My new WEBSITE, "rmsQMwiki": rmsqmwiki.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page NOTES: -1:28 I say that Queen Mary is the last Atlantic Liner built before World War II. I meant that there are no others still in existence, she's the last survivor. -At 9:40 I say that the davits were designed to lower a lifeboat at "60 feet per second". I meant to say "per minute"*. And that's going to bug me forever. -At 29:49 I mention the B Deck floors being original to 1936. They were actually from 1947.
Another note: 1:38 Queen Mary was almost certainly not the last Atlantic liner built before the war. Although she was also intended for cruising, HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam had her maiden voyage in 1938. Also, the new Mauretania had her maiden voyage in 1939.
@nspringhart although I can understand why the Mary was preserved she had done a lot of service during WW2 and had protected a city from being flooded when a rogue wave hit her
I crossed the Atlantic on her with my mother in 1956. We were traveling first class. I remember it very well. It was a rough December crossing. The dining room tables had little walls around the edges to keep the dishes from falling off. Entertainment was in the Ballroom in the evening. I spent time with 2 other teenage giris, one from India whose father was in foreign service, and one from Yugoslavia. English was our common language. The library was the most memorable room to me. It was full of books, polished wood with leather chairs, and two fireplaces.
@@BB-nr3sm ...and you know, 1956 isbmy year of birth. I was born on the 20th of Sep. that year - exactly ELEVEN YEARS BEFORE THE LAUNCH of the RMS 'Queen Elizabeth 2'. The latter may easily be dubbed Our Times' BREMEN, as her impact on contemporsry liners' architecture was immense. But 'Mary' is 'Mary'. Can you imagine, that I started being interested in Her as early as 1983? Being a Pole myself I am from a country whose liners DID make the history of the Seaway: nine ships, 58 years of service and NO LOSS of a single ship during peacetime? Poland is as well the country, where the City of Szczecin now lies, that cradle of four-stacked express NDL and HAPAG liners. Come and enjoy the country and the city. ♍👍😊
I'm SO happy she's been rescued and is getting cared for. My late husband and I spent 2 nights on her in 1984. We were upgraded to a suite! What an amazing time we had! We sat in the gorgeous lounge and met a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary- a good omen!
So enjoyed this video. Traveled to UK in 1962 as an 11 year old girl on board the Queen Mary. Even at such a young age, I knew that this was a trip of a lifetime. In all my travels as a young adult and beyond, nothing surpassed traveling on the Queen Mary. Came home on the Queen Elizabeth, but the Queen Mary holds a special place in my heart. Lucky me. I still believe that it’s the only civilized way to travel abroad.
Had opportunity to visit California back in 2018 and finally meet the Queen Mary, it is worth every penny you pay at the entrance fee. Forget these Hollywood "celebrities" posers, Queen Mary is the real celebrity and a war hero too.
By far, the best QM tour yet. Visual and audio narration are top notch. Visited her in 1974 in Long beach. So much work to keep her in period correct magnificence. Interior and exterior included. I just hope it will continue. Hoping your efforts create awareness and $$'s to the cause. Well done !!
Alex, this is marvelous. I enjoyed having you as a tour guide. While I will (one day) get to Long Beach, this was a wonderful way to experience the ship. Many thanks!
Thanks for the wonderful tour. Back in the 90's my wife and I stayed aboard, in the hotel 3 different times in the old original cabins and loved it. During those stays we have eaten at Sir Winstons and enjoyed a few drinks in the bar over looking the forecastle. Glad to see she is being refurbished. Another bit of info. Back in the mid 50's my grand parents took their trip of a lifetime to Europe. They sailed on board the Queen Mary either going over or coming back, I don't remember. I do have a portion of a brochure that shows the ships deck plan and the cabin they stayed in. They were in either second or third class. Their cabin was about the size of large closet with bunkbeds. Besides the beds there was only a small wardrobe and a sink in the cabin. Very tight quarters. The toilets and showers were down the hall in a common facility. Those were "the good old days"? LOL
Does the brochure label the areas as "Tourist"? If it does, it means they stayed in Third Class. Definitely very tight cabins, people tolerated the experience into the 1950s, but absolutely deplored it by the 1960s! Though the toilets and bathing rooms were kept spotless, I'm sure it was still no fun to share with other people in their area of the ship. lol
Yep, modern Europeans are quick to defend aging historic structures...unfortunately, in the U.S. you practically have to twist the arm of the public to get them to see and understand the importance of preservation. Unless you're talking about the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Golden Gate Bridge...the general public honestly prefers removing "old stuff". In fact, just the other day I saw a forum where MANY people were confounded why "money is wasted" on preserving the Golden Gate Bridge when they should just "build a modern bridge" in its place. I was astounded.
@@AlextheHistorian ... That's a sad state of affairs. I'm a Brit and love old architecture and support the preservation of the old such as buildings and the Queen Mary etc, history must not be forgotten and no new buildings will surpass the beauty and quality of the likes of the Victorian era. I'm sure Queen Mary would be very happy that her namesake is still in fine fettle.
@@AlextheHistorian I think it might be because US has next to nothing history. Europe has thousands of years , US has what, few hundreds? There are no real historical roots as most of the population is immigrants over the years. People just don't have the sense of connecting with the roots of the land. That and the systematic dumbing down to easier control.... Sad.
