The RMS Queen Mary, built during the height of transatlantic ocean travel, sailed more than a million miles and transported over 2 million guests over a career spanning 30 years.
Built by Cunard as a the bigger and more powerful of two ships, the luxury liners and sometimes cruise ships, the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth reigned as a pair providing weekly express transatlantic service.
Transformed into a troop transport during WWII, the Queen Mary helped the Allied war effort immensely. Usually steaming alone using her speed to outrun the enemy the ship transported soldiers, and in 1942, the Queen Mary sailed with 16,082 passengers, the most ever.
Highlighted in several pop culture features, the Queen Mary became a noticeable icon in famous shows and movies such as Poseidon Adventure (1972), Arrested Development (2006), The X-Files (1998), Assault on a Queen (1966), and Reno 911 (2021) among others.
A Powerful and Fast Queen
Capturing the Blue Riband several times throughout her career, the Queen Mary was a powerful and fast ship.
Designed after years of maintaining the Blue Riband with the venerable RMS Mauretania, Cunard set to build the worlds largest and fasted liner. The key to success - power. With steam turbines powering the four propellers, the Queen Mary out powered the rivals of the day. This brute strength allowed the ship to power through the seas ensuring passengers crossed the Atlantic in record time.
After trading record breaking crossings with the SS Normandie, the Queen Mary survived WWII with her speed and continued to serve as Cunard's flagship holding the prestigious Blue Riband, until the SS United States launched.
A Classic and Enduring Design
Cruising in the golden age of ocean liners, the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth, both of Cunard, competed against the SS Normandie of the French Line, shown to the right docked in New York before WWII.
Split into three separate classes, each with comparably impressive accommodations, the Queen Mary was a profitable ship throughout her career providing transport to travelers of all walks of life. This was a primary advantage over other ships of the day, such as the SS Bremen and SS Normandie.
The RMS Queen Mary, with distinctive three red funnels and aggressive prow, has become the standard of ocean liner design over the ages, maintaining popularity rivaling the RMS Titanic.
Queen Mary During WWII
One of the ways the Allied Forces won WWII was the success of the troop transport ships successfully carrying allied forces between theaters. The Queen Mary carried hundreds of thousands of soldiers safely throughout the war.
Painted grey, the ship developed a nickname of the Grey Ghost, due to the ghostly sightings in the distance that appeared and disappeared as fast as an apparition.
Although the Queen Mary survived WWII and aided in the war effort tremendously, the success came with a price. In October 1942, while transporting American troops to the Western Front, the ship collided with the Destroyer HMS Curacao sinking the vessel. The Queen was under orders to not stop due to u-boat threats, only 101 sailors survived.
In 1942, the Queen Mary sailed with 16,082 passengers, the most ever.
Visit the Queen Mary Today
Shortly after WWII, the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth enjoyed more than a decade of transatlantic dominance. Between the two ships, millions of people traveled between the continents in style. A decorative map adorned the first class dining room that showed where the ship was with a miniature model showing the process of the crossing.
In the mid 1960's, Cunard began to feel the pressure from airline travel that had blossomed, and decided to decommission both Queens in order to finance the construction of the QEII and remain solvent. Bids came from everywhere, but ultimately was sold to a group in California.
Located in Long Beach, California, the Queen Mary stands as a reminder of the former grandeur of transatlantic travel. You can stay at the hotel in an old stateroom or visit the conference center or museum. to learn more about the exciting reopening in 2023!
Visit www.queenmary.com to learn more about the exciting reopening in 2022 and 2023!
RMS Queen Mary Ship Facts
Tonnage:
81,237 GRT
Length:
1,019'
Beam:
118'
Draft:
39'
Number of Decks:
12
Cruising Speed:
28.5 Knots (32.8 mph or 52.8 km/hr)
Max Speed:
33 Knots (38mph or 61km/h)
Line:
Shipyard:
Port of Registry:
Liverpool
Maiden Voyage:
May 27, 1936
Years in Service:
1936-1967
Current Status:
Permanently located in Long Beach, CA as
RMS Queen Mary Frequently Asked Questions
What was the RMS Queen Mary?
RMS Queen Mary was a Cunard-White Star ocean liner built by John Brown and Company in Clydebank, Scotland. She entered service in 1936 and carried passengers across the North Atlantic until 1967. Today she is a hotel, museum and tourist attraction in Long Beach, California.
What is the difference between the Queen Mary and the Queen Mary 2?
The Queen Mary (1936) was a Cunard liner retired in 1967 and now permanently moored in Long Beach, California. The Queen Mary 2 is a different, much larger ship that Cunard launched in 2003 and which sails today. They are not the same ship.
What was the Queen Mary’s sister ship?
The Queen Mary’s sister ship was the RMS Queen Elizabeth, which entered service in 1940. Together they gave Cunard a weekly express service between Southampton and New York. The Queen Elizabeth was withdrawn in 1968.
Where is the Queen Mary now?
She is permanently docked at Long Beach, California, owned by the City of Long Beach. She arrived on 9 December 1967 and opened to the public on 8 May 1971. To check current opening status, tours and hotel operator information visit on www.queenmary.com for more.
What did the Queen Mary do in World War II?
She was converted to a troopship and painted grey, earning the nickname “Grey Ghost.” She carried more than 800,000 troops. In July 1943 she carried 16,683 people (15,740 soldiers and 943 crew), a record for a single ship.
Did the Queen Mary win the Blue Riband?
Yes, twice. She took the Blue Riband from the Normandie in August 1936, lost it to the Normandie in 1937, and regained it in 1938 with a westbound average of 30.99 knots and an eastbound average of 31.69 knots. She kept it until the SS United States won it in 1952.
How fast was the Queen Mary?
Her service speed was 28.5 knots (about 33 mph). She reached 32.84 knots on her sea trials. Four Parsons geared steam turbines driving four propellers powered her, with steam from 24 Yarrow boilers.
When was the Queen Mary built and launched?
Her keel was laid on 1 December 1930, and she was launched on 26 September 1934 by Queen Mary, the wife of King George V. Her maiden voyage began on 27 May 1936. Work stopped for a time during the Depression until a government loan allowed completion.
How big was the Queen Mary?
She was 1,019 ft 4 in (310.7 m) long and 118 ft (36.0 m) wide. Her gross tonnage was 80,774 in 1936 and 81,237 after a postwar refit. She was larger than the Titanic, which was 882 ft 9 in long and 46,329 gross tons.
What happened between the Queen Mary and HMS Curacoa?
On 2 October 1942, the Queen Mary sliced through the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Curacoa off the coast of Ireland while carrying troops. More than 330 of the Curacoa’s crew died. The Queen Mary was ordered not to stop because of the U-boat threat.
How many people could the Queen Mary carry?
She carried 2,140 passengers in three classes (776 first, 785 cabin, 579 tourist) in 1936, with a crew of about 1,100. After the postwar refit, her capacity was reduced to about 1,995.
Was the Queen Mary a cruise ship?
She was an ocean liner, not a cruise ship. She was built for regular transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, though she also made cruises in her later years.
Why did the Queen Mary stop sailing?
Jet airliners took most of her passengers, and Cunard retired her in 1967. Her last transatlantic crossing was completed on 27 September 1967. She left Southampton for the last time on 31 October 1967 and sailed to Long Beach.
Is the Queen Mary haunted?
She has a reputation for hauntings, and the hotel offers ghost tours. There is no scientific evidence of paranormal activity.
Last edited: October 2026