The Queen Mary and Long Beach

July 30

What a couple of days! Let’s begin with yesterday; started out in Santa Maria (off highway 1) and drove the final leg to Long Beach and the Queen Mary. Drove through the mountains and the car shuddered around noon. Now was this the ABS or were we feeling the earthquake that registered 5.4 on the Richter scale. The jury is still out, I favour the earthquake David, the ABS….

Anyway, the Queen Mary. Grand old ship, David was quite emotional as we entered our room. The refurbishment has kept all the walnut panelling, old push button light switches, push buttons on the wardrobe doors, but for me, the best thing they’ve kept are the brass door keys, wonderful. They say she’s haunted; now whether or not that’s true, when you walk her promenade decks after dark you could well be on the decks of a ghost ship. Actually, the decks are very evocative of the film ‘Ghost Ship’. You almost wait for the story to unfold. The rooms are spacious and it is easy to imagine how it must have felt to sail across the ocean when she was in her prime, even the portholes open! The bathroom has the original bath and loo flush, very cool for someone like David who adores ocean liners. I’m so glad we were lucky enough to stay on her, if nothing else for the immense pleasure it has given David. We are going to do the tours to learn more about her, and her ghosts! Dinner in the Promenade Restaurant is an experience, the food is beautifully cooked and presented and the prices are reasonable too. The views across to Long Beach and the marina make for a very relaxed atmosphere, helped by the lovely music. It’s good to see the photographs of some of her famous passengers too. Most of the ‘great and good’ have sailed on her at one time or another.

On to the fun part of our stay…………. Universal Studios is an absolute must if a visit to LA is on your agenda. Day tickets are a bit pricey, but if you can afford to upgrade to the ’front of line’ pass it is well worth the expense. Absolutely no queuing, just through Gate A and past all the crowds, excellent. The back-lot tour is spectacular, entertaining, informative but most of all great fun! The Simpsons is another excellent adventure…….. The simulator ride is again, well worth the wait. The old favourites - Terminator, the Blues Brothers, Jaws, Earthquake lose nothing with age, still a must see and the ultra 4D Shrek is hilarious! Watch out for Donkey sneezing…….

The only downside to staying in Long Beach is the traffic to get into LA itself. 50 minutes to travel the 26 miles to Universal in the traffic so we think we’ll give the Hollywood stars and sign a miss and take the time to chill out here in Long Beach. We’ll do the LA tourist bit another time and actually stay in the city rather than outside.

July 31

Another glorious day, once the early morning mist cleared, wall to wall sunshine - ah this is the life! Took the audio tour of the Queen Mary $5 if a guest of the ship and worth every penny. Narrated by a lovely Irishman who was the ship captain’s ‘tiger’ a remnant of the Empire when the steward to the captain was dressed in Chinese attire to distinguish him from other stewards. It takes you from stem to stern and covers her entire history from conception to today. 10 million rivets hold her together and the British Government gave a loan in 1934 of $80 million in order to rescue the Cunard line and to ensure the ship herself was built. Two provisos 1) Cunard merged with the White Star Line as they were also in financial difficulty and 2) she was to be available to be requisitioned in time of war, as indeed she was. Known as the ‘grey ghost’ there was a reward of $250k for any German or Japanese commander who could sink her but, not once, during her service in WW2 was she ever torpedoed, amazing! Enough of the history lesson, if you want to know more you’ll just have to visit yourself!! As mentioned previously she is reputed to be haunted and David, a sceptic as you know, had a weird experience on our first night, he awoke around 4:30 am to the sound of waves lapping against the hull and a strong wind. Not at all possible on a breeze free night and a breakwater surrounding her keeping her calm at all times……knew we should have taken the ghost tour… only trouble with that though is that we probably would have frightened ourselves to death (no puns intended!)

Would I recommend staying onboard? Yes, for the history lesson no, for value especially when you can visit the ship on a tour pass anyway and forego the expense of actually staying aboard; only worth it for the sentimentality if, like David, you already have fond memories of her. Whilst understanding she is an old vessel and the need for ambience we live in the 21st century and we expect certain things to be easily accessible, internet for one. No in room safe, which can be easily hidden in a wardrobe as most other hotels in this price range. Restaurant service is not that brilliant either; it certainly does not match the quality of the food! Those of you who know me well will not be surprised when I quietly asked if I should set the table myself when we had been sat there for at least 15 minutes, no cutlery, napkins, side plates and the waiter gave cutlery etc to David and left mine in a heap to the side of me! Am I invisible? Don’t think so!! Dinner duly arrived, placed in front of me and nothing with which to eat it! ‘Is this my cutlery?’ ‘Yes’ the reply. ‘Ok I’ll set my own place shall I?’ Slam goes the cutlery on the table. ‘Sorry’ from the waiter. Next couple of minutes along comes the manager asking what she can do to make our dining experience better!! ‘No thanks’ my reply. Just quietly informed her that the shoddy service received was not was expected from a hotel with this reputation. She agreed that it was not what was expected from her staff either. Needless to say, waiter received no tip! Fiery blond off again!

Off to bed now, Zebedee…………