Thank goodness someone had the foresight to keep this historic ship for future generations to experience, albeit stationary. This is truly the only way to travel, forget the new monsters that pose as cruise ships, bring back class and elegance.
THIS was an excellent video! WONDERFUL tour. I had just been aboard in December for 2 nights and thought I had visited everything possible - I even booked a Sunday brunch and Glory Years tour while aboard and STILL I missed some key spaces and areas. This was excellent! I only wish I had seen it before visiting. I'm inspired to return again (for my 3rd visit) in 2026 for the 90th Anniversary of the Maiden Crossing. If I time it just right, I can be aboard on the very day(s) of those events. My December 8-10th stay coincided (accidentally) with her final day at sea and arrival in Long Beach anniversary (Dec 9). Its an extraordinary ship. Something for everyone!
I hope they enjoy the video. I've spoken to a lot of British folks who take great pride in the history of the Queen Mary, and they are often so amazed at seeing a large piece of UK history floating along the sunny California coast. It's a strange combination. But they often remark how stepping aboard the ship is not only like stepping back onto British land, but also stepping back in time when the likes of Winston Churchill or Queen Mary herself, were still alive. And to hear that Queen Elizabeth II wandered the halls and lounges of the ship when she was just a girl...it speaks to them. Do let me know what your parents think of the video or seeing the ship in this video, I'm curious to hear about their reaction!
Fantastic, sir. Thank you for this. You've given some spaces on the ship to look forward to when I visit Queen Mary in April. This is just wonderful. Hopefully, it brings even more interest in the ship, and more people will want to see her for themselves. And the new website is absolutely invaluable and a godsend for us QM lovers, and really for anyone with an interest in history. Good work! 👍 Long may the Queen reign. 🚢
Thank you for making this video! It’s been years since I was there. It is unbelievable how big it is in real life, and the length of the hallways. You did such an incredible job of capturing the beauty of this piece of history. An irreplaceable treasure. Wow…
6:39 one of my favorite spots on board the captain's cabin has a great story Captain George Gibbons (January 29, 1936) Commodore Reginald V. Peel (August 4, 1936) Commodore Robert B. Irving (November 11, 1936) Captain John C. Townley (March 30, 1937) Captain Peter A. Murchie (April 19, 1938) Captain Ernest M. Fall (April 9, 1941) Commodore Sir James Bisset (February 23, 1942) Commodore Cyril G. Illingworth (August 10, 1942) Captain Roland Spencer (July 29, 1944) Commodore Chas M. Ford (March 11, 1946) Commodore George E. Cove (December 6, 1946) Commodore Sir C. Ivan Thompson (February 15, 1947) Captain John A. MacDonald (March 6, 1947) Captain John D. Snow (July 4, 1947) Commodore Harry Grattidge (December 31, 1948) Captain Harry Dixon (July 20, 1950) Captain Robert G. Thelwell (August 13, 1951) Captain Donald W. Sorrell (August 19, 1952) Commodore George G. Morris (June 27, 1956) Commodore Chas S. Williams (June 25, 1957) Captain Alexander B. Fasting (September 11, 1957) Captain Andrew MacKellar (August 26, 1958) Commodore John W. Caunce (October 22, 1958) Commodore Donald M. MacLean (June 24, 1959) Captain James Crosbie Dawson (March 30, 1960) Captain Sidney A. Jones (May 25, 1960) Commodore Frederick G. Watts (August 9, 1960) Captain Eric A. Divers (June 19, 1962) Commodore Geoffrey T. Marr (May 7, 1964) Captain John Treasure Jones all stayed in this cabin!
I wish Long Beach would restore the original first class,second and third class rooms that are unused or now shops as well as put replica boilers in hull of the ship
I love watching your videos on this great old dame. Your devotion to this ship is inspiring to the point that I am flying cross country to stay on this ship in a couple of weeks time. I can't wait!
This ship is everything you made it out to be. After walking the ship today I came back and rewatched your video and realized that I had missed a ton of things to do. Thanks again!@@AlextheHistorian
Knowing my share on Her, I fully appreciate the quality of guiding through the QM. Well done! Many thanks for the story you tell. And carry on, Your Steel Majesty! 😊♍🇵🇱👍♥️
I spent two nights aboard her in 1983 when the Hercules was hangared next door. Even back then you could hear footsteps and doors slamming shut in the middle of the night, and the hotel staff said there was no one else staying nearby since it was a Monday and Tuesday and during the off season and I was one of only three guests onboard at the time. I loved it! I was only 21 years old and drove all the way there from Northern California in my 1969 Dodge Coronet station wagon, and slept most nights in the car. What an adventure! I actually went to see the Hercules more than anything, but loved the spooky nights aboard the Queen just as much! Thanks for the great tour, they didn’t allow access to the entire ship back then.
Excellent work Alex. For me, I was really interested in your video as I worked on 5 trans oceanic cruise ships with calls to 63 ports world wide and wanted to see QM. She’s far more grand than I imagined. Thank you so much for creating the film
TOTALLY AWSOME VIDEO ALEX!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS TOTALLYAWSOME DOCUMENTARY OF THE QUEEN MARY. SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! THANK YOU TO LONG BEACH FOR SAVING HER AND RESTORING HER!!!!!! A DEFITE TOURIST ATTRACTION AND A MUSTSEE!!!!! PLEASE CONTINUE THE RESTOARION EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Alex, your attention to detail is exquisite. I donated to your gofundme for your Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing. With passion like that, many of us would love to see your dream come to fruition!
