New rooms, tours, activities: Queen Mary is royal again, Long Beach says. But at a whopping cost

In addition to the needed repairs, city officials point out that between 2007 and 2019, before Long Beach took over, private operators had reported more than $31 million in losses.

Since 2021, city officials said they'd completed at least 25 major projects on the ship.

Most of the $45 million that has been spent on the ship, city officials said, has come from revenue from the Queen Mary or related subleases.

In 2017, about $23 million came from a Queen Mary reserve fund and bond issue from the Queen Mary's Carnival sublease.

A $12-million agreement with the Port of Long Beach, which transferred control of about 14 acres of city property to the port to lease to third parties, and split revenue with the city, has also helped pay for some of the repairs.

Since the Queen Mary reported seeing a profit last year, city officials have touted the ship and what they say has been an economic success.

Since October, city officials say more than 118,000 people have visited the vessel, and the ship is once again becoming the center of the city's plans.

"The Queen Mary is thriving once again," Steve Caloca, general manager for the contracted operator, Evolution Hospitality, said in a statement. "From new Art Deco floors and staircases in the Main Hall, to the restored Observation Bar overlooking our beautiful city of Long Beach, there is so much to do when visiting the Queen."

Hotel capacity on the ship has been expanded to 200 rooms, and onboard activities have expanded to 22 guest tours, exhibits and other activities.

This year, city officials said, hotel room renovations, elevator upgrades, repair of the ship's third smokestack and an expansion of the Sun Deck, which is used for special events such as weddings, are planned.

The Queen Mary also is meant to play a crucial role in plans the city has for the nearby area.

Officials are looking to develop 43 acres of space next to the ship into "a world-class entertainment and mixed-use development venue."

"The return of live music, special events and music festivals at the Queen Mary and adjacent Harry Bridges Memorial Park has further highlighted the importance of live music and entertainment to the future success of the ship," city officials said in a statement. "This waterfront space, with expansive views of the Long Beach shoreline and downtown, collectively represents one of the city's most unique future development opportunities."

And although the ship continues to need repairs, city officials said its condition might not be as dire as was once believed.

The study that estimated up to $289 million in needed repairs included $215 million to $261 million for hull repairs, city officials said in a statement. A more recent hull and tank study suggested the cost could be "considerably less."

"We envision an even brighter future for the Queen Mary and adjacent land with plans for future development that will further elevate its status as a premier tourist destination," Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.