RMS Queen Mary

You can't preserve everything, or forever. Look at the Ryde fiasco. I hope she gets a new life, but hope and certain are two different things.

 

Some encouraging news from Long Beach. Whether it will be the beginning of a process to secure her future long-term remains to be seen. Either way, as soon as she re-opens for visitors, I'll be heading over the California for my 4th and final visit to this icon.

 

Re-opening get's closer.
https://longbeach.gov/press-release...-ATZZArO285pnYUitxzViwQNH9hT8QoyjUeL2f6uGlU50

 

I visited her in October 1975 before the rot set in.

 

https://longbeach.gov/press-release...xIHWdSFH1d4f_xuzzFjfa0Xg-n2B8aXctmHWsxBHnZ7tQ

Yay! Looks like a trip to Sou Cal could be looming for me in '23

 

We enjoyed our stay on her in 2019 but it was obvious a huge amount of work was needed. https://flickr.com/photos/83225862@N02/sets/72157719705135408

 

Re-opening in sight
https://longbeach.gov/press-release...krlKhTJmc1MQgwd-qOJUSvAYhZ-jdQtwWG1WJAJwoZ4Tk

 

New boilers about to be installed?

Can't wait for the first sailing!

 

Oldest sons grandfather siled back to Southampton on her fastest ever eastbound sailing, quite an experience and I knew somebody who had been a fireman on her.

 

Alleluia!!!! The Hotel re-opens in May! https://queenmary.com/ Accomodation on board, flights, transfers and insurance all booked today for 3rd - 10th June. Can't wait!

 

I'll carry your cases for you John!

 

Flying Aer Lingus ( a first for me) MAN-DUB-LAX. So nice to avoid Heathrow or Schipol!

 

Nearly 50 years since I first flew into LAX.
Here we are about to touch down in a Texas International DC9 from Houston in October 1974.

 

I'll be interested in your Aer Lingus flight experience. They do one to Chicago which I'm thinking about, as going through Heathrow last year did not impress.
You might be shocked at the state of homeless on the streets etc. Keep your eyes peeled. I've friends out there, and they say it is very bad

 

One of the big advantages of flying via Dublin is that Immigration/Passport Control is carried out there, or was last time I travelled that way. This means you just walk off the plane in the US as if it was an internal flight.

 

Thanks, that's useful to know. Hopefully that process is still in place.

 

I'll let you know how they faired I've been out there before, but always with family, but this time it's solo. No Disney, no Hollywood and no car hire. Just me, the ship and my camera

 

Well...what a great week I had visiting the QM in Long Beach. An almost three year closure gave the City of Long Beach time for a complete re-set on how to operate her going forward and I'm encouraged by what I was told. Not every part of the ship is open just yet, with the sun deck, sports deck and bridge still being worked on. However, those nice people on board took me under their wing and allowed me access to everywhere I wanted to go. I have to say she looks stunning, inside and out and all those scare stories about her hull plating being so corroded she was in danger of sinking are complete bollards! I spoke at length with her new Chief Engineer (an ex Marine Chief Eng) and he told me the hull plating is as sound as the day she went down the slipway in Clydebank in 1934! There was a lot of corrosion in piping deep inside her hull, which may have caused unwanted flooding, but that has all been replaced or repaired. The 100 ton lifeboats had been placing undue strain on the steelwork supporting the promenade deck and have been removed, never to go back. She was packed with visitors every day I was there (mainly family groups) and the guided tours were well patronised. Here are a few of the many pics I have taken (as a taster) and I'll let everyone know when I get the whole gallery up on my smugmug site

 

@osprey ... Aer Lingus were mostly good. The A330's both ways were pretty comfy. Seat pitch/comfort in economy was good and the food OK. Entertainment selection good. Be aware they use long range A320's on some of the shorter US routes! The US border entry at DUB is a bonus, although bag collection at the domestic terminal is a LONG walk from the arrival gate! The only black mark I could award was that the return flight managed to lose an hour on schedule in flight (Canadian wild fires?) and they wouldn't hold the MAN connection at DUB for the 12 passengers who were booked on it. A later MAN flight was already oversold, so that meant an overnight in Dublin (at their expense) and a choice of flights the following day. I chose Liverpool!

 

To say I'm Green with envy is an understatement....glad you enjoyed your trip..