Thank you Alex for this. It's kind of a revelation. There's so few photographs of her online and they're all in black and white that she comes off looking pretty dowdy and boring. What a surprise! She's quite lovely! Clearly I needed to see her in video or on tour to appreciate her. Alex, as always, you're the best!
Alex, you gave an excellent tour of this historic ship! My father served in the U S Army during WW2 and remembered how hundreds of soldiers would sleep in shifts in the emptied swimming pool. He told of manning the ships' cannons as the ship transferred the soldiers back to the United States.
Always grateful for these tours. Love the Queen Mary,and I am so glad people are visiting again. I wish they would bring back the furniture from the 1930s, it was so stylish and fits properly with the rooms.💕
I lived in Long Beach in the 80s and watched fireworks every night above the Queen Mary in the summer. A reliable source told me that when she came to dock in LB, VIPs from the city were allowed to come in and remove tableware, linens etc. Lucky them. Ive toured down to the engine room. Thank uou for the video.
Thank you for giving a Tour to probably many of us that probably will never be able to get to see this Beauty. Which for me is very sad because I am scared of Flying with an Airplane!
Awesome tour man. Absolutely awesome. I was on her in 1974. I was 8 years old. Don't remember alot of it but i certainly remember that propeller room. Was very well lit . Apparently someone turned off the lights for you. 😂. Anyway, this video brought back alot of memories of that day. Thank you!
On my birthday last year stayed on the Queen Mary in the exact cabin with the marquetry panels of the Nile river…M006. Was gorgeous and such an amazing experience to have for one’s birthday ❤🎉
It’s a wonderful film . I used to lived in southern California , only 40 min driving to Long Beach . But never visited this amazing ship . Thanks for great video and introduction !
Having lived in Long Beach years ago and visiting the Queen Mary then at any opportunity I had, I must say that I am so impressed by your video tour and encyclopedic knowledge of the magnificent Queen. I am so thankful that the City of Long Beach has taken back control and is taking such great care of this masterpiece and it's exciting to hear that the Queen is turning a profit every month too. On my next visit to LA and LB, I will def make a plan to spend two nights onboard .
having grown up in long beach and attended their schools, we had our high school prom in the queen mary’s grand ballroom. such a great, elegant, and memorable venue.
Its good to see you back Alex :)) My favorite room has always been the children's play room. It is fun to see the photos of the original room and the history of Queen Elizabeth and Margaret being the first to play in it. Thanks for the tour! 😊
How exciting!. Alex the website is a much needed successor to the Stirling QM Site. It is a nice modern alternative because the Stirling site has very outdated information from years ago. So it's nice to have a modern website. It's also nice that the new site covers parts of the ship that the Stirling site does not. You also really outdid yourself with the narration, and Kris is the perfect person to film Her Majesty. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.
Alex, if they wanted a swimming pool they could remove the 4D Theater and build the 2nd class pool because the elevator shaft is still there, though the elevators don't go down that far anymore but they could. And If people can't use the elevators they have a gangway and ramp to get down, plus they could build the 2nd class pool to ADA Standards because it would be rebuild it xould meet ADA Standards. What do you think?
This video is superb. I am English and live in the U.K. l have never seen a film like this of this quality even on TV. Thank you America for saving our beloved Queen Mary. Why did we not keep her ourselves? It pays its way! And it would have been an attraction. So wonderful to see this piece of history.
Bravo! ALEX, Bravo! An Absolutely wonderful video documentary you have created here, and you narrate it wonderfully. The ship is looking fantastic. I'm only about an hour away from her. Have visited many times. Will be going this spring to visit her in person. Thank you so much for all you have done to promote, and bring this wonderful treasure into the publics awareness. You may well have played a role in Long Beach deciding to move forward with the repairs, and expenditures due to public awareness of her situation, and the vast majority of people coming to her rescue saying, SAVE OUR QUEEN, SAVE THE QUEEN MARY! Again, Thank you.
As a child during W.W.2 my widowed Mother married a Canadian soldier & in 1946 we set sail With other war brides on the Queen Mary! They had white tableclothes & little pots of tea with teabags that we had never seen before ,I ended up in the ship's hospital with chicken pox The soldiers on the ship used to visit i guess missing their own children would bring us candy bars! The Queen Mary holds a special place in my heart ❤
I have a photo of my self on the 3rd class main deck, forward, taken in winter 1984. I think I might look into how much hotel accommodations run and take a trip down to Long Beach one day soon. Would be incredible to stay onboard a night or two.
Wooooow!! Que maravilla te felicito enormemente por este hermoso video, ya tengo ganas de visitar ese barco, soy un enamorado del ART DECO, y de la era de los grandes trasatlánticos.
Thank you for this video. I'm visiting California for the first time soon and just booked my room on Queen Mary. My husband and I are huge history buffs and this video has gotten us so excited about our stay.
