Queen Mary Repair UPDATE | June 2023
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2023
- I have new footage and images of the ship now that she is open to visitors! Sit back, relax, and watch this really jam-packed repair update for June 2023!
#queenmary #oceanliner #steamship
February Construction Update:
• Queen Mary Repair UPDA...
Thank you to @LMGVids for filming the footage for this update!
Thank you to @theblueriband for the photos of the boilers and generator!
Drone footage of the Queen Mary is courtesy of @aerorealm
• Drone Visits Queen Mar...
To get an annual pass on the Queen Mary and help support the repairs, visit this link:
www.lbheritage.org/queen-mary/
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a University-educated historian, Alex the Historian was a nickname I got while working at Disneyland as a tour guide. After 6 years of using it as a stage name for my channel, it would be detrimental to the channel to suddenly change the name. - Розваги
![Megastructures: Queen Mary 2 [ENG][DOC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4GpuTjbU5ak/mqdefault.jpg)
NOTE: At the 12:22 I accidentally said "There's a lot of 'busy work' going on aboard the ship..." This was a major mistake and oversight on my part. I did not intend to say that, as you could tell through the whole video I am a big advocate for the fantastic restoration work happening aboard the ship. I just completely mispoke, and managed to miss that through the editing of the video, and I apologize for that. I know the work happening aboard the ship is 100% necessary. Again, a mistake on my part for saying that.
Never picked up on it, the tone of the whole video it was clear you were full of admiration for the work being undertaken, if anything this just came across as 'busy work' in the neutral sense. Minor tasks being done in between larger tasks in order to use the craftsmens time efficiently.
I mean, it is "busy" work 😉
lol! i noticed that but knew what you meant. next time you'll say 'hard work'
Reminds me of a time, many years ago, when a friend and I who worked in tech support* were stuck covering for the whole department while the rest of the company was out at the annual company picnic. As you might imagine, two guys covering an entire call center for an afternoon led to lonnnng queue times and the two of us being worked out of our socks. At one point late in the day, my friend tried to apologize to one of the callers for the long wait time, but his tired brain got wedged somewhere between "short-handed" and "understaffed" and he ended up telling the guy "We're a little underhanded today." :)
* never again. never, never again.
For us non-native english speakers this small detail went unnoticed...
Long Beach is doing their best for her! It is clear they genuinely care! Long live the Queen!
It's certainly looks like it! Glad she's in their care. From the things you hear of California these days I was a bit worried but it appears she's in the right hands.
Just hope that the ss United States gets a redo
@@suitcaseguy8393 That's a Beautiful ship coming from a Limey that's a compliment 🤫🤫🤫🤫
@@suitcaseguy8393doubt it.
The Queen has the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on !!
She's looking great. What a great relief after the recent uncertainty over her future. Well done the Yanks for saving what the Brits would have scrapped without ceremony.
It does my 73-year-old heart good to see she is being taken care of. When I was a boy of nine, we travelled from South Hampton to New York on board the Queen Mary. Your video brings back memories of a different world in a magic time when I first saw schools of flying fish. The ship seemed impossibly huge to me and I marvelled that it could float. Now it seems small and elegant compared with the monstrous cruisers of today. I especially remember the swimming pool, as a crew member told me (a bit dramatically, I realise today) that one could sometimes see the wet footprints of a little girl coming for a swim, even though she had been a ghost for many years.
My dad came home from England after WWII on this ship. I’m glad they’re restoring it again.
I was a guest on the ship in the 80's. The most memorable experience was in the Sir Winston dining room. The food and service were impeccable. Our room needed updating then, but we truly enjoyed our stay.
I am so glad to hear your suggestions for a better, more emersive experience. You are right about people wanting to enjoy a different time and space. Period weekends for enthusiasts, and possibly festivals. Victorian, Roaring 20's, and wartime eras would all be great. Thank you for doing these videos, I hadn't heard anything about the Queen Mary since she closed. It is very good to hear they are finally getting her back in shape and up to snuff.😊
I married my first husband on the Queen Mary. My husband is British and we have lived in the UK for years. He says to tell you that those phone booths dont look any different in their current state than the ones in London. Good video. Thank you
Wow the new LED lighting has really brought the Queen back to life. All her beautiful veneers can really be seen and appreciated again. Well done!
