The 7 Most Terrifying Secrets Of The Queen Mary Ship: History, Hauntings, And The Truth About Stateroom B340

The RMS Queen Mary, permanently docked in Long Beach, California, is more than just a retired ocean liner; she is a floating time capsule, a museum, a hotel, and, famously, one of the most intensely haunted locations on Earth. As of the current date, December 10, 2025, the ship continues to draw millions of visitors annually, not just for her stunning Art Deco architecture and rich Cunard Line history, but for the chilling paranormal activity that has earned her the nickname "The Grey Ghost." This article dives into the vessel's storied past and explores the most recent, spine-tingling updates on her spectral residents, including the infamous Stateroom B340.

The sheer scale of death and drama that played out across her decks—from wartime tragedy to accidental deaths—has cemented the Queen Mary's reputation. Paranormal investigators consistently rank her as the number one most haunted cruise ship in the world, a title based on decades of documented claims, apparitions, and unexplained phenomena reported by guests and crew alike. The ship’s history is inextricably linked to its hauntings, making every creaking floorboard and cold spot a direct echo of a tragic past.

RMS Queen Mary: A Historical Profile and Timeline of Tragedy

The history of the RMS Queen Mary is a dramatic saga of luxury, duty, and transformation. Launched in 1934, she was the epitome of transatlantic glamour, designed to dominate the seas.

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• 1930: Construction began at the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland.
• September 26, 1934: Launched and christened by Queen Mary of Teck.
• May 27, 1936: Departed Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage to New York City.
• August 1939: Her final peacetime voyage. Due to the outbreak of World War II, she was berthed in New York for safety.
• WWII Service (1940-1946): Converted into a troop transport vessel, stripped of her luxury fittings, and painted a drab gray. She earned the nickname "The Grey Ghost" for her speed and stealth while ferrying Allied soldiers—a nickname that takes on a double meaning today.
• 1946: Returned to passenger service and refurbished to her former glory.
• 1967: Retired from service after decades of transatlantic crossings. She was purchased by the City of Long Beach, California, and transformed into a hotel and tourist attraction, where she remains permanently docked.

The ship’s wartime service, which saw her carry more than 800,000 troops and travel over 600,000 miles, was not without incident. A collision with her escort ship, the HMS Curacoa, resulted in over 300 deaths, a tragic event often cited as a source of the ship's intense paranormal activity.

The 7 Most Infamous Haunted Locations and Ghost Stories

While almost every corner of the Queen Mary has a story, a few locations stand out for their consistent and terrifying activity. These sites are the epicenter of the ship's haunted reputation, drawing paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters from around the globe.

1. Stateroom B340: The Room Too Haunted to Book

The most recent and compelling evidence of the Queen Mary’s paranormal intensity centers on Stateroom B340. This cabin has been the site of such consistent and extreme activity that, in a move confirming its notoriety, the ship’s management permanently removed it from the list of available staterooms for overnight guests.

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The lore of B340 is dark, including rumors of a brutal triple murder that allegedly took place in the room in October 1967, just before the ship's final voyage to Long Beach. Guests who stayed here before its closure reported:

• Faucets turning on and off by themselves.
• Covers being violently ripped off the bed in the middle of the night.
• Items flying off the desk and nightstands.
• Unexplained scratching and banging on the walls.

The room is now only accessible via special paranormal investigation tours, allowing visitors to experience the chilling atmosphere firsthand without having to survive a full night.

2. The First-Class Swimming Pool

The pool area, now empty, is considered one of the ship’s most active spots. The most famous spirit here is a young girl named Jackie, who is believed to have drowned in the second-class pool. Visitors frequently report hearing the sounds of splashing, giggling, and small, wet footprints appearing on the surrounding deck.

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3. The Engine Room and Door 13

The most tragic and well-documented haunting is that of John Pedder, a young crewman who was crushed to death in 1966 by a watertight door—specifically, Door 13—during a drill. His spirit is frequently reported in this location. Witnesses report:

• Hearing screams and metallic bangs.
• Seeing a figure in blue coveralls appear and quickly vanish.
• Experiencing sudden, inexplicable drops in temperature near the door.

4. The Boiler Room

The intense, oppressive heat of the Boiler Room is allegedly home to the spirit of William Eric Stark, a man who was reportedly murdered over a gin mix-up. Visitors often report a lingering scent of cigar smoke and the feeling of being pushed or grabbed by unseen hands.

5. The Queen’s Salon (Main Lounge)

This grand ballroom, once the height of luxury, is now a gathering place for spectral guests. Reports include sightings of a beautiful woman in a white or silver evening gown dancing alone, a throwback to the ship’s glamorous pre-war days.

6. The Propeller Shaft Alley

A claustrophobic and dark corridor, the Propeller Shaft Alley is a hotspot for residual energy. The sounds of the massive propellers turning, even though the ship is stationary, are often heard, along with the chilling sounds of disembodied whispers and heavy breathing.

7. The Isolation Ward (Infirmary)

Located deep within the ship, the former infirmary and isolation ward carries the heavy weight of wartime suffering and illness. Paranormal teams often capture electronic voice phenomena (EVP) here, with voices reportedly crying out in pain or distress.

Latest Paranormal Investigations and The Grey Ghost Project (2025 Updates)

The Queen Mary's status as a paranormal destination is not just historical; it is constantly being reinforced by new investigations and events. The ship’s management actively embraces its haunted reputation, offering a variety of tours and experiences that keep the stories fresh and current.

The ship hosts its own dedicated paranormal research team, The Grey Ghost Project, which conducts regular, hands-on investigations. These tours allow the public to use professional ghost-hunting equipment—such as K2 meters and thermal cameras—in the most active areas, including the Engine Room and the infamous Stateroom B340.

Furthermore, the annual Dark Harbor event, which transforms the ship and surrounding area into a massive Halloween festival, continues to be a major draw, integrating the ship's real ghost stories into its terrifying mazes and attractions. This blend of historical tragedy and current, immersive entertainment ensures the Queen Mary remains at the forefront of haunted tourism. The sheer volume of reported activity and the continued dedication of paranormal investigators confirm that the spirits of the RMS Queen Mary are not resting—they are a permanent part of the ship's identity.