I hope you enjoy your stay. A little tip is that, if you are light sleepers, bring ear plugs. The Queen Mary's sound proofing is 90 years old and not very effective, you can hear the people talking in the cabin next to you, and you can hear concerts happening 4 decks down.
A wonderful tour and excellent history narration. Since I was a kid I have been obsessed with the Queen Mary. I was lucky to stay at the hotel once as a teenager and it was the most beautiful place. One of the best memories of my whole life so far! I am hoping to take my husband for our 10th anniversary next year.
Makes me feel proud of what our country did and the magnificent Queen Mary's War effort absolutely fantastic so glad she is been looked after by our oversea cousins Sir Churchill would be proud🙏🙏🙏🇬🇧
A Great Documentary about a Magnificent Ship performed by Outstanding People & Companies like yourself. Thankyou for saving g this Ship and her Stories for our future Generations... Yes...She is Indomitable...!!!
Wow Alex! Of all the tours you can watch on UA-cam this by far the best! Following on from my last comment I looked at the QM website, I was so impressed at the dining options and the way the restaurants were dressed, Imagine dining in the Veranda Restaurant knowing how many famous people have enjoyed the fine dining experience travelling across the Atlantic. I went to sea in 1978 and worked for Esso Petroleum in both steam and diesel engine rooms, on the second day of my first voyage I met a steward who was retiring after many years at sea, we had a long conversation me being my first trip and fascinated by the life on board experience, what ignited my interest in passenger ships is he showed me his own black and white photographs of himself as a steward on “The Queens” and pictures of Cont Basie, Duke Ellington and Elizabeth Taylor and many others, I could go on about this topic so I’ll continue on another post. As for 2024 the anniversary of the QM, I just hope they stage tea dances with string quartet’s and dances in the First Class lounge featuring big swing bands playing music from the 30’s and 40’s. Thanks Again, Trevor from across the pond👏🏻👏🏻🇺🇸🇬🇧
My new WEBSITE, "rmsQMwiki":
rmsqmwiki.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page
NOTES:
-1:28 I say that Queen Mary is the last Atlantic Liner built before World War II. I meant that there are no others still in existence, she's the last survivor.
-At 9:40 I say that the davits were designed to lower a lifeboat at "60 feet per second". I meant to say "per minute"*. And that's going to bug me forever.
-At 29:49 I mention the B Deck floors being original to 1936. They were actually from 1947.
I checked out the website. Nice job. Should be a nice reference for everyone.
❤❤ she is magic
Another note:
1:38 Queen Mary was almost certainly not the last Atlantic liner built before the war. Although she was also intended for cruising, HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam had her maiden voyage in 1938. Also, the new Mauretania had her maiden voyage in 1939.
@queenmary34 that's not what I meant. I meant that she is the last remaining Atlantic liner built before World War II
Thanks for the information on the Queen Mary, I have enjoyed it thoroughly.
It absolutely makes me beam with joy to see the Queen getting the love and attention she deserves. ^^
But not the ss united states
It deserves* ships don't have vaginas
@@hoshimaruhajime7933There’s not much to help her. She’s going to be scuttled.
@@OzzieBo Very sad, she was a Beautiful Liner.
Kinda sad she didn't get preserved like the Queen.
@nspringhart although I can understand why the Mary was preserved she had done a lot of service during WW2 and had protected a city from being flooded when a rogue wave hit her
We should all thank the heavens the ship still exists and is cared for so we can awe at all its splendor
I visited the Queen Mary in 1978 it is still the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
I crossed the Atlantic on her with my mother in 1956. We were traveling first class. I remember it very well. It was a rough December crossing. The dining room tables had little walls around the edges to keep the dishes from falling off. Entertainment was in the Ballroom in the evening. I spent time with 2 other teenage giris, one from India whose father was in foreign service, and one from Yugoslavia. English was our common language. The library was the most memorable room to me. It was full of books, polished wood with leather chairs, and two fireplaces.
I’m so jealous!!
@@BB-nr3sm ...and you know, 1956 isbmy year of birth. I was born on the 20th of Sep. that year - exactly ELEVEN YEARS BEFORE THE LAUNCH of the RMS 'Queen Elizabeth 2'. The latter may easily be dubbed Our Times' BREMEN, as her impact on contemporsry liners' architecture was immense. But 'Mary' is 'Mary'. Can you imagine, that I started being interested in Her as early as 1983? Being a Pole myself I am from a country whose liners DID make the history of the Seaway: nine ships, 58 years of service and NO LOSS of a single ship during peacetime? Poland is as well the country, where the City of Szczecin now lies, that cradle of four-stacked express NDL and HAPAG liners. Come and enjoy the country and the city. ♍👍😊
I'm SO happy she's been rescued and is getting cared for.
My late husband and I spent 2 nights on her in 1984. We were upgraded to a suite! What an amazing time we had! We sat in the gorgeous lounge and met a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary- a good omen!
My late husband & I celebrated his 1963 reunion 🎉 on it .I think it was our 20th reunion.1983.
El Rancho HS. Pico Rivera,CA.🎉
I love your accent, Scotland and bottom are my favourite words you say 😅❤️
Oh no lol, I'm going to feel self-conscious now whenever I talk about the bottom of Scotland!
