Christmas on the Queen Mary 2026: Events, Tickets & Stays

Quick Facts: Queen Mary Christmas 2026

• The Queen Mary Christmas season in Long Beach, California, takes place aboard a retired ocean liner that has been permanently moored in the Port of Long Beach since 1967.

• The Queen Mary's Peppermint Lounge returns for its second holiday season on select dates from Dec. 3 to 30, set in the ship's Embarkation Room.

• The Royal Holiday Brunch at the Queen Mary runs Dec. 6, 13, 20, and 25 to 27, with live music, holiday decor, visits from Santa, and reservations through OpenTable.

• The Queen Mary's Gingerbread House Holiday Workshop takes place only on Dec. 19 and 20 at Santa's Ship Stop.

• The Queen Mary's Holiday Movies on the Mary series plays on Mondays in December, with Christmas Vacation on Dec. 7, Elf on Dec. 14, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Dec. 21.

Christmas Cocktails in the Peppermint Lounge

From December 3–30 on select dates, the ship’s Embarkation Room becomes the Peppermint Lounge, with striped holiday decor, twinkling lights, and seasonal cocktails. The pop-up is 21+ and listed from 4 to 11 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can start there and follow the holiday bar crawl through the ship’s lounges, ending at the N.o3 speakeasy.

Candy cane garnish, anyone? The Queen Mary’s Peppermint Lounge serves seasonal cocktails under twinkling lights on select nights in December.

The Queen Mary’s holiday cocktails start before December. Over Thanksgiving weekend, A Christmas Cocktail Carol runs November 27–28. It’s an immersive, darker take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with four cocktails paired to the story. A Christmas ghost story feels right at home on a ship with a few ghost stories of its own.

Santa Brunch, Gingerbread Houses & Christmas Movies

The Holiday Brunch with Santa takes place in the Grand Salon, the ship’s former first-class dining room. The regular Royal Brunch buffet features more than 50 dishes, with a carving station, crab legs, and made-to-order omelets, plus bottomless champagne and live music. The menu may change for the holidays, but Santa will stop by during the meal.

The Queen Mary lists brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 6, 13, 20, and 25–27, so Christmas Day itself is an option. This is the one we'd reserve first if you’re traveling with kids or planning a family Christmas meal.

Santa takes the helm aboard the Queen Mary, with a holly-wrapped ship’s wheel, nutcrackers, and a twinkling Christmas tree.

At Santa’s Ship Stop on December 19–20, families can build gingerbread houses, sip hot chocolate, and write letters to Santa. Workshop tickets include ship admission and the supplies to assemble and decorate your house.

Gingerbread houses are on the holiday lineup at Santa’s Ship Stop, where kids can decorate their own aboard the Queen Mary.

For a lower-key evening, Movies on the Mary screens holiday favorites in the ship’s theater. The December lineup includes National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on December 7, Elf on December 14, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) on December 21. Tickets are $18, including admission to the ship.

The Best Weekend to Go: December 19–20

If we were picking one weekend, we’d go December 19–20. You can build a gingerbread house on Saturday, hear The Nutcracker by candlelight that evening, and have brunch with Santa on Sunday, all aboard the same ship.

Saturday, December 19: Start at Santa’s Ship Stop, where you can decorate a gingerbread house, sip hot chocolate, and write a letter to Santa. Leave some time to explore the ship before the Candlelight Christmas concert in the Queen’s Salon. A string quartet will play selections from The Nutcracker and other holiday favorites. Tickets for the concert are sold separately through Fever.

If you’re making it an adults’ weekend, swap the gingerbread workshop for a drink at the Peppermint Lounge if it’s open that evening.

The Queen’s Salon trades its usual glow for candlelight on December 19, when a string quartet plays selections from The Nutcracker aboard the Queen Mary.

Sunday, December 20: Head to the Grand Salon for brunch with Santa. If you’re staying aboard, book a later seating so you can linger over coffee or take a walk on deck before brunch. If you’re staying the night, take your time Sunday morning. There’s no rush when brunch is right on board.

What It’s Like to Stay Overnight on the Queen Mary

The Queen Mary’s staterooms are a big part of the appeal. Think vintage woodwork, Art Deco details, and original portholes in select rooms. A harbor-view Deluxe Stateroom is the one to look for if you want to wake up to the waterfront. Traveling with kids? Family Staterooms sleep up to four and have two separate sleeping areas.

