Back when the Queen Mary was still in service, passengers aboard the iconic vessel could get drink service virtually anywhere on the ship — including six classic walk up “American” style bars by the time it docked in Long Beach in 1967.
There was the first-class Observation Bar, the Midship Bar (constructed after 1963), the first-class smoking room, the Veranda Grill, the first-class dining room cocktail bar (added after 1947) and a third-class smoking room, according to unofficial Queen Mary historian Gordon Ghareeb.
Today, there are four bars on board that will be featured during the Queen Mary’s final bar crawl event of the holiday season — which will get underway Thursday, Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Guest will make their way to each of the ship’s signature bars — the Peppermint Lounge (a Christmas bar located in the Embarkation Room), the Chelsea Chowder House Bar, the Observation Bar, the Starboard Lounge, and the No.3 Speakeasy.
Throughout the summer, the Queen Mary will have weekly programming at the Observation Bar. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
The Art Deco Observation Bar is the most popular bar on-board the Queen Mary in Long Beach on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
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Throughout the summer, the Queen Mary will have weekly programming at the Observation Bar. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
You’ll obtain a “passport” and start your evening at the Peppermint Lounge and make your final stop at No.3 to collect a limited-edition Queen Mary holiday pin.
In 2026, a popular bar lost during the ship’s conversion in 1967 will return — bigger and better than before.
The former second-class cocktail lounge, dubbed the Mermaid Bar, will be reimagined.
Before World War II, the bar was located on the Main Deck, and was moved to the Promenade Deck post-war. This project is one of many that are planned as part of the ship’s ongoing preservation and restoration.
Aside from the bar crawl, there are several other holiday-themed events happening aboard the Queen Mary this weekend.
From Dec. 19 to Dec. 21, the ship will host gingerbread house workshops where families can build their own creations (that activity costs $25 per child). Once your creation is complete, families can also attend Santa’s Ship Stop to take photos, send letters to Santa, and partake in other holiday happenings.
For details, visit queenmary.com/whatsondeck.
In other Queen Mary news, the ship will be getting a special visitor in early February.
During a dinner celebrating the 58th anniversary of the Queen Mary’s arrival in Long Beach, the ship’s managing director Steve Caloca announced that Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 will be coming to Long Beach. The two ships have not tagged up for twenty years, according to Caloca.
The last visit was in 2006, when Queen Mary 2 entered Long Beach proudly waving the burgee of Long Beach Yacht Club. As she entered the Long Beach harbor on Feb. 23, the Queen Mary 2 was met by a flotilla of 800 boats, 14 helicopters, and three blimps, alongside 6,000 spectators lining the shore to view the festivities.