So enjoyed this video. Traveled to UK in 1962 as an 11 year old girl on board the Queen Mary. Even at such a young age, I knew that this was a trip of a lifetime. In all my travels as a young adult and beyond, nothing surpassed traveling on the Queen Mary. Came home on the Queen Elizabeth, but the Queen Mary holds a special place in my heart. Lucky me. I still believe that it’s the only civilized way to travel abroad.
Had opportunity to visit California back in 2018 and finally meet the Queen Mary, it is worth every penny you pay at the entrance fee. Forget these Hollywood "celebrities" posers, Queen Mary is the real celebrity and a war hero too.
By far, the best QM tour yet. Visual and audio narration are top notch. Visited her in 1974 in Long beach. So much work to keep her in period correct magnificence. Interior and exterior included. I just hope it will continue. Hoping your efforts create awareness and $$'s to the cause. Well done !!
WE VISITED 1973 &1984 HAVEN'T BEEN BACK SINCE
Alex, this is marvelous. I enjoyed having you as a tour guide. While I will (one day) get to Long Beach, this was a wonderful way to experience the ship. Many thanks!
My pleasure!
Thanks for the wonderful tour. Back in the 90's my wife and I stayed aboard, in the hotel 3 different times in the old original cabins and loved it. During those stays we have eaten at Sir Winstons and enjoyed a few drinks in the bar over looking the forecastle. Glad to see she is being refurbished.
Another bit of info. Back in the mid 50's my grand parents took their trip of a lifetime to Europe. They sailed on board the Queen Mary either going over or coming back, I don't remember. I do have a portion of a brochure that shows the ships deck plan and the cabin they stayed in. They were in either second or third class. Their cabin was about the size of large closet with bunkbeds. Besides the beds there was only a small wardrobe and a sink in the cabin. Very tight quarters. The toilets and showers were down the hall in a common facility. Those were "the good old days"? LOL
Does the brochure label the areas as "Tourist"? If it does, it means they stayed in Third Class. Definitely very tight cabins, people tolerated the experience into the 1950s, but absolutely deplored it by the 1960s! Though the toilets and bathing rooms were kept spotless, I'm sure it was still no fun to share with other people in their area of the ship. lol
Scrapping the Queen Mary today would be like dismantling the Eiffel Tower. It’s incomprehensible!
Yep, modern Europeans are quick to defend aging historic structures...unfortunately, in the U.S. you practically have to twist the arm of the public to get them to see and understand the importance of preservation. Unless you're talking about the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Golden Gate Bridge...the general public honestly prefers removing "old stuff". In fact, just the other day I saw a forum where MANY people were confounded why "money is wasted" on preserving the Golden Gate Bridge when they should just "build a modern bridge" in its place. I was astounded.
@@AlextheHistorian ... That's a sad state of affairs. I'm a Brit and love old architecture and support the preservation of the old such as buildings and the Queen Mary etc, history must not be forgotten and no new buildings will surpass the beauty and quality of the likes of the Victorian era. I'm sure Queen Mary would be very happy that her namesake is still in fine fettle.
I agree, but there's a big difference in maintenance wise for the QM and the Eiffel Tower
Well the maintenance of the Queen Mary is always paid for privately. Never from taxes, so it's not like it negatively affects people.
@@AlextheHistorian I think it might be because US has next to nothing history. Europe has thousands of years , US has what, few hundreds? There are no real historical roots as most of the population is immigrants over the years. People just don't have the sense of connecting with the roots of the land. That and the systematic dumbing down to easier control.... Sad.
ART DECO INSPIRATION!!!!!!
Such a fabulous ship. Let her live forever!
Thank goodness someone had the foresight to keep this historic ship for future generations to experience, albeit stationary. This is truly the only way to travel, forget the new monsters that pose as cruise ships, bring back class and elegance.
THIS was an excellent video! WONDERFUL tour. I had just been aboard in December for 2 nights and thought I had visited everything possible - I even booked a Sunday brunch and Glory Years tour while aboard and STILL I missed some key spaces and areas. This was excellent! I only wish I had seen it before visiting. I'm inspired to return again (for my 3rd visit) in 2026 for the 90th Anniversary of the Maiden Crossing. If I time it just right, I can be aboard on the very day(s) of those events. My December 8-10th stay coincided (accidentally) with her final day at sea and arrival in Long Beach anniversary (Dec 9). Its an extraordinary ship. Something for everyone!
By the time you return in 2026, there might be even more for you to see and do. The ship plans to keep adding attractions and exhibits. :)
I'm absolutely glued to the screen during your videos. Love your passion for this ship!
Lol! Thank you so much!
The Queen is looking magnificent! Many fond memories walking those decks. Thank you Alex.
No problem!
I liked this video so much I sent it to my parents, this is the highest praise I can give. Ha ha. Thanks Alex! 🤣❤️
Lol, thank you! It means a lot to me!
I hope they enjoy the video. I've spoken to a lot of British folks who take great pride in the history of the Queen Mary, and they are often so amazed at seeing a large piece of UK history floating along the sunny California coast. It's a strange combination. But they often remark how stepping aboard the ship is not only like stepping back onto British land, but also stepping back in time when the likes of Winston Churchill or Queen Mary herself, were still alive. And to hear that Queen Elizabeth II wandered the halls and lounges of the ship when she was just a girl...it speaks to them. Do let me know what your parents think of the video or seeing the ship in this video, I'm curious to hear about their reaction!