Absolutely the lighting was so disappointing and gloomy, now it looks beautiful...
@@ginog5037 I felt like I was entering the Shinning when I visited in the 1990's!
@jaminova_1969 Good one 😨 minus the twins of course...
@@jaminova_1969 🤣
Also probably saving a ton in energy/replacement cost. That one change will probably pay for itself in a year or two
She is an international icon and world heritage site as far as I'm concerned and as far as millions of freedom-loving people around the world should be concerned. I hope the emphasized more of her War service. Thank you so much for the update!
Great suggestions. I would add Queen Mary merchandise . Also attract the modern day cruiser , they will appreciate the history of a luxury cruise ship.
LED TECHNOLOGY SI THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE!!!! GREAT FOR ANY PROJECT UPDATE. THAT IS ALL I USE IN MY HOUSE.
I think you are SO right to propose the Queen Mary be an ocean liner experience. Keeping those first class lounges open, WITH period appropriate furniture and entertainments is exactly the way to go. I hope the owners listen to you. :)
I think your suggestions for the ship are really good, especially the afternoon tea, with a dress code of course. It would be nice to see people dress nicely to have tea in such a beautiful place, just as they would have back in the ship's heyday.
I completely agree! But I do wonder how practical that would be, most of the ship's visitors are Californians, and Californians don't like dressing in things where they can't show skin lol.
I definitely agree with the need for lounging on the ship. I remember when i went to see her before the pandemic and it seemed like there was nowhere to just sit, relax and admire the ship and maybe start a conversation with someone
Alex, I am a lifetime lover of the "Queen Mary", having sailed on her as a child, 3 crossings on the Mary and 3 on the "Queen Elizabeth" ; 1963, 65, and 67. My last crossing with my mother and sister was in July of 1967. Also we lived in Laguna Beach, with the Pacific out our front decks and watched her sail past on 9th December 67. Those early experiences started a lifetime passion for all the great ocean liners. I was so excited to visit the QM as soon as she opened to the public in the early '70s. Then, from 73 onward, I would stay on board whenever possible. But I was always disappointed, frustrated, even angered at the way the ship was run as a tourist trap more than what, as you succinctly point out, should be all about the most beloved ship of all time, the QM. An Ocean Liner. But from the start in the '70s, the ship was to me, always "the ship of locked doors". I have always stated that all the rubbish such as Dark Harbour, and the obsession with haunted this and that has no place in the long term success of the QM. Yes, by all means, the main lounge should be just that, the main lounge. High tea at 4:00pm. Music, dancing! The smoking room should also be a lounge, with old school things such as bingo and horseracing. The Verandah Grille, home to one of the most famous and beautiful works of art, Zinkeisen's mural, should be once again that elite supper club that so many of the world's famous enjoyed. I never could understand the need to convert officer's quarters into Sir Winston's when one of the most famous of all seagoing venues, the Verandah Grille, was turned into a fast food outlet. The Cabin class main lounge should be a lounge for hotel guests, where also informative lectures are held and also movies shown. And rebuild the cabin class bar! And of course, the largest room afloat, (yes it IS larger than Normandie's main dining room), arguably the most spectactular room on the ship, should be open daily as the main restaurant. Plenty of other venues to hold banquets in. Or, like many of the great hotels of the golden age in Europe, you can always reserve them for group functions.
Fantastic ideas!!! This is what we have always wanted!! Those that adore her, like me!! And, my mommy and I, were probably the original immersive cosplay people, ever, as back in the 90's, we went there each month, with our annual passes, and totally pretended we were on Cruises, and dressed up in 1940's attire, the whole nine yards!! We has so much fun!!!
WOW!!! You actually sailed on the Queen Mary?? that is sooo coool!!! Your ideas make so much more sense!! I recently fell down the rabbit hole of ocean liners on youtube and found a video of someone reviewing the QM hotel. I was confused at how it was marketed as the most haunted ship. =.= This historic ship has led a successful career over decades.. she deserves to be preserved in a dignified manner!
My only bragging right is that my late mother applied white enamel to the toilets! Back in the 1930s. She also watched the launch from the south bank of the river and got her feet wet by the wave she displaced as she entered the Clyde.
