The Queen Mary sailed from 1936 to 1967 as part of the Cunard Cruise Line fleet, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is permanently berthed in Long Beach, California serving as a museum ship and hotel. Many stories surround the hauntings of the Queen Mary.
Hauntings
The first known haunting incident occurred during World War II. The ship accidentally sank its escort ship, the HMS Curacao, where over 200 men drowned. It is said to this day you can hear men screaming and the sound of metal crushing against metal on the decks at the extreme front end of the bow. In 1966, an 18-year-old engineer, John Pedder was crushed by a watertight door in the engine room during a fire drill, and his ghost is said to haunt the ship. About 50 people have died on the Queen Mary, and as you would expect, the ship’s morgue is believed to be haunted as well.
Other Haunted Places on the Queen Mary
There are numerous places onboard the Queen Mary where visitors have reported seeing haunted activity. In particular, there has been so much paranormal activity in stateroom B340 that it is no longer available to be rented out. People who have stayed there have claimed that the faucets will turn on and sheets from the bed will go flying across the room. The First Class Swimming Pool also has unusual activity. The ghosts in this area are all female and include at least one little girl that supposedly drowned in the pool. The spirit of a young girl named Jackie Korin, who drowned in the second class pool, continues to haunt the first class pool on board the ship. The woman’s changing rooms are another hot spot for ghosts. A young woman by the name of Sarah, who was said to have been murdered in the first class women’s change rooms by an unknown man, haunts the first class pool with Jackie. Some visitors say they have seen women wearing early 1930s bathing suits in the pool areas as well. This area is highlighted in the Ghost and Legends of the Queen Mary tour. Despite the fact that the boilers have been removed from the ship, the boiler rooms still remain. When the Queen Mary sailed, these rooms were very dangerous and many of the ghosts that haunt this area may have died in these rooms years ago.
You can tour the ship or stay aboard. The First Class Package of tours, which includes a behind the scenes tour or World War II Guided Tour, Ghosts & Legends Show and a self-guided ship walk tour is $31.00 per adult and $20.00 per child. To spend the night, rates start at $119 plus tax for an inside stateroom. There are also 3 signature restaurants, 4 casual eateries and 4 bars/lounges.
