Prepare for Southern California's most terrifying Halloween experience as Dark Harbor returns to the Queen Mary for 2025. This massive Halloween festival transforms America's most haunted ship into a nightmare-inducing spectacle featuring spine-chilling mazes, hundreds of monsters, and paranormal experiences you won't find anywhere else.
Dark Harbor 2025 Event Overview
Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Returns
Dark Harbor 2025 promises to be the most ambitious season yet. After its triumphant return in 2024 following a four-year hiatus, this year's event expands with new mazes, enhanced experiences, and even more terrifying encounters aboard the legendary ocean liner.
According to their Instagram @qmdarkharbor, popular nights sell out weeks in advance. Halloween weekend typically sells out by early October!
The Ship's Terrifying True History
Before you step aboard for Dark Harbor, understand that the Queen Mary isn't just playing at being haunted – this ship has witnessed real tragedy and documented paranormal activity that makes it one of America's most haunted locations.
Room B340: The Most Haunted Stateroom
Originally three third-class cabins, Room B340 gained infamy after passenger Walter J. Adamson died there in 1948. The room was closed to guests for 30 years due to disturbing reports: covers being ripped off sleeping guests, faucets turning on by themselves, and dark figures standing at the foot of beds. It reopened in 2018 with paranormal equipment included – Ouija board, tarot cards, and instructions for summoning Bloody Mary printed on the bathroom wall.
Door 13: The Tragic Crushing
On July 10, 1966, 18-year-old crew member John Pedder was crushed to death by watertight Door 13 during a routine drill. Visitors report seeing a bearded young man in overalls near the door, hearing phantom knocking, and feeling sudden temperature drops. His ghost is said to whistle warnings to guests before vanishing.
The First-Class Pool: Jackie's Playground
The now-drained first-class swimming pool is haunted by a young girl who allegedly drowned in the 1940s. Witnesses report wet footprints around the empty pool, the sound of splashing water, and children's laughter echoing through the changing rooms. Some have seen a woman in a 1930s bathing suit who vanishes when approached.
The HMS Curacoa Disaster
During WWII, the Queen Mary accidentally sliced the HMS Curacoa in half, killing 239 sailors who drowned in the icy waters. Though they didn't die on the ship, visitors to the bow report hearing screams, feeling sensations of drowning, and experiencing overwhelming dread in the exact location of the collision.
2025 Mazes & Attractions
Dark Harbor features multiple terrifying mazes, with three located aboard the actual haunted ship and others throughout the surrounding festival grounds. Each maze tells a story inspired by the ship's dark history and paranormal residents.
Lullaby
Set in the depths of the Queen Mary's first-class swimming pool, follow the sinister ghost of Scary Mary as she guides you toward a watery abyss. This maze masterfully combines childhood innocence with pure terror, utilizing the actual haunted pool area.
- Location: First-class pool area (actual haunted location)
- Intensity: High psychological horror
- Features water effects and temperature drops
- Based on real drowning incidents
Infirmary
The wicked spirits of sadistic surgeon Dr. Edwin Master and his accomplice Graceful Gale torment visitors with ghastly medical procedures. Navigate through the ship's actual medical bays and corridors where real deaths occurred.
- Features optical illusions and medical horror
- Utilizes authentic ship medical facilities
- Includes disturbing surgical scenes
- Ends at a twisted New Year's Eve party
Feast
Enter the ship's kitchen to witness Chef's origin story – a young butcher who grew resentful of ungrateful first-class passengers and began adding "special ingredients" to his recipes. Features an optional crawling section through the oven and descends into the historic Engine Room.
- Set in actual ship's kitchen areas
- Optional crawling experience (walk-through available)
- Ends at the infamous Door 13
- Features Half Hatch Henry's whispers
Big Top Terror
The Ringmaster returns with a twisted Halloween carnival. This maze features a labyrinth of jack o'lanterns designed to trap souls, cursed objects collected through the ages, and the deadly Pumpkin Carver. Beware the Ringmaster's Henchies!
The Summoning of Samuel
A theatrical seated experience where Lady Mabel attempts to summon the infamous killer Samuel the Savage from Room B340. Features impressive lighting, water effects, and in-your-face scares during moments of complete darkness.
