The Metropolis of Lengthy Seashore has introduced that it’s going to formally be welcoming guests again onboard Queen Mary beginning Thursday, December fifteenth. It is going to be the primary time the docked vessel might be open to the general public since March 2020. To have a good time the reopening of choose elements of the ship, town will provide free guided excursions for a restricted time.
“I’m thrilled to welcome guests again onboard the Queen Mary and share the sweetness and historical past of this landmark with our neighborhood as soon as once more,” mentioned Mayor Robert Garcia. “I thank our Metropolis workers for his or her dedication all through the vital repairs course of to make sure the ship’s security and preservation.”
In the course of the one-hour tour, guests will expertise choose areas of Queen Mary‘s promenade deck, together with a stroll via the Promenade Outlets, Remark Bar, Queen Salon, and Royal Salon. They’ll be taught in regards to the ship’s historical past and watch a brief video in regards to the vital restore work that the ship underwent all through this yr.
The restricted guided excursions can be found for sign-up on a first-come, first-served foundation via a web based registration system, and can happen on choose days beginning December fifteenth. For extra data and to enroll, go to longbeach.gov/qmtours.
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Since regaining management of Queen Mary for the primary time in over 40 years in 2021, town was in a position to establish vital repairs and secured funding for the undertaking. The repairs embrace, most notably, the elimination of 20 deteriorated lifeboats, enhancements to the bulkheads to make sure inside structural stability, and set up of recent bilge pump methods to discharge extra water within the unlikely occasion of water intrusion.
As vital repairs to the construction of the vessel had been carried out, many different preservation and restoration repairs occurred as properly, together with portray, lighting substitute, flooring and railing refurbishments, and different ship upkeep. Extra work will proceed over the following a number of months.
“These preservation efforts showcase the numerous progress we’ve made to make sure the Queen Mary stays a neighborhood staple and famend worldwide attraction for generations to return,” mentioned Division of Financial Growth Director Bo Martinez. “I look ahead to the reopening of the resort, outlets and eating places onboard and future alternatives to drive financial improvement and native tourism.”
Queen Mary initially closed in March 2020 as a result of pandemic, and remained closed whereas vital repairs had been recognized and carried out. Whereas the ship remained closed to the general public, it continued to be accessible for filming and particular occasions, which helped generate income for town to assist ship operations.
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