The Queen Mary: Just the name evokes visions of over-the-top luxury and the courageous spirit of a bygone era, when ocean travel was slow and glamorous. The Cunard Line spared no expense on its construction. At 1,019.5 feet long, this nautical beauty sported 12 decks and could carry 1,957 passengers.
Launched on May 26, 1936, the RMS Queen Mary embarked on her maiden voyage as the grandest ocean liner in the world, boasting five dining rooms and lounges, two cocktail areas and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and a hospital. For three years, she carried such household names as Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor and Clark Gable, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The indomitable Sir Winston Churchill considered the ship his headquarters at sea and signed the D-Day Declaration on board.
In 1939, painted camouflage gray and stripped of her finery, it morphed into the largest and fastest World War II troop ship, carrying a wartime total of 765,429 troops. Completely retrofitted in 1947, it returned to passenger service for its Golden Years: the 1950s and 1960s.
During that time, Ralph Rushton, a native of England, served as a crew member, working his way up from bellboy to first-class waiter. “Some people were traveling on the ship, not to get from New York to England,” he said, “but just to be on the ship … because of the dancing, the shows … boy, did they party.”
Champagne flowed, and the attire was posh, all tuxedos and mink coats. Finally, after 1,001 transatlantic crossings, the ship retired from active sailing in 1967.
Now docked on 45 California waterfront acres near the Long Beach Convention Center, the Queen Mary has been beautifully restored and is a popular hotel, attraction and event venue, with vistas of downtown Long Beach and the wide Pacific.
Glamorous Gatherings
Pure elegance, the Queen Mary’s 14 meeting salons feature lush woods, original art, hand-painted Art Deco murals, tapestries, oversized mirrors, leather wall treatments and Wi-Fi.
Formerly the ship’s first-class nightclub and restaurant, the Art Deco Verandah Grill has a sunken dance floor and sundeck with ocean breezes and dramatic views for up to 180 guests. Twice that number can ogle a trio of onyx fireplaces while meeting in the Queen’s Salon.
For groups of more than 2,000, the onboard Tri-Level Exhibit Hall can be used en suite or as individual levels. Once home to Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, the 75,000-square-foot Queen Mary Dome adjacent to the ship hosts performances.
Remembering Royalty
While attendees take care of business, their families can step back a few years and reflect on the life of one of Britain’s favorite celebrities. “Diana: Legacy of a Princess, a Royal Exhibition” sprawls over 13,000 square feet of the Queen Mary’s Sun Deck. The priceless collection showcases evening gowns, dresses, personal accessories, photographs, heirlooms and other cherished memorabilia associated with Princess Diana and the royal family, including Queen Mary, for whom the ship was named; Queen Mother; and England’s current reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Afterward, guests can turn Anglophile and sip a steaming beverage in the Tea Room.
From Champagne to Chowder
With the capacity for serving groups from 10 to 2,000, the Queen Mary’s culinary staff can even re-create its 1936 maiden voyage meal. Postconference sipping and dining spots include the 1930s-era Observation Bar and Art Deco Lounge and Sir Winston’s Restaurant and Lounge, plus an authentic English chowder house with subway tile walls and a tin ceiling.
Ideal for corporate dining, the Queen Mary Barrel Series pairs five courses of culinary creations with a selection of premium liquors, followed by dessert and a fine cigar.
Echoing the queen’s life at sea, her Champagne Sunday Brunch is a traveler’s delight of 50 dishes from around the globe, served with a side of live music.
