The Queen Mary’s Many Ghosts

Posted: 07.29.2024 | Updated: 04.22.2025

Moored in Long Beach, California, the Queen Mary is a testament to a bygone era of opulence and wartime service. This retired British ocean liner sailed from 1936 to 1967. Since then, it has become renowned for its luxurious past and eerie tales of hauntings throughout its corridors and rooms.

The dark history of the Queen Mary was marked by tragic deaths during its service. This haunted history has inspired countless ghost stories and paranormal investigations. Over the years, numerous visitors, staff, and investigators have witnessed eerie occurrences and ghostly encounters aboard the ship.

It seems the enduring legends of the Queen Mary and it hauntings are eternal.

Keep reading to delve into its rich and turbulent history, and book a ghost tour with LA Ghosts to learn more about the most haunted locations in the area!

Why is the Queen Mary Haunted?

At the outbreak of World War II, the famed ocean liner became a military transport ship. The Queen Mary hauled between 5,000 and 15,000 soldiers across the world. At least 47 deaths were reported on the Queen Mary during her time at sea. Many who lost their lives aboard the Queen Mary have now become ghosts upon her wretched deck.

The Queen Mary’s Beginnings

The RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1934 and completed its maiden voyage in 1936. It was a marvel of its time, offering unparalleled luxury and comfort to its passengers. The ship quickly gained a reputation as one of the most elegant and fastest vessels on the seas.

The RMS Queen Mary transported celebrities, dignitaries, and wealthy individuals across the Atlantic. However, its illustrious career as a luxury liner was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

During World War II, the Queen Mary was transformed into a troopship. She lost her luster, was painted a dull grey, and stripped of her lavish interiors. Renamed the “Grey Ghost”, the ship played a crucial role in transporting thousands of troops across the globe. However, the ship’s wartime service was not without incident.

In 1942, the Queen Mary accidentally collided with and sank the HMS Curacoa. All in all, this wreck resulted in the deaths of over 300 crew members.

The tragedy remains one of the most significant incidents in the ship’s dark history, often being cited as a source of its hauntings. The souls of those lost in the crash are believed to still linger aboard.

Post-War Service and Retirement

After the war, the haunted Queen Mary ship was refurbished and returned to its former glory as a luxury liner. It continued to serve as a passenger ship until 1967 when it was retired and permanently docked in Long Beach.

The ship was converted into a hotel and tourist attraction, preserving its rich history for future generations. However, it wasn’t long before reports of unexplained activity began to surface.

Hauntings of the Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary is rife with locations where eerie encounters have been reported. Some of the most infamous haunted hotspots on the ship include:

1. Stateroom B340: Stateroom B340 has been the site of numerous ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena. Guests have reported seeing apparitions, hearing strange noises, and experiencing physical interactions with unseen entities. Due to the intensity of the activity, the room was closed for many years but has since been reopened.
2. The Pool Area: The first and second-class pool areas are said to be haunted by the spirits of women and children. Visitors have reported seeing wet footprints leading away from the pool, hearing laughter and splashing, and witnessing apparitions of women in vintage swimsuits. One of the most commonly reported ghosts is that of a little girl named Jackie. She is often heard giggling and calling for her mother.
3. The Engine Room: The ship’s engine room has long been associated with haunting activity. A 17-year-old sailor named John Pedder was crushed to death by a watertight door during a routine drill. Visitors have reported seeing his apparition near the door where he met his tragic end.
4. The Queen’s Salon: This elegant room, once used for formal gatherings and events, is another hotspot for ghostly encounters. Guests and staff have reported seeing a woman in a white evening gown dancing alone and hearing the sounds of phantom music and laughter.

Theories Behind the Hauntings of the RMS Queen Mary

Several theories attempt to explain the persistent hauntings aboard the Queen Mary. One common belief is that the ship’s long and storied history has imprinted itself on the vessel.

This concept, known as the “stone tape theory,” suggests that intense emotions and traumatic events can become etched into the fabric of a location.

Another theory posits that the Queen Mary’s status as both a luxury liner and wartime vessel has attracted a variety of spirits. They are all drawn to the ship for different reasons.

Some may be passengers or crew members who had a deep connection to the ship during their lives, while others could be the spirits of those who died under tragic circumstances.

Notable incidents like the HMS Curacoa collision and the death of crew member John Pedder in the engine room are believed to have left lingering souls aboard, further adding to the haunting atmosphere and fueling the legend of the Queen Mary’s many ghosts.

The Queen Mary Ship’s Haunted Reputation Today

The ship’s structure and materials might also play a role in its haunted reputation. The Queen Mary is primarily constructed of metal, which some paranormal researchers believe can conduct and amplify paranormal energy.

Its enclosed spaces, long corridors, and numerous rooms provide the perfect environment for echoes of the past to linger, allowing ghostly activity to thrive. The eerie setting, combined with the history of deaths aboard the Queen Mary, creates a perfect storm for supernatural occurrences.

Today, the RMS Queen Mary continues to be a popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts and curious tourists alike. The ship offers a variety of ghost tours, including nighttime investigations and overnight stays in its most haunted rooms.

Visitors often report cold spots, disembodied voices, and a lingering feeling of being watched. Some even capture photographic evidence of apparitions and strange anomalies.

With each ghostly encounter, the Queen Mary’s haunted legacy grows, attracting countless stories and eyewitness accounts.

Haunted Los Angeles

The Queen Mary ship’s haunted legacy is a compelling blend of history, tragedy, and the unexplained. From its glamorous beginnings to its wartime service and eventual transformation into a hotel, the ship has witnessed countless human experiences, both joyous and sorrowful.

The deaths associated with the Queen Mary, including the tragic sinking of the HMS Curacoa, have left an indelible mark on the vessel. These events, combined with the ship’s storied past, contribute to the eerie encounters reported over the years.

For those who dare to explore its decks, the RMS Queen Mary offers a unique and chilling glimpse into the unexplained, making it one of the most haunted places in the world.

Book a Los Angeles ghost tour with LA Ghosts today. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real California hauntings.

Sources:

• https://www.royalmarineshistory.com/post/2017/10/03/troopship-queen-mary-cuts-hms-curacoa-in-half-337-men-lost-militaryhistory-otd
• https://www.queenmary.com/ship-history.htm
• https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/the-outbreak-of-the-second-world-war-in-1939/
• https://emmacruises.com/rms-queen-mary-ship-deaths/
• https://www.oklahoman.com/story/lifestyle/2017/07/24/americana-queen-mary-became-world-war-iis-gray-ghost/60586033007/