After five days of fun (Hearst Castle tours, a coastal drive, Huntington Gardens, and parasailing) my parents’ Los Angeles visit is about to come to an end.

About 90 minutes before we have to drop them off at LAX, we buzz over the Queen Mary to grab a bite to eat. We’ve just returned from a full day on Catalina but we are determined to pack in one more stop before my parents’ flight home.

While the Queen Mary charges an entrance fee of $15 per person, it can be applied towards your food or drink bill, which essentially nullifies the fee. We pick the Promenade Cafe for its seaside views, cuisine variety, and low prices.

As the sun sets, we take turns sneaking upstairs to snap photos. The lighting over the harbor is gorgeous.

From the wooden plank floors to the white lights strung above the ship, there’s a delightful, old-fashioned quality to everything on board. They’ve taken efforts to keep the original 1930s design intact. With its iconic smoke stacks and life boats, wouldn’t this be a perfect place for a Leonardo DiCaprio fantasy?

This original control room of sorts (not sure what the technical term would be) remains on display.

Shuffleboard, anyone?

The Queen Mary features various exhibits throughout the year, including a Haunted Encounters tour and the Ice Kingdom experience with ice staking and tubing. Or check out one of the many dining options on-board; there’s even an Art Deco Lounge where it’d be fun to get dressed up and enjoy a night of live music and cocktails. For a lengthier experience, stay overnight and perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the ghosts rumored to live there.

NOTE: I didn’t receiving anything in exchange for writing this post. It was just a fun trip with my parents!