Such a ICON ! This ship is beautiful.
Fantastic, sir. Thank you for this. You've given some spaces on the ship to look forward to when I visit Queen Mary in April. This is just wonderful. Hopefully, it brings even more interest in the ship, and more people will want to see her for themselves. And the new website is absolutely invaluable and a godsend for us QM lovers, and really for anyone with an interest in history. Good work! 👍 Long may the Queen reign. 🚢
Thank you!
My grandparents came over from Scotland on the Queen Mary. Its last Voyage as a civilian vessel
She's coming back to life😭 so happy❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you for making this video! It’s been years since I was there. It is unbelievable how big it is in real life, and the length of the hallways. You did such an incredible job of capturing the beauty of this piece of history. An irreplaceable treasure. Wow…
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done Alex ❤ for.this great channel. My wife and I have stayed around 9 times over the years, just always happy to be onboard. Keep up great work!
Thank you!
My Dad came home from The Netherlands, after the war when he went to check on his family on her..we also visited her in Long Beach where she is now
My mother came to America in WWII from England, on the Queen Mary they had too dodge the bombs in the sea,❤
Wow was a journey she could never forget
Queen Mary ! Is a world treasure ! Who's value increases with every year !
Brilliant video. Thank you. I visited the ship in the 80's. I want to return some day
My wife and I just spent the night on the Queen Mary January 16! Had a great time and was very impressed with the restorations 🙂
This is one of the best video tours I have ever seen of the Queen Mary.
6:39 one of my favorite spots on board the captain's cabin has a great story Captain George Gibbons (January 29, 1936)
Commodore Reginald V. Peel (August 4, 1936)
Commodore Robert B. Irving (November 11, 1936)
Captain John C. Townley (March 30, 1937)
Captain Peter A. Murchie (April 19, 1938)
Captain Ernest M. Fall (April 9, 1941)
Commodore Sir James Bisset (February 23, 1942)
Commodore Cyril G. Illingworth (August 10, 1942)
Captain Roland Spencer (July 29, 1944)
Commodore Chas M. Ford (March 11, 1946)
Commodore George E. Cove (December 6, 1946)
Commodore Sir C. Ivan Thompson (February 15, 1947)
Captain John A. MacDonald (March 6, 1947)
Captain John D. Snow (July 4, 1947)
Commodore Harry Grattidge (December 31, 1948)
Captain Harry Dixon (July 20, 1950)
Captain Robert G. Thelwell (August 13, 1951)
Captain Donald W. Sorrell (August 19, 1952)
Commodore George G. Morris (June 27, 1956)
Commodore Chas S. Williams (June 25, 1957)
Captain Alexander B. Fasting (September 11, 1957)
Captain Andrew MacKellar (August 26, 1958)
Commodore John W. Caunce (October 22, 1958)
Commodore Donald M. MacLean (June 24, 1959)
Captain James Crosbie Dawson (March 30, 1960)
Captain Sidney A. Jones (May 25, 1960)
Commodore Frederick G. Watts (August 9, 1960)
Captain Eric A. Divers (June 19, 1962)
Commodore Geoffrey T. Marr (May 7, 1964)
Captain John Treasure Jones all stayed in this cabin!
Bless the queen Mary.
I wish Long Beach would restore the original first class,second and third class rooms that are unused or now shops as well as put replica boilers in hull of the ship
I love watching your videos on this great old dame. Your devotion to this ship is inspiring to the point that I am flying cross country to stay on this ship in a couple of weeks time. I can't wait!
Oh wow! Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your visit!
This ship is everything you made it out to be. After walking the ship today I came back and rewatched your video and realized that I had missed a ton of things to do. Thanks again!@@AlextheHistorian
I'm so glad to hear it. She really is a special ship.
She really is fascinating, beautiful and a little bit haunting.
Knowing my share on Her, I fully appreciate the quality of guiding through the QM. Well done! Many thanks for the story you tell. And carry on, Your Steel Majesty!
😊♍🇵🇱👍♥️
I spent two nights aboard her in 1983 when the Hercules was hangared next door. Even back then you could hear footsteps and doors slamming shut in the middle of the night, and the hotel staff said there was no one else staying nearby since it was a Monday and Tuesday and during the off season and I was one of only three guests onboard at the time. I loved it! I was only 21 years old and drove all the way there from Northern California in my 1969 Dodge Coronet station wagon, and slept most nights in the car. What an adventure! I actually went to see the Hercules more than anything, but loved the spooky nights aboard the Queen just as much! Thanks for the great tour, they didn’t allow access to the entire ship back then.
The Queen Mary has finally gotten the restoration and refurbished that she desperately deserved
Excellent work Alex. For me, I was really interested in your video as I worked on 5 trans oceanic cruise ships with calls to 63 ports world wide and wanted to see QM. She’s far more grand than I imagined. Thank you so much for creating the film
Thank you! Yes the Queen Mary is a grand old lady. My favorite ship!
Excellent narration. Am in awe over the beauty of this ship. The number of artisans and architects must be an endless list.
Just started the video n already know I’ll love it AND your channel
Thanks!
