Would you spend the night on this haunted cruise ship?
If you want to trade shore excursions and deck parties for ghostly sights and unexplained sounds, dim the lights and read on.
For years, these types of paranormal happenings have plagued guests aboard Queen Mary, a Titanic-era ocean liner-turned-hotel. Haunted events include spirit sightings, severe temperature changes, disembodied voices, strange knocking and slamming doors.
Just in time for Halloween — here’s everything you need to know about this historic haunted cruise ship.
History of Queen Mary
Queen Mary launched from Southampton, England, in 1936. The Cunard-White Star Line vessel set a benchmark for transatlantic travel in both luxury and speed. It featured opulent gilded art deco accents, a grand ballroom, two swimming pools and posh cocktail bars. The vessel also set a new speed record of 28.5 knots (32.8 mph), a record it held for 14 years.
Sailings aboard the luxury liner drew Hollywood celebrities, British royalty and wealthy magnates. Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth were among the list of notable passengers.
During World War II, sybarites were replaced with soldiers, as Queen Mary served as a military vessel. At times, the ship would carry upward of 15,000 men per sailing to the battlefronts. The ship’s bold blue and red colors were repainted a less conspicuous shade, earning it the nickname “Grey Ghost.”
After the war, Queen Mary was returned to its former glory and continued transporting well-heeled passengers across the Atlantic until 1967. After its last voyage, the city of Long Beach, California, acquired the ship and transformed it into a floating hotel four years later.
Today, visitors can stay in one of 200 original first-class cabins and suites. All are meticulously refurbished to the “golden days” style of transatlantic travel — rich wood paneling, original bakelite fittings and plush fabrics.
Is Queen Mary really haunted?
You don’t earn a spot on Time magazine's "Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America" list without something to back it up. Historians report the official number of deaths on board to be between 47 and 55 — and some of those souls might never have left. Over the years, Queen Mary guests have reported seeing some 150 different spirits.
If you decide to test your courage and book a stay here, a few spots on board might prove more fruitful in your ghost hunting quest.
Stateroom B340
Reserve this cabin if you want the full haunted cruise ship experience. It’s believed to house the ghost of former passenger Walter J. Adamson, who died there in 1948 (of natural or suspicious circumstances, we might never know). In 1966, a woman who spent the night in the cabin claimed she was awakened when her covers were yanked off her, only to see a man standing at the foot of her bed. She rang for her cabin steward, but the man vanished into thin air before he got there.
Other guests reported hearing disembodied voices and witnessed seeing the bathroom lights and faucets turn on by themselves.
The Mauretania Room
In 1989, two members of Queen Mary’s housekeeping staff entered the lounge to prepare for an event and found a man sitting in a chair in the middle of the dance floor. One employee asked him to move, but he remained there silently staring. As she began to call security, the man suddenly disappeared before their eyes.
Hatch Door No. 13
This is the site of perhaps the most chilling death on board Queen Mary. The horrific incident occurred one night in 1966 when crew members were ordered to close the engine and boiler rooms’ watertight doors. Within minutes, a young crew member was found crushed in the door, his arms pinned to his side. He was freed and rushed to the medical ward, but rescue efforts failed.
Many Queen Mary guests have claimed to see his spirit over the years — a ghostly bearded figure wearing coveralls. Others have reported sounds of whistling and footsteps following them in the area around the hatch door.
Ghost hunting on Queen Mary
The hotel leans into its haunted history, offering ghost tours, spooky events and ghost-related hotel packages.
A handful of Queen Mary tours provide a “paranormal” experience for every type of ghost hunter. The one-hour Haunted Encounters tour offers up a tamer version of Queen Mary’s ghostly past (ideal for families). After-hours tours like Graveyard Tours (for guests aged 16-plus), the Paranormal Ship Walk and The Grey Ghost Project visit behind-the-scenes areas of the ship and provide guests a chance to perform their own paranormal investigation.
For a full-on Halloween experience, plan your Queen Mary visit around the Dark Harbor festival. The event is held each fall on select nights from around mid-September to just after Halloween. Queen Mary and the entire harbor morph into a creepy wonderland chock-full of scary characters, haunted mazes, carnival rides, Halloween-themed bars and lounges, live music and other spooky attractions.
You can even book one of Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor hotel packages (VIP and Evil Express packages) that include your Queen Mary accommodations, priority festival access, a fast pass for attractions and other perks.
Bottom line
If ghostly tales and creepy encounters are your jam, a visit aboard Queen Mary will provide all the elements for a scary good time. Those brave enough to go all in might have their own "haunting experience" with an overnight stay. Just check your luggage when you leave — you won't want any spirits following you home.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.