Secret Speakeasies
Dark Harbor hides secret speakeasies throughout the event – they don't appear on maps and have no signs. Access requires either Lady Mabel's mystic tokens (distributed during the nightly Maiden Voyage Launch Party at 8:08 PM) or VIP admission. Book a "Foresight Four Pack" for guaranteed access.
Tickets & Admission Options
2025 Ticket Types
General Admission ($39.99-$59.99)
- Access to all haunted mazes with regular wait times
- Entry to festival grounds and entertainment
- Prices vary by date – weekends cost more
Fast Fright (Starting at $67.99)
- Approximately 1/3 wait time at entry and all mazes
- Priority entry to the event
- Best value for busy nights
Evil Express (Starting at $119.99)
- Front-of-line access to all mazes
- Access to The Observation Deck exclusive bar
- Pop-up character appearances
- Premium photo opportunities
Buy tickets early! Prices increase closer to event dates. Thursday nights offer the best value with lower crowds and prices.
Complete Visitor Guide
Everything You Need for Your Visit
🚗 Parking & Transportation
Address: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802
Parking Options:
- Preferred Parking (Onsite): $40
- General Parking (Offsite): $25 with free shuttle
- Arrive 1 hour before ticket time
- All parking must be pre-purchased online
Pro Tip: Offsite parking with shuttle saves money and often has shorter exit lines!
🍔 Food & Drinks
What to Expect:
- Multiple themed bars throughout
- Carnival-style food vendors
- Cocktail buckets ($25-32)
- Limited water options - bring cash
Warning: Food and drink prices are premium event pricing. Budget $20-30 per person for refreshments.
🎪 Additional Attractions
Beyond the Mazes:
- Carnival rides ($10 each or $30 unlimited)
- Ax throwing at Anchor Axe ($7)
- Pirate's Plunder Shootout ($10)
- Live entertainment throughout
- Dark Harbor Sliders performances
- Fire spinners and magicians
Insider Secrets & Pro Tips
Thursday nights offer the best experience with smaller crowds and lower prices. Avoid the last two weekends of October unless you enjoy massive crowds. The first weekend often has technical issues – visit week 2 or 3 for the smoothest experience.
Start with ship mazes first – they're the most unique and have the longest lines later. The best order: Infirmary → Lullaby → Feast → Ground mazes. If lines are long at Feast due to the crawling section, skip and return later.
The scare actors are most energetic 8-10 PM. For maximum scares, walk slowly and engage with the environment. They target people who look scared or rush through – confidence reduces scares!
The Observation Deck (VIP only) offers the best views for photos. The ship's exterior with red-lit smokestacks makes for iconic shots. Inside mazes, photography is discouraged but the queue areas often have great themed photo ops.
From Screams to Gleams
After experiencing the terror of Dark Harbor's elaborate lighting effects and theatrical presentations, many visitors wonder how to capture that same dramatic impact for their own seasonal displays. While we can't install 800 monsters at your home, Holiday Light Installations Co. specializes in creating stunning displays that transform properties from Halloween through the holiday season.
Our programmable LED systems can create spooky Halloween effects in October, then seamlessly transition to festive holiday displays in December. From synchronized light shows to custom animations, we bring professional lighting expertise to Southern California homes and businesses. View our lighting gallery for inspiration!
Ready to Face Your Fears?
Don't wait – popular nights sell out weeks in advance!
GET DARK HARBOR TICKETSExperience Real Terror
Queen Mary's Dark Harbor isn't just another Halloween event – it's a paranormal experience aboard one of the world's most haunted locations. The combination of authentic ghost stories, Hollywood-quality mazes, and the ship's genuinely creepy atmosphere creates an unforgettable night of terror.
Whether you're a horror enthusiast, paranormal investigator, or just looking for the ultimate Halloween thrill, Dark Harbor 2025 promises to deliver scares you'll remember long after leaving the ship. Just don't blame us if you check under your bed for weeks afterward!
More Information: The Queen Mary | Visit Long Beach | Contact Us for Holiday Lighting