TOTALLY AWSOME VIDEO ALEX!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS TOTALLYAWSOME DOCUMENTARY OF THE QUEEN MARY. SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! THANK YOU TO LONG BEACH FOR SAVING HER AND RESTORING HER!!!!!! A DEFITE TOURIST ATTRACTION AND A MUSTSEE!!!!! PLEASE CONTINUE THE RESTOARION EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Glad you enjoyed it, John!
Nice finally a full tour of this nice work
Fantastic shots of the Verandah Grille. Now somewhat restored.
Alex, your attention to detail is exquisite. I donated to your gofundme for your Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing. With passion like that, many of us would love to see your dream come to fruition!
Thank you so much!
Thank you Alex for this. It's kind of a revelation. There's so few photographs of her online and they're all in black and white that she comes off looking pretty dowdy and boring. What a surprise! She's quite lovely! Clearly I needed to see her in video or on tour to appreciate her. Alex, as always, you're the best!
Thanks!
Alex, you gave an excellent tour of this historic ship! My father served in the U S Army during WW2 and remembered how hundreds of soldiers would sleep in shifts in the emptied swimming pool. He told of manning the ships' cannons as the ship transferred the soldiers back to the United States.
Thank you! Slowly, the ship is returning to her 1936 beauty as refresh projects continue. Soon it will be like stepping back in time
Always grateful for these tours. Love the Queen Mary,and I am so glad people are visiting again. I wish they would bring back the furniture from the 1930s, it was so stylish and fits properly with the rooms.💕
I lived in Long Beach in the 80s and watched fireworks every night above the Queen Mary in the summer. A reliable source told me that when she came to dock in LB, VIPs from the city were allowed to come in and remove tableware, linens etc. Lucky them. Ive toured down to the engine room. Thank uou for the video.
Thank you for giving a Tour to probably many of us that probably will never be able to get to see this Beauty. Which for me is very sad because I am scared of Flying with an Airplane!
Thank you so much for this wonderful informative tour of the Queen Mary . Very well done indeed and the restoration warms my heart ..🎉🎉
Very nicely done. Just booked 2 nights on the QM, I’ll be there in a few weeks. Looking forward to it immensely!
That's great! I hope you enjoy your stay!
The Engineering & Design is so impressive and more Advanced than I thought would be,
Great tour video. I've stayed on this ship several times and seen about half of what you show, even the empty boiler rooms from above on a catwalk.
Excellent presentation Alex, and a thank you to the photographer as well. 🚢
Our pleasure!
can’t wait to watch this, probably several times 😅🙌🏻🙌🏻
Awesome tour man. Absolutely awesome. I was on her in 1974. I was 8 years old. Don't remember alot of it but i certainly remember that propeller room. Was very well lit . Apparently someone turned off the lights for you. 😂. Anyway, this video brought back alot of memories of that day. Thank you!
WE ALSO VISITED 1973 & 1984
AWESOME ! Great Tour!
Thanks!
On my birthday last year stayed on the Queen Mary in the exact cabin with the marquetry panels of the Nile river…M006. Was gorgeous and such an amazing experience to have for one’s birthday ❤🎉
That was excellent Alex you have been busy thanks again.
It’s a wonderful film . I used to lived in southern California , only 40 min driving to Long Beach . But never visited this amazing ship . Thanks for great video and introduction !
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Having lived in Long Beach years ago and visiting the Queen Mary then at any opportunity I had, I must say that I am so impressed by your video tour and encyclopedic knowledge of the magnificent Queen. I am so thankful that the City of Long Beach has taken back control and is taking such great care of this masterpiece and it's exciting to hear that the Queen is turning a profit every month too. On my next visit to LA and LB, I will def make a plan to spend two nights onboard .
having grown up in long beach and attended their schools, we had our high school prom in the queen mary’s grand ballroom. such a great, elegant, and memorable venue.
one of the best online tours of the QM i have ever seen. thank you!
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Love this! Alex, thank you for sharing history, updates and helping to save this historic ship.
Thank you, Alex!
I have been on the queen Mary several times and this by far is the best tour. It is also wonderful to see the resteration of the ship.
Its good to see you back Alex :)) My favorite room has always been the children's play room. It is fun to see the photos of the original room and the history of Queen Elizabeth and Margaret being the first to play in it. Thanks for the tour! 😊
Fantastic video as always, very much enjoyed your narration 👍 x
How exciting!. Alex the website is a much needed successor to the Stirling QM Site. It is a nice modern alternative because the Stirling site has very outdated information from years ago. So it's nice to have a modern website.
It's also nice that the new site covers parts of the ship that the Stirling site does not. You also really outdid yourself with the narration, and Kris is the perfect person to film Her Majesty. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.
Thank you so much! We appreciate that!
Alex, if they wanted a swimming pool they could remove the 4D Theater and build the 2nd class pool because the elevator shaft is still there, though the elevators don't go down that far anymore but they could. And If people can't use the elevators they have a gangway and ramp to get down, plus they could build the 2nd class pool to ADA Standards because it would be rebuild it xould meet ADA Standards. What do you think?
This video is superb. I am English and live in the U.K. l have never seen a film like this of this quality even on TV. Thank you America for saving our beloved Queen Mary. Why did we not keep her ourselves? It pays its way! And it would have been an attraction. So wonderful to see this piece of history.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed my video! This fantastic ship holds a special place in our hearts. We love her.
