SPECTRALWhat happened here
The Queen Mary made her maiden voyage from Southampton in 1936, a floating art deco palace for film stars and royalty. In the Second World War she was painted grey and became a troopship — the “Grey Ghost” — carrying up to 16,000 soldiers at a time.
In October 1942, off the coast of Ireland, her escort, the cruiser HMS Curacoa, crossed her path and was cut in two; hundreds of Curacoa's crew died. After the war the Queen Mary returned to passenger service until 1967, when she was sold to the city of Long Beach.
The legends
The engine room's watertight Door 13 is linked to the death of a young crewman, John Pedder, crushed during a drill in 1966, and a figure in overalls is reported there. The drained first-class swimming pool is said to echo with splashing, and a little girl called Jackie is said to play there.
Cabin B340 was withdrawn from sale for years after complaints of banging, running taps and sheets pulled off beds — and has since been reopened as a room guests book precisely because of its reputation.
Fact or legend?
The deaths connected with the ship, including Pedder's and the loss of the Curacoa, are documented. Jackie and many of the other ghosts are not linked to any known record. The ship's operators have long embraced the stories, with ghost tours and an annual Halloween event, Dark Harbor.
Visiting
The Queen Mary is a hotel and attraction in Long Beach with history and paranormal tours. She has had long closures for repairs in recent years, so check that tours are running before you go.
