Queen Mary renovation complete

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The Queen Mary makeover has been completed.

A New York-based company has finish the renovation of the former ocean liner that now operates as a floating hotel and tourist attraction in Long Beach.

Delaware North Co., a hospitality and food service company that was hired by the city of Long Beach to manage the Queen Mary, has restored and updated all 314 staterooms, including nine suites, three of the ship’s restaurants, three meeting salons and its wedding chapel. The ship is owned by the city of Long Beach.

Delaware North officials declined to say how much was spent on the renovation but the lease operator that hired Delaware North signed an agreement with the city to invest more than $5 million in upgrades over a two-year period that began in 2008.

As part of the renovation, Delaware North added modern amenities to the rooms, such as flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stations. But the company also preserved many of the Art Deco features of the 76-year-old ship.

“It was important for us to maintain the ship’s authenticity and historic appeal,” said General Manager Uwe Roggenthien. “But there are amenities that today’s traveler expects from a destination like the Queen Mary, and the renovation program meets those expectations.”

The ship was built to be one of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners but it gained most of its fame during World War II when it was known as the Gray Ghost for transporting soldiers to the European Theater.

-- Hugo Martin