I haven't stayed on the Queen Mary but I've done the tour. I thought it was well worth the money (although, funnily enough, nobody checked our tickets so in theory we could have taken the tour for free!). I keep wanting to do the tour again but my girlfriend wasn't as enthralled as I was, although she did like it. I also recommend taking the ghost tour, or whatever they call it. It's well worth seeing the old engine room and bow of the ship from the inside. I think the ghost tour is included in one of the ticket prices but I don't remember for sure. I know you can visit the old Russian submarine for a little extra, which I haven't done (I seem to remember it being $20 extra or something and I felt that was way too steep).

My boss has a boat he keeps moored in Long Beach and I've been out in the water on the other side of the Queen Mary too. It's always beautiful from any angle but especially from the sea. I hope you have a great time!

Polly

I have copied your topic to the Cruise forum HERE where it may get a better response. I would suggest subscribing to both topics to be notified of replies.

Who did you book with as we looked at doing a similar cruise/stay?

luci

Thank you for your replies, so the Queen Mary is haunted then ?

Lucy found the cruise forum after I posted so have been checking that as well.

We booked with vactionstogo.com and we got a good deal with them but they have just put their prices up, not sure how much by though.

polly

Thanks Polly. I found the cruise on the VTG website, but not the stay details. Did you call them to arrange that part?

luci

Not on the Splendour, but we went on the Carnival Triumph. It was great. Food was really nice (both buffet and restaurant), plenty of choice, there was even a pizzeria and burger place, coffee shop with gorgeous cakes you could buy for a couple of dollars (huge slice of chocolate cake about 6 inches high etc). Entertainment was also good - there were show each night in the showroom, quizzes etc. Definitely different from Thomson's who we cruised with before, but still very much fun focussed and not stuffy at all!

You can take a bottle of wine per adult on board with you, cabin steward will help you chill it in ice. You can buy drink coupons for about $5.25 each in advance, which save you a little money towards the cost of your drinks. We didn't really spend a great deal on board though anyway. Captain's night was good too - they set up pre dinner drinks in the lounges before the dinner (they put a note under your door letting you know which lounge you were assigned to), and there were nice cocktails and wines handed out.

There was also a caribbean style band playing at the pool which was nice.

Do you mean the stay in a hotel for the 3 days we are in LA before going on the cruise, if so no we are arringing this ourselves, did ask them do they do hotels and they said no. We are probably going to stay on the Queen Mary the day before we go and find a hotel in dowtown LA for the other two days.

We have been on Carnival Liberty and Carnival Glory both ships were excellent,great staff , good food and entertainment,
have also stayed on The Queen Mary overnight in Long Beach a great experience ,really enjoyed it,would stay again if in the
area.
annx