Your ideas for generating more income are great. @OceanLiner Designs would be a great person to invite to the ship. He is very knowledgeable and likes to dress in period correct clothing. Hopefully the city was listening and will implement these ideas. Thanks for your hard work to bring us updates on the Queen Mary. I am thankfu as welll that the city of long beach is taking such good care of her. Most of the ocean liners are gone and it's heartwarming to see the preservation of our history and such a beloved ship
YES u nailed it. pretending to be a passenger on QM1 would be so cool, i mean; all of us who love old liners would do so since there is only one liner left today.
Social media influencers are having a very positive effect and you’re a stand out among them Alex! Major changes are happening and they seem to mirror things you’ve been saying for the past few years. I couldn’t agree more with your suggestions. I also deplore the “haunted house” angle. The ship’s historical significance is much more captivating. You’re a great spokesperson for the Queen Mary.
Thank you! And yes, you're right, many of the things I spoke about a couple years ago are being implemented!
Haunted house shenanigans = tacky AF.
Like you said - there's so much more to focus on.
wow traveling like this would be a dream shows how much today sucks with airplanes and buses. please bring ships back.
Unbelievable Alex! EXCELLENT REPORT! You covered everything needed to be spoken and worded it beautifully! I was glad I was able to lend you some photos and footage to use. I am VERY impressed with your ending and the three suggestions you offered to COLB and Evolution... hopefully they are watching and take heed.
Thanks! I hope they do watch it.
@@AlextheHistorianis there a chance you could give an update regarding if they take your ideas into consideration
Sure, well for starters they began selling much better merchandise now, that's something I suggested before, but it could be a coincidence. I'll keep the channel updated.
Seventeen years ago, I was married on the Queen Mary. The ceremony was at the stern of the ship and our reception was in the Royal Salon room. An added convenience... we stayed on the ship that night then simply got up the next morning and boarded a Carnaval ship for a honeymoon cruise.
Being British 🇬🇧, I am so proud of all this good news !.
Thanks so much for posting up 🇬🇧☝️👍
Me too. (I'm from Clydebank, Scotland.)
@@fokkerfilms560 Anyone can become British these days!! Simply wash Up on a RIB on Dover beach and guess What, your British!!
British My Arse.....................................means nowt any more!!!
Your concept has merit and contains the modern day tools to penetrate the the cacophony of marketing strategies blasted at us each & everyday. I hope your target audience swallows their pride and stuffs their egos and call you! The potential for Long Beach to reimagine the future for the famous ocean liner from the early Twentieth Century is remarkably doable. Hoping for the best!
I doubt I'll ever get to visit the Queen Mary, but seeing an electrical motor from US Motors, a plant in my hometown of Mena, AR, being used on the ship made me proud.
This update is encouraging. The docents who are conducting the restoration have done their homework. QUEEN MARY is slowly being restored to the showboat that she once was. They are doing a beautiful job. 😊
Oh my goodness- everything looks so clean and shiny! The beautiful woodwork and flooring, even those railings! So wonderful to see her looking so grand. Thank you for a wonderful report 😍
I hardly use the word "absolutely" but will here... Absolutely beautiful!!
The queen looking great
Really love the “package” idea. One fee for a 2 day stay with meals and entertainment. Almost like a cruise. I would def do that. As always, great video Alex.
Yes precisely!
"Staycation!" Excellent idea!
@AlextheHistorian some of those empty spaces should be converted to rooms from other famous ships that show how opulent they were and would function as restaurants and other venues.
Wow! She's looking wonderful! Actually inlaying the linoleum is some serious dedication, and the paneling appears to have been properly restored. Thank you very much for the updates!
I am enjoyed footage of Queen Mary restoration. I traveled First Class from New York to Cherbourg in 1961 still have luggage tags guest log of that memorable trip.
I was very lucky to spend two weeks aboard her. I had a suite in the First Class area. Faux 1930s furniture and the bath had non-working hot and cold sea water spigots
This was back in 2006. I definitely thought she was beautiful then. Now it's absolutely going to be extraordinary.
