The Queen Mary's Most Terrifying New Encounters: B340 Reopens And Dark Harbor's 2024 Return

Step aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, and you are immediately stepping into one of the world’s most notorious paranormal hotspots. As of late 2024, the ship, affectionately known as "The Grey Ghost," has solidified its reputation as "The Ghost Ship of Long Beach" with several major updates that are fueling a new wave of fear and fascination. After years of hiatus and renovation, the ship is not only fully operational but has also reopened its most feared location—Stateroom B340—for overnight stays, alongside the highly anticipated return of its seasonal haunt, Dark Harbor, under new management.

Originally launched in 1934 as a luxury ocean liner, the Queen Mary’s dramatic history—including its service as a troop transport during World War II—has left behind a tapestry of tragic incidents, unexplained deaths, and countless reported ghost sightings. The ship is rumored to be the dwelling place of over 150 unique spirits, making the current "Haunted Encounters Tour" and "Paranormal Investigations" more compelling than ever for thrill-seekers and serious ghost hunters alike.

The Queen Mary: A Brief History of the World's Most Haunted Ship

The history of the RMS Queen Mary is as grand and complex as the ship itself, providing the perfect foundation for its enduring legend as a supernatural beacon. Commissioned by the Cunard-White Star Line, the ship’s maiden voyage took place in 1936, quickly establishing it as the premier transatlantic liner for the wealthy and famous. Its luxurious Art Deco design and speed made it a symbol of the golden age of travel.

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However, the ship’s most dramatic chapter began in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II. Painted a drab gray for camouflage, the vessel earned its famous nickname, "The Grey Ghost," while transporting Allied soldiers. It was during this period that several tragic incidents occurred, including a collision with its escort, the HMS Curacoa, which resulted in the loss of over 200 lives. These wartime traumas, combined with various operational accidents, are the source of many of the ship’s most enduring ghost stories.

After the war, the Queen Mary returned to luxury service until 1967, when it was permanently docked in Long Beach, California, and converted into a hotel and tourist attraction. Despite its retirement from the seas, the ship's paranormal activity only seemed to intensify, leading to its current status as one of the "Top 10 most haunted places on Earth" by various publications.

The Infamous Reopening: Stateroom B340 and Its Terrors

For decades, Stateroom B340 has been the epicenter of the Queen Mary's paranormal legend. It was so notorious for violent and intense activity that the room was permanently removed from the list of available accommodations for years. The sheer volume of recorded phenomena—including objects moving, faucets turning on and off, covers being ripped off beds, and even physical scratches on guests—led to its closure.

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In a major 2024 update, the Queen Mary announced the reopening of Stateroom B340, allowing guests to book the room for an overnight stay for the first time in years. This decision has generated massive excitement and trepidation among the paranormal community. The room is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of a former third-class passenger who was murdered in the room in 1948, as well as the ghost of a crew member.

The experience is designed for the most fearless visitors, offering a glimpse into the raw, unadulterated terror that has defined the Queen Mary’s reputation. This reopening is a direct challenge to skeptics and a boon for those seeking genuine, high-level haunted encounters.

The Most Active Hotspots: A Guide to Queen Mary's Spirits

While Stateroom B340 garners the most recent headlines, dozens of other locations on the ship are known for their consistent and often terrifying paranormal activity. The current "Haunted Encounters Tour" takes guests through many of these areas, revealing the chilling stories behind the ship’s most famous residents.

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The First-Class Swimming Pool

The now-drained pool area is arguably the most visually eerie location on the ship. The pool's changing rooms and R-Deck viewing area are believed to be haunted by multiple spirits, including a woman in a 1930s-era bathing suit and the ghost of a young girl named Jackie. Jackie is believed to have drowned in the Second-Class Pool during the ship’s operational years. Visitors frequently report hearing splashing sounds, disembodied voices, and seeing wet footprints appear near the pool's edge.

The Engine Room and Door 13

The Engine Room is home to one of the Queen Mary’s most famous and tragic spirits: John Pedder. An 18-year-old fireman, Pedder was tragically crushed to death in 1966 by the watertight "Door 13" during a drill. His spirit is often seen near the door, sometimes as a full-bodied apparition, and visitors report hearing screams, bangs, and other violent noises in the area. The Boiler Room, adjacent to the Engine Room, is another location known for intense, oppressive energy.

The Queen's Room and Other Cabins

Beyond B340, other staterooms and public areas have their own ghostly reputations. The Queen's Room, once the ship's grand ballroom, is the frequent site of apparitions of women in formal 1930s attire. Furthermore, the specter of Senior 3rd Officer William Eric Stark, who died in 1947, is sometimes seen near the ship's bridge and crew quarters.

Dark Harbor's 2024 Resurrection: A New Era of Fear

Adding to the ship's renewed paranormal energy is the highly anticipated return of Dark Harbor in the 2024 Halloween season. After a multi-year hiatus, the seasonal haunt is back under the management of the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, a company renowned for its high-quality horror attractions.

Dark Harbor transforms the Queen Mary into a massive, immersive horror experience, featuring multiple haunted mazes and "breakout centers" that blend the ship's real-life ghost stories with theatrical scares. This event capitalizes on the ship's inherent creepiness, allowing guests to explore areas that are often off-limits to regular tours. The 2024 resurrection promises a fresh take on the classic event, ensuring that the Queen Mary remains a dominant force in both the historical and haunted attraction spheres.

Whether you book an overnight stay in the infamous Stateroom B340, join a structured Paranormal Investigation, or brave the terrifying mazes of Dark Harbor, the Queen Mary is offering its most comprehensive and chilling lineup of haunted encounters in years. The ship's legacy as "The Grey Ghost" continues to evolve, proving that the spirits of the past are very much alive and waiting in Long Beach.