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The Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

Photo: David Lofink from Anaheim, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFamily Favorite

The Queen Mary

1126 Queens Highway · Long Beach, CA

Why you should go…

The Queen Mary is a retired Cunard ocean liner that crossed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967 and now sits permanently docked in Long Beach. General admission gets you aboard to explore more than 23 exhibits, plus restaurants, bars and shops, with an introductory guided tour while space lasts. During World War II the ship served as a troopship and carried over 800,000 troops. You can also stay overnight, since many of the former first- and second-class cabins now operate as hotel rooms.

  • #historic ship
  • #ocean liner
  • #ship tour
  • #art deco
  • #floating hotel

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to The Queen Mary, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Maverick Helicopters Long Beach

    $50+

    Helicopter sightseeing flights and Catalina Island transfers departing from an oceanfront heliport beside the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Aquarium of the Pacific

    $25–$50

    Southern California's largest aquarium, home to more than 11,000 animals across 100-plus exhibits in Long Beach.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Bembridge House

    Under $25

    Docent-led tours of a restored 1906 Queen Anne Victorian house museum run by Long Beach Heritage.

    1.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Santa Ynez Valley

    Free

    Wine country destination marketing group for six Santa Barbara County towns across the Santa Ynez Valley.

    13 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Watts Towers

    Under $25

    Take a guided tour inside 17 mosaic-covered towers that one man built by hand over 33 years in Watts.

    13 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free Entry

    Visit Buena Park

    Free

    Official destination marketing office for Buena Park, the Orange County city home to Knott's Berry Farm and the Beach Boulevard entertainment corridor.

    13 mi awayMore like this