This is so lovely to hear that the old Queen Mary is getting a proper makeover. I once traveled on this ship as a child (over 80 now)... I had no idea this was happening, the last UA-cam vid I watched about the ship, it was almost derilect and there were thoughts on scrapping it....! I am so pleased that she is going to have another lease of life... I wish you all every good luck with this project and look forward to seeing it completed......😀😃😄
It's been so great to see Queen Mary recieve so much love. The ship has been much busier than she has been in decades. My friends showed me the crowds aboard the ship just yesterday, I've never seen so many people on the Queen Mary before!
Good to see the old girl getting some love, looking forward to seeing her be drydocked and get a proper scraping down and her bottom seen to.
Superb video on an iconic vessel - and your recommendations to Long Beech on improving the business model of the ship are spot on - yes we want an ocean liner experience!
Your closing comments are spot on.
Thanks!
I've spent time on the Queen Mary long beach and enjoyed every moment of that beautiful old world nostalgic piece of art! And..she is haunted .. but for all the right reasons?! A Visit is highly recommended ! 💫⭐✨
I love your suggestions and I hope they’re listening, Alex. Vintage style musicians and people who appreciate the time period would love to spend more time there. 😉
GREAT VIDEO ALEX!!!! I AGREE WITH YOU 100% PLEASE CONTINUE TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH. THE QUEEN MARY IS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AND RESTORATION. SHE LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL NOW!!!!
Well hello, I have just watched your very interesting article concerning the beautiful Queen Mary. I was born in Southampton, her home port and watched the QM leave on her final voyage to Long Beach. My grandfather, a cabinet maker at Waygood Otis elevators in London, was involved in the installation of the lifts on board. I have been lucky enough to have visited the vessel in Long Beach on 2 occasions and it is heartening to see the sympathetic nature of the restoration work being carried out.
Here's to the future of a wonderful liner.
Peter Noice, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.
Queen Mary's elevators have always fascinated me. They are stunning, and a prime example of British Art Deco.
I worked on the Queen Mary from 2004 until Covid. This was a really great video. It felt like I was back home. Keep up the great work!
I have stayed on the Queen Mary a few times. I stay there when I go on my cruises. And yes, she is haunted. I look forward to staying on her soon again and seeing all the new features. She is absolutely beautiful. I like her better than the newer ships.
The idea of being able to take a 'cruise' on the Queen Mary intrigues us and we would like to subscribe to its newsletter...
Excellent video, thank you for the update. In September 1982 myself & my good friend Glen toured the Queen Mary. We had hours of enjoyment onboard this classic ocean liner that day. So cool to see what's happening on the Queen Mary 41 years later. BTW, all your videos are fab.
Thank you so much!
I hope they keep her as original as possible ! She’s an important part of ocean liner history !
I’m just so thankful to see the queen getting the care she deserves! The city actually cares about her it really warms my heart, as I said on your last video..the queen will be here for as long as the sea allows.
SUCH A RELIEF that QM is saved and cared for!! With SS United States in precarious circumstance last I checked, this unique historical artifact is essential to save.
Be proud Alex...so very thorough, informative, and extremely fascinatingly entertaining!!!!
Thank you!
Seeing queen mary moved to a dry dock will be truly mind boggling to see. The queen sails again!
You are 100% correct... IMO - they should hire you!
My aunt sailed on the Queen Mary, I think it was soon after WWII. My mom said it was still painted gray at the time. Married my uncle who was an English sailor who she met in the US during the war.
Yes, after the war the Queen Mary was tasked with transporting war brides to the United States. She still had on her grey paint to keep her disguised.
That's nice to hear; "She was more of a happy ship!" My Grandfather sailed on the QM from NY to London when she was used as a Troopship while he was enlisted in the US Army! Grandpa said it was much nicer and faster than the Liberty ship they returned on! Grandpa went on to becoming a machinist at the Brooklyn Navy Yards for the next 30 years after the war!
Your Grandpa was right. During the war, Queen Mary was not only the fastest troop ship in the world, but also the fastest ocean liner in the world! She held the title of world's fastest for 14 years.
@@AlextheHistorian He said that coming home was the worst! The ship they were on hit stormy seas and everyone on board was sea sick! Blech! Grandpa was a communications lineman for the 94th Infantry and a Corporal! They went to France and Germany shortly after D-Day!
