Hail Mary, Queen of Long Beach

The Queen Mary, now celebrating 40 years in Long Beach, is one of the last great ocean liners and has long caught the imagination of the public. It has come to symbolize the spirit of an era characterized by elegance and style when travel occurred at a more leisurely pace and passengers dressed up for dinner. During her illustrious career, the great lady played many roles – from an elegant ocean liner to a World War II troopship. The Hostmark Hospitality Group is currently celebrating the New Year by inviting all California residents to step back in time and visit The Queen Mary free of charge, as often as they would like, through January 31st, 2009. This special, FREE Admission ticket includes a self-guided tour of the ship. Now permanently docked, The Queen Mary is home to a 314-room Art Deco Hotel, where guests can relive the excitement of cruising in the style of the 1930’s without ever actually leaving port. While aboard, guests can experience the largest collection of Art Deco artwork in the country. They can also choose between many guided tours, including the Behind-the-Scenes, Historic World War II and an array of ghostly paranormal tours. There are a number of restaurants aboard to choose from, but the Five-Star Sir Winston’s restaurant is the where the Captain’s table can be found. The 1930’s-style Art Deco Observation Bar is also an excellent place to enjoy a spectacular ocean and skyline view of… well, ah… Long Beach.

The Queen Mary is located at the south end of the 710 freeway, on the water in Long Beach. For reservations, call (800) 437-2934 or visit The Queen Mary. Note California residents must provide documentation of residency with a driver’s license (or other form of photo identification) at the box office, during normal operating hours from 10am to 6pm. Parking not included.