Is The Queen Mary Ship Haunted?

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: August 26, 2024
  • Last Updated: September 18, 2025

The haunted Queen Mary ship

The RMS Queen Mary is perhaps one of the most haunted places in America. With a long history of tragedy and mystery, this ship has gripped the paranormal community for years. Maritime ghost legends are not uncommon — from the notorious Flying Dutchman to the Queen Mary itself, these vessels continue to intrigue both historians and paranormal enthusiasts.

So, if you want to know more about how the Queen Mary became the most notorious haunted ship in the world, then keep reading…

The Horrific History Of The RMS Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary is a symbol of both luxury and tragedy, boasting a history that is as interesting as it is haunting. From its elegant beginnings to where it is today – an eerie reminder of the past – this ship has experienced more than just relentless waters.

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Construction and the maiden voyage

Built during the 1930s, the Queen Mary’s construction commenced in Clydebank, Scotland. Then, six years later in 1936, it embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

The ship’s grandeur was unparalleled and featured:

  • Five dining areas
  • Two cocktail bars with swimming pools (including a separate first-class swimming pool)
  • A ballroom
  • A hospital

You could compare it to a floating palace that was designed to cater to only the most elite passengers, including movie stars, singers, and political figures. 

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Luxury cruise ship

For years, the Queen Mary reigned supreme as the epitome of luxurious travel. Eventually, it would transport a total of more than 2.2 million passengers!

With her gleaming decks and lavish amenities, this beauty offered her passengers a glimpse into a world of extravagance and indulgence. However, this era of glamour was soon going to be overshadowed by the dark clouds of war…

Transformation during World War II

As World War II affected the world, the Queen Mary underwent a dramatic transformation. She transitioned from a magnificent ocean liner to a military transport ship. England’s desperate need for additional vessels saw this gorgeous ship stripped of her decor and repainted grey, earning her the nickname ‘The Grey Ghost’.

The Queen Mary ferried more than 810,000 military personnel across treacherous waters, and the horrors of the war left its mark on the ship, claiming the lives of soldiers, crew members, and passengers alike.

From accidents like the crushing of a mechanic by a door to the heartbreaking drowning of a young girl named Jacqueline Torin in one of the ship’s pools, the Queen Mary became witness to unimaginable sorrow.

Post-war restoration and the final voyage

After the war ended, the Queen Mary underwent yet another remarkable transformation. Finally, she could reclaim her former glory and resume her former transatlantic voyages.

However, as air travel became more popular, the Queen Mary was finally retired on December 9, 1967. That means she sailed for more than three decades before she found her permanent home on the coast of Southern California. Now, she serves as a floating hotel and event venue.

Hauntings On The RMS Queen Mary

With the Queen Mary seeing so much tragedy, there’s no wonder that rumours of lingering spirits plague her legacy. In fact, she has been at the centre of plenty of ghost stories and ghost sightings and has quickly become one of the most haunted places in the world.

Room B340

Among the most infamous locations aboard the Queen Mary is Room B340. The room was originally three third-class rooms and was eventually merged into one single suite when the ship was turned into a hotel.

Almost immediately after opening to guests, reports of strange occurrences started to surface. Guests even reported hearing voices, encountering other strange sounds, and even witnessing apparitions standing over their beds as they slept…

Despite numerous renovations and trying to rid the room of its eerie reputation, the reports of paranormal activity persisted, leading to the room’s closure for three decades. When it reopened, the room instead embraced its haunted reputation and now features themed decor that leans into its spooky atmosphere.

John Pedder

Adding another layer to the Queen Mary’s ghostly lore is John Pedder, a mechanic who was allegedly crushed by a metal door during an emergency drill. His untimely death has left its mark on the ship, with John’s spirit appearing in the doorway where he passed away.

Guests of the ship have reported several ghost stories involving John, with most of them claiming that he likes to run behind them, whistling at them as if to warn them of an unseen danger. He is also reported to wear the overalls worn by crew members of the ship, while some say that all they’ve seen of him is his ghostly wrench before it vanishes into thin air.

Jacqueline Torin

Of all the haunted places on the Queen Mary, the most active area has to be near the pools – especially where the first-class pool used to be. With wet footprints appearing as if out of nowhere and the spirit of a young girl roaming around, it sends chills down our spines just to think about it!

The spirit that haunts the pool is said to be Jacqueline Torin, a little girl who tragically passed away after drowning in the ship’s pool. Sometimes, if you listen very closely, you may even hear the sound of Jacqueline’s soft sobs.

Soldiers of the HMS Curacoa

Since this haunted ship was used in a war, it should come as no surprise that the spirits of the soldiers who were doomed to sail aboard the Queen Mary are said to linger on. However, one of the most tragic incidents in Queen Mary’s history is its collision with the HMS Curacoa, which resulted in 239 lives being lost.

While everyone aboard the Queen Mary survived the crash, ghostly soldiers are said to roam up and down the halls. Are they looking for revenge on the surviving passengers? Or are they simply unable to let go? We may never know…

FAQs

How many deaths have occurred on the RMS Queen Mary?

Throughout its history, the RMS Queen Mary has been associated with numerous deaths. Although the actual number of deaths is unknown, it has been reported that at least 16 crew members and 41 passengers have passed away while aboard the spooky ocean liner.

Of course, plenty of these include accidents and natural causes. But there are also some mysterious deaths that can’t seem to be explained away by anything natural.

Can you investigate the RMS Queen Mary?

Yes, you can investigate the RMS Queen Mary on the Paranormal Ship Walk or other guided tours. But, if you want to bring your own paranormal investigation equipment along, then you may need to request special permission from the hotel itself.

Over the years, plenty of investigative teams have tried their luck to capture evidence of their haunted encounters. And surprisingly, they’ve caught quite a few apparitions and EVPs.

Where is the RMS Queen Mary now?

The Queen Mary is currently docked in Long Beach, California and is open to accommodate guests as a floating hotel, museum, and event venue. However, if you’re planning to visit the hotel, you may want to book in advance, since this is an incredibly popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts and history lovers alike! This is also true for the ship tours, which usually run almost every day.

Either way, you can guarantee that you’re in for a unique experience. According to the Queen Mary’s website, “Guests do not merely check-in, they stroll aboard, slumber in elegant Art-Deco staterooms, dine in award-winning restaurants with spectacular ocean views“.

Final Thoughts

As the sun sets on the horizon, casting its glow on the RMS Queen Mary, you can’t help but wonder what it is that makes this ship so imposing. Is it the tragic history? The sheer size of this iconic ocean liner? Or perhaps it’s the fact that spectral guests reside within the hotel’s walls, waiting to appear before unsuspecting guests only to vanish before they can blink…

Either way, the Queen Mary is one of the paranormal world’s most interesting locations, just waiting to be explored.

References

Sam Ashford
Sam Ashford - Author

Hey, I'm Sam Ashford! I'm a ghost-hunting expert, writer and founder of SpiritShack. My mission is to help people like yourself learn about spirituality and how to hunt ghosts!