A bit of nostalgia - Queen Mary

Well I'm now back after my well-earned rest and thought I'd start with a little story about The Queen Mary, no not QM2 but the historic ship that is moored in Long Beach California.

In June I wrote an article about what happens to ships at the end of their life, read here,and this is the classic case of a ship with an historic value that can have a 'second' life. In fact she has been in Long Beach for over 30 years as an attraction, events venue and hotel, although at various times in that 30 years bits have been closed or changed.

This blog will cover 2 parts, the hitoric attraction parts and then the current hotel offering. 

The Queen Mary was launched in 1934, with construction having started in 1930 in Glasgow and being delayed because of the effects of the depression. Government funding was eventually needed by Cunard to get her finished, and part of that involved Cunard's takeover of the struggling White Star Line, that of Titanic fame.

 

The Maiden voyage was on May 27 1937 and She boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and even a small hospital. The Queen Mary had set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, which the rich and famous considered as the only civilized way to travel. She quickly seized the hearts and imaginations of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, representing the spirit of an era known for its elegance, class and style.

For three years after her maiden voyage, the Queen Mary was the grandest ocean liner in the world carrying Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope and Clark Gable, royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and dignitaries like Winston Churchill. During this time she even set a new speed record, which she held for 14 years. But when the Queen Mary docked in New York in September 1939 that would be the last time she would carry civilian passengers for many years.

As World War II started, the Queen Mary's transformation into a troopship had begun. She was painted a camouflaged grey colour and stripped of her luxurious amenities. Dubbed the "Grey Ghost" because of her stealth and stark colour, the Queen Mary was the largest and fastest troopship to sail, capable of transporting as many as 16,000 troops at 30 knots.

Interestingly, during that period she did not have to fire her guns in anger or suffer damage from any war action even though Hitler had put a price on her head!

After the end of WWII, the Queen Mary began a 10-month retrofitting which returned her to her original glory. On July 21, 1947, the Queen Mary resumed regular passenger service across the Atlantic Ocean, and continued to do so for nearly two more decades.

The increasing popularity of air travel helped signal the end of an era for the Queen Mary. By 1965 the entire Cunard fleet was operating at a loss and they decided to retire and sell the legendary Queen Mary. On October 31, 1967, the Queen Mary departed on her final cruise, arriving in Long Beach, California, on December 9, 1967. Since then she has called Southern California her home. 

 

There are historic bits you can see, the lounges, foyers and even down into the engine room – it’s not often you get to see the original propeller in place.

In addition, as the ship was built in a different era you can open the portholes - current health and safety would have a problem with this now. 

You can only see the cabins if you stay in the hotel, each is different but are the same as when the ship sailed, although I have to say the bathrooms are a little on the dogey side!

 

Now onto the 'hotel', if I had taken any notice of the comments I read on a forum website I might have not have stayed for more than 1 night, but the 'bargain' of a price swayed my decision. I have to say the service in the hotel was the worst I have had in any hotel let alone a hotel in USA!

There are more of my pictures for this, why not visit here.

So my advice, is do the attraction stay 1 night in the hotel so you can experience the cabins but no longer.

Its the end of the line, but where do the cruise ships go?

So what happens when a ship has reached that point where the cruise line is thinking of replacing it, trading it in for a better phrase just like we do with our cars?

I did write an article 'What's in a name', about how some ships in various guises have had different names. So one way that the cruise lines move on their ships, they sell or transfer to another operator.


Take for example the Spanish operator, Pullmantor Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean and the current fleet of 3 are all ex- Royal or Celebrity ships, Empress, Soverign and Zenith and will be joined next year by Monarch.

 
Then in the UK there is Thomson Cruises, there 4 ships have come for a variety of background, including Holland America and Costa Cruises. Anybody remember the accident in Egypt in 2010 on the Costa Europa, now sailing as the Thomson Dream?

Thats a great way for the cruise line to move on those older ships, but not every operator can do this, and what about those they have replaced, they end up moving further down the food chain or are scrapped. Like perhaps the old Pacific Princess, yes The Love Boat from the TV.

Or do they? What are cruise ships, in reality nothing but floating hotels.

The original Queen Elizabeth was being used as a 'School' having being retired afetr 30 years of service, when she caught fire and sank in Hong Kong Harbour in 1972. Another classic Cunarder, The Queen Mary has been in California since her retirement and now operates as a Hotel and Event and Wedding Venue.

What happened in the end to the the QE2, well she was supposed to be converted to a hotel but she is now moored in Dubai after the recent global collapse.

Just what is going to happen who knows.But then you have to ask, what will happen to the Concordia when they finish the salvage operation? Scrapped, perhaps that is the right thing but it is amazing what the ship yards can do so maybe in a copule of years she may up in the fleet of your favourite cruise line!!