Things to do at the Port of San Pedro

Arriving at LAX, we opted to take a LYFT to our hotel at the San Pedro Cruise Port.  As we were checking in prior to noon, our room was unavailable. We checked our baggage at the Bell Desk and took the short walk to the waterfront and the Battleship USS Iowa Museum.

Battleship USS Iowa Museum

Admission on this day was $16.95 per person, but the Bell Hop had found us a 2 for 1 admission coupon. We opted for the self-guided tour and began by watching a short video production about WWII service of the battleship. From there, we walked around the large forward 16-in/50-caliber and 5-in/38-caliber firing guns, followed by the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures Chaff and Decoy Launching System (SRBOC), and outbound Harpoon Missile.

Once we were inside this mighty warship, we visited the Mess Hall and Enlisted Berths, then ascended to the Bridge and the Captains and Officers’ quarters.

After about two hours of touring around the battleship, we were rather fatigued and hungry for lunch.

Grinder Restaurant

Directly across from the Battleship USS Iowa Museum, was Grinders Restaurant. We split a Grinder sandwich and Onion straws. The portion size was more than large enough for two people.

Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel

From here we walked back to the hotel and formally checked in. To our surprise the front desk clerk had graciously upgraded our experience to a large suite.

The Queen Mary

Taking an UBER to the port of Long Beach we arrived at The Queen Mary in a short amount of time.

Retired in 1967, the city of Long Beach had bid 3.5 million to turn her into a tourist attraction. The only stipulation from its original owners being that the ship could no longer be seaworthy. Therefore, the City had to remove 27 boilers, the generator rooms, forward engine room, desalination plant and three of four propellers to meet with contract stipulations.

These pieces were all pulled through her long stacks which had become unstable during the process and unfortunately disintegrated. Therefore, the city next took on the task of commissioning two new stacks to sit atop her.

The Queen Mary is now a tourist attraction and full-fledged hotel, offering you the opportunity to stay the night. During our visit, I noted many other onboard activities, such as a murder mystery dinner theatre and spaces dedicated to children’s visits with Santa.

Bridge and Captains and Officers’ quarters

We purchased the First-Class Passport at $36 each (AAA discount) and set our sites on the Steam and Steel Tour. Prior to our tour’s commencement, we took a few minutes to visit the Bridge and the Captains and Officers’ quarters. As you might imagine, these were much more lush and comfortable settings than those previously seen aboard the Battleship USS Iowa.

Steam and Steel Tour

Our tour took us down a special elevator to the bows of the ship approximately 25ft below the waterline.

Boiler Rooms, Desalination Plant and Turbo Generator Room

Here lay Boiler Rooms #1- 4, as well as the Water Softening (Desalination) Plant and the Turbo-Generator Room #1.

They had constructed the ship in these areas with a double-hall, having ten feet of clearance on all sides. The exterior metal plates had been put together with rivets as opposed to the more modern method of arc welding. Pasing through these normally unvisited spaces was a bit haunting when taking into account the history that had preceding us.

Hotel Floors

Completing the tour of the lower area, we headed back up to the hotel floors, where we observed the ship’s sheer curved bow, built for added stability and control of the hull. This sheer curve creates a downward arc in the floor, making it impossible to see from one end of the ship to the other.

At a length of 1,019 feet, the Queen Mary was the fastest and most powerful ship of its time, as well as most beautiful.

Titanic In Photographs

Now we moved to the Titanic in Photographs exhibit hosted on the Queen Mary where we were able to compare a lifeboat from the Queen Mary in relation to a White Star lifeboat (similar to those on the Titanic).

Engine Room

We proceeded down again until reaching the Engine Room. We saw all the controls and gadgets of the ship, including its mighty engines. A most impressive site to behold.

Next, we were shuttled into a special viewing area which was technically on the outside of the ship, but specially enclosed for up-close viewing. The allowed us to see the Queen Mary’s only remaining brass propeller. This propeller was so perfectly balanced it’s said you could spin it using a mere finger.

Now we headed back to the Deck 4 Tour Office to await our next tour.

The Glory Days Tour

This tour was a history lesson of the Queen Mary, and a venture through the public spaces of First, Second and Third Class.

The tour began with the guide explaining the use of over 50 types of wood to craft the public spaces and its exquisite marqueteries design. Some of this wood, exotic in its time, is now either extinct or near extinct.

Observation Bar and Recording Studio

We headed through the Promenade to the Observation bar until arriving at the onboard recording studio used by the famous artists of a past generation.

Promenade Walk

We walked along the promenade decorated with ornate wooden planks. We had noticed a special room where Santa had been greeting children. Then peering over the side of the promenade were we treated to a holiday festival in full bloom with Christmas Shops, an Ice-Skating Rink and carnival rides.

Long Gallery Midships Bar and Lounge

Along the Long Gallery, in the old Midships Bar and Lounge, we saw the most valuable painting on the ship, with an estimated value of over $1 million.

This circus painting hangs mysteriously in what is now a Starbucks barista.

Verandah Grill

Soon after we arrived at the Verandah Grill, an exclusive First-Class area of the ship which was used as restaurant, nightclub, wardroom and briefing room during its lifetime service. Venturing inside we immediately saw the Entertainment mural, painted columns and the elaborate light fixtures.

Second-Class Ballroom and Cinema

We headed down a rear staircase from the Verandah Grill to the Second-Class Ballroom and Cinema. Before entering the ballroom, we realized the interior walls of the ship were covered in leather and not paint.

Once inside, we saw the exquisiteness given to Second-Class and this ballroom which contained the only 2D glass etching on-board.

Travel Bureau

We had a great history lesson about the different classes of tickets, and the privileges that were afforded to each. I was most amazed at the First-Class benefit of receiving a full body skeletal x-ray while crossing the Atlantic.

The cost to cruise in those days was astronomical by today’s standards.

Return to the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel

Now being late in the evening we headed out, although there was still much to see. We made a mental note to return at a later date to explore further and possibly spend the night onboard.

Green Onion Restaurant

Once returned to the Hotel by UBER, we made the short walk East down 6th Street to the Green Onion Restaurant where we had a delicious Mexican meal. The Mexican fare on the West coast can’t be beat!

Cruise Port: San Pedro, California

Tour Name: Things to do at the Port of San Pedro

Cruise Ship: None

Tour Guide: Self-Guided