room was removed as was the painting in the post war refit.
Easily one of the precursors to the QUEEN MARY is the RMS MAURETANIA, seen here in Charles Pears' painting of the liner as she heads to the breakers in 1935. That much loved ship is so iconically depicted in this painting that it is said that part of the personality of this venerable liner passed to the new speed queen in which she replaced.
"Madonna of the Atlantic" by Kenneth Shoesmith - exeucted on a gold leaf background - formed as an altar piece in the Cabin Class Drawing room when that room was used as a chapel.
Some sections of the aft engine room have been kept intact, a most rewarding thing to see preserved especially since this is what helped the QUEEN MARY break transatlantic speed records.
Just as nostalgic to see as the engine room is the only remaining screw (out of four) on the port side which propelled the QUEEN MARY to her 31.69 knots record (36.47 miles per hour) which she achieved in a eastbound voyage in August 1938.
Looking port towards the wheel house from the bridge wing. Notice the brass gryo repeater, and searchlight as well as Radio Directional Finder (RDF) above.
In more ways than one, it is ironic and almost befitting, that Hotel QUEEN MARY houses a 22 foot model of her once great French rival, the ever luxurious 79,280 ton NORMANDIE. She too was a speed queen, breaking the Altantic crossing record and capturing the Blue Riband accolade when she debuted in 1935. The two ships of state (Britian and France) would exchange the title and the prized Blue Riband back and forth from the onset until 1938 when the MARY won the title of fastest liner on the North Atlantic. The NORMANDIE was also largest liner upon her debut, but when the British speed queen was put to see she lost that title untl a later refit allowed the French liner to recapture the record as the largest, measuring over 83,000 tons. These are just a few glimpses of Roberto Pirrone's splendid model as it appears behind glass on Hotel QUEEN MARY.
The QUEEN MARY is greeted by hundreds of small craft and other vessels for her arrival at her new home in Long Beach, CA. Photo: William Cotter collection
The glistening QUEEN MARY perhaps on a day before officially opening as evident by the 'Hotel Queen Mary' entrance sign not yet installed. Rob O'Brien collection