Bravo! ALEX, Bravo! An Absolutely wonderful video documentary you have created here, and you narrate it wonderfully. The ship is looking fantastic. I'm only about an hour away from her. Have visited many times. Will be going this spring to visit her in person. Thank you so much for all you have done to promote, and bring this wonderful treasure into the publics awareness. You may well have played a role in Long Beach deciding to move forward with the repairs, and expenditures due to public awareness of her situation, and the vast majority of people coming to her rescue saying, SAVE OUR QUEEN, SAVE THE QUEEN MARY! Again, Thank you.
Thanks John, I appreciate the kind words, it means a lot to me!
Oh the Awesomeness of your Vlog!! Great work!!
Thank you!
Had a wonderful day onboard today .
She still look monstrous and beautiful .
As a child during W.W.2 my widowed Mother married a Canadian soldier & in 1946 we set sail
With other war brides on the Queen Mary! They had white tableclothes & little pots of tea with teabags that we had never seen before ,I ended up in the ship's hospital with chicken pox
The soldiers on the ship used to visit i guess missing their own children would bring us candy bars!
The Queen Mary holds a special place in my heart ❤
Today I actually saw the hospital room where my Mom ,my sister & I stayed when I had
the chicken pox ,We spent the whole trip there 😢❤
I ❤love the Queen Mary, for ever and always! Absolutely beautiful lady. ❤️😍❤️
Great description! I love The queen mary
I lived at 4th and Junipero, I always loved being able to hear her horn if I had my windows open.
I have a photo of my self on the 3rd class main deck, forward, taken in winter 1984. I think I might look into how much hotel accommodations run and take a trip down to Long Beach one day soon. Would be incredible to stay onboard a night or two.
I think it's time for a road trip!
Awesome video alex
Thank you Ozzie!
Wooooow!! Que maravilla te felicito enormemente por este hermoso video, ya tengo ganas de visitar ese barco, soy un enamorado del ART DECO, y de la era de los grandes trasatlánticos.
Thank you so much for all your work in sharing this with us- long live The Queen!🇬🇧🙏❤
Fantastic video!!! I highly enjoyed this!! 💯💯💯
Thank you!
Gorgeous! ❤
Thank you for this video. I'm visiting California for the first time soon and just booked my room on Queen Mary. My husband and I are huge history buffs and this video has gotten us so excited about our stay.
I hope you enjoy your stay. A little tip is that, if you are light sleepers, bring ear plugs. The Queen Mary's sound proofing is 90 years old and not very effective, you can hear the people talking in the cabin next to you, and you can hear concerts happening 4 decks down.
What a excellent video showing the beautiful queen Mary thank you.i have great memories going there with my ex wife Bobbie williams.
A wonderful tour and excellent history narration. Since I was a kid I have been obsessed with the Queen Mary. I was lucky to stay at the hotel once as a teenager and it was the most beautiful place. One of the best memories of my whole life so far! I am hoping to take my husband for our 10th anniversary next year.
A MUST WATCHAND A MUST VISIT!!!!!
As a long-since-retired shipboard musician, though I never worked for Cunard, I found this tour fascinating. Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Thank you Alex!! I love the history of this ship! Thank you for what you do!
My pleasure!
Makes me feel proud of what our country did and the magnificent Queen Mary's War effort absolutely fantastic so glad she is been looked after by our oversea cousins Sir Churchill would be proud🙏🙏🙏🇬🇧
A Great Documentary about a Magnificent Ship performed by Outstanding People & Companies like yourself. Thankyou for saving g this Ship and her Stories for our future Generations...
Yes...She is Indomitable...!!!
Thank you so much for such a detailed tour. We are booked on a tour in about 2 weeks and will be familiar thanks to your video.
My pleasure, enjoy your time on the ship!
Wow Alex! Of all the tours you can watch on UA-cam this by far the best! Following on from my last comment I looked at the QM website, I was so impressed at the dining options and the way the restaurants were dressed, Imagine dining in the Veranda Restaurant knowing how many famous people have enjoyed the fine dining experience travelling across the Atlantic.
I went to sea in 1978 and worked for Esso Petroleum in both steam and diesel engine rooms, on the second day of my first voyage I met a steward who was retiring after many years at sea, we had a long conversation me being my first trip and fascinated by the life on board experience, what ignited my interest in passenger ships is he showed me his own black and white photographs of himself as a steward on “The Queens” and pictures of Cont Basie, Duke Ellington and Elizabeth Taylor and many others, I could go on about this topic so I’ll continue on another post.
As for 2024 the anniversary of the QM, I just hope they stage tea dances with string quartet’s and dances in the First Class lounge featuring big swing bands playing music from the 30’s and 40’s.
Thanks Again,
Trevor from across the pond👏🏻👏🏻🇺🇸🇬🇧
Thank you! And wow, I bet that man had amazing stories.
Beautiful ship, it should be preserved for future generations.
Indeed it's being preserved as we speak!
What a great video of the mighty Queen！！
Well done sir! 👏
Thanks!
I hope to walk those decks one day. Great upload thank you....
Phenomenal job, Alex!!
Thank you!