My wife and I stayed overnight and enjoyed ourselves. We had a guided tour called the Captain's tour. I was bummed out that those in charge of her had to remove much of the engineroom and boiler spaces. When we went down into the swimming pool area the guide showed us where the crew moved from deck to deck to stay out of sight from the passengers using the pillars by the swimming pool, you could see a ladder that went up and down. That evening I took my own tour for about an hour so went down into the engineering spaces where they were emptied out. It was spacious down there.
It’s surely great to see the Rms queen Mary looking her best! I do agree that she should be a happy and luxurious ship and not some ghost attraction.
Amazing what beauty the west used to create, less than 100 years ago! Such a feat of engineering as well.
Very detailed video and narrative, most informative and interesting. From the Clyde I
am very grateful for such a good update of the great ship. Thanks. Rmb
queen mary is the queen of the sea
Genius. I recently was gifted a visit aboard for my birthday and (shameless plug) crafted a video highlighting the changes and showcasing the current experience, and it was like seeing the ship for the first time. She SMELLS clean and fresh and new while still retaining the wonderful wood and other such aromas that no doubt made her the “happy ship” she was in her sailing days.
I LOVE the ideas to make the experience more immersive without breaking the bank. Visitors need a place to sit down and be able to chill-ax. For the tour I took, we were all awkwardly standing by the entrance on Promenade Deck waiting for our amazing tour guide. Let’s put on the Ritz! Love all your deep-dive research and insight.
Also. This video felt like 10 minutes to me. So rich and thoughtful in detail.
Thanks Richard! Yes, I remember taking tours aboard the ship and they had us standing around, waiting for our guides in all these random spots. They have several perfectly suitable lounges on Promenade deck, any one of them could be used to allow tour guests to wait for their guide. But yes, I think the old smoking room should be where tours meet up, but the room should still be available for non-tour guests to at least walk in a bit, maybe 1/3 the way in, to at least see the room without having to purchase a tour.
Wonderful. I was married on the Queen Mary in 1979 (no longer). It was just close friends and family. I was just looking at their web page and it doesn't list or show the small chapel where the wedding took place. Now I'm going to have to dig through boxes of photos to find the photos. For some reason I'm thinking it was port side off the promenade deck. She was still in very good shape, so I was sad to hear how she wasn't kept up. Now she gets a second life. They should like to you for bringing in people. (side note: It would be fun to talk marketing ideas with you. I'm not in marketing rather retired IT System Engineer. I see so many marketing ideas never realized in todays start-ups.)
You are right, the wedding chapel is located on the portside promenade aft. You can see the entrance to it in this video where I mention how more of the promenade was opened and the teak decks are original.
The chapel is still a wedding chapel. A fun fact is that the chapel was the Second Class Smoking Room. They didn't even remodel the room aside from adding pews and an altar!
Art Deco never needs replaced
When I moved away from Southern California a few years ago, the Queen Mary was the one place I was sad to leave. Even more heartbreaking was the disrepair (and disrespect!) she was allowed to fall into. That the City of Long Beach has put their shoulder to the wheel in restoring her is a great testament to their vision for their city. I am now so anxious to get back to the Queen. She's such a grand, beautiful ship and I never tire of stepping back in time whenever I board. By the way, Alex, your suggestions and recommendations for making her more profitable are excellent! I hope the City of Long Beach is listening!
(PS: If anyone wants to see the Queen actually sailing, watch the first part of the 1936 movie, "Dodsworth." It's such a thrill to see her afloat, sailing out of New York Harbor!)
Wow! I want to visit the Queen Mary now... the ship looks amazing and not to mention the history it has. Loved your video and the update.
She looks fab. So good to see this grand old lady being looked after as well as she is.
Definitely agree with your idea of the ocean liner experience. That's what I was expecting when I was onboard, but nothing but locked rooms.
A fantastic piece of history, WW2 too! Such a strong well built ship, great Art Deco. I’m glad Long Beach is doing such a superb job looking after her. 🇬🇧👍👍👍
I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on an "Ocean Liner Experience"!! Returning to the age of Steamers, even for a day, would help to preserve not only the Queen Mary but the history of the era in so many aspects (just look at the success various historically themed weekends places like The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island have). Talk about the celebrities who sailed on her including showing their "Latest " (based on the current era being highlighted) movies in the theatre, partner with the studios do have temporary exhibits of the golden age of Hollywood from each with tie-ins to their stars and QM. SO much that can be done!!! The Pre-COVID "Titanic in Photographs" exhibition was just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended).
