THE RMS Queen Mary was once the height of luxury before 57 people mysteriously died onboard.
Constructed in the 1930s, the retired British ocean liner originally operated as a cruise ship but is now a haven for ghost enthusiasts and paranormal investigators.
The Queen Mary operates as a floating Hotel in Southern CaliforniaAlamy
AFPSome of the original interior from when it was first built still remains[/caption]
Queen MaryThere are 347 original first class staterooms and suits aboard the hotel[/caption]
After a spell as a World War Two transportation ship, it now operates as a floating hotel in Southern California, yet its haunting past overshadows its beauty.
When it took its maiden voyage from Southampton in 1936, the RMS Queen Mary boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars with swimming pools, a ballroom, and a hospital.
It was the pinnacle of luxury travel and only transported the elite, from movie stars and singers to political figures like Winston Churchhill.
During its time as a cruise ship, some 2.2 million passengers climbed aboard to enjoy its glitz and glam.
But as the Second World War came around, HMS Queen Mary was stripped of its assets, painted grey and became a transportation ship for 810,000 military personnel.
Dubbed “The Grey Ghost”, it was a shadow of its former self.
But after the war’s end, however, the ship was restored to her former glory and transported high-class passengers between England and the United States for several more decades.
She took her final voyage on December 9, 1967, and has called the coast of Southern California her home ever since.
Now, the Queen Mary operates as a floating hotel and event venue.
But throughout its history, the ship has garnered unwanted attention for its mysterious deaths.
In less than 100 years, 16 crew members and 41 passengers have died onboard, with most being listed as a result of “natural causes.”
However, there have been instances of terrible accidents as well, including the ship’s mechanic who was crushed by a door and a young girl who drowned in one of the ship’s swimming pools.
During World War Two, the ocean liner accidentally crashed into its escort ship, the HMS Curacoa, which lost 239 souls.
Ever since, many hauntings reported on the Queen Mary have been sightings of soldiers.
The most haunted location on the Queen Mary is said to be room B340, which closed down for 30 years before being renovated in the 2010s and reopened for guests.
As part of the design and to add to the fun of the horror stories, designers added a Ouija board, tarot cards, and a crystal ball as part of its furnishing.
There is also an inscription on the bathroom wall explaining how to summon “Bloody Mary” by chanting her name three times while facing the mirror.
Since becoming a hotel, many guests have still reported a lot of strange goings on within the rooms, pools, and vintage dining rooms.
The engine room, where the mechanic was crushed to death, is said to be frequented by a man wearing overalls who asks if anyone has seen his wrench, before disappearing.
There is also the occasional sound of screams of pain heard in the vicinity, while sounds of a young girl crying near the pool, thought to be little Jacqueline Torin’s ghost, have also been reported.
The apparition of a man named John Henry, whose body is said to have been discovered in the boiler room, is also on record.
To determine whether the ship was really haunted, the Queen Mary’s management hired famed paranormal investigator Christopher Chacon, who came aboard in the 1990s to test the ship in its entirety.
According to Dread Central, this investigation spanned 18 months, in which the Queen Mary averaged three “events” per hour.
Chacon stated about 40 percent could not be explained.
The 2023 film Haunting of Queen Mary is based on the true events of the ship.
Whilst filming, the crew reported several spooky instances themselves.
Queen MarySome guests continue to report strange happenings on the ship[/caption]
Queen MaryThe view of one of the bedrooms that use port holes as windows[/caption]
AlamyRMS Queen Mary was originally built as a luxury cruise ship[/caption]
www.queenmary.comThe vessel was turned into a transport ship during the World War 2[/caption]
www.queenmary.comConstruction for HMS Queen Mary began in 1930[/caption]
www.screenrant.comThe 2023 film Haunting of Queen Mary is based on the true events of the ship[/caption]
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