Day 6

Back to California & A Night on the Queen Mary 🚢⚓

We’re cautiously optimistic that jet lag is finally behind us because last night we both slept really well—and at normal times too.

We’re also very glad we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express because it really ticked all the boxes for us: gym, swimming pool, laundry facilities, free coffee throughout the day, microwaves, and—as we experienced again this morning—a genuinely good breakfast. When you’re away from home for an extended period, those little conveniences make travelling so much easier.

Since we were heading back to Los Angeles today, we packed up after using the gym and made our way back to Phoenix Airport.

When the rental car agent asked how we’d found the EV, we may not have been entirely truthful when we told him it had been “great” 😄

The morning was going smoothly until Ted’s suitcase somehow toppled backwards down an escalator while we were heading upward. Thankfully nobody was hurt and nothing was damaged, but it definitely added a bit of drama to the day.

One thing we really appreciated at Phoenix Airport was the bag drop service located at the rental car facility itself. It meant we could check our luggage before even catching the transfer train to the terminal, saving us from dragging heavy bags all the way through the airport. I’m not usually someone who praises airports, but this one genuinely made travelling feel easier—including the check-in agent who waived the baggage fees for us.

Since we arrived early, we grabbed an early lunch at Four Peaks Brewing Company before boarding our flight.

While waiting at the gate, we started talking seriously about our upcoming flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu later in the trip. Originally we’d planned to travel standby using staff travel benefits, but the loads were already looking pretty tight. In the end, we decided the smarter option was simply to buy confirmed tickets for peace of mind. We managed to find reasonably priced fares with Delta Air Lines, which made us feel more relaxed about that part of the trip.

Our flight with American Airlines was actually very good. One thing we’ve both noticed is how much the airline seems to have improved in recent years. Similarly, Los Angeles International Airport itself also feels far more modern and organised compared to previous visits, when it often felt a bit tired and chaotic.

Once we arrived, we repeated our previous Uber strategy and headed south toward Long Beach. Our driver was friendly enough, although his car definitely could have benefited from a good clean. Unfortunately, because we arrived during mid-afternoon, the trip took nearly twice as long thanks to Los Angeles peak-hour traffic.

Tonight’s accommodation is something a little different. Before joining our cruise tomorrow, we’re spending the night aboard the Queen Mary, permanently docked in Long Beach Harbour. It’s not every day you get to spend the night aboard a piece of history.

Originally launched in 1936, the Queen Mary was one of the world’s most famous ocean liners and represented the golden age of transatlantic travel. During World War II, the ship was converted into a troop transport vessel and became known as the “Grey Ghost” because of its speed and grey wartime paintwork. After retiring from active service in the 1960s, the ship was permanently moored in Long Beach and transformed into a floating hotel and attraction.

We’d previously visited the ship as tourists and done one of the guided tours, but staying onboard overnight felt like a very different experience.

The receptionist warned us about a few things upon arrival: the walls can be thin, the air conditioning and heating are centrally controlled, and because… well… it’s a ship, the nearest restaurants are a decent walk away. Thankfully though, we didn’t really notice noise from other rooms at all.

Our cabin was actually really charming in an old-fashioned way. The room still retains much of the ship’s original character, with polished wood furnishings, brass fittings, vintage-style décor, and porthole-style windows that make it feel more like travelling aboard a classic ocean liner than staying in a hotel. It definitely felt different to your average modern accommodation.

After unloading our bags, we decided the walk to dinner would count as our exercise for the evening and headed across the harbour toward the restaurants at Shoreline Village.

The walk turned out to be easier than expected and we arrived much quicker than the receptionist had suggested. At one point, however, somebody onboard the Queen Mary decided to sound the ship’s horn—which absolutely scared the life out of us and pretty much everyone nearby.

There were several restaurant options nearby including Chili’s, Hooters, and Outback Steakhouse, but we ended up choosing P.F. Chang’s, which has always been one of our favourites.

It was exactly the kind of meal I’d been craving after a week of fairly unhealthy holiday food. I ordered a dish packed with vegetables and tofu—although the kitchen initially forgot to include the tofu altogether!

After dinner, we walked over to Vons to buy some wine for the cruise tomorrow. It was nice walking through Long Beach again as we’d stayed in this area a few years ago and remembered enjoying it then too.

By this stage though, we’d walked quite a long way from the Queen Mary, so Ted suggested we get an Uber back rather than walk at night. It never really felt unsafe—just further away than we wanted to walk.

When we arrived back at the ship, I realised I no longer had our room key cards. I still have no idea what happened to them because I’m usually very careful with things like that. My best guess is that I’d had them ready while getting out of the Uber and accidentally left them on the seat. Thankfully, it wasn’t a major issue and reception simply replaced them for us.

Tomorrow morning we’re hoping to explore more of the Queen Mary before the tourists arrive—and best of all, tomorrow marks the beginning of the cruise part of our holiday.

Mexico, here we come.Read more