This update lifted my spirits substantially. Whenever I saw anything about Queen Mary I wouldn’t watch, because when I stayed there in 2005, her condition was deteriorating so quickly, I was certain she would be scrapped within a decade, without the TLC she desperately deserves. I hope LB listens to your Ideas. I too think virtual cruises is a fantastic idea. I would enjoy having that experience. Thanks for showing me/us the hope there is for her future.
I'm glad I could help lift your spirits. I too had seen all the negative press about the ship, then I did my own research and read through the reports and realized the truth about the ship's prognosis was actually really positive, but the media was selling stories of doom and gloom.
I had no clue the ship wasn't just broken down. I really adore the history of ocean liners and would definitely love to go see this ship. The fact that it is also a hotel blows me mind and I'll have to plan a trip next year to stay.
It's really fantastic to walk around the ship!
Alex, this vid really put a smile on my face. The last time I was on the Mary, at least five years back, it looked like she was already on her way to the Breakers Yard. Alex, when it comes to the Queen Mary, you are the right man in the right place at the right time. Thank for posting..... OH, and great narration.
Thanks!
Alex, after a lot of effort my son got a job at Club 33 as a chief. They really made him jump through the hoops. Have a great day.....
@@jetsons101 congratulations to him!
@@AlextheHistorian Thanks, I'll let him know, he just got home....
I love my ship. She and I are exactly 40 years apart. I worked aboard the ship for many years. I collected many books and stories. I hated that she was so neglected.
I suggest the elementary students have tours aboard the Queen Mary. They will learn history and her history. They can share it with family, whom will want to visit also. A new generation must be taught to appreciate her so that she is never forgotten.
What a JOB! This is incredible. Thanks, Alex. Your suggestions for public utilisation at the end - I would have thought this a no-brainer for the organizations responsible for the ship. If the QM was in Cape Town, it would be a normal functional hotel with a few businesses operating restaurants, bars and boutique shops. There would also be an art gallery with a changing exhibition.
Thank you Alex, for this update. It's truly enjoyable and informative. I wanted to stand up and cheer when you mentioned the fact that Queen Mary was a Happy Ship, something I always tell people when the subject of her alleged "haunting" comes up. It was always a hokey and inappropriate concept for this beloved ship. It's uplifting to hear that her lighting is being changed to give her a more fittingly cheerful appearance.
I must say that your ideas for the business side of things are brilliant. I hope that they are heard and acted upon. The Royal Mail Ship Queen Mary is ready for a new era, the best yet in her role as a museum ship. I hope that your tremendous contribution is appreciated, though I'm sure that you don't do the great work you do for the recognition, but for the genuine love you have for this magnificent express liner.
Thank you! Yes, I care more about this ship than any other historic artifact I've ever been obsessed with.
In the early '90's I had the Privilege to stay on the Queen Mary over night and had a nice room, it was a good experience to feel what it was like to be a passenger and walk the hallway that bowed up and there was a door at the end of my hall that led into a section of old original wood stairs and hall walls that was off limits but seeing it through the crack in the door Gave a spooky vibe.
Long live the Queen
She’s a grand old lady. Beautiful, long, sleek, and elegant, unlike the ugly, bulky ships being built now.