Some Queen Mary staterooms still have their original portholes. This one frames a view of the cranes and rooftops at the Port of Long Beach.

What to Know Before You Board

An overnight stay doesn’t automatically include the holiday events . If your plans already includes ship admission, as the gingerbread workshop and the movie nights do, you can skip the separate day pass.

• Driving in? The ship lists a $25 daily visitor parking maximum and $39 per night for hotel guests. Special-event parking rates can differ.

• Leave time for the decks. Bring a layer for the harbor breeze and get outside before sunset if you want photos while there’s still light.

• Making it a Long Beach weekend? Add a trip to the Naples canals to see waterfront homes decorated for Christmas.

Long Beach glows across the harbor from the Queen Mary’s deck at night.

Our advice: pick the holiday event you’d most love to do, book it first, and leave a little room in your plans to wander. Whether you come for brunch with Santa or stay the night in a stateroom, save time to step out on deck and see Long Beach light up across the harbor. And before you leave, take one last look at the Queen Mary from the dock. It's enough to give even the prettiest Christmas tree a little competition.

Frequently Asked Questions: Christmas on the Queen Mary

What Christmas events are happening on the Queen Mary in 2026?

The Queen Mary in Long Beach is celebrating Christmas 2026 with holiday brunches with Santa, gingerbread house workshops, Christmas movie nights, festive entertainment, and the Peppermint Lounge holiday bar. Families can enjoy seasonal activities, while adults can experience holiday cocktails and live music aboard the historic ocean liner.

When do Christmas celebrations start at the Queen Mary in Long Beach?

Christmas festivities aboard the Queen Mary begin in early December 2026. The Peppermint Lounge opens December 3, while holiday brunches with Santa begin December 6. Special events continue throughout December, including gingerbread house workshops on December 19 and 20.

Is the Queen Mary decorated with Christmas lights for the holidays?

Yes! The Queen Mary gets a festive makeover with Christmas lights, decorated trees, and holiday displays throughout the ship. The historic ocean liner is especially beautiful after dark, when its illuminated decks and colorful decorations stand out against the Long Beach skyline.

How much do Christmas events at the Queen Mary cost?

Ticket prices depend on the event. Regular admission to the Queen Mary costs $45 for adults and $40 for children, according to the ship's September 2026 pricing. Special holiday activities, brunches, and performances may require separate tickets or reservations. Check individual event listings for current prices.

Can you spend Christmas night aboard the Queen Mary?

Yes, the Queen Mary operates as a floating hotel, offering guests the chance to sleep in historic ocean-liner staterooms. You can book an overnight stay during the Christmas season, subject to room availability. Hotel guests also receive access to self-guided historic exhibits, making it easy to turn a holiday visit into a weekend getaway.

Does the Queen Mary offer Christmas brunch with Santa?

Yes! The Queen Mary is hosting Holiday Brunch with Santa on December 6, 13, 20, and 25–27, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The festive buffet features breakfast favorites, seafood, desserts, and special appearances by Santa. Reservations are recommended.

Are there family-friendly Christmas activities aboard the Queen Mary?

Absolutely! Families can enjoy Santa visits, holiday brunches, Christmas movies, and gingerbread house workshops. The Gingerbread House Holiday Workshops take place December 19 and 20, 2026. It's a fun opportunity for kids to experience Christmas aboard a real ocean liner without ever leaving the harbor.

Do you need tickets or reservations for Christmas events on the Queen Mary?

Yes, visitors generally need an admission ticket, hotel reservation, or restaurant reservation to board the Queen Mary. Some Christmas activities require separate event tickets, and popular experiences like brunch with Santa are worth booking ahead. Check each event's admission requirements before visiting.

Can you visit the Queen Mary during Christmas without staying overnight?

Yes! You don't need to book a stateroom to enjoy Christmas aboard the Queen Mary. Day visitors can purchase admission tickets, reserve holiday dining experiences, or attend special events. That makes it easy to plan anything from a quick afternoon visit to a full evening of holiday activities.

Is Christmas on the Queen Mary worth visiting?

If you love Christmas lights, historic places, or unusual holiday experiences, the Queen Mary is worth adding to your December plans. Where else can you have brunch with Santa, watch a Christmas movie, and explore a 1930s ocean liner decorated for the holidays? And with the Long Beach skyline across the harbor, the views are an added bonus.