Photo courtesy Destinations Magazine

Historic Tour: The Queen Mary 

This year's historic tour is to the Queen Mary. This  British luxurious passenger ship, a part of the Cunard line, made 1,001 crossings between England and New York from 1936 to 1967. Today it is permanently docked in Long Beach and serves as a floating museum and hotel.

We'll provide attendees with public transportation options to the ship for the tour circa 1 p.m. after the Donna Allen Luncheon. 

Attendees’ tour tickets ($24.50) will include a just-for-AJHA tour of the Queen Mary. You can grab a cocktail at the art deco bar at the bow of the ship and stroll with our tour guide through an hour-long “Glory Days” historical tour with a focus on journalism history  blended with the ship's Hollywood tour.

After you have this overview, you might head out on your own self-guided tour or hop on the “Steam & Steel” tour that takes you well below deck through the communication and engineering systems that made the Queen Mary the world’s fastest and most technologically advanced ocean liner at the time. Or, for those of you interested in the paranormal, the “Haunted Encounters” tour provides a non-scary introduction into the ghostly legends of this storied ship. Both additional tours are one hour each with an discounted additional ticket rate that is easy to purchase on site after the first tour with our tour guide’s assistance, highly recommended.

There are exhibits around the ship, including giant cutaway ship models of the Cunard Line’s famous fleet, World War II anti-aircraft weaponry used to carry nearly a million troops throughout the war, the isolation ward for ill passengers, the commodore’s office, captain’s quarters and radio room as well as souvenir shopping. There is also an hour-long film about the Queen Mary’s role during World War II that runs continuously in the ship’s theater.

At the end of the afternoon, attendees can choose to enjoy drinks and bar bites in the art deco observation bar and take in the views of Long Beach across the water (open until 11:30 p.m.).

The Promenade Café also has great views and is open until 9 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 

The Chelsea Chowder House and Bar is a bit more elegant and open until 10 p.m. Reservations required.

There’s also a Midship Marketplace coffee shop with light snacks open until 8 p.m.

Check out: https://www.queenmary.com

The Queen Mary is 1.8 miles from the conference hotel. See transportation options below that will allow you to visit as long as you please, whether it’s at 5 p.m. or midnight. We can neither confirm nor deny the rumors of a speakeasy on board.

Transportation Options To and From the Queen Mary

The local hosts have prepared recommendations for your travel to the Queen Mary, which is

about 1.8 miles from the Hilton. We won’t have a bus this year because the ship is close by, and

there are lots of easy options to get there and back.

When you arrive at the ship, our group tours will leave at 2 p.m, 2:30 p.m, and 3 p.m. Sign up

for your preferred time when you check in for your badge at the registration desk in the foyer

on the second floor. First come, first-served for the tour time, 25 people per group max (Plan

to arrive about 10 minutes early for the guided tour).

Getting to the Queen Mary

Hotel shuttle

This is on a first-come, first-served basis. The vehicle holds 12 people. Ask the porter or

bellhop outside the front door of the hotel for a ride.

Rideshare (Lyft/Uber) (6-10 minutes)

Grab some friends and colleagues and take a Lyft/Uber ride from the hotel to the Queen

Mary. It only takes 6-10 minutes so the regular fare is inexpensive (about $12 depending

on traffic/time).

Passport free bus (about 23 minutes)

From the Hilton, walk 0.6 miles (about 13 minutes) to the stop at Shoreline and Cedar NW.

Take the Passport South bus to the Queen Mary London Town W stop (8 min bus ride).

Walk about 0.1 miles (about 2 minutes) to the Queen Mary.

Getting back to the hotel: 

From Queen Mary to Hilton (Leave on your own time. Dinner and drinks on the ship or on

hip Pine Street downtown are recommended.)

Hotel shuttle

This is on a first-come, first-served basis. The vehicle holds 12 people. Call (562) 983-3400

for a pick up.

Rideshare (Lyft/Uber) (about 6-10 min)

Grab a few friends and colleagues and take a Lyft/Uber ride from the Queen Mary to the

Hilton or a downtown restaurant or night spot. It only takes 6-10 minutes so the regular

fare is inexpensive (around $12 depending on traffic/time of day).

Circuit free ride-share (about 6-10 min)

Grab up to five friends and catch a ride with the all-electric, free Circuit ride-share program

from the Queen Mary to the hotel or to a restaurant. You must download the Circuit app to

use the program. Details here: https://www.ridecircuit.com/long-beach

Passport free bus (about 12 min)

From the Queen Mary walk 0.1 miles (2-3 minutes) to the Queen Mary London Town W

stop. Take the Passport North bus. Ride it 5 stops (6 minutes). Get off at Golden & Ocean

SW. Walk 0.1 miles