Bravo Long Beach! I am so glad the ship is doing well and so beautiful restored! I won't forget my visit to her in 2003 with my dad. And maybe in the near future, I will visit her again. The most beautiful ship in the world! We in The Netherlands have our " s.s. Rotterdam", but she is a dwarf in comparison.😂
The lights! They have brought her back to life! RMS Queen Mary looks absolutely glorious with the new LED lighting system and has probably never looked this amazing since her sailing days from 1936-1967. Her ornate woodwork, chrome railings, light fixtures and Art Deco ornamentation can finally be seen and appreciated in full. The City of Long Beach and Evolution Hospitality have done an extraordinary job restoring her teak decking and railings, parquet flooring and overall appearance that highlights the glamour of this Grand Old Lady of the Atlantic. Throughout my many visits to the ship, from the 1980s to the most recent in January 2020, she felt so gloomy and seemed so unhappy along the hotel passageways, with only one out of every three fluorescent lightbulbs working, that it was difficult to imagine how she could have been so beloved. Now, she is like a completely brand-new Art Deco wonder, where I can at last appreciate and understand why she was such a happy, beloved ship. Having been aboard all three current Cunard Queens, she is starting to outshine them in appearance, despite her age and because of the era she hails from. To the City of Long Beach: The three proposals that this ardent supporter of RMS Queen Mary has proposed on this outstanding video could make this symbol of Long Beach and the Special Relationship between Britain and America a profitable venture. Open up those large public spaces to everyone! Serving a daily High Tea with period music and furniture would be a huge draw at a time when people crave glamour, style and escapism from the harsh and sober realities of a dissonant, divided society today. The same can be applied to the Observation Bar and other areas of the ship. An ocean liner "experience" is something foreign to most young people. However, once exposed to it, they are often very much in awe and drawn to it. We also saw this with the popularity of the US sitcom, "The Love Boat," which ran from 1976 to 1985. That series almost single-handedly started the cruise ship boom that continues to this day. The Promenade Deck can be a hub and social area for those enjoying the "experience," much as Decks 2 and 7 are aboard RMS Queen Mary 2 today. Special period-themed events would be a huge draw. Take inspiration from the Cunard Line today and perhaps reach out to them, as they have a base in Southern California too. They are American-owned by Carnival Corporation and British-run and operated, reinforcing the notion of the Special Relationship between these two countries. They have created a perfect blend of glamour without the pretentiousness. All in all, this is wonderful news. Alex, you've made my week with this update. Greetings from Southampton, England!
Thank you! I'm glad I can provide a ray of sunshine
A minimal effort approach would be to have a Cunard logo shop in one of the retail spaces [Cunard bears, books, models; logo hats shirts, umbrellas.....] Periodically Cunard could have a 'future cruise consultant' on board - or possibly be able to offer some Cunard on board credit / future cruise deposit as part of a QM 'shipboard experience' hotel stay package.
They have the local presence and it would be a win-win for @CunardLine to perhaps have a location in Piccadilly Circus on the Promenade Deck, where there’s vacancy and since the old Travel Bureau on Main Deck is too remote for day visitors who won’t venture down there. If not aboard Queen Mary, Cunard may find more success in a space in the proposed expanded cruise terminal where passengers are more likely to book a Cunard cruise aboard one of the soon-to-be four Queens.
My partner and I stayed on board last night and it was a great experience, and it’s nice to see the progress that has been made and what’s to come. I hope the Sun Deck and B Deck get some major TLC soon though! We spoke with a hotel lobby staff member and they said they don’t anticipate a “100% reopening of all rooms, restaurants and attractions” until the end of next year. That sounds far, but it’s a great time to show your support and enthusiasm for the ship!
I can’t wait to go on another cruise aboard her! She is a true marvel! I only wish that they would do a restoration for the SS United States. She is truly our nation’s flagship!
I stayed on the Queen Mary this past weekend, AMA.
I am so glad to see that Long Beach is refurbishing the Queen Mary and you make some great suggestions.
We were forced to spend an extra day in Long Beach due to a delay in our cruise (mar 2020!) And we spent the entire day exploring the Queen Mary. It was the perfect experience and made the disappointment of our cruise being delayed palatable. The Queen Mary also was a very affordable overnight for many cruise guests before it was closed. And it goes well with the cruise industry.
Great videos.
Nice to see efforts are being made to improve the experience. Stayed a night in 2017 and the ship was really tired.
I just went to visit her yesterday. I am just as fascinated as you are about the Queen Mary. Thank you for all your videos and updates Alex. I agree with you 100% about the ideas you have to make the ship money. I would love to come and pretend I’m in a different era, and even dress up as so! What an amazing idea!!♥️
Shes looking soooooo nice! I havent been onboard in years - I was in Los Angeles for a cruise out of San Pedro in early March but she wasnt open yet - next time - Ill be spending a few nights onboard!
