Queen mary. Long beach.

[Captain Kong]

I have just booked again for a few days on board the old Queen Mary.
I have been onboard several times and it is always fascinating to be there.
A standard room is £76 a night for two, You could even sleep in a room that Laurel and Hardy , Clark Gable , Errol Flynn and so on slept in. All in the original art decor. The restaraunts are excellent and very interesting to walk around the old ship, on the Bridge or down in the engine room.
If you ever sailed on her in the old days you would be amazed how well the Yanks have taken care of her.
B Deck Square where the crew bar was and the sailors cabins around where the fore mast comes down, all that area is now a WW2 Museum. It is good to be on a Liner that looks like a real ship.
A shuttle bus from L.A. Airport takes you there for a few dollars.
There is also a Scorpion Class Russian Submarine in the same lagoon to go on board of. and a short walk into Long Beach town
click on QueenMary.com for a tour of the ship.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Capt
Well your good luck Capt that you are able to do such a nice stay on that very good old Liner!
It must be amazing to be able to stay on Board her and walk around seeing all the days of yesteryear!
The rates sound very good seeing that it is an Icon!
A stroll down to the Engine Room must be something else,and i dare say that all the original Machinery is still there?? Or is it!?
Well all i can say is have a really good few days and hope that you may get some Pics to post on here!
Thanks for the post and the Link!
Cheers

[Captain Kong]

Hi Vernon, thanks for that.
We are going at the end of February prior to doing a 30 day cruise around the Pacific Islands out of and back to San Diego on the Rotterdam of Holland America, We always make a point of staying on the old Mary everytime we get to California.
The engine room is an amazing place with all the four shafts still in position. The boiler rooms have gone and they have been turned into themes from when she was owned by Disney.
The rates are cheaper than standard hotels in Liverpool. I know where I would rather be of the two.
Sunday Brunch is famous for its quality and size.
for 39$ all the Champagne you can drink and all you can eat in the First Class Dining Room. excellent value.
A cheap flight from UK to L.A. about £350, and a few days on there at £75 a day for two soking up days gone by, is a wonderful experience and a cheap vacation.
Last time I was there I helped them with a display they were doing on all the Captains she had during the time she was with Cunard, I had the photos and had done Bios of them all for a previous project.
They enlarged them and did the display of photos and the Bios of each one. I dont know if iis still on there. It has changed hands in the last year to a different Company.The City of Long Beach, who owned her until recently presented me with a piece of the original teak deck engraved for the 70th anniversary of her launch. there are only four of these pieces with that engraving on. I have one, Commodore Ron Warwick, whose father was Master on her, has one, the ship builders, John Browns have one in their Museum and the Glasgow Museum has the other one. So it is quite a prized possesion.
They also have volunteer Seamen on board keeping her ship shape. The volunteers live on board free but no wages, again it is a cheap vacation with that touch of nostalgia. They do the same on the two Sam Boats, Jeremiah O`Brien and John W Brown.
A friend had just died of cancer so after the funeral I realised I was not immortal anymore and decided to spend my cash instead of leaving it to the kids. After this vacation we are going on the new Queen Elizabeth down to Sydney., what the hell, the State can look after me after that.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi again Capt
You certainly have a yen for the travel mate,and if one can afford it then why not!
As you say we only have one life,so what the Heck! Like a lot of others,nowdays we seem to just want to spend all the cash and to hell with everrything else haha!

All the things you have done in the past are invaluble ,and you alone can only have those memories,so while you can,as the say "Go For It"

I bet you are like a little Kid now waiting for Xmas (in February haha) to arrive,but who can blame you!

Now Capt,i see that you are also planning a trip Downunder! More Money! Oh dear where can i get some too! haha!
When you come this way do let me know ,i will try and make a pont of getting down there to that Great Ship! To see it! (Oh and you too of course haha)
Take care mate!
And all the luck in the wide World to you and yours!

I think i am going to take a Lottery Ticket!! Mmmmm!!
Cheers

[Captain Kong]

THANKS for all that Vernon,
as I have said before , I am 75 now so what am I saving up for , I have more dead mates now than live ones. Should be in Sydney in Feb/ March 2012, probably see you then.
Cheers
Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Capt!
Yep know what you mean,mates all gone now!

2012!! If i survive that long mate! I will be at the Docks with Bells on! haha!
Stay safe!
Cheers

Queen Elizabeth World Voyage 2012
Sydney, Australia to Singapore
February 29 March 24 2012 - 24 Days


Date Arrive Depart
February 2012
29 February 2012 Sydney, Australia
March 2012


You Lucky Blighter!
Cheers

[Captain Kong]

Hi Vernon
We will be joining in San Francisco then Hawaii, Pago Pago, Fiji Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Lyttleton, Melbourne and then overnight in Sidney. we did the other ports last time in 2008, Then stay in Sydney for a few days call in to Wollongong to Lake Heights to see my niece and then maybe Alice and Perf. we always stay a while after we leave the ship in Syd.

Cheers
Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Hi PJ
Sounds like you really had some good times on her mate!
As for those Lads doing their thing in the Sinks!! Oh my Gosh! haha!
Would loved to have seen that Docking without Tugs PJ,as you said a close call i bet!

What were all the Bikes about?

A 250 Trumpy,thats a way i havent heard for many years! (Trumpy)
My late Brother had a nice 650cc Vertical Twin 1960 Triumph Bonniville ,a really lovely bike indeed!

Well PJ nice to read your story too,as with many others on site i always enjoy all the experiences!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Interesting comparison between the Q.M. and Titanic. The Queen was almost twice the size of Titanic in most areas, but not when it came to bloods and crew.
Q.M. 1957 bloods and 1174 crew.
Titanic 2440 Bloods and only 860 crew.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Vernon here are some of the pictures of the Queen Mary also the Teak deck they presented me with, there are only four of these.
Well worth a visit

Cheers
Brian. .