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Queen Mary will scare the ‘ship’ out of you

Passengers board the haunted Queen Mary, unaware of what awaits them on the other side. The annual event promised to "Scare the Ship Out of You." Shipwreck 2001 is open Oct. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The cost of admission is $25. / photo by Tom Galaraga
Passengers board the haunted Queen Mary, unaware of what awaits them on the other side. The annual event promised to “Scare the Ship Out of You.” Shipwreck 2001 is open Oct. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The cost of admission is $25. / photo by Tom Galaraga

by Christine Owen
Editor in Chief

Knott’s Scary Farm. Magic Mountain Fright Fest. Been there, done that.

There cannot possibly be any place left to go to get a good scare on Halloween.

That is where The Queen Mary sails into the picture.

The boat’s latest attraction, Shipwreck 2001, will leave visitors exhausted from walking her hallways and having the “ship” scared out of them.

As part of the seventh annual Queen Mary Halloween Terror Fest, Long Beach’s famous attraction has been transformed into a terror town filled with mazes to scare.

Shipwreck 2001 boasts some of the same characteristics of Knott’s Scary Farm and Fright Fest, such as costumed ghouls and scary mazes.

But on the Queen Mary, the mazes are longer and have a different feeling as guests walk past portholes with blood splattered on them.

Unlike other Halloween attractions at amusement parks with numerous mazes, The Queen Mary has only seven. But the mazes take guests on a long walk though many twists and turns with endless ghouls who are ready to haunt.

One of the most popular mazes, “Londontowne of Terror,” is filled with typical terror elements.

Clowns and aliens haunt this maze while sections are without background music, adding to the creepy atmosphere.

In “The Deck of the Dead,” guests encounter skeletons and corpses rotting behind a chain link fence while menacing music and dim lighting make it obvious that a monster can be hiding anywhere, ready to scare.

From the set of a deserted old house, a ghost with a bloody hole in his head approaches from the darkness and croons, “Meet my wife, she gave me such a splitting headache,” and points to a dead woman decomposing in an armchair.

Because of the length of the mazes, it is tiresome to walk through just one. The adrenaline rush drains the mind and body by the end of just one maze, yet there are six left to explore.

Also troubling is the loud, pounding music, which at times gets annoying.

This, combined with multiple black strobe lights can cause a headache and distract visitors from enjoying the artistry and costumes through the maze.

Visitors should be prepared to work up a sea-sized appetite on Shipwreck 2001-and pay-because the eats do not come cheap.

The Queen Mary staff must have realized that all the Halloween frights would make people a little uptight, so they also had bars set up on board the ship to serve alcohol to those 21 and over to help them relax.

Snack and refreshment stands are set up throughout the attraction to serve guests who have worked up an appetite from all the haunting.

The eats are expensive though as cheeseburgers are more of a trick than a treat at $4.75 and the same for hot dogs at $3.75.

Bottled water will set you back $2.50 and soda costs $3. All this is on top of the $25 admission.

For guests needing a break from all the haunting, there are dance floors set up on board that play a variety of music.

Shipwreck 2001 may be the attraction for those looking for a change from the larger Halloween attractions offered at theme parks.

It is less crowded and has shorter lines than the larger parks have.

Also, there are arcades and dance floors ready to entertain when a break is needed from being haunted, an added bonus that would appeal to many age groups.

Because the mazes are inside, on the boat, it isn’t as cold as an outdoor theme park. This is especially helpful considering that the Pacific Ocean is in the backyard.

Shipwreck 2001 will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 12-14, 19-21, 26-28 and 30-31. All ages are allowed, but not recommended for children under 12 or the faint of heart. Unlimited trips through the mazes are standard with admission.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or in person at the Queen Mary box office or at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Queen Mary is located at the south end of the 710 freeway and features a stateroom hotel, restraints, unique shops and historic tours.

Special Shipwreck and hotel packages are available.

For more information visit www.queenmaryshipwreck.com or call (562) 435-3511.

Christine Owen
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Tom Galaraga
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