Ghosts of the RMS Queen Mary: A Floating Legend of the Paranormal



Once hailed as the most luxurious ocean liner of her time, the RMS Queen Mary now rests permanently in Long Beach, California. But while the ship no longer sails, many believe that some of her passengers and crew never left. Nicknamed “The Grey Ghost” during World War II for her speed and camouflage paint, the Queen Mary is now more infamous for a different kind of ghost the supernatural kind. With a history steeped in glamour, war, and tragedy, the Queen Mary has earned her reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world.

From Ocean Liner to Floating Haunt

Launched in 1936, the Queen Mary transported the world’s elite across the Atlantic, Winston Churchill, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and more. During World War II, she was transformed into a troopship, ferrying thousands of soldiers into battle. Over her active years, the ship was the site of numerous deaths, from wartime accidents to onboard mishaps. She was decommissioned in 1967 and has since served as a hotel, museum, and paranormal hotspot.

The Most Famous Hauntings Aboard the Queen Mary

Shaft Alley and "Door 13"

One of the ship’s most infamous ghosts is that of a young crewman known as John Pedder, who was crushed by Door 13—a watertight door in the engine room corridor known as Shaft Alley. Guests and crew have reported seeing a figure in blue overalls lingering near the spot where the fatal accident occurred, sometimes disappearing into thin air. Some claim to hear metal clanging, feel sudden gusts of wind, or even see oily handprints appear on walls despite no one being near.

The First-Class Swimming Pool

Though no deaths were officially recorded here, the first-class swimming pool is one of the most paranormally active areas. Witnesses have reported wet footprints appearing out of nowhere, phantom splashing sounds, and female apparitions in 1930s-style bathing suits. One of the most frequently seen spirits is a little girl named Jackie, believed to have drowned in the second-class pool. Her voice has reportedly been captured on EVP recordings, laughing or calling for her parents.

Room B340

Room B340 is so notoriously haunted that it was closed off to the public for decades. Reports from this room include violent knocking on walls, bathroom faucets turning on by themselves, and guests waking to find bed covers yanked off them or feeling unseen hands pressing down on their chests. Today, guests can actually book a stay in Room B340, which is outfitted with a ghost-hunting kit for the truly brave.

Documented Paranormal Activity

The Queen Mary has been featured on numerous paranormal TV shows including Ghost Hunters, Most Haunted, and Paranormal Witness. Professional and amateur investigators alike have captured EVPs, shadow figures, cold spots, and full-bodied apparitions. Some visitors report experiencing sudden nausea or dizziness symptoms commonly associated with high-energy hauntings.

A Living Legend

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, one thing is certain: the Queen Mary carries an atmosphere that feels charged with history. Her towering halls, art deco interiors, and steel-clad bowels offer the perfect backdrop for ghostly encounters.

Many say it’s not just the Queen Mary’s past that haunts her it’s the energy of lives lived and lost at sea, echoes of glamour and grief that still ripple through the ship like phantom tides.

Visiting the Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary is open to the public as a floating hotel, museum, and event venue. Paranormal tours, especially the Haunted Encounters and Paranormal Ship Walk, draw ghost enthusiasts from around the globe. And during Halloween, it transforms into Dark Harbor, a full-scale haunted attraction. Elegant, eerie, and enduring—the RMS Queen Mary proves that not all ships sink quietly into memory. Some float forever, with spirits in their wake.