The ‘Queen Mary’ first made its debut as a British passenger ship in 1936, when it set sail on its maiden voyage from England to New York

NEED TO KNOW

• Beginning in 1936, the Art Deco-style Queen Mary ship embarked on its maiden voyage from England to New York, attracting celebrities and politicians to its luxury voyages
• During World War II, the ship became a troopship carrying more than 16,000 passengers and crew at one time
• It took its final voyage in 1967 when the city of Long Beach, Calif., purchased it and planned to turn it into a hotel

The Queen Mary was a celebrated passenger ship when Cunard cruise line debuted it in 1936, and it later took on an unexpected second life when it became a unique hotel destination in California. 

Its history dates back to 1930, when construction of the British passenger ship first began before being paused for two years amid the Great Depression, according to Britannica. 

When it was completed, the ship became Britain’s first entry into the 1,000-foot category of ships, as the vessel measured approximately 1,020 feet and could carry up to 2,038 passengers, according to the online encyclopedia.  

Named after Mary of Teck, Queen of the United Kingdom from 1910 to 1936 and wife of King George V, the luxury ship officially embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City on May 27, 1936, with the whole trip amounting to about five days. 

The Art Deco-style vessel provided utmost comfort for passengers at the time — boasting amenities like two swimming pools, a gym, library and hospital that made it appealing for celebrities and politicians. 

During World War II, Queen Mary took on a different role after it reached New York City in September 1939, when it was refitted as a troopship. It became the “fastest and largest such vessel during the war,” and carried up to 16,683 passengers and crew at one point, according to Britannica. 

After serving its purpose during the war, the ship returned to commercial voyages and made its first trip back as a passenger liner in July 1947. According to Britannica, it retained its popularity until airplane travel began booming in the 1960s. 

Despite its efforts to maintain passenger interest, including adding new Mediterranean routes, Cunard ultimately decided to sell the ship to the city of Long Beach, Calif., for $3.5 million. The California city planned to turn it into a hotel and tourist attraction. 

The Queen Mary departed for its final voyage in October 1967, reaching California in December after a 39-day trip. Work quickly began to transform it into a hotel, with the entire renovation amounting to $31 million. 

1971 served as an important year for the ship as an official tourist destination, as its Museum of the Sea opened to the public and it began hosting tours. The next year, restaurants were added and the hotel started to accept reservations.   

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The venture did not come without its challenges, however, as it later closed in 1992 when Long Beach struggled to find companies willing to oversee the control and maintenance of the ship. While it reopened after one year, it later shut down again in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the official website for the Queen Mary, the ship reopened once more in April 2023 after the city of Long Beach regained full ownership in 2021. While it first only offered tours, the ship’s hotel quickly reopened the following month. 

Today, it serves as an award-winning hotel anchored in Long Beach, offering various historical and paranormal tours. Guests can enjoy a stay in a historic Art Deco stateroom on the ship, and take advantage of the many dining options, boutique and shops and fitness center on board.

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