The Last Call of a True Queen...

In the local area of Long Beach, such attractions as the Queen Mary dazzle the city lights, creating a welcoming atmosphere to its popular name. But across the Vincent Thomas Bridge is another portion known for its nautical history and, frequently visited, Ports O’ Call.

While the many restaurants and museums bring in tourists regularly, the port of San Pedro carries cruise travelers to and from every destination around the world. Some cruise ships come often, while others make special calls in the height of popular interest. One of which made its call on Sunday, March 30, for a final farewell.

Since 1975, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (popularly nicknamed QE2) has graced the port of Los Angeles on her countless world cruises to numerous destinations. Once a year she has proved impressive to the locals of Southern California, making her final passage exciting, and rather mournful.

At 963 feet long and 105 feet wide, the QE2 houses a capacity of approximately 1,791 passengers and crew. Thirteen decks (ten for passengers) tower the piers and landscapes, her enormous single smokestack topping off the incredible superstructure with Cunard Line’s historic name and nostalgic culture.

As many came to see QE2 at Pier 92 for the last time, some enthusiasts who could not sail the booked-solid cruise got the privilege of touring the ship, many very excited and with their cameras at the ready for what would truly be a memorable visit. As QE2’s already-passengers lazed around in ultimate luxury, VIP guests ran from lounge to corridor flashing a well-kept memory into their cameras. An elegant lunch in the Mauretania Restaurant met many visitor taste buds as only a historic ocean liner could serve.

The ships onboard faculties and passenger accommodations are unlike those of a typical cruise ship. Since 1969, the QE2 has gone through many renovations, but always keeping with the style of an old transatlantic ocean liner; her sleek charcoal-gray hull, expansion of portholes, and wide upper decks fitting the classic standard of sophisticated travel.

After QE2’s last World Cruise, she cozied a Norway, Europe, and a Mediterranean travel season from June to August 2008. By November, she ended her career as a travel vessel with a 16-day cruise where she retires to the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai as a hotel and tourist attraction like her predecessor Queen Mary back in 1967 to Long Beach, California.

While the QE2 is usually accustomed to leaving at 10:00 pm at night, she departed San Pedro at a special time of 5:00 pm in the afternoon. Waiting patiently as the Vision of the Seas departed before her, many spectators lined Ports O’ Call and various restaurants to have time for a final remedy before such a landmark would leave, only to never return.

Once ready, the beloved Queen Elizabeth 2 took her leave unexpectedly from her stern; something that, as comical as it looked, served a salute, a final bow as the curtain fell for the last time on a cherished landmark never to cross Los Angeles waters again. The onlookers, some with tears in their eyes, thinned out the further the ship moved, some with deep sentiment stood for a while and eventually, themselves, left as the QE2 reached the open ocean.

The QE2 has left California forever, but memories of the liner sitting peacefully at San Pedro, only to be sailing off to another fun location, will always remain, her ghost leaving an imprint to San Pedro harbor. And as she will be a permanent hotel in Dubai, like Long Beach’s beloved Queen Mary, the new Queen’s to take her place, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and the 2010 Queen Elizabeth, will mark a new era to San Pedro’s harbor, to remind Southern California that they are not without a Queen.

Stars Onboard!

(From left to right: Robert Montgomery, Loretta Young, Bob Hope, Alex Smith & husband[November1947]. All aft-starboard on the Queen Mary's Sun Deck.)

What's better than seeing a celebrity aboard a brand new ocean liner? Possibly being one of those celebrities...but seeing one can be just as fun!

Since, back in the day, transatlantic/ocean travel was the only way to cross the ocean, so naturally there would have to be celebrities (of any genre) on one of them. Which one? There are so many...well, usually, a celebrity would be seen on one of the newest, largest, most famous, ext., liners.

Walt Disney was a frequent with Cunard. Here he is seen on the front most part of the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary. But he also traveled on the Aquitania quite often, before the Queen Mary debuted in 1936. In fact, these voyages are what sparked his imagination for "Steamboat Mickey" and other noted works in the vast archive of Disney magic.


Bob Hope, a highly noted performer (in more ways than one) spent many voyages on the Queen Mary. Here he is seen preforming in the ships First Class Main Lounge. His voyages were to the delight of fellow passengers as he would give, often, some sort of enjoyable show in the lounge, one noted including "Thanks For the Memories" in 1939 when war had just broke out. He attempted to raise his spirits, and did he ever!


While Winston Churchill, seen in Queen Mary's Drawing Room on Promenade Deck sometime during the war, was not quite a "celebrity," but a highly noted politician. Being Great Britain's Prime Minister, it is not hard to wonder why he got his own office aboard Britain's pride and joy troop transporter Queen Mary during World War II. Here he plotted his course in war efforts during this world struggle. While the First Class Drawing Room remains a gift shop today, the memory of his office is still prevalent in the liners history.


While Fred Astaire is not seen on a ship, he and Gary Cooper (below, on Queen Mary's promenade) were both frequent passengers aboard the Cunard Queen's.

Astaire with his classic dancing talent, and Cooper with his famous western roles, were delights on the liners and enriched sea life.


Other stars aboard the first two Cunard Queen's included Billy Graham, Clark Gabel (Gone With the Wind), the hilarious Laurel & Hardy, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Spencer Tracy, Liberace, Dougless Fairbanks, William Randolf Hearst, and many, many more.

The QE2 had a good bit of noted people aboard, one including Julie Andrews. Celebrities flocked to this liner and Cunard, yes, but the Italian Line (Italia di Navigazione S.p.A) is known have carried the Fascist leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini on Rex's maiden voyage. Not necessarily a "celebrity," but a known (though not most favorited) political leader of the axis alliance during WWII.

It's always fun to see a celebrity, it's always that much more exciting seeing one sailing the high seas!