Thankyou as always for the update and wow she is looking really good long live a true Queen
During Desert Storm I was stationed at Norton Air Force Base and took a trip to see the Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose that was being taken apart for her move. I was glad to see both and was told the ship was going to get towed to Japan and become a shopping mall. Then I heard it was falling in disrepair. I am so thankful to know she is in Long Beach and not going anywhere. I had never been on ship before and she had some real class we will never see again. (The year was either 1990-91 because they closed the AFB and we were transferred to LRAFB.)
It was likely 1991, because at the time, Disney was leasing the ship from Long Beach, and when the city denied them the request to build a theme park next to the ship, they forfeited the lease and split. The future of the ship was up in the air after that.
Also, thank you for your service!
I fell in love with this ship in 2017; was able to stay onboard for a few days in 2019. So excited to go back and see all the hard work to restore her to her former glory.
The bar is certainly worth a visit.
Wow! The ship is looking amazing! Thanks for the updates! Havent been on her since late 2018. The package idea sounds great.
I think it would be great to use the first class main lounge as a theater for a couple of hours in the afternoon. They could show old Laurel and Hardy or Three Stooges shorts. The art panel above the fireplace has the cut outs for a projector. I would love the see the synagogue restored to its former glory. In the 90s, they used to have a lot of exhibit space on the sun deck and it had a section where you could watch a short video about the SS Curaçao incident. I think it would be great to have a section of the boiler room open as part of the self guided tour. It seems like there are so many areas that could be opened up to the public.
Thanks for this great video on a wonderful, classy, lady! I have visited her twice in the last 40 years. I remember telling my fiancé when we were visiting California during the 90s that I have to go see Mary. She was reluctant at first, but when we pulled off of the highway and the Queen came into view, she was in awe! I encourage anyone who visits Cali to stop by and see the Queen. It is a grand peak into the golden days of travel and will leave one with an unforgettable experience!
I was at the entrance to the L.B. harbor when she arrived...... I have photos and that was the coolest thing I had ever taken a picture of to date....... Glad she is still afloat and doing O.K........ Looks darn nice now.😁
I like your idea of multiple day packages. It's on my bucket list to do.
WELL DONE, ALEX !! I Love this presentation and History. I am HAPPY to hear that this historical and beautiful vessel is being Properly Restored. I am a fan of Art Deco and this ship is a Beautiful exapmle of Art Deco. Your Ideas for the ship are Fantastic ! This would increase needed revenues to preserve her. So much of World History objects go destroyed and lost forever. Thank You, Well done !
Thanks Alex. Good to see that Hull 534 is in good hands. I was aboard her in 1996 and what a beauty. I guess, there will be a Morning After....
That’s awesome would love to visit her again soon! I think I would enjoy it a lot more now with all the new renovations that resembles the historical look more :)
I love your suggestions!! Especially the one about feeling like a passenger on an ocean liner. There is only 1 ocean liner left in the world and the Queen Mary can be more accessible to those who cannot go aboard the Queen Mary 2. Also, it'll be sooo coool to feel like one is in the old days hehehehe.. This would feel like traveling through time.. hehehe..
The Grey Hound. I always found the idea of reducing such an iconic ship sought after by enemy subs, to a mere haunted ship, very out of place. She was too fast to be hit by enemies. Now that is SUPER COOL!! I know ocean liners mostly functioned as troop-carriers but this wartime element cannot be understated. Games like World of Warships increase interest in maritime history. I hope more of the Queen Mary's service during war can be highlighted.
Love the idea about working with historical influencers.
I am thrilled with this news! My father sailed on the Queen Mary when it was a troopship in WWII. He was billeted in the Turkish Bath area. I traveled to the Los Angeles/Long Beach area many times over the years, and made many visits to the Queen Mary with my mother before taking the ferry to Catalina. Also, in the early 2000's I worked for a company that supported Continental Airlines. Whenever a hurricane threatened the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area, some of our staff was shipped out to Huntington Beach to keep our airline support seamless. In 2005, a hurricane crossed our area just about every weekend for 4 or 5 weeks. A close friend and co-worker and I visited the Queen Mary multiple times while we were in the area. We even took pictures at the staircase with the "Isolation Ward" sign. I am definitely looking forward to returning to the Queen Mary again as soon as possible. I can only hope that we can just get someone on the East Coast to do the same for the S.S. United States.
Have to say - great restoration of the Liner is being undertaken.